"Sacred Spaces: Affordable Housing as a Moral Imperative through MISAC" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, August 17, 2025
- uuseoffice
- Aug 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Gathering Music (Dorothy Bognar and Martha Larson, piano duo)
Welcome and Announcements
Centering
Prelude
Sonatina in C major, Op. 55, Nr. 1, in C major, 1st movement
by Friedrich Kuhlau & August Riedel (for 2 pianos)
Dorothy Bognar and Martha Larson, piano duo
Chalice Lighting and Opening Words #418
Introduction to the Service
Opening Music
"Homeward Bound"
Words and Music: Paul Simon
performed by Sandy Johnson (vocals) and Andy Ricci (guitar)
Joys and Concerns
Musical Interlude
Offertory
Continuing our practice of sharing our gifts with the community beyond our walls, fifty percent of our Sunday plate collections for the first four Sundays of August will be shared with three local pantries: MACC Food Pantry (in Manchester), Hockanum Valley Food Pantry (in Vernon), and CT Mutual Aid East of the River Food Pantry (in East Hartford).
Offertory Music
Sonatina in C major, Op. 55, Nr. 1, in C major, 2nd movement
by Friedrich Kuhlau & August Riedel (for 2 pianos)
Dorothy Bognar and Martha Larson, piano duo
Reading
"Birkat HaBayit,"
a Jewish blessing for the home
Musical Interlude
First Reflection – Malcolm Barlow, “The History of MISAC”
Musical Interlude
Second Reflection - Lynn Damon, "Beechwood Memories from a Former Resident"
Musical Interlude
Third Reflection – Stan McMillen, “The Economics and Moral Case for Affordable Housing”
Musical Interlude
Final Reflection - Anne Carr, "When Affordable is Beyond Reach"
Closing Hymn
Hymn #1, "May Nothing Evil Cross This Door"
Words by Louis Untermeyer, Music by Robert N. Quaile
Dorothy Bognar and Martha Larson, piano duo
May nothing evil cross this door,
and may ill fortune never pry about
these windows; may the roar
and rain go by.
By faith made strong, the rafters will
withstand the battering of the storm.
This hearth, though all the world grow chill,
will keep you warm.
Peace shall walk softly through these rooms,
touching our lips with holy wine,
till every casual corner blooms
into a shrine.
With laughter drown the raucous shout,
and, though these sheltering walls are thin,
may they be strong to keep hate out
and hold love in.
Extinguishing the Chalice and Closing Words
From Spirit Wheel: Meditations from an Indigenous Elder,
“House of the Spirit”
(Steven Charleston)
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.
Additional Information
For information on Manchester population statistics, see https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US0944690-manchester-ct.
For information on state statistics and the ALICE Report, see https://www.unitedforalice.org/Attachments/AllReports/state-of-alice-report-Connecticut-2025.pdf
The Beechwood Apartments rent schedule:
For information on the economic benefits of affordable housing, see https://homesight.org/the-economic-benefits-of-affordable-housing
To see how zoning affects the price of housing, see https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/ct-zoning-affordable-housing-values-20791578.php?sid=676c747c7748d4899c0d2ca8&ss=A&st_rid=f5e36bb1-9d1c-4e74-bd94-70d19c6422b7.
The Connecticut Housing and Segregation study is available at https://portal.ct.gov/datapolicy/Knowledge-Base/Articles/Housing-and-Segregation-Study?language=en_US
Information on rent trends is available at https://www.ctinsider.com/realestate/article/ct-rent-average-cost-zillow-20781943.php?sid=676c747c7748d4899c0d2ca8&ss=A&st_rid=f5e36bb1-9d1c-4e74-bd94-70d19c6422b7
For information about HB 5002, see https://ctmirror.org/2025/06/03/ct-hb-5002-housing-bill
The “CT Fair Share Housing Study Final Report” is available at https://www.coventry-ct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9575/CT_Fair_Share_Housing_Study_Final_Report___2025
Link to MISAC Grants and Charitable Donations:
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