Sunday Program- June 18, 2023
Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church
Sunday, June 18, 2023
“Music and the Spirit”
Sunday Program - Welcome!
GATHERING SONG
#347, “Gather the Spirit” (Jim Scott)
This hymn was composed by U.U. singer-songwriter (and former member of the Paul Winter consort) Jim Scott of Shrewsbury, MA.
PRELUDE
Courante from Suite #1 for Cello (Unaccompanied), BWV 1007, N. 3 (J. S. Bach)
Josh Mahoney, cello
WELCOME
Reverend 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
Darla, Maddie, & Sarah Tuning
Each week we light a chalice, which has become a symbol for Unitarian Universalists and our engagement in the world.
TIME FOR ALL AGES
The Tuning Family
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.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Rev. Leslie Takahashi
CONGREGATIONAL SONG #30, “Over My Head”
This traditional spiritual appears here in an arrangement by Dr. Horace Clarence Boyer (1935-2009), one of the foremost scholars in African-American gospel music.
JOYS AND SORROWS
Rev. Leslie Takahashi
MUSIC MEDITATION
“Heart Wide Open” (Lea Morris)
Lea Morris is a renowned UU singer/songwriter from Baltimore, MD.
MEDITATION
Rev. Rodney Lemery
MUSICAL OFFERING
“Music” (Carole King)
House Band
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Mark David Watanabe, Board Member
OFFERTORY
Méditation from Thaïs (Jules Massenet)
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
“Music and the Spirit”
Mark Tuning, Director of Music and AV Technologies
Music: “Ubi caritas” (Paul Halley)
Musicians of MDUUC
From the Composer: This Gregorian chant- “Where there is love, there is God” – has been in my life since I was ten years old as a choir boy. I sang a setting of it by Durufle, who is one of my favorite twentieth century composers. Both the words and the music have tremendous universal appeal. I tried to bring out the inherent power and optimism of the Gregorian Chant by juxtaposing it with the chant of another culture. Sometimes we need to look at the obvious through other people’s eyes.
CLOSING SONG
#1050, “Jazz Alleluia”
UU composer Tom Benjamin wrote this simple Alleluia setting based on the famous “Canon” of Johann Pachelbel.
BENEDICTION AND EXTINGUISHING THE CHALICE
POSTLUDE
“Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” (Joe Zawinol)
House Band
_____________________________
NEXT SUNDAY: Ever Willing: Becoming the People Our World Needs: The pandemic has wrought change and created uncertainty for institutions, like our Unitarian Universalist congregations, and our wider world. Who and what are we becoming, individually and collectively? Our GA Sunday service explores these themes as we gather in community to celebrate the best of who we UUs are. Please join Rev. Rodney as we Livestream the General Assembly worship from our sanctuary and online! We will offer a time after service to reflect on the worship experience together and what the future holds for our faith tradition and our MDUUC community.
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: Troy Yochelson, Liam Takahashi, and Hector Tanabe
To Give or Pledge go to: https://www.mduuc.org/give
House Band
Mark Tuning, vocal & keyboard
Laura Zucker, vocal & guitar
Brynne Fay, vocal
Josh Marshall, saxes
Josh Mahoney, cello
Brett Carson, piano
Larry Crummer, organ
Bill Wentz, bass
Bill Younger, drums
SierraLynn White, percussion
Choir
Deb Baltzo
Elaine Bush
Marie McGarvey
Patty Purvis-Thielman
Maddie Tuning
Mary Helen Binger
Mora Mattingly
Karla Leibowitz
Andrea Quigley
Darla Tuning
Jim Lincoln
Daniel Zwickel
SierraLynne White
Elliott Lee
Scott Schrader
Mark Tuning, director
Brett Carson, accompanist
Song Lyrics
#347 “Gather the Spirit”
Gather the spirit, harvest the power.
Our sep'rate fires will kindle one flame.
Witness the mystery of this hour.
Our trials in this light appear all the same.
[Chorus]
Gather in peace, gather in thanks.
Gather in sympathy now and then.
Gather in hope, compassion and strength.
Gather to celebrate once again.
[Chorus]
Gather the spirit growing in all,
drawn by the moon and fed by the sun.
Winter to spring, and summer to fall,
the chorus of life resounding as one.
[Chorus]
Gather the spirit of heart and mind.
Seeds for the sowing are laid in store.
Nurtured in love, and conscience refined,
with body and spirit united once more.
[Chorus]
#30 Over My Head
Over my head I hear music in the air.
Over my head I hear music in the air.
Over my head I hear music in the air.
There must be a God somewhere.
Over my head I hear singing in the air…
Over my head I see trouble in the air. ...
Over my head I feel gladness in the air ...
Over my head I hear music in the air.
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.
| 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, Justice and Membership Engagement Minister /rodney@mduuc.org Rev. Jim Lewis, Consulting Minister / jimlewis@mduuc.org Rev. Michael Macias, Intern Minister /michael@mduuc.org Rev. Ranwa Hammamy Community Minister Rev. Meg Richardson, Community Minister Marena McGregor, Director of Religious Education / marena@mduuc.org Jen Marsh Prink, Church Administrator / jenm@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!