This audio begins with a reflection offered by worship associate Helen Pohlig.

Gathering Music
Ringing the Bell
Prelude Away in a Manger — James Murray, arr. Fred Bock
Call to Worship Helen Pohlig
Lighting the Chalice
*Opening Hymn Joy to the World
*Unison Affirmation (615) The Work of Christmas
Silence
Embracing Meditation Nic Cable
Minister’s Prayer
Interlude
Reading A Christmas Poem (adapted) — Dr. Maya Angelou
Interlude
Reflection Mary, Did You Know?
*Hymn of Affirmation (409) Sleep, My Child
Homily My Lord, What a Morning
*Closing Hymn (232) The Hills Are Bare at Bethlehem
Benediction
Postlude On This Day Earth Shall Ring — Personent Hodie, set by John Carter
About the Worship Leader
Nic Cable is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from DePaul University with a degree in Religious Studies, as well as Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies. Nic received his Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2014. In the few years prior to coming to Unity Church, he lived in Michigan where his wife pursued her law degree. During this time, Nic worked full time for the UUA in Stewardship and Development, and part time with the UU Church of Greater Lansing. Nic feels blessed to learn and grow as a ministerial intern at Unity Church this year and is looking forward to getting to know the community.
About the Worship Associate
Worship Associate, Helen Pohlig, was raised Lutheran and explored several spiritual traditions before finding her home at Unity Church when she moved back to St. Paul seven years ago. She teaches business law seminars around the country and also does legal document review on a part-time basis. Helen lives in south Maplewood and spends much of her spare time doing various kinds of social dancing.
About the Musician
Priscilla Morton (piano) enjoys volunteering as the accompanist for the Unity children’s choir. She also enjoys her new part-time retirement career in counseling and the extra time allowed for hobbies like table tennis (the seniors at the Y are killer players) and modern dance. Priscilla has recently added a small terrier and two capable students to her household — all of whom add joy to her life.

ORDER OF WORSHIP
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Rev. Janne Eller-Isaacs, Co-Minister
Kevin Ward, Worship Associate

Ringing the Bell
Prelude Andante con moto — Alexandre Guilmant
Call to Worship Kevin Ward
Chalice Lighting
*Opening Hymn (295) Sing Out Praises for the Journey
*Unison Affirmation (463)
Silence
When I breathe in, I breathe in peace. When I breathe out, I breathe out love.
Minister’s Prayer Janne Eller-Isaacs
Interlude
Offering
Offering Music Michelangelo’s On Beauty — Kurt Knecht
Readings
Twenty Questions After November 9 — Marg Walker
The Sycamore — Wendell Berry
*Hymn of Affirmation (55) Dark of Winter
Sermon The Bark Heals the Wound
*Closing Hymn (225) O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Benediction
Postlude Noel — Claude Balbastre

Kevin Ward has been attending Unity Church since 2010 with his spouse, Jessica Goff, and children, Murray and Olive Goff. Kevin has been an English Language Arts teacher at Avalon School since 2002.

About the Musicians
Unity Choir is the foundation on which our music program is built and is a vital and energetic presence in our community. Its members share various levels of musical experience and a wide variety of activities and interests, all of which are brought together by their love of singing. Ruth Palmer, Director

About the Offering Recipient
Avenues for Homeless Youth is a transitional housing program for twenty youth, ages 16-20. Its North Minneapolis location, staffed 24 hours a day, provides basic shelter needs, meals, intensive case management, health and wellness care, independent living skills, and help with education and employment help. The average stay at Avenues is between 90 and 120 days. Avenues also manages a host family program for homeless, queer-identified youth, the majority of whom are people of color.

This audio begins with a reflection offered by worship associate Angela Wilcox.

