Practicing Collective Liberation

Good morning, and welcome to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fayetteville. My name is ___________. I am a member of this congregation, and it is my pleasure to lead the service this morning (be the service leader this morning). [Our speaker this morning is…]

[Feel free to grab a cup of coffee or use the restroom if needed during the service. Our restroom is located to your left. And please join us after the service for refreshments and a chat.]

Whoever you are, whomever you love, you are welcome here.
Whatever is on your heart, however it is with your soul in this moment
You are beloved, and you are welcome here.

In this space of welcome and acceptance, commitment, and re-commitment, of covenant & connection, let us worship together.
(Written by Rev. Joan Javier-Duval)

Open unto me ... light for my darkness.
Open unto me ... courage for my fear.
Open unto me ... hope for my despair.
Open unto me ... peace for my turmoil.
Open unto me ... joy for my sorrow.
Open unto me ... strength for my weakness.
Open unto me ... wisdom for my confusion.
Open unto me ... forgiveness for my sins.
Open unto me ... tenderness for my toughness.
Open unto me ... love for my hates.
Open unto me ... Thy Self for my self.

Chorus x2:
You gotta put one foot in front of the other
And lead with love
Put one foot in front of the other
And lead with love

Verse 1
Don’t give up hope
You’re not alone
Don’t you give up
Keep movin on

Chorus x2

Verse 2
Lift up your eyes
Don’t you despair
Look up ahead
The path is there

Chorus x2

Verse 3
I know you’re scared
And I’m scared too
But here I am
Right next to you

Dear friends, dear friends,
Let me tell you how I feel.
You have given me such treasure.
I love you so.

In our community we make time each week to share pieces of
our lives with one another. We do this because each person in
this community has value. Each person’s experience matters. If
you have a joy or sorrow you would like to share with the
community, please come forward, briefly share your joy or
sorrow and release a stone in the water.

For the joys shared, we join you in celebration. For the sorrows
and concerns spoken here, may you feel our sympathy and
compassion. For all that remains unspoken, both joy and
sorrow, may the caring of our community offer you both
kindness and hope.

"It began to seem that one would have to hold in the mind forever two ideas which seemed to be in opposition. The first idea was acceptance, the acceptance, totally without rancor, of life as it is, and men as they are: in the light of this idea, it goes without saying that injustice is a commonplace. But this did not mean that one could be complacent, for the second idea was of equal power: that one must never, in one's own life, accept these injustices as commonplace but must fight them with all one's strength. This fight begins, however, in the heart and it now had been laid to my charge to keep my own heart free of hatred and despair."

Unitarian Universalism is a grand vision
of a world filled with peace and justice, love and joy.

That vision is embodied in a few large congregations,
numerous mid-sized congregations,
and many, many small congregations.

No matter its size,
every congregation depends on each of its members

Each one of you,
by your commitment of time, energy, and resources,
helps make that grand vision real.

Individually and together,
we are Unitarian Universalists,
building a world filled with peace and justice, love and joy.

"We are building a new way.
We are building a new way.
We are building a new way,
feeling stronger ev’ry day,
We are building a new way.

We are working to be free.
We are working to be free.
We are working to be free,
hate and greed and jealousy.
We are working to be free.

We can feed our every need.
We can feed our ev’ry need.
We can feed our ev’ry need,
Start with love, that is the seed.
We can feed our every need.

Peace and freedom is our cry.
Peace and freedom is our cry.
Peace and freedom is our cry,
Without these this world will die.
Peace and freedom is our cry."

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.