1. Embrace: Build a welcoming, inclusive church
We seek to include the full diversity of our broader community, including people with/from all socio economic situations, gender identities, beliefs, ages, sexual orientations, mental and physical abilities, races and ethnicities. Therefore, we are examining all the ways in which we embody being a welcoming and inclusive community, and removing any barriers to this that currently exist that might prevent people from being fully welcomed into and involved in our church.

2. 1. Only two faith groups are growing as a percentage of the U. S
1. Only two faith groups are growing as a percentage of the U.S. population: world faiths (Hindu, Buddhist, etc.) and those who are unaffiliated.
2. More than 1/3 of millennials are unaffiliated and may never affiliate with a faith group.

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

4. Performed by Mark Arnest
Prelude
Arietta
By: Edvard Grieg
Performed by Mark Arnest

5. Music Notes
This is the first piece in the first book of "Lyric Pieces" by Unitarian composer Edvard Grieg ( ). The series ultimately grew to 66 pieces in 10 books. Grieg would return to the graceful melody 34 years later, as he completed what he knew what would be the last book in the series.

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

8. Here in this place new light is streaming,
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.

9. Gather us in the lost and forsaken, gather us in no two just the same;
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.

10. We are the young, our lives are a myst’ry,
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.

11. Gather us in the Buddhist and Pagan,
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.

12. Not in the dark of buildings confining,
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.

13. Gather us in from all tribes and nations,
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.

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

17. It Is Something to Have Wept
Opening Hymn
It Is Something to Have Wept
Words: Gilbert Keith Chesterton
Music: Robert L. Sanders
#5 in Singing the Living Tradition

18. It is something to have wept, as we have wept, 1
It is something to have wept, as we have wept,
and something to have done as we have done;
it is something to have watched when all have slept,
and seen the stars which never see the sun.

19. It is something to have smelt the mystic rose, 2
It is something to have smelt the mystic rose,
although it break and leave the thorny rods;
it is something to have hungered once as those
must hunger who have ate the bread of gods.

20. To have known the things that from the weak are furled, 3
To have known the things that from the weak are furled,
the fearful ancient passions, strange and high,
it is something to be wiser than the world,
and something to be older than the sky.

21. Lo, and blessed are our ears for they have heard: 4
Lo, and blessed are our ears for they have heard:
yea, blessed are our eyes for they have seen:
let the thunder break on human, beast, and bird,
and lightning. It is something to have been.

23. Chalice Lighting
Phyllis Barron
ASUUC Member

24. Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence.
Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.”
― Yoko Ono

25. We light this chalice to honor all the seasons of our lives.

27. Top Ten Reasons You Should Volunteer in RE
Story For All Ages
Top Ten Reasons You Should Volunteer in RE
Laurie Frydendall

28. Top Ten Reasons to Volunteer in RE
Adapted from postings on the UU Religious Educators Facebook page

29. 10. Because lying in bed, reading the Sunday paper, is just not my idea of a good time!

30. 9. Because your class will paint any room in your house if you let them have a lock-in.

31. 8. If I came to church and sat around playing with clay and paint without the kids, people would look at me funny.

32. 7. I get up early anyway - You know, since Saturday Night Live went downhill, there just isn't any reason to stay up late.

33. 6. Because it's not anything like a committee meeting.

34. 5. Because the basement is a “cool” place to be.

35. 4. Teaching Sunday School isn't beneath Jimmy Carter, and he was the president.

36. 3. Because, as the Church Lady says, "It's just so special."

37. 2. UU guilt rules my life.

38. And the Number 1 reason, from the home office in Boston, why someone would want to be an RE volunteer.... Karma Kredit!

39. Look for the sign-up genius
And thanks for your support – we can’t do it without you!

41. Reeb Children’s Benediction
Singing the Children Out
Reeb Children’s Benediction
words and music: Ian W. Riddell

42. Go in love, our hearts go with you.
Go in joy, our hopes go too.
Learn in love and grow in wisdom.
Shine your light in all you do.

44. ASUUC Board of Trustees
Reading
Becky Harrison
ASUUC Board of Trustees

45. It’s very simple. As you grow, you learn more
It’s very simple. As you grow, you learn more. If you stayed at twenty-two, you’d always be as ignorant as you were at twenty-two. Aging is not just decay, you know. It’s growth. It’s more than the negative that you’re going to die, it’s also the positive that you understand you’re going to die, and that you live a better life because of it.
― Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie

47. Notes to Myself ASUUC Sages
Today’s Message
Notes to Myself
ASUUC Sages

48. Jan Otto

49. Bill Cutts

50. Jo Winn

51. Gretchen Cutts

52. Rick Schwarz

53. Barb Kohlhaas

54. Keith Hagel

55. ASUUC Board of Trustees
Meditation
Larry Norfleet
ASUUC Board of Trustees

56. Rev. Dr. Nori Rost Ceremony
(Adapted from the Elder Creed in From Age-ing to Sage-ing by Zalman Schacter-Shalomi,
Warner Books, 1995)

57. Responsive Reading
Rev. Rost: You walk among us as Elders, yet we sometimes overlook you or minimize the significant role you play in our lives. Therefore, today we honor you and publicly name you as Sages in our midst. A Sage is a person who is still growing, still a learner, still with potential, and whose life continues to have within it promise for, and connection to the future.

