Sunday Program – January 29, 2023
Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church
Sunday, January 29, 2023
“Embracing the Future, Honoring The Past:
Annual Service of the Living Tradition”
Sunday Program - Welcome!
GATHERING SONG
#1051, “We Are” (Ysaye Barnwell)
Composed by Dr. Ysaye Barnwell, renowned vocalist and former member of the a capella group Sweet Honey in the Rock, this hymn speaks to the importance of acknowledging our ancestors and finding hope in their legacy.
PRELUDE
Sarabande from Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (Edvard Grieg)
Brett Carson, piano
WELCOME
Rev. Leslie Takahashi
Ron Ahnen, Board Member
GREETING ONE ANOTHER
INVOCATION
Spirit of Life, come unto me. / Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea; / move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free; / Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me. — Carolyn McDade
LIGHTING OF THE CHALICE
Neysa Matt, Board Member
Each week we light a chalice, which has become a symbol for Unitarian Universalists and our engagement in the world.
TIME FOR ALL AGES
“I am a Unitarian!” Marena McGregor
SINGING THE CHILDREN TO ACTIVITIES
May your mind be open to new learning, may your lips bring truth into the world,
May your hearts know love and your hands do the work of justice
as you go your way in peace.
SHARE THE PLATE
Harry Miller, Winter Nights
CALL TO WORSHIP
Rev. Rodney Lemery
HYMN
#358, “Rank By Rank”
(Text: John H. Skrine & Carl G. Seaburg, rev. Kendyl L. R. Gibbons & Cynthia Landrum;
Music: Henry W. Davies, arr. Mark Tuning)
This hymn was written by John Huntley Skrine, an Anglican cleric and educator. It has been recast and expanded by Carl G. Seaburg. Sir Henry Walford Davies, British composer and professor of music at University College, Aberystwyth, Wales, is presumed to be the composer of this tune.
HONORING THOSE LOST TO DEATH
Chris Carter & Linda Russell, Board Members
Rev. Leslie Takahashi
TIME OF PRAYER AND MEDITATION
Rev. Leslie Takahashi
MUSIC MEDITATION
“Heart Wide Open” (Lea Morris)
Lea Morris is a renowned UU singer/songwriter from Baltimore, MD.
WELCOMING NEW LIFE
Jana Contreras, Board Member
Michael Macias
WELCOMING NEW CONNECTIONS
Jaynese Davis and Mark Watanabe, Board Members
Rev. Rodney Lemery
MUSICAL OFFERING
“Hymn to the Eternal Flame” (Text: Michael Dennis Browne; Music: Stephen Paulus)
Chalice Choir
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Steve Dietsch, Board Member
OFFERTORY
Air from Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (Edvard Grieg) Brett Carson, piano
Each week during the Offertory we light two pillar candles to acknowledge that we are living in a nation at war. The candles represent our wishes for all whose lives are endangered by the conflict, and our hopes for peace.
While the offering is received you are invited to come forward and select a stone to place in the column of water representing our community life, sharing it as a sign of remembrance and hope. Feel free to watch and hold your intention as your stone settles into the water’s embrace.
DEDICATION OF THE OFFERING
“To the work of this community, in transforming ourselves and our world, we dedicate ourselves and our offerings.”
MESSAGE
“In This Sankofa Moment” Rev. Leslie Takahashi
CLOSING SONG
“Creation of Peace” (Barbara Hope & Mark A. Miller)
Mark A. Miller serves as Assistant Professor of Church Music at Drew Theological School and is a Lecturer in the Practice of Sacred Music at Yale University. He also is the Minister of Music of Christ Church in Summit, New Jersey.
BENEDICTION AND EXTINGUISHING THE CHALICE
Linda Russell, Board President
POSTLUDE
"Cantaloupe Island" (Herbie Hancock)
House Band
_____________________________
NEXT SUNDAY:
“Centering Love”
Please join Rev. Rodney, Michael and the worship team for a service exploring the ways in which our faith movement centers the embrace and expression of Love as its core foundation.
Please join us for our virtual coffee hour at after the service at: https://zoom.us/j/811493869 or dial in 669 900 9128 then enter Meeting ID: 811 493 869 #
Thanks to our AV Tech staff, Liam Takahashi and Hector Tanabe.
