Following the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, Stephen Jay Gould wrote that “good and kind people outnumber all others by thousands to one,” despite our mistaken perception that decency and depravity are found in more equal measure. He called the preponderance of goodness and decency the “Great Asymmetry” and argued that we have a duty to honour the collective weight of countless small kindnesses when faced with acts that undermine our faith in humanity. It matters where we focus our attention – and our distractions, as powerful as they can be, sometimes blur our view of the greater good that surrounds us.
Church picnic after the service today!
Service Coordinator: Jill Moats
Sermon Video
Order of Service
Thank you for joining us this morning!
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Centering Thought
“There are more good people than bad people, and overall there’s more that’s good in the world than there is that’s bad. We just need to hear about it, we just need to see it.”
― Tucker Elliot
Centering Music
Red Queen’s Gavotte, by Irving Fine, arr. by Hywel Davies, performed by Daniel Clark
Welcome
Jill Moats
Gathering Hymn
#134 Our World is One World
Chalice Lighting
Jill Moats
Opening Words
Written by Sarah Gettie McNeill, read by Jill Moats
Affirmation
Love Is the Spirit, music written by PJ Buchan
Story Wisdom
Rev. Stefan Jonasson
Welcome
Welcome to Ana Gabriela Castañeda Aguilera, new Coordinator of Lifespan Religious Education (CLRE), Debby Lake
Sing and Rejoice
Sung as story listeners return to their seats
Meditation
Written by Wallace Fong, read by Jill Moats
Pastoral Hymn and Stone Dropping Ritual
#77 Seek Not Afar for Beauty
Share the Plate Speaker
Daniel Swaka, Peaceful Village Executive Director
Offering Words
Jill Moats
Offertory Music
Maple Leaf Rag, by Scott Joplin, performed by Daniel Clark
Reading
Rev. Stefan Jonasson
Hymn
#355 We Lift Our Hearts in Thanks
Sermon
The Great Asymmetry Rev. Stefan Jonasson
Closing Hymn
#128 For All That is Our Life
Announcements
Jill Moats
Closing Words
Bring Happiness, by Barbara Cheatham, read Jill Moats
Chalice Extinguishing
Carry the Flame
Transition for Breakout Rooms
Arthur Burstow
Gratitude
Gratitude to all who helped make this service happen:
- Leader: Rev. Stefan Jonasson
- Coordinator: Jill Moats
- Tech Team: Ashlyn Noble, Arthur Burstow, Christina Swindells-Nader
- Music for Affirmation: Composed by P.J. Buchan
- Accompanist: Daniel Clark
- Ushers: Krishna Nimmagadda, Norm Cobb, Jim Gardiner, and others.
- Greeter: Paula Keirstead
- Set Up/Maintenance: Michael Thiessen, Jim Gardiner, Norm Cobb, others
- Hospitality: Shar Lynn, Adina Lyon, Cheryl Simmonds, and others.
- Chalice Sculptor: Jo’Anne Kelly
- Chalice Logo Designer: Nancy Gilbert
- Website Support: Karin Carlson
- 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.
We ask that you refrain from taking photos and making recordings during and after the service unless you have received express permission from all people involved. Please turn off all electronic devices during the service.