"In the Morning, Joy: A Service for Easter" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, April 20, 2025

Gathering Music

"Egg Hunt"

"Bunny Burrow"

by Lilly Coleman

Welcome (Emmy Galbraith)

Announcements (Rev. Josh Pawelek)

Centering

Musical Invocation

"Shanti"

by Helen Yeomans

UUSE Choir

Chalice Lighting and Opening Words

"i thank You God for most this amazing day"

by E. E. Cummings

Opening Hymn

#38 "Morning Has Broken"

Morning has broken like the first morning,

blackbird has spoken like the first bird.

Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!

Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!

Sweet the rain's new fall sunlit from heaven,

like the first dewfall on the first grass.

Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,

sprung in completeness where God's feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning

born of the one light Eden saw play!

Praise with elation, praise every morning,

God's recreation of the new day!

Story

"Rabbityness"

by Jo Empson

Musical Interlude

Joys and Concerns

Musical Interlude

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

"Pavane"

by Morton Gould

Dorothy Bognar, Mary Bopp, pianos

Music

"In the Morning, Joy"

by Mark Hayes

UUSE Choir

"Lead With Love"

by Melanie DeMore

UUSE Choir

Homily

"In the Morning, Joy"

Rev. Josh Pawelek

Closing Hymn

#61 "Lo, the Earth Awakes Again"

Lo, the earth awakes again -- Alleluia!

From the winter's bond and pain.

Alleluia! Bring we leaf and flower and spray -- Alleluia!

to adorn this happy day Alleluia!

Once again the word comes true,

Alleluia! All the earth shall be made new. Alleluia!

Now the dark, cold days are o'er, Alleluia!

Spring and gladness are before. Alleluia!

Change, then, mourning into praise, Alleluia!

And, for dirges, anthems raise. Alleluia!

How our spirits soar and sing, Alleluia!

How our hearts leap with the spring! Alleluia!

Music

"Alleluia, Alleluia"

by Roger Emerson

UUSE Choir

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.