Trade Winds and Tempests

An oil painting of dramatically lit ocean waves, with dark skies in the background
Ayvaz Sredy Voln or, in English, Among the Waves (1898) by Ivan Aivazovsky

“When you can’t change the direction of the wind, adjust your sails,” advised H.

Jackson Brown. Over the summer, Canada sailed into a full-blown tempest in its trade

negotiations with the United States, and people are naturally anxious about what this storm will mean for the economies of both countries. Trade negotiations are not simply economic concerns; they establish the covenants by which people live together, and alongside one another, in relationships that are characterized by equity, fairness, and peace – or not. Many have warned of the disruption to business that a trade war may cause, but few have given much attention to its harm to human relationships – people to people, nation to nation.

Service Leader: Rev. Stefan Jonasson
Service Coordinator: Christina Swindells-Nader

Water Communion – The Sunday after Labour Day customarily marks the beginning of the new church year. This Sunday’s service will include our first water communion since before the pandemic. In this shared ritual, participants are invited to bring water from a place of special meaning – a garden rain barrel or a local stream, a vacation spot or somewhere you call home – to add to our common bowl, blending the individual and the universal, which will then be used in our ceremony of joys and concerns. Following the service, we will water a patch of our church garden. (There will, of course, be water available to share for newcomers, visitors, and those unable to bring water from elsewhere.)

We will also mark the 25th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, during this service.

Welcome and Zoom Link

Thank you for joining us this morning!

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

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Order of Service

Centering Thought

Water can be as comforting as a babbling brook or have the icy chill of snow. It can surprise us with its voluminous power and velocity. It can be calm and serene, or tumultuous and roiling. ~ Carmen Spagnola, Spells for the Apocalypse

Fanfare

The Prince of Denmark’s March (Trumpet Voluntary), by Jeremiah Clarke

Centering Music

Allegro Moderato (excerpt) from Water Music, by G. F. Handel
Daniel Clark

Choral Prelude

Hymn 1071, lyrics adapted, Like a River Flowing, from Plum Village Buddhist Community Chants

The Choir, led by Shannon Unger, accompanied by Daniel Clark

Opening Words

Watershed, by Martina Thompson

Christina Swindells-Nader

Chalice Lighting

The Spirit of Water, by Katie Sivani Gelfand

Christina Swindells-Nader

Gathering Hymn

#136 Where Gentle Tides Go Rolling By (Shane Nestruck will play it on soprano saxophone before we sing)

Land Acknowledgment and Welcome

Christina Swindells-Nader

Affirmation

Love Is the Spirit

Love is the spirit of this church, the quest for truth its sacrament, and service is its law.

This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek truth in love, and to help one another to the end that all souls shall grow into harmony with life.

Water Communion

led by Rev. Stefan Jonasson and Christina Swindells-Nader, lay chaplain

Story Wisdom

Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Sing and Rejoice

Children stay for Joys and Sorrows and the Pastoral Hymn

Joys and Sorrows

Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Pastoral Hymn

#210 Wade in the Water (sung seated)

Memorial Reflection on the 25th Anniversary of September 11th

Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Anthem

Bring Me Little Water Sylvy, by Huddie William Ledbetter (1888-1949), adapted from Los Angeles Chorale and Moira Smalley with body percussion by Evie Ladin

The Choir, led by Shannon Unger, accompanied by Daniel Clark, solo by Paula Keirstead

Sermon

Trade Winds and Tempests, by Rev. Stefan Jonasson

Hymn

#1007 There’s a River Flowing in My Soul

Meditation

The Strength of Water, by Jamila Batchelder and Molly Housh Gordon

led by Christina Swindells-Nader

Offering

Our Share the Plate Partner for September is Trails Manitoba.

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

Offertory

Beside the Still Waters, Op. 118, by Amy Beach

Daniel Clark

Announcements

Christina Swindells-Nader and others

Closing Words

Closing Benediction, by Viv Ellison

Christina Swindells-Nader

Chalice Extinguishing

by Elizabeth Selle Jones SLT #456

Carry the Flame

Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again (x2)
Then we shall see a world of light and a world of joy
Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.

Gratitude

Gratitude to all who made this service happen, including

  • Leader: Rev. Stefan Jonasson
  • Coordinator: Christina Swindells-Nader
  • Music Director: Shannon Unger
  • Music: Daniel Clark (piano), Shane Nestruck (soprano saxophone), the Choir, Paula Keirstead (solo), Octavia MacIsaac and Christina Swindells-Nader (body percussion)
  • Coordinator Lifespan Religious Exploration (CLRE): Ana G.Castañeda Aguilera
  • RE Volunteer: Carl von Baeyer
  • Tech Team: Arthur Burstow, Lily Nimmagadda, Ashlyn Noble, Xilo Rader, Rafiq Nader
  • Centering/fanfare videos: Ashlyn Noble
  • This service’s ushers, greeters, and hospitality volunteers, including Claire Nimmagadda, Janet Toews, Paula Keirstead
  • Maintenance and set up: Jessica Hamm and Olivia Velazquez
  • Music for Affirmation: P.J. Buchan
  • Chalice Sculptor & Banner Designer: Jo’Anne Kelly
  • Chalice Logo Designer: Nancy Gilbert
  • Minister and Pastoral Care: Rev Stefan Jonasson
  • Lay Chaplain: Christina Swindells-Nader
  • Website, Office Support, and Rentals: 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 for other ways to help.

To welcome and include all in our beloved community, please

  • limit fragrances and scented products as much as you are able,
  • turn off or mute electronic devices during the service,
  • refrain from taking photographs or recording unless you have the express permission of everyone involved, and
  • keep aisles clear for people with mobility challenges.

Thank you!

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