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Sunday Services at 9:00 and 11:00
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The UUSE Building Reserve Campaign
The UUSE Building Reserve is a special fund established by the Policy Board to be used solely for planned and emergency building maintenance (e.g., replacing the roof, repaving the parking lot, etc.). A healthy building reserve enables us to avoid emergency capital campaigns in the future. Knowing that we can afford to pay for expensive future maintenance gives us financial security and lets us focus on our core mission. The Building Reserve Campaign is an annual and ongoing
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3 days ago2 min read
"How Shall We Mend You, Sweet Soul? -- UUSE Virtual Worship, November 15, 2026
Gathering Music (Mary Bopp and Leah Coloff) Welcome (Rev. Josh Pawelek) Centering Prelude "How Shall We Mend You?" Leah Coloff, vocal Mary Bopp, piano Chalice Lighting and Opening Words "Mending" by the Rev. Nancy Shaffer Opening Hymn #1002 "Comfort Me" by Mimi Bornstein Comfort me, comfort me, comfort me, oh my soul. Comfort me, comfort me, comfort me, oh my soul. Sing with me, sing with me... Speak for me, speak for me... Dance with me, dance with me... Comfort me, comfort
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3 days ago2 min read
To Act for Justice, Rev. Josh Pawelek, Nov. 8, 2026
ICE protest, June 2026 “The central task of the religious community is to unveil the bonds that bind each to all. There is a connectedness, a relationship discovered amidst the particulars of our own lives and the lives of others. Once felt, it inspires us to act for justice”—words from the Unitarian Universalist minister, the Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed. This is the third sermon in my series on the new Unitarian Universalist Association statement of values which our G
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3 days ago9 min read
"To Act for Justice" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, November 8, 2026
Gathering Music Welcome Centering Prelude "Room at the Table" by Carrie Ann Newcomer Pat Eaton-Robb (9:00 a.m.) UUSE Children's Chorus (11:00 a.m.) Chalice Lighting and Opening Words "The Task of the Religious Community" by the Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed Opening Hymn "Circle 'Round for Freedom" by Linda Hirschhorn Circle 'round for freedom, circle 'round for peace, for all of us imprisoned, circle for release, circle for the planet, circle for each soul, for the children of our
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Nov 42 min read
"Faith Is a Verb" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, November 1, 2026
Gathering Music Welcome & Announcements Centering Prelude "If ye love me" Composed by Thomas Tallis Performed by the following members of the Vernon Chorale: Kate Adams Lisa Corriveau Rebecca Harris David Klotz Emily Letourneau Steve Westerberg Liz Whitely Introduction by David Klotz We are joined today by the Cameo Ensemble, whose members are representatives of The Vernon Chorale. The purpose of The Vernon Chorale is to provide a forum to learn and refine choral singing and
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Oct 282 min read
"Ancestor Day" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, October 25, 2026
Gathering Music (Mary Bopp) Welcome and Announcements (Rev. Josh Pawelek) Centering Calling the Quarters "To the Four Directions" Music by Mary Bopp Words adapted from Joan Goodwin's "To the Four Directions" Jenn Richard, vocals Mary Bopp, piano Chalice Lighting "What is Remembered Lives" by Starhawk and Lauren Liebling Opening Hymn #1009 "Meditation on Breathing" by Sarah Dan Jones Members and friends are invited to bring their photos and mementos to the altar. When I breath
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Oct 193 min read
Transformation: It's What Liberal Faiths Do, Rev. Josh Pawelek, October 11, 2026
“Amazing Grace” – one of the most familiar and beloved hymns in the Christian world. It is a song about transformation: “I once was lost, but now am found.” I’m not the same person I was. I’ve grown. I’ve changed. In collective terms: We are not the same people we were. Together, we’ve grown. Together, we’ve changed. Together, we’ve transformed. This is the second sermon in a series on the six Unitarian Universalist values. This morning’s value: transformation. I want to sha
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Oct 158 min read
"Gathering Courage" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, October 18, 2026
Gathering Music (Mary Bopp) Welcome & Centering Prelude: "What Does the World Require of You?" by Jim Strathdee, arranged by Pawel Jura Performed by Mary Bopp at 9:00am and UUSE Choir at 11:00am Chalice Lighting and Opening Words "Fire Strike" by Margaret Noodin translated by the author from the original Ojibwe Opening Hymn #318 "We Would Be One" Words: Samuel Anthony Wright Music: Jean Sibelius Time for All Ages I Can Learn to Be Brave by Mariann Edgar Budde Announcements In
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Oct 141 min read
"Transformation: It's What Liberal Churches Do!" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, October 11, 2026
Gathering Music (Mary Bopp) Welcome (Rev. Josh Pawelek) Centering Prelude "Hotel" by Francis Poulenc Arr. by Mary Bopp Chalice Lighting and Opening Words "Turn Scarlet, Leaves" Words by Raymond J. Baughan Music by Mary Bopp Turn scarlet, leaves Spin earth Tumble the shadows into dawn Tumble the shadows into dawn Opening Hymn "I Will Change Your Name" by D. J. Butler I will change your name You shall no longer be called Wounded, outcast Lonely or afraid I will change your name
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Oct 63 min read
"Cultivating a Hopeful Courage" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, October 4, 2026
