What we do when we meet

WE MEET FOR REVERENCE

The length of the gathering is approx 45 minutes (then coffee/tea etc)
The sequence listed below may vary according to the natural flow of the gathering.

~~~

Introductions and Orientation

including introduction of the president for the day & safety notices


Lighting of the candle in the chalice

with a few words by the president, followed by a moment of silence for centring ourselves


Many paths, one welcome  

the following words or a substitute, spoken by the president


Welcome

Welcome to this table

Whatever path has brought you here

Whatever load you carry

Let us rest a while together.

May our hearts be open to accept what comes to us as a stranger,

May our minds be open to wonder at what we do not understand,

And may our spirits be nourished by our time here together,

Before we again take up our loads and set off upon our many paths,

Welcome!



Hymn

from green or purple Unitarian hymnbooks


Opening Prayer(s)


A pause to reflect on what matters to us and how we have lived up to that

led by the president or another, ending with:


‘This is what the Sacred asks of you; that you act justly, that you love tenderly, and that you walk humbly in its presence’.


First Reading

the president or another reader


Short Silence


Second Reading

the president or another reader


Short Silence


Break piece — incidental music or hymn


Reflection on Text / Sermon

words by the president


Hymn

a resetting time for personal re-orientation after reflection / sermon


Time of Silent Meditation — 7 minutes


Sharing Intentions, Concerns, Hopes

with the lighting of candles


Words of Shared Witness (one of the five versions, see below)

said together out loud, as far as people feel able


Closing Prayer(s)


Hymn


Blessing 

the following words or a substitute, spoken by the president


Let all we do be done in joy;

May we ever seek abundant living.

Let all we do be done in truth;

May we ever listen to the voice within.

Let all we do be done in love;

May affection for all that lives be the rule of our hearts.


Amen



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WORDS OF SHARED WITNESS


Version 1


You to whom we call

Even if it is only we who answer, 

You to whom we look

Even if only to raise our eyes, 

Of you we tell our tales of justice and hope

That we might make them true 

To you we come with gratitude 

That we forget not what is ours to give 

And before you we stand in need of new beginnings

That we withhold from no one a chance to start again


Version 2


Source of love,

help us to love when it is hard to do so.


Source of courage,

help us to endure when we are afraid.


Source of inspiration,

breathe into us when we are dried up.


For the world cries out for love to heal its hatred and indifference.

The world cries out for courage to heal its cowardice and weakness.

The world cries out for inspiration to heal its soul-hunger and its withered hopes.


Source of vision,

show us the vision of a better world.


Show us the vision of a better world:

a world awake to its oneness,

a world of colour, song and comradeship,

a world of fairness, joy and festivals.


And give us the faith to feed the vision and to make it real.


Version 3


We are a Free Church:

Free to welcome regardless of creed, class, colour, sexuality, or gender.

Free to change and grow together and as individuals

Free to see the value of our heritage while embracing the wisdom that is offered by that of others

Free to make a difference in the here and now.

We are Free.


Version 4


We affirm that love is our greatest purpose.
Accepting one another is the truest form of faithful living.
The search for truth is our constant star.
We pledge our hearts, minds, and hands:
To challenge injustice with courage;
To find hope in times of fear;
And to live out our Unitarian values every day as a beloved community.
Thus do we covenant with each other
and with all that is sacred in life.



Version 5


We are aware and we affirm that we do not find our peace

in the certainty of what we confess,

but in wonder of what befalls us and what we are given;

that we do not find our destination in indifference and greed,

but in vigilance and in connection with all that lives;

that our existence is not fulfilled by who we are and what we possess,

but by what is infinitely greater than we can contain.