Gathering Music 

Welcome and Announcements – Board Member

Prelude - Count on Me, by Heather Quay

Chalice Lighting — Rev Martha

Life is a gift, for which we are grateful.

We gather in community to celebrate

The glories and the mysteries of this great gift.

Gathering Hymn - #21, For the Beauty of the Earth

Opening Words — Rev Martha 

Reflection - Sarah & Sydney Page 

Anthem - Father’s got a Home, by Alice Parker

Reflection - Margaret Dunn

Words of Offering — Rev Chris

Offertory — Senza Mamma, from Suor Angelica, by Giacomo Puccini; Melanie Salisbury, soprano

Today’s service celebrates with joy the diversity of our experiences with family. We also acknowledge that grief is present for many of us in our experience with family. This offertory piece holds the complexity and mourning of a mother’s loss of her child. If you arrive here today with your own grief, we hold you in tenderness and care. The translation of the Italian is as follows. 

Oh, my baby, you died without me. If only I'd been there to hold you, kiss your lips as they grew colder; close your beautiful eyes forever. Little hands across your chest, no more able to reach out and touch me! For you are gone now, never having known how much I loved you, how much I loved you!

But, you‘re in Heaven, a blessed little angel. You can look down and see me, see your mother. You can come from above and be here near me. Oh, please come now! Let me hear you. Let me see you. You're here. You're here. I feel your tiny hands on my face! Oh, tell me, when can I be with you in Paradise? When can we be together? Ah, sweet end to all my years of suffering: that day I can greet you in Heaven. Say when shall death release me and take me to you?"

Oh, won’t you tell me, dearest child, so precious?  Just give an answer with the twinkle of a star. Answer me, answer me, my darling, my darling, my love!"

Doxology 

From all that dwell below the skies;

Let words of love and peace arise;

Let joyful songs of praise be sung;

Through every land by every tongue. Amen.

Reflection — Ed Siegfried

Candles of Celebration and Concern - Comm Care Team Member

Prayer - Rev. Chris 

Hymn — #1019 Everything Possible

Reflection — Phil Rossoni & Christine O’Neill

Closing Blessing — Rev Chris 

Closing Hymn - #324, Where My Free Spirit Onward Leads

Extinguishing the Flame — Rev Chris 

Postlude - The Journey, by Heather Quay