Bread and Roses
Sunday, November 5, 2023 – 10 a.m.

Our live stream begins at 10:00 a.m. Click here to join.

“Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.” ― Groucho Marx

WELCOME  — Rev. Talia Raymond

A MOMENT FOR ENLISTMENT 

PRELUDE  — “Beatitudes” recording by Sweet Honey in the Rock, dancers Star Bradbury and Talia Raymond

CALL TO WORSHIP  — from enfleshed, led by Fred Gregory

One: When we hunger for justice and thirst for the liberation of all life; When we want for collective flourishing with the entirety of your spirit . . .

ALL: Blessed are we, for our longings will birth the dreams of God.

One: When we weep with all the world’s aches; When we find ourselves filled with sorrow because of what is cruel, what is lost, what is forgotten . . .

ALL: Blessed are we, for God weeps through us.

One: When we are punished socially or economically for our refusal to go with the flow of normalized evil; When our truth-telling or practices of love leave us isolated or condemned . . .

ALL: Blessed are we, for we offer a glimpse of the Kindom of God.

One: God draws near wherever hearts are open.

ALL: Love, come and shape our understanding!

OPENING SONG – “Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit” —  #180 in the UCC Hymnal

TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN and BIRTHDAYS  — “In My Heart” by Jo Witek and Christine Roussey, offered by Kathryn Rabb

INTERLUDE  — Children 3 years – 5th grade may leave for United Tribes. We also have a nursery for babies and toddlers. Both are available through 12:30 p.m. when the seminar concludes, as is a parents’ room at the back of the Sanctuary.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE  — Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

PRAYER RESPONSE  —  “Blessings” by Laura Story, offered by Wayne Raymond

READING  — “Once the World Was Perfect” by Joy Harjo, read by Dar Mikula

Once the world was perfect, and we were happy in that world.
Then we took it for granted.
Discontent began a small rumble in the earthly mind.
Then Doubt pushed through with its spiked head.
And once Doubt ruptured the web,
All manner of demon thoughts
Jumped through—
We destroyed the world we had been given
For inspiration, for life—
Each stone of jealousy, each stone
Of fear, greed, envy, and hatred, put out the light.
No one was without a stone in his or her hand.
There we were,
Right back where we had started.
We were bumping into each other
In the dark.
And now we had no place to live, since we didn’t know
How to live with each other.
Then one of the stumbling ones took pity on another
And shared a blanket.
A spark of kindness made a light.
The light made an opening in the darkness.
Everyone worked together to make a ladder.
A Wind Clan person climbed out first into the next world,
And then the other clans, the children of those clans, their children,
And their children, all the way through time—
To now, into this morning light to you.

SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERING  — “Come, Sing a Song with Me” by Carolyn McDade, arr. Jaie Tiefenbrunn, offered by Sue Hartman for Harmony Fare, with Mary Caraher and Susan Kirkland

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SCRIPTURE READING  — Matthew 5:1-12

SERMON  —  “Blessed Are” — Rev. Talia Raymond

CLOSING SONG  —  “Amazing Grace” #547 in the UCC Hymnal

BENEDICTION

ALLELUIA

Thank you to Dawn Beachy, Phoebe Papadi, Betsy Harris, and Connie Caldwell for contributing their quilts and fabric art for the Sanctuary.