Sunday March 8, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Led by the Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage, Senior Minister
with music by the UUCR Community Choir, Karen Malley, Trevor Seits, Nick Warren, Laura Congdon, and Justin Furnia on Piano
PRELUDE - Justin Furnia, Piano
WELCOME & COVENANT - Ray Gonzales, Worship Associate
GATHERING HYMN “Yonder Come Day” - UUCR Community Choir, Nick Warren, Karen Malley, and Trevor Seits, Percussion
CALL TO WORSHIP - Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage, Senior Minister
CHALICE LIGHTING - Rev. Mykal O'Neal Slack, Assistant Minister for Lifelong Faith Formation
SONG OF COMMUNITY “Here Together” Congregation and Justin Furnia, Piano
CHILD DEDICATION - Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage and Rev. Mykal O'Neal Slack
BLESSING OUR CHILDREN WITH SONG #1053 “How Could Anyone” - Congregation and Justin Furnia, Piano
GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS - Kent Hancock, Past President
MUSICAL INTERLUDE “Listen to the Silence” - UUCR Community Choir
CENTERING AND PRAYER - Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage
MUSICAL RESPONSE - Justin Furnia, Piano
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING - Ray Gonzales
Trans Maryland
Our Share The Plate partner this week is Trans Maryland, an organization dedicated to the support of Maryland’s trans community and a model for transgender rights protections in other States. Multi-racial, multi-gender and trans-led, Trans Maryland sponsors programs that include assistance with name changes and accurate legal identification in housing, employment and public programs, peer-to-peer teen support groups for trans teens and non-binary or agender folk; referral and support services for gender affirming care and mental health service providers; and sponsorship of the now eight year-old annual Maryland Trans Resilience Conference. To date, Trans Maryland has assisted over 1400 members of our State community and has another 350 citizens on its pending services list.
Trans Maryland’s legal and legislative efforts include partnerships with organizations such as Planned Parenthood, the Baltimore Transgender Alliance, FreeState Justice and Trans Recognition Maryland, and have led to advances for the trans community in the areas of proper gender markers on Maryland IDs and driver’s licenses, gender-based consumer protections in health insurance, and non-discrimination in broader based healthcare. It is no secret that the current federal Administration and its allies are actively seeking to erase the transgender community from all aspects of public life, making the work of Trans Maryland and its supporters all the more critical. The banner in our Sanctuary attests to UUCR’s commitment to diversity, equality, and respect for all persons. Please help activate this commitment by joining in supporting the work of Trans Maryland.
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 - Laura Congdon, Handpan
HOMILY - Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage
MUSICAL RESPONSE “May I Be Light” by Rev. Mykal O'Neal Slack - Congregation
BENEDICTION & CHALICE EXTINGUISHING - Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage
POSTLUDE “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize” - UUCR Community Choir
Thank you to our members and congregants who make this service possible!
Situation Leaders: Chris Mennone and Rick Simpson
Worship Steward: Jennifer Ambrose
A/V Tech: Chloe Ockey (Video) and John Mornini (Audio)
Ushers / Greeters: José Clemente, See-Yan Lam, Ginger Dixon and Sharon Fitzpatrick
Hospitality: Dave Fitzpatrick, Mary Lanigan, Chris Hager, and Sue Holmes
Traditional Georgia Sea Islands Spiritual, arr. Adam and Matt Podd
Yonder come day, yonder come day, yonder come day,
Sun is arisin’ in my soul.
(x3)
Yonder come day, day is a-breakin’,
Yonder come day, oh my soul!
Yonder come day, day is a-breakin’,
Sun is a-risin’ in my soul!
(x2)
It’s a brand new day,
Sun is a-risin’,
Brand new day,
Day is a-breakin’
Day, day, it’s a brand new day, and the sun is a-risin’ in my soul.
Oh the sun is a-risin’ in my soul!
Yonder come day, day is a-breakin’,
Yonder come day, oh my soul!
Yonder come day, day is a-breakin’,
Sun is a-risin’ in my soul!
(x2)
It’s a brand new day,
Sun is a-risin’,
Brand new day,
Day is a-breakin’
Day, day, it’s a brand new day, and the sun is a-risin’ in my soul.
Oh the sun is a-risin’ in my soul!
Call: Yonder come day and the day is a-breakin’
Response: Yonder come day and the day is a-breakin’
Call: Sun is a-risin’ in my soul
Response: Sun is a’risin’ in my soul
Call: Yonder come day!
Response: Yonder come day!
Call: Day is a-breakin’
Responses: Day is a-breakin’
Call: Yonder come day!
Response: Yonder come day!
Call: Sing oh my soul
Response: Sing oh my soul
Day, day, it’s a brand new day, and the sun is a-risin’ in my soul.
Yonder come day, day is a-breakin’,
Yonder come day, oh my soul!
Yonder come day, day is a-breakin’,
Sun is a-risin’ in my soul!
(x2)
We are here, here together,
in this holy moment,
and we’re grateful for
the winding road
that brought us to this place
How could anyone ever tell you
you were anything less than beautiful?
How could anyone ever tell you
you were less than whole?
