How UUFE called our Minister, Reverend Susan Browning.
2 June 2019 Order of Service
Prelude and Processional “Gather the Spirit”
Gather the spirit, harvest the power.
Our sep’rate fires will kindle one flame.
Witness the mystery of this hour.
Our trials in this light appear all the same.
(Chorus)
Gather in peace, gather in thanks.
Gather in sympathy now and then.
Gather in hope, compassion and strength.
Gather to celebrate once again.
Gather the spirit of heart and mind.
Seeds for the sowing are laid in store.
Nurtured in love, and conscience refined,
with body and spirit united once more. (Chorus)
Gather the spirit growing in all,
drawn by the moon and fed by the sun.
Winter to spring, and summer to fall,
the chorus of life resounding as one. (Chorus)
Welcome Emily Cranwell
Greetings
Paula Cole Jones, Unitarian Universalist Association
Carl Gallegos, Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River
Rabbi Naomi Hyman, Talbot Association of Clergy and Laity
Chalice Lighting Rev. Sue’s Family
Bill, Stephen, and Daniel Browning, Rachel Weaver
and Beth Boucher
Opening Hymn “Wake, Now, My Senses”
Wake, now, my senses, and hear the earth call;
feel the deep power of being in all;
keep with the web of creation your vow,
giving, receiving as love shows us how.
Wake, now, my reason, reach out to the new;
join with each pilgrim who quests for the true;
honor the beauty and wisdom of time;
suffer thy limit, and praise the sublime.
Wake, now, compassion, give heed to the cry;
voices of suffering fill the wide sky;
take as your neighbor both stranger and friend,
praying and striving their hardship to end.
Wake, now, my conscience, with justice thy guide;
join with all people whose rights are denied;
take not for granted a privileged place;
God’s love embraces the whole human race.
Wake, now, my vision of ministry clear;
brighten my pathway with radiance here;
mingle my calling with all who will share;
work toward a planet transformed by our care.
Covenant of Our Fellowship (In unison, please remain standing)
“At the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Easton, we seek to nurture spiritual and intellectual growth for all ages, and to be actively involved in community outreach and service. Cherishing diversity, and celebrating our oneness with all humanity, we covenant to support each other in the spirit of compassion, respect, and love.”
Reading “The Tent of Meeting” (Leviticus 1) Rabbi Peter Hyman
Homily “We’re Better Together” Liz Hausburg
Story: “Bundle of Sticks”
Request for Offering Paula Cole Jones
Our collection will be split between two Unitarian Universalist funds.*
The Living Tradition Fund
Chalice Lighter Grant Program
Offertory Music “Make Space for Life to Live” Michael John Trotta
Centering Prayer Rev. Nancy Sajda
Act of Installation Jack Harrald
Board President
Jack: As the current board president of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Easton, I proudly proclaim that we desire to install you, Rev. Susan Browning, as our minister. We recognize that this act symbolizes a covenant together. We want you among us, preaching the truth in freedom and love. Please educate our children and counsel our youth. Please minister to us in our times of joy and sorrow. Please demonstrate by your example, as well as by your teaching, the way of calm and courageous life with support for our weaknesses. We would have you lead us in a greater understanding of religious life. Are you willing to take up these obligations?
Minister: I am, in partnership with all of you.
Congregation: We, on our part, pledge ourselves to remember that the work of this church belongs to all us all. We would ask you to be encouraging of our efforts, charitable toward our failures, and to remember we are all human and can falter. We recognize that we bear a responsibility in your material welfare and spiritual development. We pledge ourselves to the freedom of pulpit and pew.
We cherish our church for all that it now gives: the friendships it makes possible, the loyalties and common endeavors it fosters, the imagination and creativeness it stimulates and the comfort and solace it brings. We value our church’s influence on children, youth, adults, and the wider community. We cherish our church for what it may yet become through our united efforts.
Jack: Having thus expressed our love and care for our church we now entrust its ministry to you, Rev. Susan Browning, confident that you share our feelings in full measure, and that you will do all in your power to advance our cause. We offer you our honored and unfettered pulpit with full blessings.
Minister: Mindful of the privilege and responsibility which are mine as minister of this great congregation, I pledge my sincere efforts on your behalf. I look forward to the continued opportunity to know you even better and more deeply. To the best of my ability, I will live the truth of our love. Above all, I will cherish and cultivate the ways of spiritual growth among us and with all people.
Congregation: We have chosen you, Rev. Susan Browning, to be the minister of our church. We offer you a congregation eager to seek the truth and live our lives in the spirit of togetherness. Will you accept the responsibility of leading and guiding us in this search?
Minister: I will.
Jack: Then by my authority as elected representative of this congregation, I now install you as the minster of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Easton.
Music “Creation of Peace” Barbara Hope and Mark A. Miller
Charge to the Minister Lauren Harton
Charge to Congregation Rev. Diane Teichert
Closing Hymn “Fire of Commitment”
From the light of days remembered burns a beacon bright and clear, Guiding hands and hearts and spirits Into faith set free from fear.
Chorus
When the fire of commitment sets our mind and soul ablaze,
When our hunger and our passion meet to call us on our way,
When we live with deep assurance of the flame that burns within,
Then our promise finds fulfillment and our future can begin.
From the stories of our living rings a song both brave and free,
Calling pilgrims still to witness to the life of liberty.
(Chorus)
From the dreams of youthful vision comes a new, prophetic voice,
Which demands a deeper justice built by our courageous choice.
(Chorus)
Benediction Rev. Sue Browning
Postlude “St. Columba Hymn Tune” Arr. Matt Riley
Ellen Barry Grunden and Nevin Dawson
We offer gratitude to…
Today’s service participants
Emily Cranwell, Incoming UUFE Co-President, Past President, Chair 2013 Search Committee
Nevin Dawson, Guest Musician
Carl Gallegos, President, Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River
Ellen Barry Grunden, UUFE Music Director
Jack Harrald, President UUFE
Lauren Harton, Chair, UUFE Committee Congregational Ministry
Elizabeth Hausburg, UUFE Director of Religious Education
Rabbi Naomi Hyman, Secretary Talbot Association of Clergy and Laity Rabbi Peter E. Hyman, Temple B’Nai Israel, Easton
Paula Cole Jones, Congregational Consultant, Unitarian Universalist Association, Central East Region
Reverend Nancy Sajda, Interfaith Minister, President P.E.A.C.E.
Reverend Diane Teichert, retired from UU Paint Branch; Good Officer of the Chesapeake UU Minister’s Association
The UUFE Choir
The many others who supported today’s installation (and likely others whose names we may have missed!)
Don Barker
Todd Cranwell
Emily Cranwell
Kara Crissey and the UUFE Gardeners
Ann Davis
Jack Davis
Christina Drostin
Gina Eutsey, Playroom Leader
Luke Frederick
Martha Hamlyn
Lauren Harton
Shalagh Hogan
Doug Jurrius
Carol Meredith
Mark Peach
Peter Paul
Colleen Ronning
Jim Richardson
David Stevens
Rob Todd
Elizabeth Tong, UUFE Administrator
Ellie Walter, Playroom Leader
Nina Wahl
Linda Wilcox
Laura Winne
Sally Woodall
