Tending, Mending and Taking Care – 16/07/23

Musical Prelude: ‘Sarabande’ from French Suite no. 3 (Bach) played by Andrew Robinson

Opening Words: ‘Come Into the Circle of Caring’ by Richard S. Gilbert (adapted)

Come into the circle of caring,
Come into the community of
gentleness, of justice and love.
Come, and you shall be refreshed.

Be silent, be still, be serene in this house of the spirit.
Put aside all noises that annoy, all sounds that irritate.

Leave behind all the frustrations that belittle,
The causes that fret, the troubles that torment.
Here you can be at rest. Put away all the plans to be made,
Things to be done, victories to be won.

Here you are at peace. Here you are at home.

Sit easy and be at rest. Feel your body recover its resilience,
Your mind its bearings, your spirit its strength.
Once again we have come home to the Source.
We feel the collective power of our companions,
The warmth of their welcome, the support of their caring.

Let the healing power of this gathering wash over you,
Let loving kindness and joy pass through you,
Let hope infuse you, and peace be the law of your heart.

In this human circle, caring is a calling.
All of us are called. So come into the circle of caring.

Words of Welcome and Introduction:

These opening words – by Richard S. Gilbert – welcome all who have gathered this morning for our Sunday service. 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, my name is Jane Blackall, and I’m Minister with Kensington Unitarians.

This morning’s service is titled ‘Tending, Mending, and Taking Care’ – as you can tell I couldn’t quite distil today’s theme down to anything simpler than that – it was inspired by the words of Thich Nhat Hanh which are printed on the front of the order of service. He said: ‘To take good care of yourself and to take good care of living beings and of the environment is the best way to love God.’ We’ll be pondering our experiences of ‘taking good care’ in all the different realms of our lives – caring for humans, or animals – tending to plants, and gardens – maintaining communities, or buildings – all the ways in which we show active, hands-on care for those people, places, and things that we love. Towards the end of the service there’ll be a chance for you to share your reflections on the subject (but don’t worry, that’s an invitation rather than an obligation, I won’t twist anyone’s arm to join in).

Before we go any further, let’s just take a moment to make sure we’ve truly arrived, and settle in to the here and now. You might want to move your body to stretch out or shake off any tension you’re carrying. Perhaps you could close your eyes and take a few slow breaths to centre yourself. We have set aside this hour to be together. We make it sacred by our presence and intention.

Chalice Lighting: ‘The Chalice is a Symbol’ by Debra Faulk (adapted)

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)

A chalice lit in our midst is a symbol of our liberal faith:

A faith built on the foundation of freedom, reason and tolerance;
A faith sustained by acts of kindness and justice;
A faith that visions a world flourishing with equality for all her people;
A faith that demands the living out of truth and goodness;
A faith that requires thoughtfulness and mutual care;
A faith of wholeness, authenticity, and liberation.

This tiny flame is the symbol of the spark of all this within each and every one of us.

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

Let’s sing together now. Our first hymn is a perennial favourite, ‘Wake, Now, My Senses’. It always inspires me, and says so much about what it is we do together as a community, I reckon. If you’re in church it’s number 181 in your purple book (but ignore the printed music! we’re going to sing it to a more familiar tune). The words will be up on screen if you’re joining from home. Feel free to stand or sit as you prefer and sing up if you can: ‘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;
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.

So I invite some of you here in person to come and light a candle and then if you wish to tell us briefly who or what you light your candle for. Please do 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 and have it microphone pointing right at your mouth. And if you can’t get to the microphone give me a wave and I’ll bring it over to you. 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 Bruce Southworth

And let’s take those joys and concerns into an extended time of prayer now. This prayer is based on some words by Bruce Southworth. 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)

As we gather together in prayer this morning let us be aware of the
varied human experience embodied in this community;
we each go through such a mix of ups and downs.

Sometimes, life is tough, and the world bears heavily upon us;
we struggle alone, search the depths, and long for healing,
for renewed hope, for strength, which give their grace and peace.

Each of us here gathered carries our own private griefs and burdens.
Sometimes we can share these, and for the open hearts
which respond with tender care, we are grateful.

Each of us here gathered knows something of life’s blessing too.
This bright morning, let us give thanks for all of nature’s bounty.
Let us give thanks for caring friends and compassionate neighbours.
Let us give thanks for the communion of all those who seek to serve others.

May we be strengthened in our efforts to be of service,
and may we always be mindful of all the good in our lives;
whatever privilege, success, and joy we have been blessed with.

May our prayer be that we always see clearly
and keep before us the commandment to care;
striving always to be generous, inclusive, and open.

On this day and every day, may we give thanks,
but let us also be dissatisfied with the world as it is,
for a new world, a realm of love, is still waiting to be realised.

May our spirits and bodies be nourished and nurtured
as we give thanks in praise of all that sustains,
heals, and holds – all that is holy and Good. (pause)

And in a few moments of shared stillness now,
may our hearts speak silently all the prayers of our lives—
our souls’ greatest joys and deepest sorrows, our triumphs and failures,
our regrets and fears, our disappointments and losses, our hopes and dreams –
our concerns for all those to whom we know to be suffering right now. (long 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

Hymn 47 (purple): ‘God Around us, God Within Us’

Let’s sing together now. Our next hymn is number 47 in the purple book – ‘God Around Us, God Within Us’ – it’s not one I know, but a couple of the verses are particularly appropriate, as they speak of caring for each other and for the earth and all its creatures. As the tune is unfamiliar I’ll ask Andrew to play a verse through before we sing. And we’ve got Benjie to help! The words will be up on screen as usual. Please stand or sit as you prefer as we sing and give it your best shot.