Please remember that we are trying to keep staff safe by using virtual giving. If you can, please consider using on-line donations or text to give:
To Give or Pledge go to: https://www.mduuc.org/give/
| 2022-23 BOARD OF TRUSTEES | MINISTERS AND STAFF |
| Linda Russell, President
Ron Ahnen, Vice President Neysa Matt, Co-Secretary Davina Smith,Co-Secretary Chris Carter, Treasurer Jana Contreras, Board Member Steve Dietsch, Board Member Jaynese Davis, Board Member Mark David Watanabe, Board Member Andrew Oswald, Board Member |
Rev. Leslie Takahashi, Lead Minister / leslie@mduuc.net
Rev. Dr. David Sammons, Minister Emeritus Rev. Rodney Lemery, Community Minister/rodney@mduuc.org Rev. Jim Lewis, Consulting Minister / jimlewis@mduuc.org Michael Macias, Intern Minister /michael@mduuc.org Rev. Ranwa Hammamy CommunityMinister Rev. Meg Richardson, Community Minister Marena McGregor, Director of Religious Education / marena@mduuc.org Jen Marsh Prink, Church Administrator / jenm@mduuc.org Brynne Fay, Communications Coordinator / brynne@mduuc.org Mark Tuning, Music & Tech Director /musicdir@mduuc.org Eric Chapot, Facilities Manager / eric@mduuc.org Brett Carson, Accompanist / brettcarson@mduuc.org |
LIVING OUR VALUES
At Mt. Diablo UU Church we strive to bring to life our Unitarian Universalist values as we seek truth and work for justice and bridge the divisions that wound the human family. Please visit our “Living our Values” page to locate virtual and physical ways you can be a part in building a better world. If you have suggestions for items on this page, please email them to livingourvalues@mduuc.org.
Please consider taking 20-30 minutes of your day to review our Living our Values web page to participate in a number of cyberactivist activities that can collectively make a difference in our local and world communities. This week we have a number of Climate Justice and Racial Justice petitions and calls to action that could really use your help!
House Band
Mark Tuning, vocal & keyboard
Brett Carson, piano
Bill Wentz, bass
Bill Younger, drums
Choir
Dan Baltzo
Deb Baltzo
Elaine Bush
Kathe Cairns
Elizabeth Copley
Carol Fidler-Hasse
Jeff Galanti
Sue Galanti
Andy Leavitt
Catherine Lewis
Mora Mattingly
Patty Purvis-Thielman
Andrea Quigley
Scott Schrader
David Stanley
SierraLynne White
Song Lyrics
#1051 We Are…
For each child that's born,
a morning star rises
and sings to the universe who we are.
For each child that's born,
a morning star rises
and sings to the universe who we are.
We are our grandmothers' prayers
and we are our grandfathers' dreamings,
we are the breath of our ancestors,
we are the spirit of God.
We are mothers of courage and fathers of time,
we are daughters of dust
and the sons of great visions,
we're sisters of mercy and brothers of love,
we are lovers of life and the builders of nations,
we're seekers of truth and keepers of faith,
we are makers of peace and the wisdom of ages.
We are our grandmothers' prayers
and we are our grandfathers' dreamings,
we are the breath of our ancestors,
we are the spirit of God.
For each child that's born,
a morning star rises
and sings to the universe who we are.
For each child that's born,
a morning star rises
and sings to the universe who we are.
#358 Rank by Rank
Rank by rank come we once more,
From the four winds gathered hither
Loud the hallowed walls implore
Whence we come and how, and whither.
From their stillness breaking clear,
echoes wake to warn or cheer,
Higher truth from saint and seer
Call to us assembled here.
Ours the years’ memorial store,
Honored days and names we reckon,
Days of comrades gone before,
lives that speak and deeds that beckon.
From the dreaming of the night
to the labors of the day,
shines their everlasting light,
guiding us upon our way.
Never from that summons swerve;
Hark the prophets’ living chorus!
Truth and freedom still to serve
Show the present path before us.
As we dream, so shall we dare;
Hands to service, hearts to prayer.
Clouds of witness call us on,
that a nobler day may dawn.
Though the path be hard and long,
still we strive in expectation;
join we now their ageless song
one with them in aspiration.
One in name, in honor one,
guard we well the crown they won;
what they dreamed be ours to do,
hope their hopes, and seal them true.
Heart Wide Open
Keep your heart wide open
though the waves want to push you around.
You’ve got to keep your heart wide open,
‘til your faith brings you back to solid ground.
Creation of Peace
We'll build a love where we bind up the broken
We'll build a love where the captives go free
Where the oil of gladness dissolves all our mourning
We'll build a promised love that can be...
Chorus
O come build a love, come gather together,
Anointed by God, then create peace
Where justice shall flow... down like the wa-ter
And peace, peace like an ev-er flow-ing stream…
We'll build a love where we bring good tidings
To all the afflicted and those who will mourn...
We'll give them garlands instead of ashes...
We'll build a love where peace is re- born…
Chorus
We'll build a love where cries of praises
Resound from spirits once faint and once weak
Where like oaks of righteousness stand her people
Come build a love my people we seek
Chorus