What’s UUp 5/11/25?

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What’s UUp Sunday, May 11?
 

  • Reminder: Annual Reports are Overdue to the Office
    Contact Barbara if you have questions.
  • Adult RE – 10:00am:  Matriarchy v. Gynarchy (Dr. Judi Jennings)
    For Mother’s Day, we’re exploring the sacred feminine. When we call God (Goddess) “she” are we merely placing a woman at the apex of a patriarchal system? Putting a woman at the top of the hierarchical power is “gynarchy” or “patriarchy in drag.” Shouldn’t we expect more than a “girl boss?” Dr. Judi Jennings, founder and former Executive Director of the Kentucky Foundation for Women will lead us in an examination of what it truly means – theologically and politically – to refuse the concept of presumptive male leadership at the apex of the universe’s hierarchy.
 

Save the Date: Budget Discussions May 11
The Board and Finance team are inviting you to join us for a 45 minute conversation about church finances and the proposed budget for 2025 -2026 at one of these times:

  1. Sunday May 11 10:00am session In Person: in the  Social Hall
  2. Sunday May 11 12:15 session In Person: in the Library

Celebration of Life 11am in the Sanctuary
 
Beyond Imagination:
A Mother’s Day Pondering

Speaker:
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin

In 1870, Julia Ward Howe created the first Mother’s Day Proclamation. She suggested celebrating it as a day for peace.
She began with these words:
 

“Arise, all women who have hearts, whether your baptism be of water or of tears.” In this worship service, we celebrate, ponder, and learn about the layered meaning of Mother’s Day and the image of the Sacred Feminine.
 

For the zoom link, Click here. The Meeting ID is 4508929882 if you can’t attend in person.  You will not need a password. Contact the volunteer desk if you have trouble getting online.

The Order of Service (Bulletin)
Gathering Music         Ethan McCollum

Chime and Welcome          Jill Sherman

Prelude           Ethan

Lighting the Chalice And Black Lives Matter Candles
Laura Roberts and Rev. Mary Ann Macklin

Opening Words              Rev. Mary Ann
          We Need One Another by George Odell

Hymn  #1067    Mother Earth, Beloved Garden          Ethan
Words and music: Amanda Udis-Kessler

Moment for All Ages           Rev. Mary Ann

Song for Our Children            Ethan
Go in love, our hearts go with you.
Go in joy, our hopes go to.
Learn in love and grow in wisdom.
Shine your light in all you do.

Minister’s Remarks        Mother’s Day Pondering     Rev. Mary Ann
                                                            
Our Mission and Covenant       Laura
We are a church of reason and spirit,
that witnesses for progressive faith,
nurtures our community and transforms our world.

Love is the spirit of this church, and service is its law.
This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace,
to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.

Joys and Sorrows        Rev. Mary Ann

Musical response           Ethan

Meditation and Common Prayer        Rev. Mary Ann

Musical Response        Be Ours a Religion     First U Choir
Words: Theodore Parker; Music: Thomas Benjamin

Invitation to Generosity        Laura

Offertory   Calm the Tempests of My Heart       First U Choir
Words: Søren Kierkegaard; Music: Elizabeth Alexander

Sermon       Beyond Imagination    Rev. Mary Ann

Hymn   #1028      The Fire of Commitment       Ethan
Words: Mary Katherine Morn; music: Jason Shelton

Extinguishing the Chalice         Laura
We extinguish these flames, 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.

Postlude         Ethan

Benediction      Rev. Macklin
Robert Doss adapted