"Summer Solstice and Living Simply" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, July 6, 2025

Gathering Music 

Welcome & Announcements

Centering

Prelude:  

“Simple Gifts Meditation”

Trad. Shaker hymn, arr. by Mary Bopp

Chalice Lighting and Opening Words

From “Benediction”

by Bernadette Miller

Introducing the Service

Opening the Quarters  

Opening Hymn 

# 361 “Enter, Rejoice and Come In”

by Louise Ruspini

Enter, rejoice, and come in.

Enter, rejoice, and come in.

Today will be a joyful day;

enter, rejoice, and come in.

Open your ears to the song ...

Open your hearts ev'ryone ...

Don't be afraid of some change ...

Enter, rejoice, and come in ...

Welcoming Visitors, 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 month of July will be shared with MACC Food Pantry (Manchester), Hockanum Valley Food Pantry (Vernon) and CT Mutual Aid East of the River Food Pantry (East Hartford).

Offering Music

“Ordinary Miracles”

by Mary Bopp

Reading

“Messenger”

by Mary Oliver

First Reflection: “Reflections on Solstice” (Ellen Williams)

Second Reflection: “Living Simply Amidst Chaos” (Vivian Carlson)

Closing the Quarters

Closing Hymn

#16 “Tis a Gift to be Simple”

by Joseph Bracket, American Shaker tune

'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free,

'tis a gift to come down where we ought to be,

and when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained,

to bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.

To turn, turn will be our delight,

'till by turning, turning we come 'round right.

Closing Words 

“Choose to Bless the World” 

by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker

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.