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First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church
Order of Worship
January 11, 2026
Centering Thought
“It’s easy to become paralyzed by the scale of the world’s need.
But we don’t have to fix everything to be faithful.
We are each called to offer what we can—
to take our drop of water and carry it toward the fire.”
(Rev. Cameron Trimble, www.pilotingfaith.org/p/one-drop-at-a-time)
Ingathering Chimes
Prelude: Improvisation
Welcome and Announcements: Joan Coyne, Worship Committee
Chalice Lighting: Elaine Mahoney
Responsive Call to Worship: #591 in Singing the Living Tradition, “I Call That Church Free” by James Luther Adams
Hymn #389 in Singing the Living Tradition: “Gathered Here”
First Parish Covenant
We, the members of First Parish of Chelmsford, Covenant together to sustain and strengthen our beloved community by:
Honoring and celebrating the Spirit of Life
Nurturing all souls in our search for truth and the sacred
Caring and being present to one another in our joys and sorrows
Bearing witness through service to justice and peace
And being good stewards of our congregation, our heritage, our Unitarian Universalist principles, and our Earth.
Offertory
Joys and Sorrows
A Time for Meditation and Prayer
Congregational Response: “Spirit of Life” (w/m Carolyn McDade)
Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea
Move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice
Roots hold me close, wings set me free
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.
Readings: Read by Joan Coyne
“The Gods We Worship” The New Union Prayer Book (words attrib. to Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Excerpt from Episode One of Searching for Bonhoeffer, Tripp Fuller and Jeffrey C. Pugh
Hymn #1027 in Singing the Journey: “Cuando el Pobre”
Sermon: Practicing Resistance: “Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Faithful Resistance” – Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero
Hymn #1028 in Singing the Journey: “Fire of Commitment”
Benediction & Extinguishing the Chalice: Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, from “Religion and Race” January 14, 1963
Postlude: Lacumpasita – Gerardo Matos Rodriguez
Many Thanks to this Sunday’s Volunteers:
Greeter: Sue Yates Scott
Ushers: Leila Pelosi, John Fisher, & Neil Harmon
Worship Tech: Aggie Brennan
Online Chat Host: Dave Kaffine
Social Hour: Ruth Whalen & Leslie Yauckoes