Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland

05/31/2026

Sophia Glesius, Karl Hunsaker, May Hunsaker, Drew Watkins,

Ian Nelson, Karin Tooley, Becky Burns,

Amy Collins, David Collins, Molly Watkins, Sophie Watkins

Centering Music Dear Theodosia (Miranda) Karin Tooley

Welcome Ian Nelson

Chalice Lighting Ian Nelson

We Cultivate trust with one another by celebrating differences,

honoring boundaries, and offering compassion and care.

We Listen to each other deeply with curiosity and wonder.

We Speak for ourselves, without need to defend ourselves or persuade each other.

We Create safe and brave space for healthy conflict, creativity, and fun.

We Reconcile through forgiving and making amends when we hurt one another.

I Know It’s Today (Greenhaus/O'Donnell/Foster)

Drew Watkins/Sophie Watkins/ Molly Watkins/Becky Burns

Call to Worship Where the Sidewalk Ends (Silverstein) May Hunsaker

Welcoming One Another

#1017 Building a New Way (Sandefer) Karin Tooley

We are building a new way. We are building a new way.

We are building a new way, feeling stronger ev’ry day,

We are building a new way.

We are working to be free. We are working to be free.

We are working to be free, hate and greed and jealousy.

We are working to be free.

We can feed our every need. We can feed our ev’ry need.

We can feed our ev’ry need, start with love, that is the seed.

We can feed our every need.

Peace and freedom is our cry. Peace and freedom is our cry.

Peace and freedom is our cry, without these this world will die.

Peace and freedom is our cry.

(repeat first verse)

Joys and Concerns Karl Hunsaker

Proud of the House We Built (Green/Dunn/McBride) Karin Tooley

Spirit Play Butterfly Friends Drew Watkins

Offertory Offering Partner: DC Youth Justice and Learning Trip

You may contribute electronically - direct Zelle contributions to [email protected], direct CashApp contributions to $UUCC44122. Indicate on the memo/for line if your contribution is for today’s plate, your annual pledge, or something else.

The Gift of Love (Hopson) Amy Collins/David Collins

Acceptance of Gifts We Offer These Gifts (Carney) Karin Tooley

As we offer these gifts and lift up our spirits,

May the care in our hearts and the work of our hands

Lead us to greater service and love.

Reading/Meditation

Ringing the Peace Bell

Stillness

Reflection Sophia Glesius

Hey Jude (Lennon/McCartney) Ian Nelson/Karin Tooley

Reflection May Hunsaker

#1064 Blue Boat Home (Mayer) Karin Tooley

Though below me, I feel no motion standing on these mountains and plains.

Far away from the rolling ocean still my dry land heart can say:

I’ve been sailing all my life now, never harbor or port have I known.

The wide universe is the ocean I travel and the earth is my blue boat home.

Sun my sail and moon my rudder as I ply the starry sea,

Leaning over the edge in wonder, casting questions into the deep.

Drifting here with my ship’s companions, all we kindred pilgrim souls,

Making our way by the lights of the heavens in our beautiful blue boat home.

I give thanks to the waves up holding me, hail the great winds urging me on,

Greet the infinite sea before me, sing the sky my sailor’s song:

I was born up on the fathoms, never harbor or port have I known.

The wide universe is the ocean I travel, and the earth is my blue boat home.

Announcements Jenni Papp

We Are Our Community Multiple Voices

Extinguishing the chalice

We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth,

the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment.

These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

#413 Go Now in Peace (Sleeth) Youth/Congregation

05/20/2026

Centering Music

05/17/2026

Centering Music

05/10/2026

Linda Coulter, Rev. Randy Partain, Jenni Papp,
Mike Carney, The Treble Ensemble

Centering Music Mother I Feel You (Martin) Mike Carney
Welcome Linda Coulter

Chalice Lighting Adapted from Prayer for All Who Mother by Victoria Weinstein Linda Coulter

Call to Worship Rev. Randy Partain

Song #91 Mother of All (Irish Folk Song/Pope) Mike Carney

Mother of all, in every age, in every clime adored,
by saint, by poet, and by sage, your praises high have soared.

Goddess of nurture and of love, all nature sings your care.
In life’s extravagance you prove the gift of giving fair.

O spirit of unfolding grace and deepest mystery,
teach us compassion’s gentle face and wisdom’s mastery.

