Order of Service
New digital OOS
Date September 27, 2026
Worship Leader Rev. Dr. Kate R. Walker
Time for All Ages Erica Shadowsong
Liturgist Carol Washburn
Music Ellen Gozion, Director of Instrumental Music; Jonathan Drucker, piano.
Song leader Kate Thurston-Griswold
Tech Nicky Baldy and Will Snavely
Prelude Song Without Words, Op. 17, no. 3 by Gabriel Fauré — Jonathan Drucker, piano
Welcome Rev. Dr. Kate R. Walker
Lighting the Chalice and Call to Worship Rev. Kate and Carol Washburn
Opening Hymn #188 Come, Come, Whoever You Are and #73 Chant for the Seasons vs. Autumn
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
Story for All Anniversary Day (Founder’s Day) in the Khasi Hills Shelley Ross
Pool of Love by Alexa Rose Sunshine – hand motion taught by Mary Pat Mengato.
May the pool of love we have gathered here
Spread its wings and fly far and near;
From the depths of our hearts to the farthest star,
May our love bless everyone. (x2)
(sing as our children leave for class)
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 September is A. Philip Randolph Institute*
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 Visions Fugitives no. 7: Arpa, Pittoresco by Sergei Prokofiev – Jonathan Drucker, piano
Meditation, silence, or prayer Rev. Kate
Sung Response #1003 Where Do We Come From?
Reading The Beginning of Wisdom by Denise Levertov Carol
Sermon Are You Curious? Rev. Kate
Hymn #1020 Woyaya
Extinguishing the Chalice Flame Rev. Kate and Carol
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 Passepied by Claude Debussy – Jonathan Drucker, piano
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 2025 option
*The A. Philip Randolph Institute was founded nationally in 1965 to carry forward Randolph’s coalition between labor and civil rights. Randolph organized the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, the nation’s first predominantly Black labor union, and was a principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The Pittsburgh chapter opened in August 1968 as one of APRI’s earliest, and has organized for jobs, justice, and equity in Southwestern Pennsylvania ever since.
Jon Drucker is a pianist, composer, and educator living in Pittsburgh after a rich musical lineage undertaken mostly in New York. He enjoys teaching piano to children and adults through his school Broadway Music Studio, while pursuing a variety of projects, including songwriting and producing, as well as film score composition.