Faith in Goodness: An Easter Service

Faith in Goodness: An Easter Service

With Rev. Susan, Annette Boucher, and Brian Shaw

The return of flowers in spring, following the dormancy of winter, is a common symbol of renewal and hope. Even in an era of climate disruption, it is easy to trust that spring will come again each year. But what if rebirth is not guaranteed? What if it seems impossible that spring as we know it will come again? Using the Easter story, we will consider how, even as we mourn what is lost, we might find faith in goodness – whether human, creative, or divine.

In this service, we will also have the joy of welcoming new members to NVUU!

Order of Service

Welcome – “Love Brings Us Back to Life” by Peggy Clarke
Centering through Music
Chalice Lighting — “Struggle and Joy” by Vance Bass
Opening Hymn — “Be The Light” by Lea Morris (inspired by Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb”)
Time for All Ages
Singing Out the Children — #1057 “Go Lifted Up”

Go lifted up, / Love bless your way, / moonlight, starlight / guide your Journey / into peace / and the brightness of day

Ingathering Ceremony

Current Members: We open the circle of our care and welcome you. Your presence will remind us of our own responsibility to continually deepen our religious understanding of ourselves. We welcome you, whatever your age and life stage, and pledge to provide a spiritual home for you, to stir your hearts, minds, and hands as you make your faith journey. We will support our congregation with our time, talent, and money, according to our gifts and abilities. We will bring our message to the world community through seeking justice with compassion and the transforming power of love. These are the things we ask of ourselves. These are the things we offer to you.
New Members: We enter the open circle to give and receive care. We join you in the quest to continually deepen our religious understanding of ourselves. Together, may we create a community for all ages, true to our principles, holding and nurturing us all.
We will join you in supporting this congregation with our time, talent, and money, according to our gifts and abilities. May we make an important difference as we work together to bring this message. These are the things we ask of ourselves. These are the things we offer to you.

Everyone: 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.

Offering — Offertory
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Time of Reflection
Silence (one minute)
Musical Response
Reading – Mark 16:1-8
Message — Rev. Susan
Closing Hymn — #266, Now the Green Blade Riseth
Extinguishing the Chalice

We extinguish this chalice, but not the light of truth, the warmth of love, or the fire of commitment. These we carry in our hearts out into the world, until we meet again.

Benediction — “Be True, Be Well, Be Loving” by Cynthia Landrum