July 5, 2026 (click for digital OOS)

Worship Leader Stephani Pawlowski 

Liturgist   Carol Washburn 

Poets and Readers Chris Beregi, Kathleen Sandusky, Mart Pat Mengato 

Music Ellen Gozion, Director of Instrumental Music with Brian Junker, Danny Rectenwald, 

Madeline Celi Kitch and Corey Layman 

Time for All Ages and Song Leading Lee Saville-Iksic 

Tech Emily Sweeny and Nicky Baldy 

Prelude  Nocturne, Op. 9 No. 2 by Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)  –  Madeline Celi Kitch, piano 

Welcome Stephanie 

Lighting the Chalice and Call to Worship     Stephanie and Carol 

Opening Hymn  #188 Come, Come, Whoever You Are  

Collective Grounding   Carol 

We name our collective recommitment to care for the earth. 

Knowing the ground we live upon is sacred, 

We pledge to bring new life to the earth 

New Life to the air 

New Life to the waters 

New Life to each other 

For all Life is sacred 

Opening Poem   Primrose by William Carlos Williams  – read by Chris Beregi 

Time for All Ages ”Sweet Sweet Singing”  — Lee Saville-Iksic 

Song Peace, Salaam, Shalom by Pat Humphries 

Peace, Salaam, Shalom, 

Peace, Salaam, Shalom, 

Peace, Salaam, Shalom, 

Peace, Salaam, Shalom. 

Offering     Carol 

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 July is Tree Pittsburgh 

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. 

Offertory Music Missing Appalachia composed and performed by Danny Rectenwald  

On Love: Collective Reading love is more thicker than forget by e.e. cummings –   Carol      The congregation is invited to read aloud the indented, italicized text. 

love is more thicker than forget 

more thinner than recall 

more seldom than a wave is wet 

more frequent than to fail  

it is most mad and moonly 

and less it shall unbe 

than all the sea that only 

is deeper than the sea  

love is less always than to win 

less never than alive 

less bigger than the least begin 

less littler than forgive 

it is most sane and sunly 

and more it cannot die 

than all the sky which only 

is higher than the sky 

Two Poems  I Will Not Live an Unlived Life by Dawna Markov – Read by Mary Pat 

  Answer by Mary Pat Mangato 

Musical Response #1031 Filled with Loving Kindness 

Sharing Joys & Sorrows   Stephanie 

Meditation, Silence, or Prayer  

Hymn Response #1002 Comfort Me 

Poem For Denise Levertov (after Reading Candles in Babylon) by Chris Beregi    

Musical Interlude The Lonely Planets — an original song by Brian Junker 

Poem  Small Kindnesses by Danisha Laméris  — read by Kathleen Sandusky 

Spoken Word What We Need is Here after Wendell Berry by Phyllis Cole-Dai  — read by Carol  

Hymn  #100 I’ve Got Peace Like a River 

Poem  Lady Liberty by Tato Laviera — read by Stephanie  

Closing Reflection    Equality in a Sea of Inequality by Peggy Clarke – Stephanie  

Closing Hymn #121 We’ll Build a Land  

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame  

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   Stephanie 

(The congregation may be seated.) 

Postlude  National Anthem: Arise, Arise! By Jean Rohe – Performed by Ellen, Madeline, Brian & Danny 

   Chorus ALL:  Arise, Arise! I see the future in your eyes. 

   To a more perfect union we aspire –  

And lift our voices from the fire. 

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 2026 option  

Tree Pittsburgh is an environmental non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening and building community vitality by restoring and protecting the urban forest through tree planting and care, education, advocacy, and land conservation. Tree Pittsburgh teaches learners of all ages through workshops, programs, and hands-on experiences focused on the urban forest and our natural environment. They work alongside communities to increase tree canopy, green spaces, and make a healthier region for all, planting and caring for trees across Allegheny County with volunteers, nonprofit partners and students.