August 8, 2021: “Rescued: Animal Blessing Service”

ORDER OF WORSHIP | AUGUST 8, 2021 | 10:00 AM ONLINE SERVICE

Gathering
Roger Baldwin & Dave Banks, Zoom Greeters
Fred Gilbertson, David Hamilton, Ruth Hopkinson, Katrina Landon & Linda Lane-Hamilton, Sanctuary Greeters

Announcements
David Hopkinson, Worship Associate

Opening Hymn
“Come, Sing a Song with Me,” music & words by Carolyn McDade; video created by MaryJane Wagner

Welcome & Greeting
David Hopkinson

Come, come, whoever you are,
Whomever you love,
Whatever your image of the Holy,
Your presence here is a gift.
All are worthy, all are welcome.

Call to Worship
by the Rev. Florence Caplow (adapted)
Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister

Lighting the Chalice
David Hopkinson

We light this chalice
for the warmth of love;
for the light of truth;
for the energy of action;
and for the harmony of peace:
Peace in our hearts,
peace in our community,
and peace in our world.

Wisdom Story
Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig

Reading
“St. Kevin and the Blackbird,” by Seamus Heaney
Austen Petersen, Director of Religious Education

Meditation & Prayer, Sung, Spoken & Silent
with words by the Rev. Theresa Soto
Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig

Centering Hymn
“All Creatures of the Earth and Sky”
Dave Robbins, Assistant Director of Music, Piano

Sharing Our Gifts
Online Giving
Text-to-Give: 757-500-0688
Each month we Share The Plate with one of the local organizations that provides a vital service to our community. It offers us an opportunity to extend our compassion to others in need. This week your contributions will go to Bacon Street Youth and Family Services, an agency that provides mental health services and substance-abuse prevention and intervention programs to youth and their families. Your generosity is needed and appreciated.

Offertory Music
“Yellow Bird,” lyrics by Marilyn Keith & Alan Bergman, music by Norman Luboff
WUU Women’s Choir

Sermon
“Rescued”
Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig

Musical Interlude
“Bird Song,” by Heather Masse
Winsome: Jane Ferguson, John Trindle, Michael Schulman, Robert Weinberg & Niki Worrell

Blessing the Animals

Closing Hymn
“All God’s Critters”
Dave Robbins, Piano

Extinguishing the Chalice
David Hopkinson

We extinguish this flame,
but not the light of truth,
the warmth of community,
or the fire of commitment.
These we carry in our hearts
until we are together again.

Closing Circle & Benediction
Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig


Post-service Zoom groups: All are invited to join a discussion group to connect after the service.

  • Sermon discussion group with Membership Team representative Jane Reilly: To join, simply wait at the end of the service for the discussion to begin in the main room. Please ignore the breakout room invitation.
  • Social group: To join, accept the invitation to join a breakout room at the end of the service.

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