Order of Service
Worship Leader Rev Kate Walker
Liturgist Robert Piemme
Music Ellen Gozion, Director of Instrumental Music; Lee Saville-Iksik, Choir Director.
Tech Emily Sweeney and Andrew Papale
Prelude Turn, by the October Project
Welcome Rev. Dr. Kate R. Walker
Lighting the Chalice and Call To Worship Rev. Kate and Robert Piemme
Collective Reading
We covenant to affirm and promote:
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
- Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
- Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions
Opening Hymn #51 Lady of the Seasons’ Laughter
Story for All Rev. Kate
Singing For Our Children Peace, Salaam, Shalom by Emma’s Revolution
Share the Plate Mike Zimmerman, Tree Pittsburgh
Offering Robert
Donations by check may be mailed to the church office. Electronic donations can be made online through the church website or by texting “give” to (412) 435-1050 and following the instructions.
Share the plate for May is Tree Pittsburgh*
Offertory Music Adagio in G minor by Suzanne Knosp
Joys and Sorrows: During the offertory music, you are invited to light a candle or place a stone in Blessed Community water as you offer silent gratitude or prayers. Two tables are in the sanctuary; one in the front, to the right of the platform, and one in the back right alcove.
Sharing Joys & Sorrows Rev. Kate
Meditation, silence, or prayer
Response to the Prayer Grow, Little Tree, by Andrea Ramsey
Reading The Complexity of Motherhood, by Leah Ongiri**
Sermon Mothers: A Beautiful Force of Nature, Rev. Kate
Closing Hymn #325 Love Makes a Bridge
Extinguishing the Chalice Flame Rev. Kate and Robert
We extinguish this flame but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment: these we carry in our hearts until we are together again.
Benediction Rev. Kate
Postlude Loves Me Like a Rock by Paul Simon
To donate to Share the Plate
– by check mailed to the church office, please include STP on the memo line
– online on the church website, use the drop down to select Plate.
– by texting “Give” to 412-435-1050 following the directions with the word share or pledge after the donation amount as appropriate.
To make a pledge payment
-by check, please put pledge in the memo line
– online on the church website, keep the default General Fund 2024 option
* Tree Pittsburgh works across Allegheny County to plant and care for trees where they are needed the most. As the impacts of climate change grow, it is imperative that we help communities to be more resilient to heat and increased rainfall. By planting trees we not only provide cooling shade and capture stormwater runoff, but we bring beauty and wildlife habitat to areas often dominated by concrete. Donations to Tree Pittsburgh will directly impact communities with low tree canopy, supporting education programs, tree planting and ongoing tree maintenance. Tree Pittsburgh relies heavily on volunteer support – please visit www.treepittsburgh.org to learn more about the organization and ways to get involved.
** Leah Ongiri (previously Hart-Landsberg) is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist. As a UU minister, she has served congregations in California, New Jersey, Florida, Wisconsin, and Colorado. She is a past president of Unitarian Universalists for Jewish Awareness, co-author of the Skinner House book Jewish Voices in Unitarian Universalism, and a graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry.