Welcome to All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church Assisted

Welcome to All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church Assisted hearing devices are available at the Welcome Table in the Small Hall

Prelude Reflection by Jim Brickman played by Sharon Skidgel

Gathering Song Gather Us In by Marty Haugen adapt. Rev. Dr. Nori J. Rost

Verse 1 Here in this place new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away; see in this place our fears and our dreaming, brought here to all in the light of this day.

Chorus 1 Gather us in the lost and forsaken, gather us in no two just the same; call to us now, and we shall awaken, we shall arise at the sound of our name.

Verse 2 We are the young, our lives are a myst’ry, we are the old with wisdom and grace; we have been sung throughout all of hist’ry, called to be light to the whole human race.

Chorus 2 Gather us in the Buddhist and Pagan, Humanist, Atheist join in the throng; gather us in the Theist and Seeking, give us the courage to enter the song.

Verse 3 Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven light years away; here in this place the new light is shining, now is the moment, now is the day.

Chorus 3 Gather us in from all tribes and nations, gather us in, no one left alone; gather us in, a great celebration, fire of love in our flesh and our bones.

Welcome and Sounding of the Bell Rev. Dr. Nori Rost Senior Minister

Opening Hymn Will be announced

Chalice Lighting John Garrett words by Dana Gioia

Let other mornings honor the miraculous. Eternity has festivals enough. This is the feast of our mortality, The most mundane and human holiday… The new year always brings us what we want Simply by bringing us along—to see a calendar with every day uncrossed, A field of snow without a single footprint.

Reading Doris Lancaster Member, Board of Trustees words by Elizabeth Gilbert from Eat, Pray, Love

If you're brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house to bitter, old resentments, and set out on a truth-seeking journey, either externally or internally,

and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you.

Today’s Message Starting from Scratch Rev. Dr. Nori Rost

Special Ceremony Fire Communion

Offertory Reading Doris Lancaster words by Brad Gast

“No matter what happens, no matter how far you seem to be away from where you want to be, never stop believing that you will somehow make it.

Have a unrelenting belief that things will work out, that the long road has a purpose, that the things that you desire may not happen today, but they will happen. Persist and persevere, your desired path remains possible. ”

As we take up the offering we are reminded that all we are called to do as individuals and as a church is possible so long as we never give up and always give our best. The offering will now be generously given and gratefully received.

Offertory Music Consuming Fire by Tim Hughes played by Sharon Skidgel

Offertory Response From You I Receive words and music: Joseph and Nathan Segal #402 in Singing the Living Tradition

From you I receive, to you I give, together we share, and from this we live.

Joys and Concerns Congregation

Opening I am sending you light____ to heal you, to hold you. I am sending you light____ to hold you in love.

Closing I am sending you light____ to heal you, to hold you. I am sending you light____ to hold you in love.

Closing Words Rev. Dr. Nori Rost words by Iyanla Van. Zant

Accept all invitations to do a new thing. Dare not limit yourself. Move toward your wildest dream, take the labels off your mind, and step boldly into your greatness.

Closing Hymn Will be announced

Extinguishing the Chalice / Song Rev. Dr. Nori Rost As We Leave This Place words and music: Judy Fjell

1 Now, as we leave this place, the chalice dims but the fire still burns within our hearts beyond these doors.

2 Now, as we leave this place, mem’ries of each and ev’ry face carry us ___ into the world.

3 And we will return for now we know ___ that something greater ___ than any of us ___ alone is part of us ___ as we leave this place.

Postlude Begin Again by Taylor Swift (performed by The Piano Guys) played by Sharon Skidgel

Lyric Line And for the first time what’s past is past.

Thank you for being part of our community today.