ORDER OF WORSHIP
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs, Co-Minister
Angela Wilcox, Worship Associate

Gathering Music
Words of Welcome Rob Eller-Isaacs
Ringing the Bell
Prelude
Something Within — words and music Lucie Eddie Campbell; arr. Robert L. Morris
... Something within me I cannot explain. All that I know there is something within.
Call to Worship Angela Wilcox
Chalice Lighting
*Opening Hymn Earth Moves in a Mysterious Way
Earth moves in a mysterious way, her wonders to unfold
She fashions beauty out of clay, like straw spun into gold
I lose her voice amid the din, and clamor all around
But if I listen to the wind, I hear her sacred sound
And though this human enterprise, is poised ’tween hope and hell,
Earth circles in her endless dance, and whispers “All is well”
Earth moves in a mysterious way, her wonders to unfold
She fashions beauty out of clay, our mother and our home
*Responsive Affirmation (439) We Gather in Reverence
Silence
When I breathe in, I breathe in peace. When I breathe out, I breathe out love.
Embracing Meditation
Minister’s Prayer
Interlude
Offering Music
The Heaven’s Flock (Paulann Petersen) — Eriks Ešenvalds
Stars, you are the heavens’ flock tangling your pale wool across the night sky.
Stars, you’re bits of oily fleece catching on barbs of darkness to swirl in black wind.
You appear, disappear by thousands, scattered wide to graze but never straying.
While I, a mere shepherd of these words, am lost.
What can I do but build a small blaze and feed it with branches the trees let fall:
that twiggy clatter strewn along the ground.
And lichen crusting such dead limbs glows silver, glows white.
The earthfood for a fire so unlike and like your own. Oh, what can I do but build a small blaze.
Readings Sweet Darkness — David Whyte
Leaf Huts and Snow Houses — Olav H. Hauge
Interlude
Reflection Deep Listening
*Hymn of Affirmation
Listen, listen, listen to my heart’s song. (2x)
I will never forget you. I will never forsake you. (2x)
Sermon Love Begins With Listening
*Closing Hymn (226) People, Look East
Benediction
Postlude Allegretto — Daquin

About the Worship Associate
Angela Wilcox was pulled to Unity Church ten years ago by her children, after they attended one day of religious education and declared that this was “for sure” their church. They were right. Those two children, Lucy and Nelson, have now launched themselves to Los Angeles and Scotland, and Angela is focusing more of her energy on issues of equity in education and cultivating a healthy sense of curiosity of what’s next. She lives in St. Paul and is grateful that we no longer have to pay large sums of money to make long distance phone calls.

About the Musicians
Unity Singers is Unity Church’s auditioned, a cappella, chamber choir. Each singer’s involvement is built on a passion for singing and willingness to work towards an ensemble of excellence capable of sharing varied musical genres with the community. All singers volunteer their talents to offer the musical gift of this ensemble and are deeply involved in the life of this church community. Ruth Palmer, Director 

About the Music
Luci Eddie Campbell (1885-1963) stands fourth in the line as one of the creators of Gospel Music. She is the first woman composer of Gospel music in the Black American Tradition. Her Gospel ballads, coupled then-current everyday language with archaic words to provide an impressive and emotional look into the singer’s mind and soul. She preferred the songs to be performed using both Gospel and European singing traditions. A good number of her existing songs have made their way into music books of almost every denomination that sings hymns.
Robert L. Morris is a highly respected choral conductor and teacher. Locally he taught at Macalester College and Concordia University. He is founder and artistic director of the Leigh Morris Chorale.

ORDER OF WORSHIP
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Nic Cable, Ministerial Intern
Rochelle Lockridge, Worship Associate

Gathering Music It is Well with My Soul
Philip P. Bliss; arr. John Purifoy

Prelude Present — Footfall
If you ever wonder if I am thinking of you
Watch the rain fall on our hearts
It makes its mark to wash the darkness away
If I ever wonder if you are here beside me
Watch the tears fall on our souls
Where we hold hope and love all our days
And if we ever wonder if we can walk the long road
Watch the sun give us this gift of the day
As we make our way through the here and now

Call to Worship Rochelle Lockridge

*Opening Hymn (6) Just as Long as I Have Breath

*Responsive Reading (610) The Journey of Love

Silence

When I breathe in, I breathe in peace. When I breathe out, I breathe out love.

