Gathering Music
Welcome (Emmy Galbraith)
Announcements (Rev. Josh Pawelek)
Centering
Prelude
"Water is Life"
by Sara Thomsen
Chalice Lighting and Opening Words
"Call to Worship on Easter"
by the Rev. Elizabeth Strong
Opening Hymn
#347 "Gather the Spirit"
Words and music by Jim Scott
Gather the spirit, harvest the power.
Our sep'rate fires will kindle one flame.
Witness the mystery of this hour.
Our trials in this light appear all the same.
Gather in peace, gather in thanks.
Gather in sympathy now and then.
Gather in hope, compassion and strength.
Gather to celebrate once again.
Gather the spirit of heart and mind.
Seeds for the sowing are laid in store.
Nurtured in love, and conscience refined,
with body and spirit united once more.
Chorus
Gather the spirit growing in all,
drawn by the moon and fed by the sun.
Winter to spring, and summer to fall,
the chorus of life resound as one.
Chorus
Story
"There's No Place Like Hope"
by Janet Lawler, ill by Tamisha Anthony
spoken by Emmy Galbraith
Music
Joys and Concerns
Music
"Rise Up"
by Andra Day
Jeannine Westbrook, vocals
Offering
The recipient of our March community outreach offering is Moral Monday CT, a statewide coalition of individuals and organizations, rooted in the social justice and civil rights movements. Based in Hartford, Moral Monday CT gathers voices in the struggle for freedom and justice for black and brown people. Their areas of focus, activism and social change work include police accountability, voting rights, and workers' rights. Moral Monday CT was founded by Bishop John Selders and Lady Pamela Selders.
Offering Music
"To the Spring"
by Edvard Grieg
Mary Bopp and Dorothy Bognar, piano
Music
"We Got All the Love"
by Helen Yeomans
Music
"Shine on Me"
by Rollo Dilworth
Homily
"Shine on Me"
Rev. Josh Pawelek
Closing Music
"Draw the Circle Wide"
by Mark A. Miller
Closing Hymn
#269 "Lo the Day of Days is Here"
Words by Frederick Lucian Hosmer
Music by Robert Williams
Lo, the day of days is here, Alleluia!
Festival of hope and cheer! Alleluia!
At the south wind's genial breath -- Alleluia!
Nature wakes from seeming death, Alleluia!
Fields are smiling in the sun, Alleluia!
Loosened streamlets seaward run, Alleluia!
Tender blade and leaf appear; Alleluia!
'Tis the spring-tide of the year, Alleluia!
Lo, the Eastertide is here, Alleluia!
Music thrills the atmosphere. Alleluia!
Join, you people all, and sing -- Alleluia!
Love and praise and thanksgiving, Alleluia!
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.
The flowers today are given in loving memory of Bob and Marilyn Richardson by their family.