Teach us to cherish this proud earth, its fragile beauty praise,
and for the dreams your joy gives birth, a hopeful future raise.

Joys and Concerns Rev. Randy Partain

Music Songs My Mother Taught Me (Dvořák) Mike Carney

Story (Saint-Exupéry) Bill & Nick McNally, Jenni Papp
Offertory Planned Parenthood

Please place cash or checks (payable to UUCC) in the collection plate as it goes around. You may also contribute electronically - direct Zelle contributions to [email protected], direct CashApp contributions to $UUCC44122. Indicate on the memo/for line if your contribution is for today’s plate, your annual pledge, or something else.

Offertory Music Thus Spake the Mother (Dunphy/Ananda)
The Treble Ensemble

Acceptance of Gifts We Offer These Gifts (Carney) Mike Carney

As we offer these gifts and lift up our spirits,
May the care in our hearts and the work of our hands
Lead us to greater service and love.

Meditation/Reading The Living World: Reclaiming Animism in the Contemporary Age (excerpt (Daniel Payne) Linda Coulter

Peace Bell

Stillness

“Mother of Us All” Rev. Randy Partain

Song #134 Our World Is One World (Taylor) Mike Carney

Our world is one world: what touches one affects us all:
The seas that wash us round about, the clouds that cover us, the rains that fall.

Our world is one world: the thoughts we think affect us all:
The way we build our attitudes, with love or hate, we make a bridge or wall.

Our world is one world: its ways of wealth affect us all:
The way we spend, the way we share,
Who are the rich or poor, who stand or fall?

Our world is one world: just like a ship that bears us all:
Where fear and greed make many holes,
But where our hearts can hear a different call.

Benediction Rev. Randy Partain

Extinguishing the chalice Linda Coulter

We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth,
the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment.
These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Postlude O Mama Bakudala (South African Folk Song)
The Treble Ensemble/Mike Carney

01/29/2026

National Shutdown - Jan 30, 2026
The people of the Twin Cities have shown the way for the whole country – to stop ICE’s reign of terror, we need to SHUT IT DOWN. On Friday, January 30, join a nationwide day of no school, no work and no shopping.

Vote NO to ICE funding.

We have been invited to join with Indivisible NEO and the interfaith community, in a Walk Out action on public Square on Friday, January 30 at 2:00pm. The UUCC building will be open to folks who want to gather and walk to the Green Road station at 1:00.

Questions? Contact Laurie Albright or Rev. Elaine Strawn.

The UUCC building will be open on Friday.

Those who wish to travel together on RTA rapid: We will begin our walk from the UUCC parking lot to the Belvoir Station. Rapid will arrive around 1:09.

01/08/2026

Dear beloved community of the UU Congregation of Cleveland,
Today, I am walking and breathing (and yelling at the sky if I’m honest). As ICE’s brutal force tears apart yet another piece of our human community, we remember that what happens to any of us could happen to all of us.
AND with justice as our promise and beloved community as our goal, we hold the family of Renee Good and the people of Minneapolis deeply in our hearts. We are all in this together.

Blessings and peace as you move through these days, our commitment to justice strong.

Rev. Dr. V. Elaine Strawn
Sabbatical Minister
UU Congregation of Cleveland

11/20/2025

Today, we pause to honor the lives of transgender people who have been lost to violence. This day reminds us of the importance of compassion, dignity, and the ongoing work needed to ensure that everyone can live openly and safely.

Let us take a moment to reflect, remember, and reaffirm our commitment to kindness and understanding.
May the memories of those we’ve lost inspire us to build a world that is more inclusive and supportive of us all. 💙🏳️‍⚧️

UUA President, the Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt shares a personal message of care and community connection in this Transgender Day of Remembrance 2025 video res...

10/20/2025

This Harvest Auction is shaping up to be a night not to be missed! The community has stepped up, donating over 100 offerings including hospitality dinners and gatherings, creative and attractive gift baskets, artwork, hand-crafted items, tickets to attractions, collector’s items and memorabilia, wine, beer, and family-friendly offerings. Check out the auction catalog here

It’s time to explore this year’s Harvest Auction Catalog! With more than 100 incredible donations—including events, getaways, gift baskets, services, unique items, and our ever-popular Bid-n-Bump experiences—there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Take a look, plan your bids, and get read...

05/26/2025