"Bittersweet August" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, August 3, 2025

Gathering Music

Welcome and Announcements

Centering

Prelude 

“Wildflowers”

Words and music by Tom Petty

Performed by The Gonzalez Family

Dan Thompson, guitar

Chalice Lighting and Opening Words

Introduction to the Service

Opening Hymn 

#1008 “When Our Heart Is In A Holy Place”

Words and Music: Joyce Poley

Mary Bopp, piano

(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)

Joys and Concerns

Musical Interlude

Offering

Continuing our practice of sharing our gifts with the community beyond our walls, fifty percent of our Sunday plate collections for the month of August will be shared with three local pantries: MACC Food Pantry (Manchester), Hockanum Valley Food Pantry (Vernon), and CT Mutual Aid East of the River Food Pantry (East Hartford).

Offering Music

“Turn! Turn! Turn!”

Written by Pete Seeger

Performed by The Gonzalez Family

Dan Thompson, guitar

Reading

“Late Summer Ritual”

by James Crews

Musical Interlude

Homily

“Bittersweet August”

Paula Baker

Closing Hymn 

#203 - “All Creatures of the Earth and Sky”

Words attributed to St. Francis of Assisi

Music by: Ralph Vaughn Williams

Mary Bopp, piano

All creatures of the earth and sky,

come, kindred, lift your voices high,

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Bright burning sun with golden beam,

soft shining moon with silver gleam:

(Chorus) Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Swift rushing wind so wild and strong,

white clouds that sail in heav’n along,

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Fair rising morn in praise rejoice,

high stars of evening find a voice:

(Chorus)

Cool flowing water, pure and clear,

make music for all life to hear,

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Dance, flame of fire, so strong and bright,

and bless us with your warmth and light:

(Chorus)

Extinguishing the Chalice and Closing Words 

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.