How Truth Dies

The Bocca della verita is an ancient Roman marble mask with two eyes, a nose, and an oblong mouth set in a possibly bearded and horned circle, mounted on top of a pediment against the wall of the basilica
Visitors at the Santa Maria in Cosmedin Basilica in Rome often line up to place their hand in the famous Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth). According to legend, if someone lies while their hand is inside the mouth, it will close and sever their hand.

Theologians and philosophers spent the last century talking about the death of God, but today it’s reasonable to ask if society is living through the death of truth. In his book on tyranny, Timothy Snyder notes that “truth dies in four modes, all of which we have just witnessed” – open hostility to verifiable reality, shamanistic incantation, magical thinking, and misplaced faith. As truth dies, we become vulnerable to cynicism and indifference, which serves the interests of authoritarianism.

Service Coordinator: Jill Moats

Welcome and Zoom Link

Thank you for joining us this morning! If you’re visiting today, please fill out this Visitor Form so we can help you feel connected to our community.

Connect to the service with Zoom. Learn more about Zoom connections here.

Order of Service

Centering Thought

“The point of modern propaganda isn’t only to misinform or push an agenda. It is to exhaust your critical thinking, to annihilate truth… In the absence of truth, we are adrift in a sea of uncertainty and confusion. We must anchor ourselves to the reality of our shared existence, and resist the forces that seek to undermine it.“

— Michiko Kakutani

Centering Music

Folk Song Prelude #2, by Peter Warlock

Daniel Clark

Opening Words

Come to This Hour, by Theodore A. Webb

Rev Stefan Jonasson

Chalice Lighting

Persist in Faith, by Pat Uribe-Lichty

Jill Moats

Gathering Hymn

#346 Come Sing a Song with Me

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement

Jill Moats

Affirmation

Love Is the Spirit

Story Wisdom

Rev Stefan Jonasson

Sing and Rejoice

Joys and Concerns

Rev Stefan Jonasson

Pastoral Hymn

#1058 Be Ours a Religion (sung seated)

Words for Offering

This Place, These People, by Paul Dalzell

Jill Moats

Our Share the Plate Partner for March is Climate Change Connection.

The offering will be gratefully received, during or after the service. Donation options are at this link.

Offertory

Impromptu No. 3 in G flat major, Op.90 (excerpt), by Franz Schubert

Daniel Clark

Reading

from On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

Rev Stefan Jonasson

Meditation

In-betweenness, by Michelle LaGrave

Jill Moats

Hymn

#339 Knowledge, They Say

Sermon

How Truth Dies, by Rev Stefan Jonasson

Closing Hymn

#345 With Joy We Claim the Growing the Light

Announcements

Jill Moats

Please submit congregational announcements to worship@uuwinnipeg.mb.ca before 9:00 am Sunday.

Closing Words

Think on These Things, Philippians 4:8

Rev Stefan Jonasson

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 to Breakout Room (Zoom only)

Tech team

Gratitude

Gratitude to all who helped make this service happen, including

  • Leader: Rev Stefan Jonasson
  • Coordinator: Jill Moats
  • Music: Daniel Clark (piano), Debby Lake (lyrics coordination, hymn consultation), Kelvin Seifert and Esther Kathryn (hymn consultation)
  • Music for Affirmation: Composed by P.J. Buchan
  • Coordinator Lifespan Religious Exploration (CLRE): Ana Castañeda Aguilera
  • Childcare: Paulina Hernandez
  • Tech Team: Ashlyn Noble, Arthur Burstow, Alexey Sokadeev, Bryan Enaje, Christina Swindells-Nader, Ihor Pushkar
  • Ushers:  Joan Carolyn, Ken Nicholson
  • Set Up/Maintenance: Michael Thiessen
  • Greeter: Paula Keirstead and others
  • Hospitality: Janet Toews, Adina Lyon, Wendy Buckle, and others
  • Chalice Sculptor & Banner Designer: Jo’Anne Kelly
  • Chalice Logo Designer: Nancy Gilbert
  • Share the Plate committee: Sara Allen, Lynn Clark, Paula Keirstead, Diane Pearce
  • Pastoral Care: Rev Stefan Jonasson
  • Website and office support, All Church email: Nathalie Waite

To contact SunServ (Sunday Services Team) with feedback or ideas for future services, 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 limit fragrances and scented products as much as you are able, so we may include all in our beloved community.

Please keep aisles clear, particularly for people with mobility challenges, and turn off electronic devices during the service.

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!

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