Order of Service
Worship Leader Rev. Elaine Strawn
Time for All Ages Erica Shadowsong
Liturgist Stephanie Pawlowski
Music Ellen Gozion, Director of Instrumental Music; Brian Junker, banjo; Jon Drucker, piano.
Song Leaders Janet Pohl and Terri Hammond
Tech Will Snavely
Worship Coordinator Stephanie Pawlowski
Prelude “Singing Birds” – Trad., WV – Brian Junker and Ellen, banjos
Welcome Stephanie
Lighting the Chalice and Call to Worship Stephanie
Opening Hymn #354 We Laugh, We Cry
Collective Grounding Stephanie
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 Deep Well
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)
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 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 Piano Prelude, Op. 11, No. 19 by Aleksandr Scriabin (1872-1915) – Jon Drucker, piano
Meditation, silence, or prayer Stephanie
Hymn #1031 Filled with Loving Kindness (Please remaing seated)
Readings excerpts from Beyond Wellness by Liz Bucar and from The Tears of Things by Richard Rohr Rev. Elaine Strawn
Sermon Spiritual Depth in a Transactional World Rev. Elaine Strawn
Hymn #131 Love Will Guide Us
Extinguishing the Chalice Flame Stephanie
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. Elaine Strawn
Postlude Reflets dans l’Eau by Claude Debussy (1862-1918) – Jon 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.
Rev. Elaine Strawn (she/her) is Minister Emeritus at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wayne County in Wooster, OH, a Spiritual Director and a facilitator of classes on spirituality and leadership. She has served as a UUMA Good Officer, an adjunct consultant for the Central East Region and chair of the Ministry Team at Summer Institute and serves on the regional Commissioned Lay Ministry Council. Elaine holds a MDiv from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, and a DMin from Meadville Lombard Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL.
In her past lives, Elaine has been a community organizer, a Fair Housing advocate and the staff development person for Planned Parenthood. Elaine enjoys hiking, gardening and work on Elder Widsom. Her spiritual practices include Tai Chi, Centering Prayer and small group worship experiences.