On this, the longest night of the year, we are warmed by the certain knowledge that tomorrow will welcome more light than today. As it has for eons—for billions of years—the coming of light brings life. May we be awed by the great miracles of light and life, and faithfully nurture the mystery...
Closing
| By
Gregory Jones
|
November 21, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
The freedom to doubt, to question, to be content to live in Mystery is central to the liberal religious tradition. Like the process of evolution itself, the path that we follow—our practice—is not easy or simple. It isn’t without its dead ends or its disappointments. It doesn't guarantee that...
Reflection
| By
Paul Stephan Dodenhoff
|
November 21, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
You whose hearts are broken, come in. You whom pain has touched, and sorrow, and shock. You who have cried this week, and read the news with sadness. You whom loss has shadowed. You who grieve. Come in, come in. You with hearts open to joy and hope, come in. You whom love has touched, and...
Opening
| By
Sharon Wylie
|
November 21, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
I invite you now into a time of meditation. You may wish to adjust your position: your feet flat on the ground, your body resting easily against the back of the chair, your hands gently open, palms up, resting on your thighs, your eyelids relaxed and half-closed, your breathing soft and easy.
Meditation
| By
Martha Kirby Capo
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November 17, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
The things to do have been done, well, for the most part. The people we need are in place, almost. We are ready, or as ready as we will be. Bless this most perfectly imperfect beginning. May we find the right people to do the right things as we go....
Blessing
| By
Kari Kopnick
|
November 15, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
We were all children once, and we carry fragments of our childhood times with us. Today, let us honor those children who walked before us, who transformed into who we have become, who led us to this place, who have lessons for us still.
Opening
| By
Meredith Olson
|
November 15, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
Tagged as: Children, Direct Experience, Generations, Growth, History, Humanism, Personal Stories, Tradition
"How complicated it is to break silence: to open all of the secrets in all of our broken hearts. But silence does break; truth seeks the light. We're unraveling silence because we have determined that our power with one another is greater than the power someone once had over us."
Reflection
| By
Erika Hewitt
|
November 15, 2017
| From
Braver/Wiser
Spirit, I would really rather not learn this. Didn’t think I needed to. I thought someone else could do it. Thought a leader was coming to do it. Thought the young people could do it. Or the elders could do it. Or the professionals. Or I don’t want to learn it ‘cause it means letting go of...
Prayer
| By
Elizabeth Nguyen
|
November 10, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
As a child, growing up Catholic, my sense was that we should give away forgiveness like candy at Halloween: freely and readily, to anyone who comes asking. As an adult Unitarian Universalist, however, I have realized that forgiveness is a lot more complicated and challenging than that image would...
Reading
| By
Gretchen Haley
|
October 27, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
Tagged as: Direct Experience, Forgiveness, Humanism, Love, Relationships, Secular, Vulnerability
For those [of us] who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color, the effects of racism and oppression are an everyday lived reality — and these feelings [of vulnerability, fear, and broken-heartedness] are not new.
Offering
| By
Lena K. Gardner, Susan Frederick-Gray
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October 25, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
Someone whispered to me, “Can you pray?”
I had no earthly clue what to say. It was a profound gut-level panic. It was the moment I learned to speak the truth as best I understand it, and to hold space for it to bloom.
Reflection
| By
Lisa Bovee-Kemper
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October 25, 2017
| From
Braver/Wiser
Background and overview for leaders: Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) is calling on Unitarian Universalists to identify white supremacy in our faith and take the necessary steps to foster healing and move away from harmful practices....
Curriculum
| By
Jaelynn Pema-la Scott
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October 24, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
The Golden Chain: an Ife Creation Story Notes: There are many versions of this creation myth, most with the same elements. These adaptations by Erica Shadowsong include most of these common elements, additional ones found in the version cited in the story below. This story also uses a neo-pagan...
Time for All Ages
| By
Erica Shadowsong
|
October 24, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
There is nothing you need to bring with you to be welcome here no right beliefs or proof of citizenship no eternal optimism or clarity of conviction no boundless courage or endless expertise You do not need to know what brought you here Or how you will solve that problem you are turning over and...
Opening
| By
Gretchen Haley
|
October 24, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
In the presence of this fire We hear the voice of our God, Of our Goddess, of our Holy. “You are on Sacred Ground.” In the presence of the flame In me, in you, in us, Moving, resting, gathering— We are on sacred ground. In the presence of this fire We are compelled To take up a torch, to carry...
Chalice Lighting
| By
Chrystal Hogan
|
October 24, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
The chalice is the container— the space where the musicians and the listeners gather. The oil is the fuel— the hours of practice and the life experiences of everyone in the room. The wick is the instruments and vocal cords through which the music will flow. And the flame—the flame!— is the...
Chalice Lighting
| By
Marnie Singer
|
October 24, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
Tagged as: Arts & Music, Direct Experience, Playfulness
Reader One: You who feel your heart is breaking, come in. Reader Two: You who are confused and wondering. Come in. Reader Three: You who are angry, in pain, or not wanting to be here. Come in. Reader Four: You who are hopeful and energized. Come in. Leader: Come into this community of your heart...
Chalice Lighting
| By
Amy Russell
|
October 24, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
Spirit of Life and Love, Holy One of our Being and our Becoming, That which is sacred Within, Among, and Beyond us… We have been blessed today by this community of compassion, comfort, and kindness. We’ve confessed that we've broken our vows a thousand times, and we have extended to and received...
Prayer
| By
Mandie McGlynn
|
October 24, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
While they were eating the Passover meal, Jesus took the bread in his hands and began to speak. “I am working to create infinite Justice, and I will never stop as long as I live.” He looked around at them. “But you know as well as I do that ‘as long as I live’ isn’t going to be very...
Ritual
| By
Mandie McGlynn
|
October 24, 2017
| From
WorshipWeb
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WorshipWeb’s Origin Story
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We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association and its members in the development of WorshipWeb.