"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 telephone wire

Some just clap their hands or paws or anything they got now

Introduction to the Service

Joys and Concerns

Musical Interlude

Offering

The recipients of our August community outreach offerings are the MACC Food Pantry, the Hockanum Valley Food Pantry, and the CT Mutual Aid East of the River food security program, along with the TLC Foundation.

As a reminder, you can also donate on our website. There's a yellow donate button in the top center of the home page.

Offering Music

"Blackbird"

Words and music by Paul McCartney & John Lennon

Performed by Chris Crossgrove, piano

Slideshow: Our UUSE Animal Family

Reflection #1 - Kristen Dockendorff

Poem - "Reunion" by Sheila Foran

Reflection #2 - Nancy Madar

Slideshow - In Memoriam

Closing Hymn

#175 "We Celebrate the Web of Life"

Words and Music: Alicia S. Carpenter

Performed by Chris Crossgrove, piano

We celebrate the web of life, its magnitude we sing;

for we can see divinity in every living thing.

A fragment of the perfect whole in cactus and in quail,

as much in tiny barnacle as in the great blue whale.

Of ancient dreams we are the sum; our bones link stone to star,

and bind our future worlds to come with worlds that were and are.

Respect the water, land, and air which gave all creatures birth;

protect the lives of all that share the glory of the earth.

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.