"Gracefully Amazing" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, April 13, 2025

Gathering Music (Mary Bopp)

Welcome and Announcements (Rev. Josh Pawelek)

Centering

Prelude

"Amazing Grace"

Virginia Harmony, 1831

Eric Rosenberg, Saxophone

Chalice Lighting and Opening Words

Excerpt from The Life of John Newton

by Richard Cecil

Opening Hymn

#205 "Amazing Grace"

Words by John Newton

Set to the tune of "Gift of Love," traditional English folk melody

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears, my fears relieved;

how precious did that grace appear the hour I first, I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares, through these I have already come;

'tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead, will lead me home.

Time for All Ages

Musical Meditation

Joys and Concerns

Music

"Meditation on Amazing Grace"

Dorothy Bognar, piano

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

"Amazing Grace"

music: "Rising Sun Blues"

Sandy Johnson, vocals; Mary Bopp, piano

Sermon

"Not What I Used to Be"

Rev. Josh Pawelek

Closing Hymn

#205 "Amazing Grace"

Words by John Newton

Music: Virginia Harmony, 1831

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;

how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;

'tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,

we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun.

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.