Order of Service
Prelude - Justin Furnia (Piano)
Welcome - Joan Keith, Worship Associate
Sign our Virtual Guest Book here
Covenant
Love is the spirit of this congregation and service its law.
This is our great covenant - to dwell together in peace,
to seek the truth in love and to help one another.
Gathering Hymn - Congregation and Justin Furnia, Piano
#188 "Come, Come, Whoever You Are"
Call to Worship - Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage, Settled Minister
Chalice Lighting - Vieira Family
We are Unitarian Universalists,
With minds that think, (fingers to forehead)
Hearts that love, (cross hands over heart)
And hands that are ready to serve. (hands out, palms up)
Song of Community - Congregation and Justin Furnia (Piano)
Here Together
Youth Sharing - Violet Earp
Hymn- Congregation and Justin Furnia (Piano)
#1030 "Siyahamba" (in Zulu and English)
Greetings & Announcements - Mark Shannon, Board Vice President and Sue Hedges, Grounds Committee
Musical Interlude - The Beth Ami Shabbatones and Bonfire
"Pack 493 Camping Song" by Miguel Vieira and Jack Kwait-Blank
"Love and Help" Badge Awards - Joan Keith
Centering Reading - Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage
Musical Response - Justin Furnia, Piano
Invitation to Offering - Joan Keith
The Manna Food Center, our Share The Plate Partner this week, is well known to all of us here at UUCR through the collection bins that are kept and open at the main doors. Opened in 1983, the Manna Center’s mission is nothing less than the elimination of hunger in Montgomery County through food distributions, education and advocacy. From humble beginnings in a vacant elementary school with a single $3,000 donation, Manna Center’s current base in Gaithersburg last year served more than 50,000 County community members and distributed over 4.6 million pounds of quality food.
In addition to the direct food collection and distribution services that we at UUCR know, Manna’s programs include a mobile kitchen and pop-up pantry, a “food for families” initiative that picks up donations from grocery stores and farmers markets for sorting and packaging for families, a farm-to-food bank program that directly links fresh farm produce, meats and eggs with community clients, and school-based nutrition education and food access programs.
Central to Manna’s theory of change is the idea that no one agency or organization can end hunger alone. Manna therefore has built a support network that now includes more than 350 different organizations, including government agencies, corporations, faith-based associations and congregations, non-profit groups, schools, doctors and employee assistance programs. Over the past year, volunteers donated more than 33,500 hours of their time, the equivalent of 16 full-time employees.
Ever-increasing community support has allowed Manna to try and effectively meet the ever-increasing nutritional need throughout Montgomery County. As you are willing and able, please join this movement with a generous contribution to the Manna Food Center.
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 - The Temple Beth Ami Shabbatones and Bonfire
“Nice Dream” by Radiohead
Appreciations - Joan & Brent Keith, Jack Kwait-Blank
Closing Song - Congregation, The Temple Beth Ami Shabbatones, and Bonfire
"I Have A Voice" by Elana Arian
Closing Thoughts and Chalice Extinguishing - Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage
Postlude #1014 - Congregation and Justin Furnia on Piano
"Answering the Call of Love"
Lyrics
#188 Come, Come, Whoever You Are
Come, Come, Whoever you are
Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving
Ours is no caravan of despair
Come, yet again, come.
Ven, ven, cual eres ven,
Nómada en búsqueda si amas la vida
La nuestras la caravana de amor.
Ven otra vez ven,
Here Together
We are here, here together, in this holy
moment, and we’re grateful for the
winding road that brought us to this place
(x2)
#1030 Siyahamba
Siyahamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos’,
siyahamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos’.
Siya hamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos’,
siya hamb’ ekukhanyen’ siyahamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos.
Siyahamba, hamba, siyahamba, hamba,
siyahamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos’.
Siyahamba, hamba, siyahamba, hamba,
siyahamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos’.
We are marching in the light of God,
we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God,
we are marching in the light of, the light of God.
We are marching, marching, we are marching, marching,
we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching, marching, we are marching, marching,
We are marching in the light of God.
Pack 493 Camping Song
Light up the campfire
and toast up the s'mores.
Everyone enjoy
the great outdoors,
Doing our best in Pack 493
Light up the campfire
and toast up the s'mores.
Everyone enjoy
the great outdoors,
493 is the pack for me
Pitched all the tents
Cooked up the food
Went on a hike
Now we’re in the mood
For a campfire song
Pack 493
Earning our badges
Duty to good
Leaving no trace
In the neighboring woods
Doing our best
Pack 493
“Nice Dream” by Radiohead
They love me like I was a brother
They protect me, listen to me
They dug me my very own garden
Gave me sunshine, made me happy
[Chorus]
Nice dream
Nice dream
Nice dream
I call up my friend, the good angel
But she's out with her answerphone
She said that she'd love to come help, but
The sea would electrocute us all
[Chorus]
Now Come Home (x4)
[Chorus]
“I Have A Voice” by Elana Arian
I will open my eyes (I will open my eyes)
I will not look away (I will not look away)
I will use this gift I’ve been given
Every day
I have a voice, my voice is powerful
My voice can chang the world (repeat)
Change the world
I will give of myself (I will give of myself)
I will reach out my hand (I will reach out my hand)
I will use this heart I’ve been given
To take a stand...
