I know that I find the internet an invaluable resource for delivering lay led services, so I like to share as much of what I do as I can. I hope someone gets something from this :)
Have a blessed Sunday!
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Desmond Tutu and The Rights of The Child
February 24, 2008
Order of Service:
February 24, 2008
Order of Service:
1. Gathering Music: Pray for Grace by Michael Franti
2. Welcome and Introductions
Good Morning!
Welcome! I want to start off by saying that today’s service is an Intergenerational Service. We hope that people of all ages will stay upstairs with us this morning, and that we all have the patience and understanding that it takes to put up with any extra noise in the sanctuary today, or on the other hand, the patience to sit through some of the less interesting parts of the service.
The title of today’s service was announced as “Desmond Tutu and The rights of the Child.” As I was preparing this service, I realized that I have fallen into a habit of designing church services that reflect the work of individual people. I have presented services on Mr. Rogers, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and as of today, Desmond Tutu. Reflecting on why I might have a tendency to plan services that are so biographical in nature, I tried to pin point in my mind what these people have to do with Unitarian Universalism, because to my knowledge, none of these people practiced Unitarian Universalism as a religion, though I believe they all share many of our values, principles, and purposes.
Our 7 principles and purposes state that we draw our inspiration from, “Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.”
I am not sure who gets to decide who is prophetic and who is not, but I know that when I learn about the individuals who face those structures of evil with absolute compassion and yearning for understanding, I am moved, and when something moves me, I am moved to share it.
I would like at this time to invite all the children of the congregation, and their accompanying adults, to come forward if they so like, and sit up closer to the podium for the rest of the service. We’ve brought crayons and paper for anyone who would like to sit on the floor and create something, or just want to get a child’s eye view of this morning’s service.
And now, I would like to ask __________________________ to light the chalice, the symbol of our faith and living tradition, as we read these opening words together:
3. Opening Reading & Chalice Lighting
"My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together." Desmond Tutu
**We Light this Chalice for Togetherness**
4. Responsive Reading: Seven Principles For Us All (this responsive reading is a combination of the seven principles as written in the hymnal, and as written for children)
Seven Principles For Us All
We affirm and promote,
The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
Each Person is Important;
Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
Be kind in all you do;
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
We’re free to learn together;
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
And search for what is true;
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
All people need a voice;
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
Build a fair and peaceful world;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
We care for Earth’s lifeboat
5. Joys and Sorrows
6. A Moment of Silence
7. Hymn SLT #118: This Little Light of Mine
8. Who is Desmond Tutu?
Before we go on, I want to share with you some basic facts about Desmond Tutu, although his essence, his obvious love and compassion for the world, should dominate any of the linear facts I can present you about his life.
He was born in the Northern Region of South Africa, in an area called Transvaal, in 1931.
He became an Anglican Priest in the 1960's, and eventual became the first black leader of this church.
In the 1980's he was instrumental in ending Apartheid in South Africa, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his tireless work.
After the official end of Apartheid in 1994, Tutu came out of retirement to serve on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa.
Archbishop Tutu has been given more awards and honors than I could tell you about in an hour, or a week, so I encourage any of you to learn more about him if his message of unconditional peace and non violence speaks to you this morning.
I will start by reading his contribution to this book, a book that celebrates the rights of every child, as laid out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of The Child, which was opened for signatures by all members of the UN in 1989. Only two members of the UN have yet to sign the Rights of The Child, the United States of America and Somalia.
9. Reading: For Every Child; the rights of the child in words and pictures in association with UNICEF with an introduction written by Desmond Tutu
10. Music: Ise Oluwa by Sweet Honey In The Rock
11. Guided Meditation: Appreciation Montage
12. Responsive Reading #593 : Liberation is Costly (from the Hymnal)
13. Desmond Tutu on Homophobia, a short article by Keith Boykin
14. A moment of Silence for Lawrence King, please stand and hold hands.
15. Closing Circle Readings (this included having everyone continue holding hands and individually reading quotations from Desmond Tutu. There are many web resources for quotations, like this one)
16. Extinguishing the Chalice
17. Closing Music: Something to Live For By Billy Strayhorn
Please Join us Downstairs for Coffee and Conversation after the Service.
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