Order of Service
Prelude South Wind, Trad. Irish — The Acoustic Gathering
Welcome Stephanie Pawlowski
Lighting the Chalice and Call to Worship Stephanie
Opening Hymn Joy in the Morning by Adam Podd
We’ll find joy in the morning,
joy in the morning, joy in the morning.
In the morning we’ll find joy.
We find hope in our children, etc.
We find strength in each other, etc.
There is love all around us, etc.
Collective Grounding
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 “The Traveling Cup” Erica Shadowsong
Singing For Our Children #403 Go Now in Peace
Go now in peace, go now in peace.
May the spirit of love surround you
Everywhere, everywhere you may go.
Offering Stephanie
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 March is the Khasi Hills School Partnership
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 Sí Beag, Sí Mhor by O’Carolan — The Acoustic Gathering
Meditation, silence, or prayer Stephanie
Special Music Amelia by Ellen Gozion – Performed by Ellen & The Acoustic Gathering
Reading A thought from Psychologist Samantha Stein read by Stephanie
Sermon The Pursuit of God Prof. Herb Weaver
Hymn #295 Sing Out Praises for the Journey
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
Postlude I Hope We Get to do it Again by Brad Yoder – Performed by The Acoustic Gathering
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
First Unitarian Church is honored to Share the Plate in March with the Annie Margaret Barr Higher Secondary School in the village of Kharang in the Khasi Hills of northeast India. As part of a global Unitarian Universalist Association initiative, we have been partners with our Unitarian friends in the Khasi Hills since 2003. This mountainous, rural region is home to the 3rd largest population of Unitarians in the world. The school – founded in 1968 by a Unitarian minister – is open to boys and girls of all backgrounds. With your generous support, First UU Pittsburgh raises $9,600 each year to pay the salaries of two of the high school teachers..
HERB WEAVER BIO:
Herb Weaver has been an artist and educator for nearly four decades, teaching at the middle, high, and college levels. He has remained art-active and has exhibited in over 200 shows throughout the United States and abroad. Focusing on the medium of ceramic sculpture, he strives to take art off the pedestal and into the daily lives of those who view his work. In retirement, Herb has focused on several artist-in-residence opportunities and world travel. He and his wife, Anita, raised three daughters in Bethany, West Virginia, but moved to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in 2015 and built their house where they now reside.
The Acoustic Gathering is an all-ages, all-abilities community music activity supported by First Unitarian Church. We gather twice monthly to build community and musicianship. Our very informal rehearsals/music jams are held on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month from September through July. If you play any acoustic instrument—strings or winds of any sort, or, you name it!—or if you don’t have an instrument but enjoy informal group singing, you are welcome to join us! Please contact Ellen Gozion at instrumentalmusic@first-unitarian-pgh.org to receive more information, or to be added to the email list for schedule updates and links to repertoire.