"Flourishing Together in Song"

PRELUDE - Justin Furnia, Piano

WELCOME & COVENANT - Dr. Joshua Fishbein, Director of Music & Arts

GATHERING HYMN “Hold On” by Heidi Wilson - Congregation

SONG OF ILLUMINATION “Where There Is Light in the Soul” by Elizabeth Alexander - Ensemble

CHALICE LIGHTING - Seits Family

SONG OF COMMUNITY “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers Ensemble

TIME FOR ALL AGES - Rev. Mykal O. Slack, Assistant Minister for Lifelong Faith Formation

CHILDREN & YOUTH SONG “Try Everything” by Shakira - Children & Rev. Mykal O. Slack

GREETINGS & ANNOUCEMENTS - Karl Irikura 

MUSICAL INTERLUDE - Sonaria

CENTERING & PRAYER - Julia Earp

MUSICAL RESPONSE - Justin Furnia and Kathy Long

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING - Jennifer Ambrose

NEW NEIGHBORS INTERFAITH ALLIANCE

This week we are Sharing The Plate with the New Neighbors Interfaith Alliance.  This all-volunteer organization, dedicated to supporting immigrant communities throughout Montgomery County, has participated in Share The Plate previously this year, but we are reprising their partnership to address a sudden and chronic need that has arisen in the communities that NNIA serves.

Severe funding cuts and aggressive anti-immigrant federal policies have stressed NNIA’s resources and volunteer hours, specifically including efforts for the benefit of Afghan families that include many who risked their lives to assist United States military forces operating in Afghanistan, and have looked in vain for the security and support that they were promised.  As valuable as the coordinated efforts of dozens of faith communities, civic organizations and individual donors have been, NNIA recently has fallen short of the resources required to meet a growing need for rent assistance, employment opportunities, food access and social services.  UUCR’s Social Justice Committee is among the diverse collection of organizations that are part of the NNIA coalition, which includes Catholic Charities, the International Rescue Committee, the Rockville Baha’i community and the Knights of Columbus, all of whom are committed to preserving NNIA’s future.

It is unusual that the Share The Plate program would appeal more than once a year on behalf of a worthy recipient.  But the challenges facing NNIA are existential, and the support that it provides for a very vulnerable community in Montgomery County cannot be matched easily.  As you are willing and able, please join once again in supporting NNIA’s mission and helping to ensure its ability to welcome very deserving newcomers into the Maryland Community.    

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

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

OFFERTORY ANTHEM “L’Dor Vador” (Generation to Generation) UUCR Community Choir and Dr. Joshua Fishbein, Piano               

VIDEO INTRODUCTION

ANTHEM “Message Out to Sea” by Saunder Choi - UUCR Community Choir and Justin Furnia, Piano

CLOSING HYMN #1064 “Blue Boat Home” Congregation and Justin Furnia, Piano

CLOSING SONG “How Can I Keep from Singing” by Gwyneth Walker - UUCR Community Choir, Justin Furnia, Piano 

and Trevor Seits & Nick Warren on perc.

BENEDICTION & CHALICE EXTINGUISHING - River VanWildes

POSTLUDE “No Rain” by Blind Melon - Bonfire

“Hold On” by Heidi Wilson

Hold On.

Hold on, hold on, my dear ones. 

Here comes the dawn.

“Where There Is Light in the Soul” by Elizabeth Alexander

Chinese proverb:

Where there is light in the soul there will be beauty in the person.

Where there is beauty in the person there will be harmony in the home.

Where there is harmony in the home there will be honor in the nation.

Where there is honor in the nation there will be peace in the world.

