Date  22 Feb 2026 

Worship Leaders – Kris Rust, Zuly Inirio & Universalist Community Singers  

Piano Ellen Gozion 

Time for All Ages – Erica Shadowsong  

Liturgist   Carol Washburn 

Worship Coordinator  Stephanie Pawlowski  

Tech Emily Sweeny and Will Snavely  

Prelude   “Elite Syncopations” by Scott Joplin (c. 1868-1917) 

Welcome   Stephanie Pawlowski 

Lighting the Chalice – Carol Washburn, Erica Shadowsong, Kris Rust & Community Singers 

“True Light” by Keith Hampton 

Opening Song “Come and Go with Me” African American spiritual 

Come and go with me to that land, where I’m bound.  

There’ll be freedom in that land, where I’m bound. 

There’ll be justice in that land, where I’m bound. 

There’ll be justice in that land, where I’m bound. 

Collective Reading   Carol 

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   “Love Has Hands” Erica 

Singing For Our Children  – “We Are” by Ysaye Barnwell      (please remain seated) 

     Congregation:   

For each child that’s born, a morning star rises and sings to the universe who we are. 

We are our grandmothers’ prayers, and we are our grandfathers’ dreamings. 

We are the breath of our ancestors; we are the spirit of God. 

Offering      Carol 

[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  “Morning Breaking” by Richard Smallwood 
 

Joys & Sorrows, Meditation & silence       

Sung response   

There is more love somewhere.  I’m gonna keep on ‘til I find it. 

There is more peace somewhere.  I’m gonna keep on ‘til I find it. 

There is more hope somewhere.  I’m gonna keep on ‘til I find it. 

Reflection Love as Action – Dr. Zuly Inirio 

Song    “Amazing Grace” by H. Leslie Adams 

Hymn – “Over My Head” traditional spiritual 

Over my head, I hear music in the air.  There must be a God somewhere. 

Over my head, I see trouble in the air.  There must be a God somewhere. 

Over my head, I feel freedom in the air.  There must be a God somewhere. 

Over my head, I feel glory in the air.  There must be a God somewhere. 

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. 

Closing Song / Sung Benediction – “This Little Light of Mine” traditional spiritual 

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. 

All over Pittsburgh, I’m gonna let it shine. 

Buildin’ up a world, I’m gonna let it shine. 

*Dr. Inirio’s reflection is inspired, in part, by Bell Hooks’ writings in her trilogy of books – Love Song to the Nation. 

**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 February is Bethel AME  

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  

Bethel AME Church, founded in 1808, is the oldest Black church in Pittsburgh. Initially located in the Lower Hill District, it was once a thriving congregation and center of learning and social activism. However, as part of the Lower Hill redevelopment project of the 1950’s, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh seized the church by eminent domain and demolished it. Since that time, the more the congregation learned about the situation – that is, the value of the seized property versus the compensation they received, and the fact that a neighboring white church wasn’t torn down – the more they understood the demolition as an act of racism. Now Bethel church members are seeking reparations under the leadership of Pastor Dale Snyder. They are challenging the city, the redevelopers of the Lower Hill and local white faith communities to acknowledge how they have participated in, or profited from, racist systems and to compensate Bethel AME Church for its losses.  

PUBLICSOURCE, April 14, 2021 www.publicsource.org/bethel-ame-black-church-history/ 

Dr. Zuly Inirio is an Afro-Latina Dominican-American soprano, scholar, and TEDx speaker, originally from the Dominican Republic and currently based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is known for her advocacy in promoting Afro-Latinidad within classical music. As the founder of the Afro-Latinx Song & Opera Project, she has commissioned new works from Afro-Latin composers and championed underrepresented voices in the classical canon.  
  
 Her performance credits include Verdi’s Requiem in Munich and Aida in Sicily. Dr. Inirio has collaborated with esteemed institutions such as Lincoln Center, Duolingo, and Carnegie Mellon University, and she is affiliated with organizations like NALAC, 1Hood’s Artivist Academy, The Scale Fellowship, Opera America’s Opera Leaders of Color, and SphinxLEAD.  
  
 With a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) from Louisiana State University and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Inirio integrates her artistic and community-driven influences into her international and domestic work, advocating for equity and inclusion in classical music. She continues to perform, speak, and collaborate on projects that reflect the cultural richness of Afro-Latinx communities and broader social justice movements.