Gold Stars – 05/03/23

Musical Prelude: ‘Morceau de Concours’ – Gabriel Faure – Jess Scott & Peter Crockford

Opening Words: ‘It Is Good to Be Together’ by Alison Wohler

With thankful hearts we have come together this morning
to celebrate the bounty of the day,
to bask in the warmth of this community,
to share with friends the tides of our lives,
to entertain, perennially, our hopes for a better future.

We join together, this morning as always, to resist
injustice and inequality, wherever they may be found.

Our hearts are touched by the human need we feel around us,
whether far away or within reach of our hand.

We come here, to be together, because this is how we believe our lives are best lived:

in questioning and in conversation,
in compassion and in service,
in gratitude and in joy,
in companionship, and in love.

It is good to be together with you this morning!

Words of Welcome and Introduction:

These opening words by Alison Wohler, welcome all those who have gathered this morning for our Sunday service, whoever, however, and wherever you are. Welcome to those of you who have gathered in-person at Essex Church and also to all who are joining us via Zoom from far and wide. For anyone who doesn’t know me, I’m Jane Blackall, ministry coordinator with Kensington Unitarians.

Today is a congregational service on the theme of ‘Gold Stars’. The next hour will be an appreciation of kindness and community service, featuring mini-reflections from Liz Tuckwell, Cheryl Glinwell, and Maria Petnga-Wallace, and as a special treat we’ll have story-time with Hannah King too.

But before we go any further let’s take a moment to catch up with ourselves. Let’s remember why we came here this morning. We consecrate this hour with our presence and intention. So let’s each do whatever helps us to ground ourselves in the here and now. You might want to scrunch up your shoulders or your fists and, as you release them, consciously let go of anything you came in carrying. It’s possible to lay aside some of life’s palaver for the next hour and claim a little peace for ourselves.

Chalice Lighting: ‘May We Be Keepers of Thy Flame’ by Richard S. Gilbert

Let’s light our chalice flame now, as we do each week. This simple ritual connects us in solidarity with Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists the world over, and reminds us of the proud and historic progressive religious tradition of which we are a part.

(light chalice)

O flaming chalice, symbol of a free faith,
Burn with the holy oil of helpfulness and service.
Spread warmth and light and hope;
Warm hearts grown cold with indifference;
Light dark places with justice; rekindle hope in despair.
May we bring fuel for thy fire of love.
May the oil of loving kindness flow from us to thy leaping flame.
May hands of service shelter thee,
That no winds of hate may extinguish thy brightness.
May thy light and warmth be eternal.
May we be keepers of thy flame.

Hymn 181 (purple): ‘Wake, Now, My Senses’

Let’s sing together now. Our first hymn is ‘Wake, Now, My Senses’. It’s number 181 in the purple hymn book and for those joining via Zoom the words will be up on your screen to sing along at home. Please note that we’re going to sing it to the more familiar tune of ‘Slane’ rather than the notes as printed. Feel free to stand or sit as you prefer as we sing.

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;
honour 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 neighbour 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 would share;
work toward a planet transformed by our care.

Candles of Joy and Concern:

Each week when we gather together, we share a simple ritual of candles of joy and concern, an opportunity to light a candle and share something that is in our heart with the community. So we’ve an opportunity now, for anyone who would like to do so, to light a candle and say a few words about what it represents. This time we’re going to go to the people in the building first, and take all of those in one go, and then I’ll call on the people on Zoom to come forward.

As you’ll have read in Jeannene’s email this week we’re slightly changing our way of doing this. If you want to come up and share a joy or a concern we ask you to go to the free standing microphone. If you want to take your mask off to do this you now can, though you don’t have to, and I’ll take care of the actual lighting of the candle for you over here. Please do still get up close to the microphone as that will help everyone hear (including the people at home). You can take the microphone out of the stand if it’s not at a good height for you – it’s still going to be important to speak up – and have the microphone pointing right at your mouth. Thank you.

(in person candles)

And if that’s everyone in the room we’ll go over to the people on Zoom next – you might like to switch to gallery view at this stage – just unmute yourselves when you are ready and speak out – and we should be able to hear you and see you up on the big screen here in the church.

(zoom candles)

And I’m going to light one more candle, as we often do, to represent all those joys and concerns that we hold in our hearts this day, but which we don’t feel able to speak out loud. (light candle)

Time of Prayer & Reflection: based on words by Leaf Seligman

And let’s take those joys and concerns into an extended time of prayer now. This prayer is based on some words by Leaf Seligman. You might first want to adjust your position for comfort, close your eyes, or soften your gaze. There might be a posture that helps you feel more prayerful. Whatever works for you. Do whatever you need to do to get into the right state of body and mind for us to pray together – to be fully present here and now, in this sacred time and space – with ourselves, with each other, and with that which is both within us and beyond us.

