“This is My Song”

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It has been a year since the invasion of Ukraine, and we will honor the resilience and perseverance of the Ukrainian people, and the Russian people who have resisted this war. We will explore and celebrate the importance of music to one’s homeland, the power that music has to encourage peace, connect and sustain people through incredible challenges.   

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Order of Service
Sunday, February 26, 2023

Worship Leader: Rev. Telos Whitfield

Greeter: Lois Reynolds

Music For Gathering: “I Love My Country”

Greeting                                                                       Rev. Telos

Board Welcome & Announcements                        Carla Fogg

Prelude:     Ukrainian Dance  by Mykola Lysenko (1842-1912), a major Ukrainian conductor, pianist and composer.
Peter Gibbons, viola;  Eva Greene, piano

Chalice Lighting                                                           Trish Murtha                         
Each of us has a light within us and we kindle our common flame. There is power in this flame and we seek to share its courage and healing. We send our light to the people of Ukraine defending their homeland, to the people of Russia resisting this war, to all those who are in conflict, displaced and struggling. May we all find moments of peace and healing this day.                      

Lighting Our Children’s Chalice
We light this chalice to celebrate Unitarian Universalism. We are the church of the open minds. We are the church of the helping hands.  We are the church of the loving hearts.

Call to Worship                                                          Rev. Telos                                                     

Opening Hymn #112 “Do You Hear?”

Time For All of Us: The Day War Came by Nicole Davies

The Making of Tenderness by Luba Yakimchuk

Anthem: “If I Knew You” 
 words by Nixon Waterman,music by Mary Lynn Lightfoot
                  All Souls Choir, Tom Baehr, Director

Poem: Pieced Cores Hold Together by Kiyanovska

“Strong Enough” for Ukraine by Chevron Kalyna.        Trish Murtha

Song: “Oi u luzi Chervona Kalyna” – “Red Viburnum in the Meadow”

“In the meadow the red viburnum has bent down low
Our glorious Ukraine has been troubled so
And we will take that viburnum and we will raise it up
And we, our glorious Ukraine shall, hey – hey – rise up and rejoice.”

Sermon: “This Is My Song”                                          Rev. Telos

Hymn #159  “This Is My Song”

Offering shared with The Minister’s Discretionary Fund

Offertory:  Prayer for Ukraine   Mykola Lysenko
Eva Greene, piano

Our Candles of Joys and Sorrows

Extiinguishing the Chalice by Maureen Killoran       Trish Murtha
This is the message of our faith
To act with passion in the face of injustice.
To love with courage in the midst of life’s pain.
This is the meaning of our chalice flame.
May it empower our hearts until we are together again.
 
Closing Circle: “Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.” (sung two times)


Benediction                                                                         Rev. Telos