Embracing Meditation

Minister’s Prayer

Interlude Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
arr. Carol Tornquist

Offering Music Sister, Sit on Down — Footfall
Sister, sit on down. Sister, sit on sit on down. Sister, sit on down
Tell me something I don’t know
Tell me something about where you want to go
Tell me something I forgot about to love or hope or know
Make a space to let it in
Take a break to start your heart again
Wake up knowing that it’s easy to find yourself a friend
Talk your way onto the ride
Shake off the shadows of your pride
Walk into the world knowing that we’re right here by your side

Readings A Hidden Wholeness — Parker Palmer
A Sikh Prayer for America on November 9, 2016 — Valarie Kaur

*Hymn of Affirmation (1) May Nothing Evil Cross This Door

Sermon The Power of the Shared Table

*Closing Hymn I Know I Can

Benediction

Postlude Peace Call — Woodie Guthrie/arr. Footfall
Open your hearts to the paradise to the peace of heavenly angels
Take away that woeful shadow dancing on your wall
Take to the skies of peace of friends, of the peace of one great spirit
Get ready for my bugle call of peace
Chorus: Peace peace peace
I can hear the bugle sounding, roaming around my land, my city and my town
Peace peace peace
I can hear the voices ringing, louder while my bugle calls for peace
If these storms fill your heart with a thousand kinds of worry
Keep to my road of peace, you’ll never have to fear
Keep in the sun and look around, in the face of peace and plenty
Get ready for my bugle call of peace
I’ll clear my house of the weed of fear and turn to the friends around me
With my smile of peace, I’ll greet them one and all
I’ll work, I’ll fight, I’ll dance, I’ll sing, of peace of the youthful spirit
Get ready for my bugle call of peace

About the Worship Leader
Nic Cable is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from DePaul University with a degree in Religious Studies, as well as Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies. Nic received his Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2014. In the few years prior to coming to Unity Church, he lived in Michigan where his wife pursued her law degree. During this time, Nic worked full time for the UUA in Stewardship and Development, and part time with the UU Church of Greater Lansing. Nic feels blessed to learn and grow as a ministerial intern at Unity Church this year and is looking forward to getting to know the community.

About the Worship Associate
Rochelle Lockridge was lured by the sweet siren’s song of the Unity Choir singing from the balcony in 2002. She has been a member of the choir and the Unity Church family ever since. After careful consideration she has expanded her involvement to include serving as a worship associate. Rochelle lives in Maplewood, newly venturing out to build her own management consulting business. In addition to following her passions in grand-parenting, music, and digital storytelling, she has recently rediscovered the joys of Ballroom dancing.

About the Musicians
Footfall is what happened when folk, punk, rock, classical and good common sense converged. If a label helps, alt country is where we landed. We hope you’ll agree but mostly just want you along for the ride. Footfall is Jim Christiansen and Debbie Cushman. We’ve been playing music together for about fifteen years. Jim plays guitar, slide guitar and mandolin. He also sings a mean harmony line and can be nudged into lead. Debbie brings guitar, vocals, piano and dreams of fiddle playing. Songwriting is shared and so is banter over covers. The day jobs pay for the gear. The music feeds the soul. 