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, in whom we live and move and have our being,
we turn our full attention to you, the light within and without,
as we tune in to the depths of this life, and the greater wisdom
to which – and through which – we are all intimately connected.
Be with us now as we allow ourselves to drop into the
silence and stillness at the very centre of our being. (pause)

Let us pause in the stillness to rest for a while,
to quiet ourselves so that we can feel what stirs within.

Each breath draws us closer to the pulse of life
and with each exhalation we make room for something new.

May we find in this gathering the comfort of those who care.
May we encounter patience along our growing edges
and compassion in our most tender spots.

When life presses in and shifts us off balance,
when pain assails us, and frustration mounts,
may the rhythm of our breath steady us
and bring us back to a place of gratitude.

Here, in this community of the spirit, may we find
the inspiration and encouragement we need
to face our challenges and nurture ourselves.
And in the presence of suffering across the globe
may we redouble our efforts to practice kindness and justice right where we are – with the hope that the light of our actions
will travel like the light of faraway stars to reach far beyond our knowing. (pause)

And in a good few moments of shared silence now,
may we speak inwardly the deepest prayers of our hearts —
maybe something in our own life or the life of the world is weighing heavy on us –
maybe we are feeling full of gratitude, despite it all, and feel moved to give thanks for our blessings – let us each lift up whatever is on our heart this day, and ask for what we most need. (pause)

Spirit of Life – God of all Love – as this time of prayer comes to a close, we offer up
our joys and concerns, our hopes and fears, our beauty and brokenness,
and we call on you for insight, healing, and renewal.

As we look forward now to the coming week,
help us to live well each day and be our best selves;
using our unique gifts in the service of love, justice and peace. Amen

Story: ‘The Sneetches’ by Dr. Seuss – told by Hannah King

Now I’m going to hand over to Hannah who’s going to tell us a story (in honour of World Book Day)…

You can find an online version here.

Hymn 147 (purple): ‘Spirit of Earth, Root, Stone and Tree’

Let’s sing together now. Our next hymn is ‘Spirit of Earth, Root, Stone and Tree’. For those of you present at the church in-person it’s number 147 and for those joining via Zoom the words will be up on screen to sing along. Please feel free to stand or sit, as you prefer, as we sing.

Spirit of earth, root, stone and tree,
water of life, flowing in me,
keeping me stable, nourishing me,
O fill me with living energy!
Spirit of nature, healing and free,
spirit of love, expanding in me,
spirit of life, breathe deeply in me,
inspire me with living energy!

Spirit of love, softly draw near,
open my heart, lessen my fear,
sing of compassion, help me to hear,
O fill me with loving energy!
Spirit of nature, healing and free,
spirit of love, expanding in me,
spirit of life, breathe deeply in me,
inspire me with living energy!

Spirit of life, you are my song,
sing in my soul, all my life long,
gladden and guide me, keep me from wrong,
O fill me with sacred energy!
Spirit of nature, healing and free,
spirit of love, expanding in me,
spirit of life, breathe deeply in me,
inspire me with living energy!

Reading: ‘Fairy Godmother’ by Krissa Palmer

I’ve appointed myself a fairy godmother. I carry stars in my wallet, not the lick-it-yourself kind from when I was a kid, but those new-fangled self-stick kind that come in sheets of gold, silver, red and blue. When I saw a man at the cash machine take the previous customer’s card out of the machine and walk over and hand it to her through the car window, I waited until he’d finished his transaction. You know, people can get kind of twitchy at those ATMs if you approach too closely. When he turned around, I whipped out my stars, selected a gold one, told him he’d earned a gold star for doing such a nice thing, and stuck it on his shirt. He was silent, and I thought perhaps he was shy or didn’t understand my gesture. Then he got into his car and I heard him say, “That’s the nicest thing that’s ever happened to me”.

Another time in the supermarket, a woman a few aisles over in the checkout line must have picked up more groceries than she had planned and was balancing them precariously in her full arms. The man in front of her noticed and moved the groceries in his shopping trolley around to make room for hers. I whipped out my stars, ran over between the sweetie racks to him, and told him he’d earned a star and could pick out whichever colour he wanted. He smiled a toothy smile, selected a red one, and stuck it on his hand. The woman behind him smiled, the cashier smiled, all the people waiting in the other lines smiled, and I smiled too.

I have never had anyone refuse a star from me. I have seen big, scary-looking people melt, pride blossoming in their eyes, remembering the days in primary school when they got their work back with a gold star at the top. I have thought about encouraging the recipients of my stars to pass the star on to someone else when they witness an act of kindness. Someday a star might find its way back to me here in Charlotte, North Carolina, or I might hear of someone wearing one in California. There might be a whole band of fairy godmothers and godfathers, and people would realise that the way we treat each other really does make a difference.

