Earth Day, Sufficiency: Enough for Everyone Forever

woman's hand holding a small globe of the earth with green leaves symbolizing nature and sustainability

We trust Gaia now to provide for us as she has for four billion years, and we help her to do so; but we no longer torment her for her riches. Her riches are safest when kept in safekeeping by her. The most admired among us is the one capable of the greatest happiness on the slenderest material means. We no longer ask our Elders the secret of a long life, or of how to procure affluence. We ask them:

How did it come to pass that you were so very happy and left so much love, but such a small mark on the world? Teach us how to be remembered.

Coordinators: Sarah Cummings, Marian Siemens

Additional Resources

These are resources provided by the service speaker, Karen Ridd, after the service.


Earth Day
Sufficiency: Enough for Everyone Forever

April 24, 2022

Thank you for joining us this morning!

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Special note for today’s service: If you are attending in person, please bring a favorite snack or beverage to the service.

Centering Thought

The most admired among us is the one capable of the greatest happiness on the slenderest material means.

~ Mark A. Burch’s vision for the future in his essay, “Sufficiency: Enough, For Everyone, Forever”

Centering Music

Earth Revolution, Ta’kaiya Blaney

Welcome

Marian Siemens

Gathering Hymn  

21  For the Beauty of the Earth

Chalice Lighting

 Cate Ziegler, As Wonder And Welcome, by Jacob Trapp

Opening Words

Lara Hunter, Committed to Respond, by Lynn Harrison

Affirmation

Love is the Spirit, arranged by P. J. Buchan

Sharing and Caring

Cheryl Simmonds

Unison Words

Let us come into this circle of caring, and listen to those who share their joys and sorrows with us. Let the healing power of this community reach out to them, and to each of us. Let loving kindness and joy pass through us, and bring us peace. So may it be.

Hymn

1068 Rising Green

Offering

Marian Siemens

Share the Plate

Our Share-the-Plate recipient for April is West Broadway Youth Outreach, Inc. WBYO is a drop-in recreational & life skills program for youth ages 4 and up in the West Broadway area & beyond. We provide year round, free after-school & summer programming in a safe, fun and nurturing environment.

How to donate:

  • To donate via e-transfer/Interac, use office@uuwinnipeg.mb.ca. In the note, you MUST include your name and whether your donation is for the Sunday offering, your pledge, or our capital campaign.
  • Click here to donate through Canada Helps.
  • Send a cheque by mail to the church at First UU Church of Winnipeg, 603 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3M 0A7
  • To see these options later, visit our Donate page.

Offertory

Oh Great Spirit, performed by the First Unitarian Universalist Church Choir

Reading

Peter Miller

Reading from Dr. Robin Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants.

Dr. Kimmerer is a plant ecologist and Professor at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and founding Director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment, which creates programs drawing on indigenous and scientific knowledge for our shared goals of sustainability. 

Hymn

1052 The Oneness of Everything

Meditation

Paula Keirstead, All around us lies what we neither understand nor use, by Margaret Fuller

The sound of the bell and two minutes of silence will follow the mediation reading

Sermon

Karen Ridd, Menno Simons College, University of Winnipeg

Closing Hymn

34 Though I May Speak With Bravest Fire

Announcements

Sarah Cummings

Closing Words

Carolyn Garlich, reading 693 from the hymnal

Chalice Extinguishing

Carry the Flame

Transition

Calypso, John Denver

Gratitude

Gratitude to all who made this service happen:

  • Leader: Karen Ridd, Green Action Team
  • Coordinators: Marian Siemens, Sarah Cummings
  • Tech Team: Marjorie Dole, Mel Leslie, Christina Swindells-Nader, Colleen Millikin 
  • Sharing and Caring Host: Cheryl Simmons 
  • Songleading Videos and Audio Tracks: Paul Rodermond, (former) Acting Music Director and Accompanist; P.J. Buchan, (former) Music Director; Winnipeg UU Choir; Editor: Josh Robern

To contact the Sunday Services Team, please email: worship@uuwinnipeg.mb.ca