58. Responsive Reading
Congregation: A Sage is still in pursuit of happiness, joy, and pleasure, and her or his birthright to these remains intact. A sage is a person who deserves respect and honor and we pledge to give you both as you seek happiness, joy, and pleasure.

59. Responsive Reading
Sages: We take on the mantle of Sage with humility and gratitude. We promise to do the work of synthesizing wisdom we have gained from long life experiences and to formulate this into a legacy for future generations. We acknowledge the worth and value of our lives, of the lessons we have learned, and of the lessons we have yet to learn. As Sages we will seek to leave the world a better place for future generations.

61. ASUUC Board of Trustees
Offertory Reading
Becky Harrison
ASUUC Board of Trustees

62. We give thanks for those moments when we can feel that we live in a world that is not indifferent to our need. We all have so many needs– a thousand prayers– a thousand needs– rhat really only need one answer: let the world not be indifferent. And may we live and be with each other in a way that shows this truth whatever the day brings: that neither are we indifferent to each other.
– Judith Meyer

63. The offering will now be joyfully given and gratefully received.

65. Performed by Mark Arnest
Offertory Music
Automne
by Cecile Chaminade
Performed by Mark Arnest

66. Music Notes
Cecile Chaminade ( ) was one of the most successful salon composers of the 19th Century, and one of the most prominent women composers in an epoch not noted for granting opportunities to women composers. This piece comes from a set of etudes - studies in particular technical ideas - but is notable for its wistful mood. The outer sections are lyrical and nostalgic, looking back on the vanished summer; the middle section gives a preview of winter storms.

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

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

71. Closing Words
Rev. Dr. Nori Rost

72. I know now, after fifty years, that the finding/losing,
Forgetting/remembering, Leaving/returning never stops.
The Whole of life is about another chance,
And while we are still alive, til the very end, there is always another chance.
-- Jeannette Winterson from "Why be Happy When You Could be Normal?"

74. Let It Be a Dance #311 in Singing the Living Tradition Closing Hymn
words and music: Ric Masten
arr. by Betty A. Wylder
#311 in Singing the Living Tradition

75. May I have this dance with you?
Prelude
Let it be a dance we do.
May I have this dance with you?
Through the good times and the bad times, too,
let it be a dance.

76. Let a dancing song be heard. Play the music, say the words,
Verse 1
Let a dancing song be heard.
Play the music, say the words,
and fill the sky with sailing birds.
Let it be a dance.
Let it be a dance. Let it be a dance.

77. Learn to follow, learn to lead, feel the rhythm, fill the need
Verse 1 (cont.)
Learn to follow, learn to lead,
feel the rhythm, fill the need
to reap the harvest, plant the seed.
Let it be a dance___.

78. Everybody turn and spin, let your body learn to bend,
Verse 2
Everybody turn and spin,
let your body learn to bend,
and, like a willow with the wind,
Let it be a dance.
Let it be a dance. Let it be a dance.

79. A child is born, the old must die; a time for joy, a time to cry.
Verse 2 (cont.)
A child is born, the old must die;
a time for joy, a time to cry.
Take it as it passes by.
Let it be a dance___.

80. Morning star comes out at night, without the dark there is no light.
Verse 3
Morning star comes out at night,
without the dark there is no light.
If nothing’s wrong, then nothing’s right.
Let it be a dance.
Let it be a dance. Let it be a dance.

81. Let the sun shine, let it rain; share the laughter, bear the pain,
Verse 3 (cont.)
Let the sun shine, let it rain;
share the laughter, bear the pain,
and round and round we go again.
Let it be a dance___.

83. words and music: Judy Fjell
Extinguishing the Chalice / Song
As We Leave This Place
words and music: Judy Fjell

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

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

86. for now we know ___ that something 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.

88. Performed by Mark Arnest
Postlude
Remembrances
by Edvard Grieg
Performed by Mark Arnest

89. Music Notes
As he closed his creative life, Grieg revisited the melody from his early "Arietta," transforming it into something more mysterious and elusive.

91. Thank you for being part of our community today
Please enjoy the Fellowship Hour following service in the Small Hall