Meditation: ‘Our Gold Stars’

So let’s take that story into to a time of meditation now. I’m going to appoint each of you a Fairy Godparent – those here in person will find a sheet of gold star stickers tucked into their order of service – those of you joining via zoom I’m happy to post a sheet to you if you drop me an email! And I invite you to spend a few minutes in shared silence, reflecting on who you would like to award a gold star to, or what sort of behaviour you consider gold-star-worthy. The silence will end with the sound of a bell. And then we’ll hear some relaxing music from Jess and Peter. So let’s each do what we need to do to get comfortable – adjust your position if you need to – perhaps put your feet flat on the floor to ground and steady yourself – maybe close your eyes. And the invitation is to spend this time reflecting on acts of kindness or community spirit you have witnessed – maybe in the last week, or maybe looking back over your life – who would you give a gold star to? As we always say, the words and music are just an offering, feel free to use this time to meditate in your own way.

Period of Silence and Stillness (~3 minutes) – end with a bell

Musical Interlude: ‘Full Moon’ – Keyna Wilkins – played by Jess Scott

In-Person Reflection: ‘Is there a Nurse on Board?’ by Liz Tuckwell

I do like the idea of a woman handing out Gold Stars to people that she sees doing an act of kindness. It’s nice to feel appreciated for a good deed. My Gold Star goes to a woman on a plane journey. I was travelling with my husband, Pete, mother-in-law, Shirley, and sister-in-law, Rose, on a plane to Genoa. We were about halfway through the journey when a call came out over the Tannoy – was there a doctor or nurse on board? An elderly gentleman wasn’t feeling well. A woman leapt up in the row in front of my husband and myself. She said she was a nurse. She went to the aid of the elderly gentleman.

Then, about ten minutes later, my sister-in-law, Rose, got up to go to the toilet and fainted on the way. She’d been so busy looking after my mother-in-law (who has severe mobility problems) on the journey to the airport, she’d forgotten to have any breakfast or take care of herself. So, the nurse now had two patients to deal with on a crowded plane.

I really admired the nurse. She was on her way to her holiday. She could have kept her head down, telling herself that she was off duty, and it was none of her business. But instead, she showed her vocation, and went to help. And was rewarded with dealing with not one but two patients. She went between her two patients for the rest of the flight, crouching down by their seats, checking they were okay. It was not a stress-free start to her holiday. I think she deserved a round of applause (which, I’m sorry to say, she didn’t get). But she’s getting a retrospective Gold Star from me.

By the way, both patients were okay. The elderly gentleman got taken to hospital as a precaution, at the end of the flight, and Rose soon recovered after a rest and some food. But it also made me think about those circumstances where there isn’t an obvious person to offer help. When everyone looks around, hoping someone else will do it. Have you ever decided that someone else will be bound to come forward and there’s no need for you to get involved. You’re in a hurry, late for an appointment, perhaps, and need to get somewhere. It’s not convenient this time. You will help another time. And then feel guilty for the rest of the day?

Or do you ignore any other considerations, step forward and offer help?

Video Reflection: ‘Radical Inclusion’ by Maria Petnga-Wallace

One of my values is radical inclusion. Based on this I wanted to give a few gold stars to those I feel have shone in their radical inclusivity. Little actions which collectively made a bigger impact. I’ve recently joined a new company where the smiles of welcome ease my nerves. The office manager, Toni’s support and eagerness in our making of gender-neutral spaces. To Zintle, in Cape Town for going beyond her local office to create in her words “prayer spaces that are dignified for those that use them”. This week I chaired a virtual meeting. In the seconds of reflection afterwards I heard a “Well done mummy, you were very good”. A gold star from my son benefiting from a late morning snooze courtesy of school strikes. And a gold star to the Kensington Unitarian community for always making me feel radically included in, to use Jane’s words, a Beloved Community.

Video Reflection: ‘Celebrating Good Deeds’ by Cheryl Glinwell

I want to tell you about a time that I wanted to give some gold stars out.

Some of you may know that I spend many hours in a week caring for and supporting children. I run a homebased childcare setting for children aged 2-9 years, I am also a volunteer with Girlguiding running a Rainbow and Guide unit – the youth section before and after Brownies that more of you may have heard of.

Working with children usually means that my days can be filled with moments of mini celebrations as children meet milestones, much of this celebration and praise comes from us and something I always find lovely is when the praise and often it does comes from their peers. Just a few days ago I witnessed a 3-year-old cheering on her friend because she managed to count to 10! It’s easy to see the joy that her friend cheering her on gave her. Because let’s face it we all like to be told we are doing good!

