Widening Our Covenant of Love

Covenant is the basis of our Unitarian Universalist legacy. Our faith addresses personal accountability through the promises we make to one another – we accept responsibility for our decisions, choices, and deeds, and hold ourselves and each other accountable to the covenants between us. Even our weddings are built on covenant. Many of us already hold loved ones to unwritten covenants; our faith teaches us how to make those promises clearer and more intentional. Ours is a living tradition, one where we update our language and covenants to be more inclusive. Today we explore covenant as the basis of our faith – the soil from which our congregation grows. [Image from uua.org]

Worship Associate: Liz Chapa, Special Music: Bryan Rainey

  • The Share the Plate recipient for Sunday, September 13 and 20 is Meadville Lombard Theological School’s General Scholarship Fund. As a new school year gets underway, Meadville Lombard is nurturing learners from diverse faith traditions to embody the collaborative work of liberation through congregational and community leadership. They are carrying forward the Living Tradition of Unitarian Universalism as a new generation of critically needed, progressive faith leaders emerges, following more than 180 years of theological education rooted in the sacred work of repairing, rebuilding, and the restoration of justice, equity and compassion. They were nominated by Rev. Denise in honor of all the alumni ministers JRUUC has encountered.

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Order of Service

  • Gathering Song  “Come, Come, Whoever You Are” #188
  • Welcome
  • Prelude  “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” by George Harrison
  • Call to Worship
  • Lighting the Chalice and Musical Response
  • Centering in Beauty
  • Shared Music  “Gathered Here” #389 (gray hymnal)
  • Time for All Ages  “Do Unto Otters” by Laurie Keller
  • Shared Music  “We Begin Again in Love” #1037 (teal hymnal)
  • Wisdom from the World’s Traditions “A Covenant Invites Relationship” by Lisa Ward
  • Reflection 
  • Offering  “The Water is Wide” arr. Ryan Marvel
  • Joys and Sorrows
  • Shared Music  “The Fire of Commitment” #1028 (teal hymnal) 
  • Extinguishing the Chalice and Benediction
For Further Exploration

From Rev. Denise: Many of you enjoyed the video my spouse, Rev. Matt, and I made on open and closed covenants. If you missed it, or the sound was low in the sanctuary, watch Heretics by Design: Unitarian Universalism and the Courage of Covenant on my YouTube channel – and feel free to subscribe while you’re there.