Kathleen Bartholomay, a long-time member, has enjoyed a rich history of musical involvement at Unity Church: accompanying Unity’s adult choir, coordinating summer music, and sharing her musical gifts in recitals, memorial services, weddings, and other occasions. She sings with the St. Paul Vocal Forum, and is completing her training to become a music therapist. Kathleen holds a Master of Music degree from University of Nebraska-Lincoln. www.twincitiespianist.com

ORDER OF WORSHIP
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Rev. Janne Eller-Isaacs, Co-Minister
Heidi Huelster, Worship Associate

Gathering Music

Words of Welcome Rev. Janne Eller-Isaacs

Ringing the Bell

PRELUDE Sicilienne — Fritz Kreisler

Call to Worship Heidi Huelster

Lighting the Chalice

*Opening Hymn (128) For All That Is Our Life

*Responsive Reading (515) We Lift Our Hearts in Thanks

Silence

Embracing Meditation

Minister’s Prayer

Interlude Deep Peace (Traditional Gaelic blessing) — Bill Douglas
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the gentle night to you.
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you.
Deep peace to you.

Offering

Offering Music Affetuoso (from Sonata in D Major) — George Frederic Handel

Readings

You Must Try to Praise the Mutilated World — Adam Zagajewski
Accidents of Birth — William Meredith

*Hymn of Affirmation (123) Spirit of Life

Sermon Cultivating Gratitude

*Closing Hymn (318) We Would Be One

Benediction

POSTLUDE Berceuse, Op. 16 — Gabriel Faure

About the Worship Associate
Heidi Huelster and her husband Josh were married at Unity in 2002, and have been calling it their church ever since. Heidi is currently working on her Masters at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, where she gets riled up about education policy and parent outreach. She enjoys travel, playing the piano, producing the podcast Parent Town, cooking, and seeing art. The coolest thing she gets to do is call herself “mom” to her children, Mimi, Howard, and Zoe, who pretty much amaze and make her laugh every day.

About the Musicians
Wendy Tangen-Foster is violinist, teacher, and performer whose passion is helping others connect through music. She is the director of Ms. Wendy’s Suzuki Violin Studio in Saint Paul where children and adult students learn to build character, sensitivity, confidence, and expressivity through studying the violin as part of a joyfully vibrant community of families. With over 20 years of Suzuki and music teaching experience, Wendy loves to travel and share her joy and passion for music at Suzuki workshops around the country. A dynamic performer, Wendy plays regularly with Rogue Tango on Sundays at the Loring Pasta Bar, and with CharangaTropical, a nine-piece salsa band with strings. Wendy makes her home in Northeast Minneapolis where she enjoys running, playing backgammon, cooking, going to art shows, and jamming with friends. Ms. Wendy’s Suzuki Violin Studio is currently accepting new students. Her studio theme this year is cultivating gratitude. wendysuzukiviolin@gmail.com

Unity Choir is the foundation on which our music program is built and is a vital and energetic presence in our community. Its members share various levels of musical experience and a wide variety of activities and interests, all of which are brought together by their love of singing. Ruth Palmer, Director (9:00/11:00)

About the Offering Recipient
Growth and Justice is a non-partisan, non-profit, research and advocacy organization, focused on expanding prosperity in Minnesota. It promotes policies that reduce inequality and that eliminate racial disparity, through investment in human capital and public infrastructure, by ensuring universal and affordable health care, and through a cleaner and greener economy. Unity Church member Dane Smith is president of Growth and Justice.

Assistive Listening System
To access the sanctuary’s assistive listening system, please switch your hearing aid to “T” or request headphones or assistance from an usher.

Worship Associate: Avi Viswanathan

On this audio:

Excerpt from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Reflection offered by Bill Doherty

Excerpt from Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

Reflection offered by Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs

This audio begins with a reflection offered by worship associate Brian Newhouse.

This audio begins with a reflection offered by Rev. Dave Ruffin.

This audio begins with a reflection offered by worship associate Angela Wilcox.

This audio begins with a reflection offered by worship associate Heidi Mastrud.

This audio includes a story for all ages offered by Rev. KP Hong followed by an Easter message offered by Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs

This audio begins with a reflection offered by worship associate Heidi Mastrud.

This service begins with worship associate Rene Meyer-Grimberg reading March Parish Hall artist Ken Starlin's artist statement. Following Rob's reflection, there is a writing prompt offered by community editors from St. Paul Almanac.