Stickers like gold stars are often given to celebrate achievements for the children, just this week a child had done a great job at persevering tidying the toy kitchen, and when I presented a sticker to him you could see it was very important to him, as the day went he reached up to check the sticker was still there for all to see, later in the day he was struggling to get his shoes on but as he reached to check on his sticker he suddenly changed from feeling grumpy because he felt putting his shoes on was just a step too far today to “I can do this!” as he recalled that he can do hard things!
 
Spring 2022 when war started in Ukraine there was a call out from a local Guide leader for aid to send to Ukraine. They’d organised a van and just as importantly a list of what was actually needed had been drawn up from those on the Poland-Ukraine boarder. Some items would be used there and some would head into Ukraine for those fighting. I shared the message with my Guide unit and the following week Guides turned up with a lot of items, in fact so much it filled our large estate car! We spent a few sessions that term making cards, friendship bracelets in blue and yellow to send, packing the aid into labelled boxes and making red cross signs for the boxes that carried first aid items; as well as helping the leader organise a fundraising tombola using those items which were either unsuitable or which there was a surplus donated. Guides worked really hard to ensure that things were ready to leave on the vans and they knew that their actions were making a difference to those who had their worlds turned upside down by war. We can’t fix what is happening, but we can do our part to make a difference, and maybe peace is lots of little actions.
 
A few years back I took two four-year old childminding children to choose some donations for our local soup kitchen. On the way we talked about where the items would go and why it was important. One four-year-old – “I’d be really sad without my toys,” we talked about what we’d miss most and she said she’d miss her toys, but food and things to keep your body clean would be most important – “you can live without toys but not without food!” As we moved around the store she wanted to choose a hair brush and tooth brush… “because if we lived on the streets we maybe feel sad, but if we had a little food and a good wash and hair brush we’d feel a bit better. Really important if they had a job interview”. We looked at sizes, quantities comparing the numbers in each packet to ensure we’d help the most people we could. I’ve never seen such a careful shoppers…. “We must help as many people as we can” they kept saying. We found sets of 3 pot noodles and one of the children suggested comparing the size to see if one big pot noodle would be better shared between three people or buying three smaller pot noodles. As we left the store one child turned and said, “but shouldn’t them people in charge of the country be helping not just us?” Words of a four-year-old.

When I see our young people being so thoughtful about the injustices in our world and wanting to care for others in need I want to give them all gold stars because I know they really are making this world a better place.

Hymn 79 (purple): ‘In this Time on Earth We’re Given’

Time for our last hymn: ‘In This Time on Earth We’re Given’. It’s number 79 in your hymn books, and the words will also be up on screen, so once again feel free to sit our stand as you prefer as we sing.

In this time on earth we’re given
each to have a life to live.
May we make it nearer heaven
by our deeds and what we give.
May we see that acts of kindness,
gifts of love that never cease
help the world cast off its blindness
bring to all the hope of peace.

By God’s hand we were created
of the greater plan a part.
Long o’er due the world has waited
for the human hand and heart.
Suffering we’ll try to vanquish.
From our hearts all malice take.
Gladness, joy instead of anguish,
harmony, not discord, make.

Sharing of News, Announcements, Introductions

Thanks to Liz, Cheryl, and Maria, for your reflections on this theme, and to Hannah for our story. Thanks to Ramona for tech-hosting and Maria for co-hosting. Thanks to Jess and Peter for playing for us. For those of you who are at church in-person, Julia will be serving coffee, tea and biscuits in the hall after the service (plus orange cake), if you want to stay for refreshments – thanks Julia – and thanks Liz for greeting. There will be virtual coffee on Zoom too so do hang around for a chat.

We have various small group activities for you to meet up. Coffee morning is online at 10.30am Wednesday. There are still spaces left for our Heart and Soul gatherings (online Sunday/Friday at 7pm) and this week’s theme is ‘Courage’. Our service next Sunday will be hybrid once again, led by Sarah, on the theme of ‘Soul Wisdom for the World Weary’. Details of these activities and all our other events are on the back of the order of service and also in the Friday email.

The congregation very much has a life beyond Sunday mornings; we encourage you to keep in touch, look out for each other, and do what you can to nurture supportive connections.

I think that’s everything. Just time for our closing words and closing music now.

Benediction: based on words by John C. Morgan

Let us bless and keep one another.
Let kindness rule in our hearts
and compassion in our lives,
until we meet again. Amen.

Closing Music: ‘Scherzino’ – Joachim Anderson – played by Jess Scott and Peter Crockford

Jane Blackall and Congregation Members

5th March 2023