Conversations with the Sacred

The new publication, Conversations with the Sacred: A Collection of Prayers, edited by Rev. Manish Mishra Marzetti and our own Rev. Jennifer Kelleher, invites readers to personally engage with depth and creativity a sense of divine relationality in prayer. Join us for a multi-voiced discussion of the themes and approaches offered in this fabulous spiritual collection.

June 7, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. Conversations with the Sacred

Worship Leaders: Rev. Carol Haag, Rev. Jennifer Kelleher, Rev. Bill Neely, and Pauline Nijander, Ministerial Intern

Worship Associate: Lauren Foss

Music: Nick Tiberi, piano; Marjorie Herman

Connecting to the live-stream service

Via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/94163305308?pwd=L3VDOVRPaUVKVUU4TlJsVXlrUVBMQT09
Via YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/user/uuprinceton
Audio only (phone): 19292056099 Meeting ID: 941 6330 5308 Password: 438887

Order of Service

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton
June 7th, 2020
Live via Zoom and YouTube Live


Gathering Music and Announcements
Welcome, Rev. Bill Neely
Opening Hymn 1000, Morning Has Come

Morning has come, arise and greet the day!
Dance with joy and sing a song of gladness!
The light of hope here shines upon each face.
May it bring faith to guide our journey home.
A new day dawns, once more the gift is giv’n.
Wonder fills this moment shared together.
The light of peace here shines upon each face.
May it bring faith to guide our journey home.
Open our eyes to see that life abounds;
open hearts to welcome it among us.
The light of love here shines upon each face.
May it bring faith to guide our journey home.
                        Words & Music, Jason Shelton, 1972 –
Chalice Lighting, Margie Herman
Unison Affirmation
We light this chalice to celebrate Unitarian Universalism.
This is a congregation of open minds,
Of helping hands.
And of loving hearts.
Together we care for our earth
And work for friendship and peace in the world.

Hymn 123, Spirit of Life

Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
Move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice,
Roots hold me close, wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.
Words and music by Carolyn McDade, 1935 –

Pastoral Prayer

Story for All Ages

Conversations with the Sacred

Lauren Foss
            Hymn 108, v. 1
Rev. Carol Haag
            Hymn 108, v. 2
Pauline Nijander
            Hymn 108, v. 3
Rev. Bill Neely
            Hymn 108, v.1
Rev. Jennifer Kelleher

Hymn 108, My Life Flows on in Endless Song
v. 1: My life flows on in endless song above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the real though far-off hymn 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!
v. 2: What though the tempest ’round me roars, I know the truth, it liveth.
What though the darkness ’round me close, songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love prevails in heav’n and earth, how can I keep from singing!
v. 3: When tyrants tremble as they hear the bells of freedom ringing,
when friends rejoice both far and near, how can I keep from singing!
To prison cell and dungeon vile our thoughts to them are winging;
when friends by shame are undefiled, how can I keep from singing!
Closing Hymn 1008, When Our Heart is in a Holy Place
Chorus:
When our heart is in a holy place,
When our heart is in a holy place,
We are bless’d with love and amazing grace,
When our heart is in a holy place.
When we trust the wisdom in each of us,
Ev’ry color ev’ry creed and kind,
And we see our faces in each other’s eyes,
Then our heart is in a holy place.
Chorus
When we tell our story from deep inside,
And we listen with a loving mind,
And we hear our voices in each other’s words,
Then our heart is in a holy place.
Chorus
When we share the silence of sacred space,
And the God of our Heart stirs within,
And we feel the power of each other’s faith,
Then our heart is in a holy place.
Chorus
Words & Music, Joyce Poley, 1941 –
Keyboard arr. Lorne Kellett, 1950 –

Benediction, Rev. Bill Neely