Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen) didn’t quite write “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea.” This ubiquitous quote is a Readers Digest summary of a few lines of dialogue from one of her short stories, yet it feels true about how we connect to the element of water, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and are healed by it. At other times, salt (and fresh) water can be hugely destructive.
This is the second service of the Elements Series, in which five speakers share personal perspectives on the five classical elements of earth, water, air, fire, and love. Christina will explore the complexity of fostering a healthy relationship with water in its many forms: salt water, tears, the sea; clouds, snow, rain; rivers, lakes, and the ghosts of inexorable waterways that have shaped our landscapes and communities.
Service Leader: Christina Swindells-Nader
Service Coordinator: Jill Moats
Sermon Video
Links to references:
Teachings about the 4 Elements of Nature from the Elders of the Anishinabe
Mystical Landscapes: Masterpieces from Monet, Van Gogh and more, conceived and developed by Katharine Lochnan, exhibited at the Art Gallery of Ontario October 22, 2016 – February 12, 2017
Mystical landscapes: from Vincent van Gogh to Emily Carr (book accompanying the AGO exhibit)
Dr Aimée Craft on Water
WaterTalk: Aimée Craft at the University of Waterloo’s Water Institute
Winnipeg Art Gallery’s 2021 exhibit, Naadohbii: To Draw Water, curated by Jaimie Isaac
Wendell Berry reading The Peace of Wild Things
Order of Service
Centering Thought
“Water knows no boundary. Though we may draw it on a map, say this is where the water starts and where it ends, it is not true. Water knows the way into the Great Mystery. It is not afraid of going underground. Water is not afraid of dams or dry creeks, bridges or brick walls. It is patient. Water understands time. It will find a way.”
— Thomas Lloyd Qualls, Painted Oxen
Centering Music
Red Queen’s Gavotte, by Irving Fine; arr. by Hywell Davies
Daniel Clark
Opening Words
Mornings at Blackwater, by Mary Oliver
Christina Swindells-Nader
Chalice Lighting
Adapted from words by Yvonne Aburrow
Jill Moats
Gathering Hymn
#209 O Come, You Longing Thirsty Souls
Welcome and Land Acknowledgement
Jill Moats
Affirmation
Love Is the Spirit
Story Wisdom
Cloudwalker, by Roy Henry Vickers & Robert Budd
Christina Swindells-Nader
Sing and Rejoice
Joys and Concerns
Rev Stefan Jonasson
Pastoral Hymn
#100 I’ve Got Peace Like a River (sung seated)
Offering
We Gather as Many Drops, by Leslie Takahashi
Jill Moats
Our Share the Plate Partner for January is Thrive Community Support Circle.
The offering will be gratefully received, during or after the service. Donation options are at this link.
Offertory
Reverie, by Claude Debussy; arr. by Lee Evans
Daniel Clark
Reading
Excerpt of Nestawe’ya, from Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre, by Niigaan Sinclair
Christina Swindells-Nader
Meditation
The Strength of Water, by Jamila Batchelder, Molly Housh Gordon
Jill Moats
Anthem
The Woods are Lovely Dark and Deep, words by Robert Frost
UU Winnipeg Choir, led by Kelvin Seifert, accompanied by Daniel Clark
Sermon
Connecting with Water
Christina Swindells-Nader
Closing Hymn
#4 I Brought My Spirit to the Sea
Announcements
Jill Moats
Please submit congregational announcements to worship@uuwinnipeg.mb.ca before 9:00 am Sunday.
Closing Words
Blessing the Boats, by Lucille Clifton
Christina Swindells-Nader
Chalice Extinguishing
Carry the Flame
Following the service, please join us for community and refreshments in the sanctuary. For Zoom participants, please consider staying for conversation in our breakout room.
Transition (Zoom only)
Arthur Burstow
Gratitude
Gratitude to all who helped make this service happen:
- Leader: Christina Swindells-Nader
- Coordinator: Jill Moats
- Music: Daniel Clark (piano), Kelvin Seifert (choir leader), UU Winnipeg choir, Debby Lake (hymn lyric coordination)
- Music for Affirmation: Composed by P.J. Buchan
- Coordinator Lifespan Religious Exploration (CLRE): Ana Castañeda Aguilera
- Childcare: Paulina Hernandez
- Tech Team: Arthur Burstow, Ashlyn Noble, Alexey Sokadeev, Christina Swindells-Nader
- Ushers: Bromley Basford, Joan Carolyn, Ken Nicholson, Norman Mayer, Cheryl Simmonds, Janet Toews, Maxine Hebert Malo, Claire and Krishna Nimmagadda, et al
- Set Up/Maintenance: Michael Thiessen
- Greeter: Paula Keirstead, et al
- Hospitality: Marian Siemens, Debby Lake, et al
- Chalice Sculptor: Jo’Anne Kelly
- Chalice Logo Designer: Nancy Gilbert
- All-Church Email Bulletin: Lorie Battershill
- Church Communicator and Pastoral Care: Rev Stefan Jonasson
- Website and office support: Nathalie Waite
To contact SunServ (Sunday Services Team), please email worship@uuwinnipeg.mb.ca
Want to help on Sunday mornings? You can sign up for a hospitality setup or cleanup shift. Please contact the Volunteer Resources Committee or Norm Cobb or Jim Gardiner for other ways to help.
Please keep aisles clear, particularly for people with mobility challenges and turn off electronic devices during the service.
Some in our beloved community are affected by exposure to the ingredients or chemicals in scented products. We ask that you join our efforts to accommodate their health concerns by being mindful and where possible avoiding scented products such as hair spray, perfume and deodorant when attending services.
Please refrain from taking photographs and making recordings during and after the service unless you have the express permission of all people involved. Thank you!
Topics: Earth