Order of Service
Worship Leader Dr. Bruce Rabin
Liturgist Alice Carnes
Music Ellen Gozion, Director of Instrumental Music; Brian Junker, voice and guitar; Jonathan Drucker, piano; Kate Thurston-Griswold, voice.
Song Leaders Janet Pohl
Tech Nicky Baldy and Will Snavely
Worship Leader Chrisie Ambrass
Prelude O Matince, Op. 28, “When Mother was a Young Girl” by Josef Suk – Jonathan Drucker
Welcome Chrisie
Lighting the Chalice and Call to Worship Alice Carnes
Opening Hymn #21 For the Beauty of the Earth
Changes to v. 4:
For the joy of human care,
Neighbor, lover, parent, child,
For the kinship we all share,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.
Collective Reading Alice
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
Singing For Our Children This Little Light of Mine (please remain seated)
This little light of mine, I’m gonna’ let it shine! (x3)
Let it shine! (x3)
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna’ let it shine! (x3)
Let it shine! (x3)
Share the Plate Reading Ready Pittsburgh Mary Denison
Offering Alice 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 Reading Ready 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 “Storymakers” by Brian Junker – Brian Junker, voice and guitar with Jon Drucker, piano
Meditation, silence, or prayer Alice
Hymn #1031 May I be Filled with Loving Kindness (please remain seated)
Sermon “Celebrating our Mothers” Dr. Rabin
Hymn #1012 When I Am Frightened
Extinguishing the Chalice Flame Alice
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 Dr. Rabin
Postlude “Songs My Mother Taught Me” by Charles Ives – Kate Thurston-Griswold, voice and
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 2026 option
Reading Ready Pittsburgh, founded by our church member Mary Denison, is a local nonprofit dedicated to early literacy. Reading Ready Pittsburgh believes in the power of family book sharing to ensure all children are ready to thrive in school. By increasing access to books and encouraging significant family engagement, we work to guarantee that all families have the tools and resources they need to support their children.
Dr. Bruce Rabin has spent 45 years doing research in the science of coping with stress as Professor of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh and Medical Director of the Division of Clinical Immunopathology and the Healthy Lifestyle Program for UPMC. Dr. Rabin has the unique ability of bringing his academic experience into real-world application by developing and implementing stress-coping programs which have been shown to help people practice and adhere to behaviors that maintain their wellness and lower their risk of developing serious and potentially life-threatening conditions and diseases. As a result of his work, people of all ages, socioeconomic levels, educational backgrounds and lifestyles are learning how to more effectively cope with the stress in their lives; new approaches to disease have been understood; mind-body connections are more widely and universally recognized; and innovative approaches to health care management have emerged.
In January 2017, Dr. Rabin retired from UPMC and is now spreading his stress-coping programs throughout our community.
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. Grateful to celebrate both his mom Francesca and Yuki, his daughter Olivia’s mother. Happy Mother’s Day!