Restorative justice can lead to transformation of people, relationships and communities. It’s the path most in alignment with our Unitarian Universalist values, and yet is often the hardest path to affirm and promote in our lives and communities. In this service we will use the tragedy of Ben Solo to explore what it means to choose healing and reconciliation within healthy boundaries over endless punishment and death.
(This service will contain spoilers for Star Wars, especially The Rise of Skywalker.)
Service Coordinator: Dylan Fijal
Click here to join our service by Zoom.
You Will Be Found
November 8, 2020
“My Universalism is fierce. It has no patience with a theology of scarcity.” The Rev. Dr. Anita Farber-Robertson
Centring
Found/Tonight, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt (lyric version)
Welcome
Dylan Fijal
Hymn of the Month
1019 Everything Possible
Chalice Lighting
by the Rev. Hosea Ballou
“There is nothing in heaven above, nor in the earth beneath, that can do away sin, but love; and we have reason to be eternally thankful that love is stronger than death, that many waters cannot quench it, nor the floods drown it; that it hath power to remove the moral maladies of [human]kind.” We light our chalice today for the power of love.
Opening Words
excerpt from The Last Jedi novelization by Jason Fry
“But the faith of her homeworld of Gatalenta taught that no one who reached salvation arrived there alone—they brought along all those whose love and compassion had helped deliver them.”
Affirmation
Love Is The Spirit, words by James Vila Blake (adapted); music by P.J. Buchan
Story Wisdom
“A Birthday Story,” Rob Malo
Candles of Caring
Unison Words:
Spirit of Life, help us to sense that beneath us is the strength we need to keep us grounded. Help us to feel that behind us is the protection we need to feel safe facing our fears. Help us to know that before us lies the beauty we seek to feel astounded. Help us become aware of the vastness of our sky and of our spirit, and help us to know that within our hearts lies the love we need to complete the circle of connection in our lives. May we use all of our gifts to bring Love into this hurting world; this world which we so value, which we cherish.
Hymn
1013 Open My Heart
Offering
For November, as part of our Share the Plate program, our Social Justice Team has chosen the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba as our community partner. They’re a self-help organization dedicated to providing support, education, and advocacy for those living with a mood disorder, co-occurring disorders, or other mental health illnesses. They increase public awareness about mood disorders and empower people to develop hope and recovery. Please visit their website to learn more.
Our online-only format is a morally sound response by our community to the current pandemic on our planet. This also means that we are emphasizing remote giving during our offering this morning:
- Donations can now be sent via e-transfer/Interac to office@uuwinnipeg.mb.ca; in the note, you MUST include your name and if your donation is for the Sunday offering, your pledge, or our capital campaign.
- You may always mail cheques to the church!
- We are also using Canada Helps to receive online donations. Go to their website to donate in this way.
Offertory
Ben Solo’s Theme (The Redemption of Kylo Ren), Samuel Kim
Reading
“No Healing, No Peace” (adapted) by InFormalMajesty
Anthem
Found/Tonight (Reprise), performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt, edited by Alexa Lexie
Meditation
“Come Back” (adapted) by U.S. House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
The sound of a singing bowl and two minutes of personal quietude will follow the meditation.
Sermon
The Reverend Meghann Robern
Hymn
1014 Answering the Call of Love
Announcements
Dylan Fijal
Benediction
by Václav Havel
“Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something is worth doing no matter how it turns out.”
Chalice Extinguishing
Carry the Flame sung by the First UU Winnipeg Choir
Transition to Connecting & Conversation Time
Ben and Rey Love Theme (Reylo Theme), Samuel Kim
Gratitude for our staff and our lay leaders who made this service happen:
- Leaders: Rev. Meghann Robern, Nicole McKay, Rob Malo
- Coordinator: Dylan Fijal, Sunday Services Team
- Zoom Tech Host: Ashlyn Noble, Tech Team
- Zoom Chat Moderator: Lauren Bailey, Tech Team
- Candles of Caring Host: Esmat Elhami, Pastoral Care Team
- Songleader Videos: PJ Buchan, Music Director and the FUUW Choir; Paul Rodermond, accompanist; Josh Robern, editor