https://www.questformeaning.org/family-quest/choosing-when-to-pray/
Choosing When to Pray
Sunday February 5, 2017: Democratic Process
Prelude: Heyr himna smiður – Árstíðir
[Heyr, himna smiður (Hear, Smith of the Heavens) was written by the Icelandic chieftain and poet Kolbeinn Tumason, according to tradition, on his deathbed in 1208 AD. Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson set the poem to music in 1973. This recording features the Icelandic “Indie Rock” group Árstíðir. For more information, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolbeinn_Tumason.]
Welcome: The beauty of the whole, By Meg Barnhouse
We gather to worship, our hearts alive with hope that here we will be truly seen, that here we will be welcomed into the garden of this community, where the simple and the elegant, the fluted and frilled, the shy and the dramatic complement one another and are treasured. May we know that here, each contributes in their way to the beauty of the whole. Come, let us worship together, all genders, sexualities, politics, clappers and non-clappers, progressive or conservative, may we root ourselves in the values of this faith: compassion and courage, transcendence, justice and transformation.
Chalice lighting: Afraid of the dark, By Andrew Pakula
In sightless night, terrors draw near
Nameless fears of talon and tooth
Hopelessness yawns before us—an abyss
Alone and unknown in the gloom, longing for the dawn
O sacred flame blaze forth—wisdom brought to life
Guide us—
With the light of hope
The warmth of love
The beacon of purpose and meaning
Because we are all afraid of the dark
Let there be light
Trump Bars Refugees and Citizens of 7 Muslim Countries – NYTimes.com
“Yesterday’s executive order targeting refugees and Muslims is an affront to the core values of the United States. Our country has always been a beacon of liberty, and we should not now close our doors to people fleeing violence, hate, oppression, or persecution. All of the world’s major religions affirm the moral imperative to welcome the stranger. Unitarian Universalist congregations welcome individuals of all backgrounds and beliefs. I mourn with all of those whose hopes of a better future have been dashed due to the actions of President Trump.” -The Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/us/politics/trump-syrian-refugees.html?_r=1&referer=http://m.facebook.com/
Sunday January 29, 2017
“Dance, when you’re broken open. Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you’re perfectly free.”
― Jalaluddin Rumi
Our youth and children will explore dance as a spiritual practice. The service will be fun and interactive.
We would love to have you come worship with us.
Our services are Sundays at 11 a.m. at the Progressive Women’s Association Event Center, 305 Washington Ave. in downtown Clarksburg, behind the Courthouse.
Our Religious Education/ Life Long Learning Class will meet at from 10am to 10:45 am with a coffee gathering before the service. More about us.
Children are welcome. There is childcare and an activity for young children during the service.
The building is wheelchair accessible, with an accessible restroom.
The schedule for the current adult religious education class is here.
Email westforkuu@gmail.com or use our contact form for more information
or write to us at PO Box 523, Clarksburg WV 26302
~
Namaste
Cricket
Sunday January 22 2017: Our UU Presidents
Prelude: America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee) – Aretha Franklin 2009
A hymn from the first Unitarian hymnbook published in the brand new United States, in 1789, and noted as
Thanks for National Protection
O Come, let us sing to the Lord a new song,
And praise him to whom all our praises belong !
While we enter his temple with gladness and joy,
Let a psalm of thanksgiving our voices employ !
O come, to his name let us joyfully sing !
For the Lord is a great and omnipotent King ;
By his word were the heavens and the host of them made,
And of the round world the foundation he laid.
He stilleth the waves of the boisterous sea,
And the tumults of men, more outrageous than they :
Thy goodness, O Lord! let the people confess,
Whom wars do not waste, nor proud tyrants oppress,
And devoutly contemplate thy wonderful ways,
Thou who turnest the fierceness of men to thy praise !
Then our lands in due season shall yield their increase,
And the Lord give his people the blessings of peace.
Chalice Lighting: A Community of Faith by Judith L. Quarles
At this hour, in small towns and big cities, in single rooms and ornate sanctuaries, many of our sister Unitarian Universalist congregations are also lighting a flaming chalice.
As we light our chalice today, let us remember that we are part of a great community of faith.
May this dancing flame inspire us to fill our lives with the Unitarian Universalist ideals of love, justice and truth. Continue reading
Updated Service
“We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” Ray Bradbury
In case you missed today, January 8th, the whole serve is here.
Sunday January 8, 2017
Prelude: Willow by Heather Jinmaku
Welcome: Do Not Be Alone Right Now By Karen G. Johnston
Do not be alone right now. Gather together.
Gathering together grows courage: in ourselves and in others who see the numbers swelling. It is a small thing, but right now it is an important thing.
Great sources of wisdom remind us: just because you cannot stem the tide of all hate, it is still right to do the thing you can do. These things add up: your one thing & my one thing; his one thing & their one thing & her one thing. Together it becomes a BIG thing.
Do not be alone right now. Any liberation—all liberation—is collective liberation. My freedom is bound with yours and yours with mine. Inextricably.
Let us together cast our lots doing this BIG thing: bending the moral arc of the universe towards justice.
Chalice Lighting: Global Chalice Lighting for November 2016 from
Chapter 1, Tao Te Ching, written by Lao-tzu
Modified from a translation by S. Mitchell
Unitarian Universalists Hong Kong (www.uuhk.org)
The tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao;
The name that can be named is not the eternal Name.
The unnamable is the eternally real.
Naming is the origin of all particular things.
Free from desire, you realize the mystery.
Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations.
Yet mystery and manifestations arise from the same source.
This source is called Mystery.
Mystery within Mystery,
The gateway to all understanding.
Perhaps we need to be a little less polite …
We struggle to find the best ways to show out fellow human beings that they are worthy of dignity and respect. In this article a German discusses how Americans are often too polite when it comes to dismantling hatred and oppression. With the recent changes in the political realm, we need to pay attention to the lessons of history. When answering the call of love, we need to be more firm. We are to be there for the defense of others.
Namaste,
Cricket
For the Beginning of the New Year
What are your New Year’s Resolutions? What should our New Year’s Resolutions as a church be? How can we be better and stronger in the New Year? How can we continue to be a beacon and a refuge? How can we reach out and touch our community in a better way? In other words, can we better live up to our mission statement in the coming year? How can you help? What are you willing to do?
I hope you have a beautiful and blessed new year full of love and light.
Namaste,
Cricket
As a New Year Begins By Kate Lore
2016
2016 hasn’t been perfect, but we have had a good year.
We have celebrated historical figures from UU history. We even had special guest Carol Sroczynski who interviewed Mother Jones, played by Patience Deweese. Special thanks to them and the members (Shelia and Jim Rye) of the Morgantown West Virginia Unitarian Universalist Fellowship who provided our music for that day. 
West Fork Unitarian Universalists 