“Lovely Day” by Bill Withers, arr. Robert T. Gibson

When I wake up in the mornin′, love

And the sunlight hurts my eyes

And somethin' without warnin′, love

Bears heavy on my mind

Then I look at you

And the world's alright with me

Just one look at you

And I know it's gonna be

A lovely day

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

A lovely day

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

When the day that lies ahead of me

Seems impossible to face

When someone else instead of me

Always seems to know the way

Then I look at you

And the world′s alright with me

Just one look at you

And I know it′s gonna be

A lovely day

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

A lovely day

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

When the day that lies ahead of me

Seems impossible to face

And when someone else instead of me

Always seems to know the way

Then I look at you

And the world′s alright with me

Just one look at you

And I know it′s gonna be

A lovely day

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

(Lovely day, lovely day)

A lovely day

(Lovely day, lovely day) x4

“Try Everything” by Shakira 

(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

I messed up tonight, I lost another fight

Lost to myself, but I'll just start again

I keep falling down, I keep on hitting the ground

I always get up now to see what's next

Birds don't just fly, they fall down and get up

Nobody learns without gettin' it wrong

I won't give up, no, I won't give in

'Til I reach the end, and then I'll start again

No, I won't leave, I wanna try everything

I wanna try even though I could fail

I won't give up, no, I won't give in

'Til I reach the end, and then I'll start again

No, I won't leave, I wanna try everything

I wanna try even though I could fail

(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Try everything

(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Try everything

(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Try everything

(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)

Look how far you've come, you filled your heart with love

Baby, you've done enough, take a deep breath

Don't beat yourself up, no need to run so fast

Sometimes we come last, but we did our best

I won't give up, no, I won't give in

'Til I reach the end, and then I'll start again

No, I won't leave, I wanna try everything

I wanna try even though I could fail

I won't give up, no, I won't give in

'Til I reach the end, and then I'll start again

No, I won't leave, I wanna try everything

I wanna try even though I could fail

I won't give up, no, I won't give in

'Til I reach the end, and then I'll start again

No, I won't leave, I wanna try everything

I wanna try even though I could fail

I'll keep on making those new mistakes

I'll keep on making them every day

Those new mistakes

(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Try everything

(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Try everything

(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Try everything

(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)

Try everything

“We Are Opening Up in Sweet Surrender”

We are opening up

in sweet surrender

To the luminous love light 

Deep within (x2) 

We are opening (x4)

L’Dor Vador 

(From Generation to Generation) 

Music by Joshua Fishbein

Lyrics translated from morning Jewish Liturgy in Hebrew:

We declare Your greatness through all generations,

hallow Your holiness for all eternity.

Your praise will never leave our lips,

for You are God and Sovereign, great and holy.

Blessed are You, Lord, holy God.

“Message Out to Sea” 

Mother’s Day Card (in a Bottle out to Sea)

by Brian Sonia-Wallace &

Music by Saunder Choi

Dear mom, you were always my refuge

When I didn’t know which way to turn

Now my ship has left those placid waters

There’s still so much to do, to be, to learn - 

Dear mom, you welcome me on each return.

Beyond understanding there lives laughter

A torch that does not flicker as it burns

There’s still so much I lack the words to tell you,

A hopeful silence, staring at the sea

As memories of angry voices churn

Against the queer joy that’s knocking at my door

You saw my worth before it could be earned

Dear mom, you made my heart your first concern

For every wave, you became my safe shore

Dear mom, you taught me what it means to yearn

And how an ocean lives in me.

Love divine, all loves excelling,

Refuge in a time of storm

Fix our hearts in humble dwelling;

In love’s harbor, keep us warm.

Spirit, boundless with compassion,

Pure and endless love compart;

All across your vast creation;

Open every shielded heart.

#1064 Blue Boat Home

Though below me, I feel no motion standing on these mountains and plains.

Far away from the rolling ocean still my dry land heart can say:

I’ve been sailing all my life now, never harbor or port have I known.

The wide universe is the ocean I travel and the earth is my blue boat home.

Sun my sail and moon my rudder as I ply the starry sea,

leaning over the edge in wonder, casting questions into the deep.

Drifting here with my ship’s companions, all we kindred pilgrim souls,

making our way by the lights of the heavens in our beautiful blue boat home.

I give thanks to the waves up holding me, hail the great winds urging me on,

greet the infinite sea before me, sing the sky my sailor’s song:

I was born up on the fathoms, never harbor or port have I known.

The wide universe is the ocean I travel, and the earth is my blue boat home.

“How Can I Keep from Singing” 

by Robert Lowry & Gwyneth Walker

My life flows on in endless song above earth’s lamentation.

I hear the real though distant song that hails a new creation. Through all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing. 

It sounds an echo in my soul, how can I keep from singing?

