Message by Rev. Michelle Scott-Huffman

The opening words are This Faith, by Heide Cottam

Let us be a faith that gathers, reaching for one another
through the walls of hate others build,
through the cages of ignorance and arrogance,
and through the fear that burns city streets.
Let us be a faith that sees a vision of a better world:
More compassionate, more just, more holy,
And with more love.
There is a faith that binds up the broken,
cauterizes battle wounds with the balm of peace,
sings longer and louder than the trumpets of war –
let us be that faith, too.
Let us be the ones who do not tread lightly in this world,
but light it up with our love,
who hold up the mirror of worth and dignity,
who are the sanctuary others seek.
But first:
Let us be a faith that worships together.
Here.
This morning.
In this space.
At this moment.
Let us be a faith.

Answering the Call of Love
Words and music by Jason Shelton.
Permission given for Online, Streaming, and Hybrid use
Accompanied by Colleen Appel with Live Congregational Singing

Ave Verum Corpus in D
Composed by WA Mozart
Public domain
Performed by Colleen Appel

The closing words are As We Go Forward, by Cheryl Block.

As we go forward
into this frightening, exhilarating,
confusing, miraculous world,
may we offer
our comfort to the afflicted
our love to those who are lonely
and our wish for all to be safe.