"Star Island - Science and Spirit" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, August 10, 2025

Gathering Music (Mary Bopp)

Welcome & Announcements

Centering

Prelude

"Beau Soir"

by Claude Debussy

arr. by Heifetz

Anhared Stowe, violin and Mary Bopp, piano

Chalice Lighting and Opening Words

Introduction to the Service

Opening Hymn

#15 "The Lone Wild Bird"

Words: H. R. McFadden

Music: William Walker's Southern Harmony

Mary Bopp, piano

The lone, wild bird in lofty flight

is still with thee nor leaves thy sight.

And I am thine! I rest in thee.

Great spirit come and rest in me.

The ends of earth are in thy hand,

the sea's dark deep and far-off land.

And I am thine! I rest in thee.

Great spirit come and rest in me.

Joys and Concerns

Musical Interlude

Offering

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 food 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.

Offering Music

"Lotus Land"

by Cyril Scott,

Arr. by Kreisler

Anhared Stowe, violin and Mary Bopp, piano

Reflection - Jane Penfield

Musical Interlude

Reflection - David Klotz

Closing Hymn

#163 "For the Earth Forever Turning"

Words and Music: Kim Oler, arr. by Nick Page

Mary Bopp, piano

For the earth forever turning;

for the skies, for every 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 blue-green hills of earth.

Extinguishing the Chalice and Closing Words

Excerpt from Celia Thaxter's An Island Garden

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.