"Unchecked" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, June 8, 2025

Gathering Music (Mary Bopp)

Welcome and Announcements (Rev. Josh Pawelek)

Centering

Prelude

“The Poet Speaks” 

by Robert Schumann

Mary Bopp, piano

Chalice Lighting and Opening Words

"A Poet's Purpose"

by Nadia Sims

Opening Hymn

#1002 “Comfort Me” 

By Mimi Bornstein

Comfort me, comfort me,

comfort me, oh my soul.

Comfort me, comfort me,

comfort me, oh my soul.

Sing with me, sing with me…

Speak for me, speak for me…

Dance with me, dance with me…

Welcoming New Members

Introductions (Membership Committee co-chairs)

The Charge (Minister)

As you take up membership in the Unitarian Universalist Society East, I charge you to share with us who you are. Share your creativity, your experiences, your questions, your doubts, your beliefs, and all your discoveries of life's meaning. I charge you to shake us up with your ideas, to stir us up with your conscience, to inspire us with your actions, and to stimulate our hopes with your dreams of what life can be.

Congregational Welcome (Congregation)

We welcome you as companions in the search for truth and meaning. We invite you to share in our mission of caring for one another, encouraging each other in spiritual growth, working for justice and peace in the wider community, and living in harmony with the earth. We join our gifts with yours, trusting in the power of community to bring freedom, healing, and love.

New Member Affirmation (New members)

We join the Unitarian Universalist Society East out of a desire and willingness to participate in a liberal religious congregation. We pledge to share our time, energy and gifts; to diligently seek our spiritual truths; and to strengthen the bonds of community. 

Responsive Hymn

“This Meeting House”

words adapted from Eugene Sander by Josh Pawelek

Music by Jean Sibelius 

This meeting house,

A place of love and gladness.

Where all may meet, to seek the common good.

A source of strength, to face each doubt and sadness.

Where every dream, is known and understood.

This meeting house, ask those who came before,

And found themselves, by crossing through its door.

Joys and Concerns

Music

"Prayer for Connection"

Words by Cyndi Krupa

Music by Mary Bopp

May peace, light and love

Infuse all living beings

With a feeling of connection

And knowing we are one.

Offering

Trans Voices and Visibility-365 (TV-365) is a ministry of the Metropolitan Community Church in Hartford, dedicated to uplifting and supporting the well-being of transgender individuals in Connecticut by providing basic human needs, information and referral, service coordination and support to individuals.  This ministry also works to support and collaborate with relevant support groups and service providers. Our emphasis is on those most underserved, neglected, victimized and oppressed.  This includes, but is not limited to, transgender women and men of color, those with disabilities, youth and elderly, immigrants (documented and undocumented), low income and victims of crime.

Offering Music

"I Need No Wings to Fly"

by Mary Bopp

Spoken Word

“Boxes” 

Nadia Sims

“On Checking Boxes”

Rev. Josh Pawelek

“Unchecked” 

Nadia Sims

Closing Hymn

#1028 “Fire of Commitment”

Words by Mary Katherine Morn

Music by Jason Shelton

From the light of days remembered burns a beacon bright and clear

Guiding hands and hearts and spirits Into faith set free from fear.

When the fire of commitment sets our mind and soul a blaze

When our hunger and our passion meet to call us on our way

When we live with deep assurance of the flame that burns within,

Then our promise finds fulfillment and our future can begin.

From the stories of our living rings a song both brave and free,

Calling pilgrims still to witness to the life of liberty.

When the fire of commitment sets our mind and soul a blaze

When our hunger and our passion meet to call us on our way

When we live with deep assurance of the flame that burns within,

Then our promise finds fulfillment and our future can begin.

From the dreams of youthful vision comes a new, prophetic voice,

Which demands a deeper justice built by our courageous choice

When the fire of commitment sets our mind and soul ablaze

When our hunger and our passion meet to call us on our way

When we live with deep assurance of the flame that burns within,

Then our promise finds fulfillment and our future can begin.

Extinguishing the Chalice

The flame in our hearts, never ceases burning.

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.