Gathering Music
Welcome and Announcements
Centering
Prelude
"Big Yellow Taxi"
Words and Music by Joni Mitchell
performed by Andy Ricci
Chalice Lighting and Opening Words
"As surely as we belong to the universe"
by Margaret A. Keip
Introduction to the Service
Opening Hymn
#1064 "Blue Boat Home"
Words: Peter Mayer
Music: Roland Hugh Prichard, adapted by Peter Mayer
Though below me, I feel no motion standing on these mountains and plains.
Far away from the rolling ocean still my dry land heart can say:
I've been sailing all my life now, never harbor or port have I known.
The wide universe is the ocean I travel, and the earth is my blue boat home.
Sun my sail and moon my rudder as I ply the starry sea,
leaning over the edge in wonder, casting questions into the deep.
Drifting here with my ship's companions, all we kindred pilgrim souls,
making our way by the lights of the heavens in our beautiful blue boat home.
I give thanks to the waves upholding me, hail the great winds urging me on,
greet the infinite sea before me, sing the sky my sailor's song:
I was born up on the fathoms, never harbor or port have I known.
The wide universe is the ocean I travel, and the earth is my blue boat home.
Story
"Change Sings -- A Children's Anthem"
by Amanda Gorman, ill. by Loren Long
spoken by Emmy Galbraith
Joys and Concerns
Musical Interlude
Offering
Our community outreach offering for April is dedicated to the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network or IREJN. IREJN is Connecticut's only faith-based environmental non-profit organization. Committed to justice and grounded in hope, IREJN is a unifying voice dedicated to positive, hopeful action on behalf of the earth, the one thing we all share and the one place we all call home. Their mission is to inspire and equip Connecticut's religious communities and their spiritual allies to protect our planet through education, engagement, and advocacy.
Offering Music
"Hymn to Gaia"
by Mary Bopp
Homily
Janet Heller
with words from Cory Clark, Nancy Madar and Laurel Hennebury
Video
"Won't Give Up"
by Pattie Gonia, Yo-Yo Ma, and Quinn Christopherson
Congregational Sing: "Won't Give Up" Chorus
I won't give up for a minute
Never giving up on you
Never giving up on you
We won't give up for a minute
Never giving up on you
Never giving up on you
Closing Words
Excerpts from "Earthrise"
by Amanda Gorman
Extinguishing the Chalice
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.