Rev. Kee: Good morning! Welcome to the Unitarian Universalist communities of Casper and Laramie Wyoming’s shared worship service.
I am Rev. Leslie Kee, and I am honored to be the minister who is shared by both congregations! No matter the color of your skin or hair, no matter where you live or how you make your living; no matter whom you love; no matter the faith of your childhood – everyone is welcome in this beloved community!
Today’s service leaders are Leann Woodfill, Janet deVries, and Laura Gossman, who have prepared an inspirational message and reminder, that yes, one person (and three are even better) can make a difference!
Because we are celebrating the 7th UU principle, the interdependent web of creation, this month and the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, let us begin with
The words of the poet, Wendell Berry, who reminds us:
Through the weeks of deep snow, we walk above the ground on fallen sky,
As though we did not come of root and leaf, as though we had only air and weather for our difficult home
But now, as (April) warms, and the rivulets run like birdsong on the slopes, and the branches of light sing in the hills, slowly we return to earth.
Let us worship together.
Rev. Kee: Chalice Lighting
If you have a candle you would like to light at this time, I will light the chalice:
We light this chalice to shine light on each person’s small effort, each person’s small step forward. Dorothy Day wrote:
People say, what is the sense of our small effort.
They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time.
A pebble cast into a pond cause ripples that spread in all directions. Each one of our thoughts, words and deeds is like that.
No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless.
There is too much work to do.
Unison Covenant
Love is the spirit of this church and service its cause.
This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace,
to seek truth in love, and to help one another
(Author: James Vila Blake (adapted))
Spirit of Life/Fuente de Amor
Fuente de Amor, ven hacia mi. Y al Corazón, cántale tu compasión
Sopla al volar, sube en la mar,hasta modear la justicia de la vida
Arráigame, libérame; Fuente de Amor, ven a mi, ven a mi.
Spirit of Life, come unto me.Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea:Move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free; Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.
Words and music by Carolyn McDade,
The Woods Called, written and presented by Tammy Dominguez
The woods called her
The whispering of leaves
Wind drifting in and out
Of branches,
Weaving between trunks,
Wind’s fingers brushed the moss
Growing on rocks, trees
Brushing wide strokes
Between valleys, hills,
Stirring streams’ waters into waves,
Cooling the Sun’s fierce and fiery rays.
The woods called to her
She felt the connection between them and her:
Invisible roots trailed from her belly into warm, Earth
Roots lifting skyward and grasping clouds,
Then also Moon, Sun, stars and galaxies
She was connected to them all
The woods called to her
And they were the portal to other worlds
Be Safe, Be Well
To my loved ones and relations, with me in spirit everyday
And to neighbors I have not yet met, close to home or far away
Be safe. Be well. You mean the world to me.
Be safe. Be well. You mean the world to me.
To my friends who make music, sharing joy both far and wide
And to those who we depend on to teach, to heal, and to guide
Be safe. Be well. You mean the world to me.
Be safe. Be well. You mean the world to me.
To all who hear this message, to stranger and to friend
Here’s an embrace of music until we meet again.
Be safe, be well. You mean the world to me.
Be safe, be well. You mean the world to me.
Be safe, wash your hands. You mean the world to me.
Be safe, stay at home. You mean the world to me.
Written and performed by Dan Berggren
https://www.facebook.com/1168714277/videos/10221483192367066/