What though the tempest loudly roars, I hear the truth, it’s living!

What though the darkness round me close, songs in the night it’s giving! 

No storm can shake my inmost calm while to 

that rock I’m clinging. 

Since I believe that love abides, how can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble when they hear the bells of freedom ringing. 

When friends rejoice both far and near, how can I keep from singing? 

In prison cell, in dungeon dark, our thoughts to them are winging. 

When friends hold courage in their heart, how can I keep from singing?

“No Rain” by Blind Melon

Ooh, ooh, ooh

Ooh, ooh, ooh

All I can say is that my life is pretty plain

I like watching the puddles gather rain

And all I can do is just pour some tea for two

And speak my point of view, but it's not sane

It's not sane

I just want someone to say to me, oh

"I'll always be there when you wake", yeah

You know, I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today

So stay with me and I'll have it made (I'll have it made)

And I don't understand why I sleep all day

And I start to complain that there's no rain

And all I can do is read a book to stay awake

And it rips my life away, but it's a great escape

Escape

Escape

Escape

Oh yeah

Ooh

Oh!

All I can say is that my life is pretty plain

You don't like my point of view

You think that I'm insane

It's not sane

It's not sane

I just want someone to say to me, no oh oh oh

"I'll always be there when you wake"

You know, I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today

So stay with me and I'll have it made

(I'll have it made)

Oh and I'll have it made

(I'll have it made)

Ooh, And I'll have it made

(I'll have it made)

Oh, lord oh no no

You know I'm really

I'm-a really gonna have it made

(I'll have it made)

Yeah, you know I'll have it made

(I'll have it made)

Ohh ohh oh ohh

(I'll have it made)

Ohh ohh oh ohh

(I'll have it made)

Ohh ohh oh ohh

(I'll have it made)

Ohh ohh oh ohhh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

• Emerging and Young Adults Taco Bar Lunch - TODAY at 11:45a Rm. 44- UUCR Emerging and Young Adults (ages 18-35) are invited to join us for a delicious Taco Bar Lunch Come build your perfect taco, connect with other UUs, and enjoy a relaxed time of community and conversation. Whether you’re a taco enthusiast or just looking for a welcoming space to hang out, there’s a spot for you at the table. We hope to see you there!

• Our next Midweek Vespers is on Wednesday, June 10th at 7:30p, with Julia Earp and music by Amy Heath, Theresa Schneider, Sydney Crisp, and John Mornini

• Brown Bag Lunch - Tuesday, June 16th at 12:30p in Fellowship - Bring a brown bag lunch and join Rev. Kären on Tuesday, the 16th of June from 12:30 to 1:30. We’ll light a chalice, do a quick check in with each other and Rev. Kären will toss out a question or two for conversation. This is very casual, all are welcome but no child care provided. Come join us!

• Members and Friends Art Show! - Now – August 30 - Please join in celebrating our artists! Our Members and Friends Show drew pieces in a variety of media to help mark our 70th anniversary. Our artists are Richard Chitty, Sherry Dittmann, Gayle Hancock, Marge Holmes, Mike Holmes, Christine Koh, Beth Steel, Mark Stiles, Libby Sulllivan, and Emily Untermeyer. Media include ceramics, collage (fiber and paper), embroidery, glass, photography, tie dye, and watercolors. The art is located in the Corridor and Fellowship Hall. Lara Klopp’s wonderful Soul Matters collages are now in Founders Hall.  Please take time to check out the art, thank all our artists, and give an extra thank you to Richard Chitty for his able assistance in hanging the show.

• Join UUCR's New Neighborhood Group System for Carpooling and More! The Environmental Action Group is creating new neighborhood groups in Realm to provide a convenient way to communicate with your UUCR neighbors for social connection, organizing carpool rides, or anything else. You can find the link to join in our weekly newsletter.

• Summer Solstice Ritual: Litha - June 21st, 5:00-8:00p - Please join Wheel of the Year in Fellowship Hall on the 21st of June for our Summer Solstice ritual—Litha—as we welcome the longest day of the year and celebrate the coming harvests ahead! We will be starting with a potluck at 5pm, our ritual starting at 6pm, and dessert after. Childcare will be provided; please register on Realm. We look forward to this time of celebration and community!