"The Generous Spirit" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, February 22, 2026

Gathering Music (Jenn Richard)

Welcome and Announcements

Centering

Prelude

“All Will Be Well”

Words and music by Meg Barnhouse

Song leader: Jenn Richard

Chorus:

And all will be well

And all will be well.

All manner of things

Will be well.

Chalice Lighting and Opening Words

Excerpt from “Generosity”

By the Rev. Dr. Sherri Prud-homme

Adapted by Rev. Josh Pawelek

Opening Hymn

#18 “What Wondrous Love”

American Folk Hymn

with words by Connie Campbell Hart

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,

what wondrous love is this, O my soul?

What wondrous love is this that brings my heart such bliss,

and takes away the pain of my soul, of my soul,

and takes away the pain of my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,

when I was sinking down, sinking down,

when I was sinking down beneath my sorrows ground,

friends to me gather’d round, O my soul, O my soul,

friends to me gather’d round, O my soul.

To love and to all friends I will sing, I will sing,

to love and to all friends I will sing.

To love and to all friends who pain and sorrow mend,

with thanks unto the end I will sing, I will sing,

with thanks unto the end I will sing.

Time for All Ages

Musical Interlude

Joys and Concerns

Musical Interlude

Offering

We do not gather our gifts only for ourselves but to share with the larger community. Continuing our practice of sharing our gifts with the community beyond our walls, fifty percent of our Sunday plate collections for the month of February will be shared with Manchester’s African American and Black Affairs Council or AABAC. AABAC is a community-based organization whose mission is to uphold all aspects of the lived experiences of Black people in Manchester through advocacy, education, the arts and community events.

Offering Music

“Kind and Generous”

By Natalie Merchant

Jenn Richard, guitar and vocals

Sermon

“The Generous Spirit”

Rev. Josh Pawelek

Closing Song

“Sanctuary” (adapted)

By Randy Scruggs and John Thompson

Love prepare me, to be a sanctuary

sure and steady, tried and true

With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living

sanctuary for you.

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.