How could anyone fail to notice
that your loving is a miracle?
How deeply you’re connected to my soul.
Listen to the silence, to the silence
In the shadows, hear its call
Where sea and sky yearn to meet
The moonlight sets the night ablaze
While breezes play among the trees
A knowing smile, an open gaze.
A perfect snowflake gently kisses the ground
The sunset blushes without a sound
Your perfect rose lips waken mine
Our hearts aglow, our hands entwined
The silence sings its endless song
Like an echo from an ancient world
It dances upon the twilight stars
Those celestial bells, lit and pearled
Listen to the silence, to the silence
In the shadows, hear its call
It dances upon the twilight stars
May I be Light in You, may you be Light in Me.
Into our hearts, into our souls, let Love abide.
May I be Love in You, may you be Love in Me.
From this place, out to the world, for all time.
Traditional African-American Civil Rights Song, arr. Brian Tate
All our nations make a chain, ev’ry link is freedom’s name,
keep your eyes on the prize, an’ hold on.
When that war is good and done, keep the peace that we have won,
keep your eyes on the prize, an’ hold on.
Hold on, hold on, keep your eyes on the prize, an’ hold on. (x2)
Freedom’s name is mighty sweet, all this world is gonna meet,
keep your eyes on the prize, an’ hold on.
Men and women fought and died so we could live here side by side,
keep your eyes on the prize, an’ hold on.
Hold on, hold on, keep your eyes on the prize, an’ hold on. (x2)
Eyes on the prize! You gotta hold on and never look back. (x6)
Hold on, hold on, keep your eyes on the prize, an’ hold on. (x2)
Our Spring UUCR Activities Fair is TODAY! The always fun and inspiring UUCR Activities Fair will be held across the campus after the worship service today. This Fair gives everyone a chance to see all the committees and groups at UUCR that are available for you to join and enjoy. Groups range from Social Justice to Music, Faith Formation to Quilters, and so many more! Some groups meet virtually, others in person, and some combine the two, providing options for getting involved and staying connected.
Gratitude Circles with Rev. Rebekah - multiple meeting times available - Rev. Rebekah would love the chance to meet with you for a Gratitude Circle - an opportunity to express her heart and thank you for your love, service and care at UUCR. We have selected meeting times for groups and communities within UUCR, please select which ones you plan to attend.
Sunday Service Flowers - We've initiated a new approach to having beautiful flowers for our Sunday morning services and to give congregants a way to honor loved ones and/or celebrate special occasions. Sign Up in Fellowship Hall after the service to bring a floral arrangement for the chancel, and to indicate to whom / to what event you are honoring.
Our next Midweek Vespers is on Wednesday, March 11th at 7:30p, led by Rev. Rebekah with music by Niko Anderson!
Bedding Drive - UUCR youth will be sponsoring a bedding drive for the next 4 Sundays for Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Donations of new, twin-sized sheets, blankets, bed pads, comforters and pillows may be placed in the bin in the hallway outside the Sanctuary from now through March 15th. This bedding will be used immediately on the beds made at the March 14th Bed Building Day.
UUCR’s Safety Team invites you to attend CRASE training on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in Room 44 of Building No. 4. “CRASE” stands for Civilian Response to an Active Shooter Event. The training will be provided by Corporal Ronnie Crowe of the Rockville Police Department. Having a critical mass of UUCR folks trained in active assailant response will promote our congregation’s efforts to provide a safe and secure space in which to attend service and religious education. If you are interested in attending this training, please contact Rick Simpson at rick.simpson@uucr.org.
Bedding Drive - UUCR youth is sponsoring a bedding drive for Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Donations of new, twin-sized sheets, blankets, bed pads, comforters and pillows may be placed in the bin in the hallway outside the Sanctuary from now through March 15th. This bedding will be used immediately on the beds made at the March 14th Bed Building Day.
Farewell Celebration for Rev. Rebekah - Sunday, March 15th after the service - After more than ten faithful and inspiring years of service, we invite you to join us in celebrating Rev. Rebekah and her remarkable ministry among us. Following Sunday’s service, we will gather in the Founders Hall for a special Farewell Celebration in her honor. This will be a time of gratitude, reflection, and joyful fellowship as we give thanks for her leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication to our community. Please join us as we share memories, offer words of appreciation, and send Rev. Rebekah forward with our love and prayers. Please register for this event and indicate if you are planning on attending because it helps us prepare.
Save the date! Our Annual Fellowship Dinner will be on March 28th, 2026. Registration will open soon. If you’re interested in being a table host please contact us at communications@uucr.org. We’re also looking for folks to help us prepare for this year’s Fellowship Dinner! If you’re interested, please contact Chloe Ockey at chloe.ockey@uucr.org.
As we prepare for our UUCR Intergenerational Pride Prom on April 25th, we’re excited to form a Pride Prom Planning Committee! We’re currently in the early stages of organizing this group and would love to welcome anyone interested in being involved. If you’d like to join the committee, please email relle.vanwildes@gmail.com with your availability. The committee will meet monthly leading up to Pride Prom, with the first meeting beginning in February.