What are the elements? Well, if you are talking modern science, you are talking about the chemical elements in the periodic tables! But if we look back in time, we see how the elements of earth, fire, air and water have played a huge role in many ancient cultures, often from a philosophical perspective. Some cultures added a fifth element, and more, too! These ideas have carried on to this day, in some religions, and in some modern practices such as meditation, and yoga, for example. In Jill’s talk on October 20th, she will discuss some of these ideas and then will focus specifically on the element of “earth” from a personal perspective, sharing with you some of her experiences with “the earth”, and what her relationship to “earth” means to her on a personal level.
Service Coordinator: Steve Lennon
The Elements
Starting this fall from SunServ, the Sunday Services Team: The Elements, a five-part series about our human connection to Air, Water, Earth and Fire, and the fifth Element – Love. Connecting with each one of these has power to nurture and sustain us, to inspire us and to give us life. A personal exploration of how we connect physically, emotionally and spiritually with these ancient symbols of life.
Sermon Video
Order of Service
Centering Thought
“…of his land he thought no more what harvest it would bring or what seed would be planted or of anything except of the land itself, and he stooped sometimes and gathered some of the earth up in his hand and he sat thus and held it in his hand, and it seemed full of life between his fingers”
— Pearl S Buck, The Good Earth
Centering Music
Rose Theme (Original) from To a Wild Rose Theme and Variations, by Edward MacDowell, arr. by Lee Evans
Performed by Daniel Clark
Welcome
Steve Lennon
Gathering Hymn
#347 Gather the Spirit
Chalice Lighting
Steve Lennon
Opening Words
Sleeping in the Forest, by Mary Oliver
Jill Moats
Affirmation
Love Is the Spirit
Story Wisdom
Muddy Fun in the Froggy Pool
Jill Moats
Sing and Rejoice
As children go downstairs to Religious Exploration
Joys and Sorrows
Rev. Stefan Jonasson
If you have a Joy or Sorrow to share in our upcoming service, please follow this link.
Pastoral Hymn
#352 Find a Stillness (sung seated, twice through)
Reading
The Seed, by Jill Moats
Share the Plate Offering
Our Share the Plate Partner for October is North Point Douglas Women’s Centre.
Share the Plate Video
- The offering will be gratefully received, both right now, and continuing when our stream ends. Donation options are at this link.
Offertory
Variations I: Gardenia and IV: Marigold, from To a Wild Rose – Theme and Variations, by Edward MacDowell, arr. by Lee Evans
performed by Daniel Clark
Meditation
from Learning to Fall, by Philip Simmons
Steve Lennon
Hymn
#163 For the Earth Forever Turning
Note: We will begin recording the sermon after the hymn
Sermon
The Element “Earth” and What It Means to Me
Jill Moats
Closing Hymn
#1011 Return Again
Announcements
Steve Lennon
Please submit congregational announcements to worship@uuwinnipeg.mb.ca before 9:00 am each Sunday morning.
Closing Words
Four Element Blessing, by Eric Williams
Jill Moats
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 Rooms (Zoom only)
Arthur Burstow or Simer Kaur
Gratitude
Gratitude to all who helped make this service happen:
- Leader: Jill Moats
- Coordinator: Steve Lennon
- Music Director: Vic Hooper
- Pianist: Daniel Clark
- Coordinator Lifespan Religious Exploration (CLRE): Ana Castañeda Aguilera
- Childcare: Paulina Hernandez
- Tech Team: Arthur Burstow, Simer Kaur, Ashlyn Noble, Christina Swindells-Nader
- Music for Affirmation: Composed by P.J. Buchan
- Ushers: Kristin Jimmy, Bromley Basford, Joan Carolyn, Ken Nicholson, Norman Mayer, Cheryl Simmonds, et al
- Set Up/Maintenance: Michael Thiessen
- Greeter: Paula Keirstead, et al
- Hospitality: Marian Siemens, et al
- Chalice Sculptor: Jo’Anne Kelly
- Chalice Logo Designer: Nancy Gilbert
- Communicator Editor: Marjorie Doyle
- All-Church Email Bulletin: Lorie Battershilll
To contact SunServ (Sunday Services Team), please email worship@uuwinnipeg.mb.ca
Want to help setting up on Sunday mornings? Please contact Norm Cobb or Jim Gardiner.
Please refrain from taking photographs and making recordings during and after the service unless you have the express permission of all people involved.
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 keep aisles clear, particularly for people with mobility challenges and turn off electronic devices during the service. Thank you!
Topics: Earth, Interdependent Web, Nature