Bright Morning Stars

men playing banjo and guitar

Sometimes, the spiritual practices that help us the most in our lives are things we learned in our childhood, even if we move into different sustaining beliefs as adults. This Sunday, Rev. Meghann will share pieces of her personal journey through singing and experiencing folk and bluegrass music as practice of both resilience and resistance.

Bright Morning Stars

August 9, 2020

“Jesus was a radical nonviolent revolutionary who hung around with lepers, hookers, and crooks; wasn’t American and never spoke English; was anti-wealth, anti-death penalty, anti-public prayer; but was never anti-gay, never mentioned abortion or birth control, never called the poor lazy, never justified torture, never fought for tax cuts for the wealthiest Nazarenes, never asked a leper for a copay; and was a long-haired brown-skinned homeless community-organizing anti-slut-shaming middle eastern Jew.” — John Fugelsang

Centering

You Are Not Alone by Mavis Staples & Jeff Tweedy

Welcome

M.C. Ziegler

Hymn

44 We Sing of Golden Mornings

Chalice Lighting

“The Meaning of the Chalice” by Martha Kirby Capo

Opening Words

Take Me Back sung by Sonia Dada

Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash

Affirmation

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

Candles of Caring

Unison Words:

Each of us enters this place with different needs. Some hearts are full of gratitude and joy. May we rejoice with them. Some hearts ache with sorrow. May our presence and compassion bring them comfort. Some hearts are searching. May the knowledge that we too are searching restore their hope and give them courage. May we, in our common need, give strength to each other as we share our joys, lighten each others’ burdens, and support our caring community.

Hymn

18 What Wondrous Love

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.

Our Share the Plate Partner for July and August, receiving half of the collection taken each Sunday, is Villa Rosa.

Offertory

Bright Morning Stars sung by The Wailin’ Jennys

Meditation

Jerusalem Tomorrow by David Olney

Sermon Part I

the Reverend Meghann Robern

Anthem

Get Up John performed by Emmylou Harris & the Nash Ramblers

Sermon Part II

the Reverend Meghann Robern

Hymn

213 There’s a Wideness in Your Mercy

Announcements

M.C. Ziegler

Benediction/Hymn of the Month

Rising For Our Lives, a new UU hymn from The Unfolding

Chalice Extinguishing

Carry the Flame sung by the First UU Winnipeg Choir

Transition to Connecting & Conversation Time

A Singer Must Die sung by Jennifer Warnes

Gratitude for our staff and our lay leaders who made this service happen:

  • Leader: the Reverend Meghann Robern, minister
  • Coordinator: M.C. Ziegler, Sunday Services Team
  • Zoom Tech Host: Mel Leslie, Tech Team
  • Zoom Chat Moderator: Kristin Jimmy, Tech Team
  • Candles of Caring Host: Bonnie Thiessen, Pastoral Care Team
  • Songleader Videos: PJ Buchan, Music Director; Paul Rodermond, accompanist; Josh Robern, editor