New digital OOS

Worship Leaders Board of Trustees of First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh  

Time for All Ages Deb McGuire 

Music Ellen Gozion, Director of Instrumental Music; Chantal Braziel; Brian Junker. 

Tech Nicky Baldy 

Prelude    I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash,Brian Junker 

Welcome Jim Pashek 

Lighting the Chalice and Call to Worship       Lucinda Beattie and Clint Geller 

Opening Hymn Joy in the Morning by Adam Podd 

We’ll find Joy in the morning, (x3) 

In the morning we’ll find joy. 

We find hope in our children (x3) 

In our children we find hope. 

We find strength in each other (x3) 

In each other we find strength. 

There is love all around us, (x3) 

all around us there is love. 

Collective Reading    Neal Binstock   

Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. 

We covenant:  

To practice Interdependence, we honor the interdependent web of all existence; 

To practice Pluralism, we celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology; 

To practice Justice, we work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive;  

To practice Transformation, we adapt to the changing world; 

To practice Generosity, we cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope; 

To practice Equity, we declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.  

We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love 

Story for All   When Thing’s Aren’t Going Right, Go Left, by Marc Colagiovanni    Deb McGuire 

Singing For Our Children # 1059 Go Lifted Up  

Go lifted up, love bless your way, 

moonlight, starlight guide your journey 

into peace and the brightness of day. 

Offering  Maria Lauro  

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  Let the Mystery Be by Iris Dement       Brian Junker 
 

Meditation, silence, or prayer   Casey Taylor 

Musical Response Prayer by Leslie Adams            Chantal Braziel  

Reading   untitled poem by Cleo Wade from her book Where to Begin: A Small Book About Your Power to Create Big Change in Our Crazy World” Susan Whittaker    

Sermon  Good News, Kyle Gracey 

Closing Hymn #295 Sing Out Praises for the Journey 

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame  Clint and Lucinda  

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  Kyle 

Postlude   My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord by Florence Price       Chantal Braziel  

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  

Chantal Braziel BIO HERE 

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.   

Pittsburgh native Chantal Braziel is a classically trained soprano known for her expressive artistry and rich vocal tone. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Vincent College. A passionate performer and advocate for the arts, Chantal has been recognized for both her vocal talent and commitment to representing classical music.  

Chantal made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the Grammy Award winning production of Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess during the 2019–2020 season. Recent highlights include her performance as a soloist with the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra with Walter Morales and the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh under conductor Edward Leonard. In 2025, Chantal won First Place and is a national finalist in the Professional Opera, and Art Song/Oratorio division of The American Prize Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award.  

In addition to her stage career, Chantal is committed to community engagement and education, often performing in outreach concerts and speaking about the importance of diversity in opera and classical music. Chantal is a teaching artist and holds her own private voice studio, teaching students the love and joy of singing, and she currently teaches at Pittsburgh CAPA, 6-12.