What Circle? – Toxic polarization, cloudy conflicts, and the need to change our ideas about change
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
February 20, 2022
Rev. Kevin Tarsa, with Grace Kendrick, Worship Associate
Impossible. Frightening. Dangerous. That’s how it feels.
In The Way Out, Peter T. Coleman takes head on the pressing question, “What can we do to escape the grip of partisan contempt in our divided society and get back to solving our most pressing problems?” His experience researching, teaching, and facilitating conflict resolution leads him to suggest answers, but likely not the answers you expect. Let’s open up our sense of hope by first opening up our sense of the problem.
Song for Gathering/Opening Words Will the Circle Be Unbroken words by Ada R. Habershon, music by Charles H. Gabriel, sung by Claire Leve, Rev. Kevin Tarsa, and Jordan Thomas-Rose, with Marginal Wisdom by Leslie Takahashi, read by Melissa Ridgway
Lighting of the Chalice A Chalice Lighting for When Things Aren’t Okay by Molly Brewer, read by Beth Rose
Musical Response There is a Love by Elizabeth Norton, words by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker
Welcome Grace Kendrick, Worship Associate
Land Acknowledgement read by Aspen Cisneros
Wisdom for All Ages A Human Family by Martha Dallas, read and led by Grace Kendrick
Joys & Sorrows
Meditation by adrienne maree brown
Music The Star of Truth, music by Dede Duson, text by John Andrew Storey, Jordan Thomas-Rose, voice, Rev. Kevin Tarsa, piano, Claire Leve, guitar
Reading A Stone’s Throw by George A Tyger, read by Bob Branstrom
Sermon What Circle? Rev. Kevin Tarsa
Offering Grace Kendrick
25% of our offering this month goes to KARE Crisis Nursery, which supports children and families in our community and surrounding areas by providing safe, nurturing care for the small children of families experiencing a stressful situation.
Offertory Jordan Thomas-Rose
Dedication Grace Kendrick
Thank you
Closing Song We Would Be One #318, music by Jean Sibelius, words by Samuel Anthony Wright
Closing Words Ever-Widening, Perfectly Imperfect, Precisely Imprecise by Rev. Rod Richards, read by Rev. Kevin Tarsa
Community Benediction / Extinguishing of the Chalice
Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.