Gathering Music (Meetinghouse) Welcome & Centering (Stacey Musulin) Prelude: "Resilient" Words and Music by Leah Song & Chloe Smith of Rising Appalachia Performed by Meetinghouse Chalice Lighting & Opening Words "There is a Quiet Courage" by Rev. Gretchen Haley There is a quiet courage in the choice to let go of the past, in the choice to be present in this new day to live for this hour, this moment and to believe in its possibility - to release the regrets, to stop the spinn
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Oct 14 min read
"Your Invitation to the Party: Joy, Justice, and the Work of Love" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, September 27, 2026
Gathering Music (Mary Bopp) Welcome (Rev. Josh Pawelek) Prelude "There is a Love" Music by Elizabeth Norton Words by Rebecca Ann Parker There is a Love holding me. There is a Love holding all that I love. There is a love holding all. I rest in this Love. There is a Love holding us. There is a Love holding all that we love. There is a Love holding all. We rest in this Love. We rest in this Love. Love. Chalice Lighting and Opening Words "Invocation" by Angela Herrera (ad. by Re
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Sep 213 min read
Beginnings, Rev. Josh Pawelek, September 20th, 2026
We begin our 2026-2027 congregational year. We begin as the last days of summer yield to autumn. We begin at the midpoint between the summer and winter solstices, a time of balance between light and dark. We begin as the lush, green summer season of exploration, play and discovery gives way to the yellow-gold-orange-red-crimson season of harvest, of winding down, of letting go. We begin each morning, noting a slight chill in the
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Sep 207 min read
"Beginnings" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, September 20, 2026
Gathering Music (Mary Bopp) Welcome (Rev. Josh Pawelek) Announcements Centering Prelude "Bonfire Magick" by Mary Bopp Chalice Lighting and Opening Words #446 "To the Four Directions" by Joan Goodwin Spirit of the East, Spirit of Air, of Morning and Springtime Be with us as the sun rises in times of beginning, in times of planting. Inspire us with the fresh breath of courage as we go forth into new adventures. Spirit of the South, Spirit of Fire, of noontime and Summer. Be wit
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Sep 153 min read
"Homecoming" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, September 13, 2026
Gathering Music (Mary Bopp) Welcome (Emmy Galbraith) Announcements (Rev. Josh Pawelek) Centering (Emmy Galbraith) Prelude Chalice Lighting and Opening Words "A Spacious Welcome" by the Rev. Shari Woodbury Opening Hymn #361 "Enter, Rejoice and Come In" Words and Music by Louise Ruspini Enter, rejoice, and come in. Enter, rejoice, and come in. Today will be a joyful day; enter, rejoice, and come in. Open your ears to the song... Open your hearts ev'ryone... Don't be afraid of s
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Sep 24 min read
"Labor in the Pulpit" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, September 6, 2026
Gathering Music "That's Why I Stand by the Union" Written and Performed by Dan Thompson, guitar Welcome Announcements Centering Prelude "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton Performed by Dan Thompson, guitar Chalice Lighting Open Words Rose Schneiderman's 1912 speech to the Women's Trade Union League "What the woman who labors wants is the right to live, not simply exist -- the right to live as the rich woman has the right to life, and the sun and music and art. You have nothing that the
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Aug 314 min read
"Coffee House" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, August 30, 2026
Gathering Music “Samson and Delilah” by Rev Gary Davis “You Gotta Come On Up to the House” by Tom Waits Dan Thompson, guitar and vocals Welcome and Announcements (Rev. Josh Pawelek) Centering Prelude “Precious Memories” (traditional) Nancy Madar, guitar and vocals Joe Madar, vocals Chalice Lighting and Opening Words “The Summit” by Mike Baxter Opening Hymn #66 “When the Summer Sun is Shining” Words by Sydney Henry Knight Music from The Southern Harmony, 1855,
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Aug 202 min read
"Blessed Are the Animals" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, August 23, 2026
Gathering Music Welcome and Announcements Centering Prelude "Carnival of the Animals: The Swan" Composed by Camille Saint-Saens Performed by Chris Crossgrove, piano Chalice Lighting and Opening Words Opening Hymn "All God's Critters Got a Place In the Choir" Words and Music: Bill Steines Performed by Nancy Madar, guitar and vocals (Congregation sings the chorus only) All God' critters got a place in the choir Some sing lower and some sing higher Some sing out loud on the tele
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Aug 192 min read
"Our Poetry Connection" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, August 16, 2026
Gathering Music Welcome Centering Prelude "The Poet Speaks" by Robert Schumann Chalice Lighting & Opening Words Opening Hymn #360 "Here We Have Gathered" Words: Alicia S. Carpenter Music: Genevan psalter Here we have gathered, gathered side by side; circle of kinship, come and step inside! May all who seek here find a kindly word; may all who speak here feel they have been heard. Sing now together this, our hearts' own song. Here we have gathered, called to celebrate days of
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Aug 102 min read
"The Four Agreements, Part 2" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, August 9, 2026
Don't make assumptions Always do your best Gathering Music (Mary Bopp, piano) Welcome (Sam Taylor) Centering Prelude "Late for Lammas" by Mary Bopp Chalice Lighting and Opening Words (Liz Garmise) Excerpt from "Prayer for Love" Opening Hymn #128 "For All That Is Our Life" Words by Bruce Findlow Mary Bopp, piano For all that is our life we sing our thanks and praise; for all life is a gift which we are called to use to build the common good and make our own days glad. For need
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Aug 42 min read
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