"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 with us through the heat of the day

and help us to be ever growing.

Warm us with strength and energy

for the work that awaits us.

Spirit of the West, Spirit of Water,

of evening and autumn

Be with us as the sun sets

and help us to enjoy a rich harvest.

Flow through us with a cooling,

healing quietness and bring us peace.

Spirit of the North, Spirit of Earth,

of nighttime and winter

Be with us in the darkness

in the time of gestation.

Ground us in the wisdom of the changing seasons

as we celebrate the spiraling journey of our lives.

Opening Hymn

#1 "May Nothing Evil Cross This Door"

Words by Louis Untermeyer

Music by Robert N. Quaile

May nothing evil cross this door,

and may ill fortune never pry about

these windows; may the roar

and rain go by.

By faith made strong, the rafters will

withstand the battering of the storm.

This hearth, though all the world grow chill,

will keep you warm.

Peace shall walk softly through these rooms,

touching our lips with holy wine,

till every casual corner blooms

into a shrine.

With laughter drown the raucous shout,

and, though these sheltering walls are thin,

may they be strong to keep hate out

and hold love in.

Spoken Meditation

Musical Meditation

Joys and Concerns

Responsorial Song

"Prayer for Connection"

Words by Cyndi Krupa

Music by Mary Bopp

May peace, light and love

Infuse all living beings

With a feeling of connection

And knowing we are one.

Offering

Our September Community Outreach Ministry recipients are the Manchester Latino Affairs Council and She Leads Justice.

The Manchester Latino Affairs Council (M.L.A.C.) was established in January of 2007. Its current mission is to address social issues with a focus on diversity, inclusivity and equality within Manchester's Latino community.

She Leads Justice advocates for under-resourced, marginalized women in Connecticut. They work to close the civil legal justice gap and to create state policy for economic security. Formerly known as the Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund, their work supports women who identify as cisgender and transgender, and non-binary individuals, as well as people of all marginalized gender identities.

Offering Music

Sermon

"Beginnings"

Rev. Josh Pawelek

Closing Song

"What a Wonderful World"

Bob Thiele and George David Weiss

I see trees of green

Red roses too

I see them bloom

For me and you

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue

And clouds of white

The bright blessed day

The dark sacred night

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow

So pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces

Of people going by

I see friends shaking hands

Saying, "How do you do?"

They're really saying

I love you.

I hear babies cry

I watch them grow

They'll learn much more

Than I'll ever know

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself

What a wonderful world.

Extinguishing the Chalice

Words adapted from #703 in Singing the Living Tradition

Author, anonymous

Closing Circle

May faith in the spirit of life

And hope for the community of earth

And love of the light in each other

Be ours now, and in all the days to come.