Sunday Program – March 12, 2023
Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church
Sunday, March 12, 2023
“The Threads We Follow”
Sunday Program - Welcome!
GATHERING SONG
#1036, “Calypso Alleluia” (Thomas Benjamin)
“Alleluia” is a word that combines rejoicing, praise, and gratitude. This song uses the Calypso rhythms of Caribbean people who have known suffering and oppression, and yet who have shared a great gift for celebration with the world.
PRELUDE
"Bucsumí tánc" from Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56, BB 68 (Béla Bartók)
Brett Carson, piano
WELCOME
Rev. Rodney Lemery
Jaynese Davis, Board Member
GREETING ONE ANOTHER
INVOCATION
Come, come, whoever you are, / wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.
Ours is no caravan of despair. / Come, yet again come.
Ven, ven, cual eres, ven, / nómada en búsqueda, si amas la vida.
La nuestra es la caravana de amor. / Ven, otra vez, ven. - Lynn Ungar
LIGHTING OF THE CHALICE
Suzanne Lofquist
Each week we light a chalice, which has become a symbol for Unitarian Universalists and our engagement in the world.
TIME FOR ALL AGES
Rev. Marcus Liefert
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
Jim Lincoln
CONGREGATIONAL SONG
#1008, “When Our Heart Is in A Holy Place”
This hymn was composed by Joyce Poley, a longtime leader among Unitarian Universalist musicians.
JOYS AND SORROWS
Rev. Leslie Takahashi
MUSIC MEDITATION
“The Tide Is Rising” (Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman and Yotam Schachter)
On September 24, 2015 Rabbi Shoshana led The Tide Is Rising at an historic service bringing together national religious leaders in Washington D.C. at the National Cathedral. The service aimed to lift up Pope Francis' call to action on climate change and environmental care.
TIME OF PRAYER AND MEDITATION
Rev. Marcus Liefert
MUSICAL OFFERING
“When You Come Back Down” (Danny O'Keefe & Tim O'Brien)
House Band
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Ron Ahnen
OFFERTORY
Improvisation
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
“The Threads We Follow”
Rev. Marcus Liefert
CLOSING SONG
#131, “Love Will Guide Us”
Sally Rogers is a public elementary school music teacher, touring folk musician and songwriter whose works promote justice, unity, and peace.
BENEDICTION AND EXTINGUISHING THE CHALICE
Rev. Marcus Liefert
POSTLUDE "Blues on the Corner" (McCoy Tyner)
House Band
_____________________________
NEXT SUNDAY: —-Transformers - “More than Meets the Eye”. Join intern minister, Michael Macias, and the worship team for this service centered around the iconic pop culture toy, the “Transformers.” Together we will explore how we are called to be – with ourselves, each other, and the greater world.
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/
House Band
Andrea Quigley, vocal
Neysa Matt, vocal
Mark Tuning, vocal & keyboard
Daniel Zwickel, violin
Dan Barnard, guitar
Brett Carson, piano
Bill Wentz, bass
Bill Younger, drums
Song Lyrics
#1008 When Our Heart Is in a Holy Place
Chorus: When our heart is in a holy place,
When our heart is in a holy place,
We are bless’d with love and amazing grace,
When our heart is in a holy place.
- When we trust the wisdom in each of us,
Ev’ry color ev’ry creed and kind,
And we see our faces in each other’s eyes,
Then our heart is in a holy place.
[Chorus]
- When we tell our story from deep inside,
And we listen with a loving mind,
And we hear our voices in each other’s words,
Then our heart is in a holy place.
[Chorus]
- When we share the silence of sacred space,
And the God of our Heart stirs within,
And we feel the power of each other’s faith,
Then our heart is in a holy place.
[Chorus]
The tide is rising
The tide is rising, and so are we!
The tide is rising, and so are we!
The tide is rising, and so are we!
This is where we are called to be,
This is where we are called to be!
The task is mighty, and so are we!
The task is mighty, and so are we!
The task is mighty, and so are we!
This is where we are called to be,
This is where we are called to be!
The sun is shining, and so are we!
The sun is shining, and so are we!
The sun is shining, and so are we!
This is where we are called to be,
This is where we are called to be!
The world is ready, and so are we!
The world is ready, and so are we!
The world is ready, and so are we!
This is where we are called to be,
This is where we are called to be!
The tide is rising, and so are we!
The tide is rising, and so are we!
The tide is rising, and so are we!
This is where we are called to be,
This is where we are called to be!
#131 Love Will Guide Us
Love will guide us, peace has tried us,
hope inside us will lead the way
on the road from greed to giving.
Love will guide us through the hard night.
If you cannot sing like angels,
if you cannot speak before thousands,
you can give from deep within you.
You can change the world with your love.
Love will guide us, peace has tried us,
hope inside us will lead the way
on the road from greed to giving.
Love will guide us through the hard night.
| 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!