"All Souls Sunday"

This week’s Share The Plate partner is the Rainbow Youth Alliance (RYA). RYA supports gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and questioning teens and their friends and allies. RYA’s vision is a future in which these “rainbow teens” are able to live as themselves in safe, nurturing environments where they are respected, listened to, and given valuable information and skills. UUCR is an active sponsor of RYA and regularly hosts RYA events. Especially in these times when malignant forces are aligned to deny basic civil rights to LGBTQ youth, RYA’s work is critical.

RYA provides adult-facilitated, peer-to-peer support for high school youth between the ages of 13 and 18. Support includes group meetings that follow a relaxed format with a primary focus on providing a safe space where rainbow teens can be themselves. Through guided discussions, games and other activities, the goal is for teens to connect with one another in a supportive atmosphere and share their thoughts, goals, and sometimes concerns. Trained adult facilitators help the groups to review expectations and progress to sharing questions or experiences that can spark healthy group discussion. RYA is a place for rainbow teens to find a community of mutual interests and support, and to learn information relevant to their own lives.

In addition to UUCR, RYA is sponsored by the BHT Foundation, a community-based organization that provides financial support to non-profits serving the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS communities in the Baltimore/Washington area, and the Safe Spaces Project, an organization that helps support its namesake program across the country.

Online giving options include: Realm or Paypal, at https://uucr.org/give;

Or you may mail a check to UUCR at 100 Welsh Park Dr, Rockville MD, 20850

OFFERTORY ANTHEM “We Remember Them” Pepe Gonzalez, Bass and Dr. Joshua Fishbein, Director of Music and Arts

CENTERING AND BUILDING OF THE ALTAR - Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage

MUSICAL RESPONSE “Apprentice” - UUCR Community Choir, Nick Warren and Karen Malley, Percussionists

HOMILY - Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage

CLOSING SONG - “I Was Love” - UUCR Community Choir, Kevin Wu on Piano, Pepe Gonzales on Bass, Nick Warren and Karen Malley, Percussionists, Miguel Vieira and Elsa Strong, Soloists

BENEDICTION AND CHALICE EXTINGUISHING - Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage

POSTLUDE “I’ll Be on My Way" - UUCR Community Choir, Greg Yoder, Soloist, Kevin Wu, Piano, Pepe Gonzales, Bass, Karl Irikura, Violin

Thank you to our members and congregants who make this service possible!

Worship Steward: Amy Heath

A/V Tech: Jeremy Schuhmann (Audio) and Karl Irikura (Video)

Ushers / Greeters: Sharon Fitzpatrick, Lauren Secco, Claire McDonald, José Clemente, Beth Steel, Mark Shannon, and Scott Reilly

Hospitality: Dave Fitzpatrick Lynne Shaer, Mary Lanigan, and Chelsea Warren

Lyrics

#103 For All the Saints

For all the saints who from their labors rest,

who thee by faith before the world confessed,

thy name most holy be forever blest. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou wast their rock, their shelter, and their might;

their strength and solace in the well-fought fight;

thou, in the darkness deep their one true light. Alleluia! Alleluia!

O blest communion of the saints divine!

We live in struggle, they in glory shine;

yet all are one in thee, for all are thine. Alleluia! Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the conflict long,

steals on the ear the distant triumph-song,

and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Here Together

We are here, here together

in the holy moment

and we’re grateful for

the winding road

that brought us to this place

#1047 Nada Te Turbe

Nada te turbe

Nada te espante

Quien a dios tiene nada le falta

Nada te turbe

Nada te espante

Sólo Dios basta

“We Remember Them”

by Cantor Lynda Hope Dresher

Lyrics adapted from: ‘We Remember Them’ by Sylvan Kamens & Rabbi Jack Riemer

At the rising sun and at its going down; We remember them.

At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter; We remember them.

As long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us.

At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of the autumn; We remember them.

At the beginning of the year and when it ends; We remember them.

As long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us as we remember them.

Apprentice

by Alexandra “ahlay” Blakely

I trust this grief to return me, again, again, again.

This work is holy, soul-cleansing slowly again, again, again.

“I Was Love”

by Jake Runestad

I was the starlight,

I was the moonlight,

Before the dawning

Of my life;

I was the river,

I was the glowing,

I was the singing,

I was love.

I was the sunlight,

I was the twilight,

I was the vision

Ere my birth;

I was the summer,

I was the autumn,

I was the all-time—

I was love.

[Public domain text adapted by the composer.]

“I’ll Be on My Way”

by Shawn Kirchner

When I am gone

Don't you cry for me

Don't you pity my sorry soul

What pain there might have been

Will now be passed

And my spirit will be whole.

I'll be on my way, I'll be on my way

I'll have left my feet of clay upon the ground

I will be glory bound

I'll be on my way

When I am gone

Please forgive the wrong that I might have done.

There'll be no room for regrets up there above,

Way beyond the blue.

When I am gone,

don't you look for me in the places I have been.

I'll be alive but somewhere else, I'll be on my way again.

I'll be on my way, I'll be on my way.

I'll lift my wings and soar into the air

There'll be glory everywhere,

I'll be on my way.

I'll be on my way, I'll be on my way

I'll have laid my frown and all my burdens down

I'll be putting on my crown

I'll be on my way.

I'll have left my feet of clay upon the ground

I will be glory bound

I'll be on my way.

Upcoming Events & Announcements

Fall Congregational Town Hall TODAY – Please join your UUCR Board for our Fall Congregational Town Hall meeting after the service today. The Board will update the congregation on the board’s priorities for this year as well as other topics. To be sure all voices are heard, the final 30 minutes of the Town Hall will be “open mic” where we encourage congregants to share their wisdom and suggestions with the Board of Trustees and all attending. Childcare will be provided in Rm. 53.
Our next Midweek Vespers is on Wednesday, October 29th at 7:30p, led by Rev. Mykal with music by Kathy Long!
Action Auction Donations are being accepted through November 11th! Visit uucr.org/actionauction for more information. Questions? Contact actionauction@uucr.org.
Samhain with Wheel of the Year - November 2nd at 5p - Samhain marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark season. It is at this moment when the veil between worlds is thinnest. We gather together to honor our ancestors, both ancient and near, during this ritual. Please bring photos and mementos of loved ones to place on our altar as we honor those who came before us this evening. All are welcome to join, starting with our multi-generational potluck at 5:00 pm, and the service beginning at 6:00 pm. A dessert social will follow the service at 7:00 pm. Childcare is available with advance registration. Please join us as you are able. Dressing according to the weather with layers is highly encouraged as we will be outside. Ritual clothing optional.
UUCR LGBTQ+ Portrait Project: Call for Participants - We are excited to share a new art project celebrating the vibrant LGBTQ+ community within UUCR. The project will feature portraits of congregants, taken with care and creativity, as a way of honoring our shared stories and presence in this community. - The portraits will be created by our creative team of UUCR congregants Sal LaFianza and Lara Klopp, and the collection will be shared as both an art installation and an archive of pride, visibility, and belonging. We’re looking for volunteers! If you identify as LGBTQ+ and are part of UUCR, we would love to include you in this portrait series. Participation is completely voluntary, and every photo session will be handled with respect and care. Youth are encouraged and welcome to participate with a caregiver or parent's permission. We can’t wait to see the ways it will celebrate our community and spark connection. To participate or learn more, please reach out to Rev. Rebekah or Rev. Mykal or UUCR congregants Sal LaFianza or Lara Klopp.

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