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu
Melech haolam, she’asanu, she’asanu
B’tzelem Elohim
I will fight for the truth (I will fight for the truth)
I’ll stand up for what’s right (I’ll stand up for what’s right)
I will use this strength I’ve been given
To be a light
#1014 Answering the Call of Love
The promise of the Spirit:
faith, hope and love abide.
And so ev’ry soul
is blessed and made whole;
the truth in our hearts is our guide.
We are answering the call of love:
hands joined together as hearts beat as one.
Emboldened by faith, we dare to proclaim
we are answering the call of love.
Sometimes we build a barrier
to keep love tightly bound.
Corrupted by fear,
unwilling to hear,
denying the beauty we’ve found.
A bright new day is dawning
when love will not divide.
Reflections of grace
in ev’ry embrace,
fulfilling the vision divine.
Upcoming Events and Announcements
All event registrations and RSVPs can be found at uucr.org/register.
Questions? Contact us at communications@uucr.org.
Let’s Keep UUCR Accessible! We live into our Mission and Values by making UUCR an accessible space! Please be mindful of the Accessibility Stickers around our campus, and help us keep those spaces clear of clutter.
Emerging & Young Adults Post-Service Potluck - TODAY at 11:45 a.m. in Rm. 44 - All Emerging and Young Adults (anyone ages 18-35) are invited to join us for a potluck in Room 44 following the service! Plenty of food is available, and all are welcome to join.
Special Community Gathering, Potluck, & Vespers - Wednesday, February 12th at 5:30 p.m. - UUCR Congregant Anne Menotti will bring us the resonating sounds and vibrations of her crystal singing bowls and other sound healing instruments. Often encouraged as a healing and meditative practice, crystal singing bowls and sound healing instruments bring serenity and calm to the heart, mind, and spirit. uucr.org/register.
Pastoral Gathering for Federal Contractors - Wednesday, February 12th at 8 p.m. - You are invited to join a Zoom gathering for UUCR congregants who are Federal contractors or work for organizations with Federal funding. This gathering aims to provide a space for sharing, grieving, expressing your thoughts, and supporting each other with resources. Additional options will be included as requested.
New2UU: Winter 2025 - Thursday evenings at 6:00 p.m. (EST) February 13, February 27, and March 13; there is an optional Path to Membership session on Thursday, March 27 for those interested in joining the congregation. - New2UU is class both for those of you who are new to our congregation and are interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism broadly speaking and about its particular expression here in Rockville, and also for those who have been around a little while and have decided to deepen your commitment to UUCR by joining as members.
LGBTQ+ Luncheon & Mixer - Saturday, February 15th at Noon in Rm. 50 - When is a better time to gather in community as LGBTQIA+ kin than the day after Valentine’s Day?!?! Come celebrate our queer lives and loves with a potluck luncheon and fellowship with Rev. Rebekah.
UUA Common Read: Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families - Through interviews and photo portraits, the subjects of this book invite readers into their real lives--their revelations, challenges, joys, and networks of support. From the foreword by transgender activist Jazz Jennings and her mom and fellow activist, Jeanette Jennings, through the resources offered at the book’s end, this Common Read invites UU groups to explore the nature of living authentically and the ways connections among us help us thrive.
International Mother Language Day Celebration - Friday, February 21st at 6:30 p.m. (Multiplatform) - Join us for a meal and celebration of International Mother Language Day as we lift up the various spoken and signed languages that are woven into the fabric of who we are as a congregation. We are grateful to have an increasingly diverse congregation in many ways, and the languages we use in the various communities we belong to deserve to be centered, cherished, and celebrated as part of our unique identities. Rev. Rebekah and UUCR congregants, River Howe and Kelle Carbone, will co-lead this 4 part discussion group in February and March. All are welcome to participate!
Looking for a leadership role with a team that has no meetings, outdoor fun and a mentor? That would be the Grounds Committee! There are six Saturday morning work days scheduled in March-May & Aug-Oct. To make it even easier, there is a Grounds Group set up in Realm! Email groundschair@uucr.org to sign up today!
UUCR and the Nominating Committee are pleased to announce that we are seeking candidates for the following positions: Vice President, General Trustee, Nominating Committee, and Assistant Treasurer for Receivables. These positions will be voted on at the May 18, 2025 Annual Meeting. Please reach out to anyone from the committee to answer questions you have about these positions. We can be contacted at nominations@uucr.org, and at the NomCom table in Fellowship Hall after services in Feb/Mar.
Are you a person who has a social justice passion and pays attention to Social Justice issues? Are you connected to folks in the congregation? Can you share your inspiration re involvement with Social Justice Committee (SJC) activities? Are you willing to co-facilitate monthly SJC meetings, support the Share the Plate team, and help with SJC communications? If so, we hope that you will consider co-chairing the Social Justice Team with Emily Untermeyer. Please contact Emily at socialjusticechairs@uucr.org.
Want to learn more about upcoming events and activities in the Congregation and Community? Subscribe to our email newsletter, E-Weekly on our website, uucr.org/comms. The newsletter is also accessible each week by visiting uucr.org/news.