An Explosion of Hidden Strength

people holding hands on a beach

All services are streamed via Zoom; connection details are below.

“We don’t even know how strong we are until we are forced to bring that hidden strength forward,” wrote Isabel Allende in her memoir, My Invented Country. “In times of tragedy, of war, of necessity, people do amazing things. The human capacity for survival and renewal is awesome.” In the springtime, we customarily think of renewal as the bursting forth of new life, but in the seasons of human life there’s sometimes a fine line between survival and renewal. As the world struggles to survive a global pandemic, renewal might look like a simple restoration of normality. However, if survival and renewal are grounded in some hidden strength, perhaps we might hope to “explode from within,” as Émile Durkheim put it, and witness a renewal that is greater than we hoped.

Service Coordinator: Odell Havsdotter

An Explosion of Hidden Strength

April 5, 2020

“At any time, you can ask yourself: at which threshold am I now?… At this time in my life, what am I leaving? Where am I about to enter?”
—John O’Donohue

Centering

Planting Seeds: A Song of Life by Nimo Patel and Daniel Nahmod

Welcome

Odell Havsdotter

Gathering Hymn

59 Almond Trees, Renewed In Bloom

Chalice Lighting

by Rev. Dawn Skjei Cooley

Opening Words

“Unfailing Renewal of Life” by Leonard Mason

Affirmation

Love Is The Spirit, words by James Vila Blake (adapted); music by PJ Buchan

Story Wisdom

“Juggling the Egg: a Shelter-In-Place Fable” by Katharine Childs

Candles of Caring

Unison Words

Spirit of Life, help us to sense that beneath us is the strength we need to keep us grounded. Help us to feel that behind us is the protection we need to feel safe facing our fears. Help us to know that before us lies the beauty we seek to feel astounded. Help us become aware of the vastness of our sky and of our spirit, and help us to know that within our hearts lies the love we need to complete the circle of connection in our lives. May we use all of our gifts to bring Love into this hurting world; this world which we so value, which we cherish.

Hymn

1020 Woyaya

Reading

“Doctor Zhivago” by Boris Pasternak

Hymn

194 Faith Is a Forest

Meditation

“Between Seasons” by Elizabeth Tarbox

Share the Plate Testimonial

Curt Hull, Climate Change Connection

Offering

Our online-only format is a morally sound response by our community to the current pandemic on our planet. This also means that we are emphasizing remote giving during our offering this morning:

  • Donations can now be sent via e-transfer/Interac to office@uuwinnipeg.mb.ca; in the note, you MUST include your name and if your donation is for the Sunday offering, your pledge, or our capital campaign.
  • You may always mail cheques to the church!
  • We are also using Canada Helps to receive online donations. Go to their website to donate in this way.

Offertory

Íslandsklukkur

Sermon

Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Hymn

102 We the Heirs of Many Ages

Announcements

Odell Havsdotter

Benediction

“May Hope Never Die” by Magnús J. Skaptason

Chalice Extinguishing

Carry the Flame

Transition Time to Connecting & Conversation Time

(If you do not wish to participate in our small groups for connecting and conversation, now is the time to leave the Zoom session. At the end of the song, all remaining participants will be put into a small group.)