"Earth Day" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, April 27, 2025

Gathering Music (Mary Bopp)

Welcome and Announcements (Rev. Josh Pawelek)

Centering

Prelude

Chalice Lighting and Opening Words

“Queries” 

by the Rev. Mark Belletini

Opening Hymn

#1064 “Blue Boat Home” 

Words by Peter Mayer

Music by Roland Hugh Prichard, ad. 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 up holding 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.

Time for All Ages

“One Million Trees: A True Story” 

by Kristen Balouch

Musical Interlude

Joys and Concerns

Offering

The recipient of our April Community Outreach offering is the Inter-Religious Eco-Justice Network, or IREJN, Connecticut’s only faith-based environmental non-profit organization. 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

“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”

African American spiritual

Terri Eickel, vocals

Mary Bopp, piano

Sermon

Earth Day Reflections

Terri Eickel

Closing Hymn

#163 “For the Earth Forever Turning”

Words and music by Kim Oler

Arr. by Nick Page

For the earth forever turning; for the skies, for ev’ry sea;

for our lives, for all we cherish, sing we our joyful song of peace.

For the mountains, hills, and pastures in their silent majesty;

for the stars, for all the heavens, sing we our joyful song of peace.

For the sun, for rain and thunder, for the seasons’ harmony,

for our lives, for all creation, sing we our joyful praise to Thee.

For the world we raise our voices, for the home that gives us birth;

in our joy we sing returning home to our bluegreen hills of earth.

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.