God around us, God within us,
God the heart of all;
God, we praise you; God we thank you;
God, we hear your call.

You want us to love each other,
you want us to be
caring neighbours, sisters, brothers,
blessed with amity.

You would have us be good stewards
of this living earth;
caring for its lands and oceans,
all they bring to birth.

You have sent us saints and prophets,
gentle avatars;
still your spirit speaks in Jesus,
sings among the stars.

God above us, God between us,
God who makes us one,
calling us to be compassion,
may your will be done.

Poem: ‘Atlas’ by UA Fanthorpe (read by Brian)

There is a kind of love called maintenance
Which stores the WD40 and knows when to use it;

Which checks the insurance, and doesn’t forget
The milkman; which remembers to plant bulbs;

Which answers letters; which knows the way
The money goes; which deals with dentists

And Road Fund Tax and meeting trains,
And postcards to the lonely; which upholds

The permanently rickety elaborate
Structures of living, which is Atlas.

And maintenance is the sensible side of love,
Which knows what time and weather are doing
To my brickwork; insulates my faulty wiring;
Laughs at my dryrotten jokes; remembers
My need for gloss and grouting; which keeps
My suspect edifice upright in air,
As Atlas did the sky.

Poem: ‘The Seven of Pentacles’ by Marge Piercy (read by Sonya)

Under a sky the colour of pea soup
she is looking at her work growing away there
actively, thickly like grapevines or pole beans
as things grow in the real world, slowly enough.
If you tend them properly, if you mulch, if you water,
if you provide birds that eat insects a home and winter food,
if the sun shines and you pick off caterpillars,
if the praying mantis comes and the ladybugs and the bees,
then the plants flourish, but at their own internal clock.

Connections are made slowly, sometimes they grow underground.
You cannot tell always by looking what is happening.
More than half the tree is spread out in the soil under your feet.
Penetrate quietly as the earthworm that blows no trumpet.
Fight persistently as the creeper that brings down the tree.
Spread like the squash plant that overruns the garden.
Gnaw in the dark and use the sun to make sugar.

Weave real connections, create real nodes, build real houses.
Live a life you can endure: Make love that is loving.
Keep tangling and interweaving and taking more in,
a thicket and bramble wilderness to the outside but to us
interconnected with rabbit runs and burrows and lairs.

Live as if you liked yourself, and it may happen:
reach out, keep reaching out, keep bringing in.
This is how we are going to live for a long time: not always,
for every gardener knows that after the digging, after the planting,
after the long season of tending and growth, the harvest comes.

Meditation: ‘Take Good Care’

Thanks Brian and Sonya. We’re moving into a time of meditation now. To take us into the time of meditation I’m going to offer a few brief quotes related to our theme. This will take us into a few minutes of shared silence which will end with the sound of a bell. After the silence we’ll hear some meditation music from Andrew. Perhaps during the silence you can think about your experiences of taking care – significant times when you have taken care (or tended to, or looked after, or carefully maintained) of anything or anyone – an object, a building, a plant, a garden, an animal, an organisation, a community, a relationship, a person or a whole group of people, a cause – and later in the service there will be a chance to share something of this if you’d like to. So once again let’s each do what we need to do to get comfortable – adjust your position if you need to – put your feet flat on the floor to ground and steady yourself – maybe close your eyes. As we always say, the words and music are an offering, feel free to use this time to meditate in your own way.

Wendell Berry said: ‘We have the world to live in on the condition that we will take good care of it. And to take good care of it, we have to know it. And to know it and to be willing to take care of it, we have to love it.’

Rami Shapiro said: ‘Take care of the things that take care of you: hang up your clothes; wash your dishes; do your laundry; clean your house; maintain your car. You cannot function nearly as well without these things. Show them respect and kindness by treating them properly.’

Uchiyama Roshi said: ‘To care for things makes the whole world come to life.’

And the quote which inspired today’s theme: Thich Nhat Hanh said: ‘To take good care of yourself and to take good care of living beings and of the environment is the best way to love God.’

So in a few minutes of stillness now I invite you to ponder your own experiences of taking care.

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

Musical Interlude: ‘Summer Knows’ (Michel Legrand) played by Andrew Robinson

Reading: ‘Mending the Broken World’ by Kathleen McTigue

In early autumn I stop to watch my neighbour at work repairing a stone wall that lines the road perpendicular to ours. Built as all the old field walls of our county have been built, the stones are held by balance and judicious choice rather than by mortar. The wall was built well, but the weight of many decades has broken it here and there, with some stones fallen out of place or carried away for some other use.

As I warm myself in the September sun and watch him work, I see that about half of what he does is simply look at the stones in their haphazard piles, stroking his chin in thought. Then from time to time he rolls one from the pile onto the ground and turns it from side to side, pondering, or walks back to study again the place in the wall he’s trying to mend. When he finally makes his choice, he’s sure. Each stone waits for the right opening, the place where its particular heft and shape fit as though cradled. Once in place it is no longer merely a stone, but an essential part of the wall, part of a larger thing taking shape as naturally as a tree flows from root to trunk to branch.

My neighbour is an ordinary working man. I know his name, and sometimes we talk about life and horses and his willingness to help me haul manure to my garden one of these days before the first hard frost. But on this sunny September afternoon as I watch his eyes and hands become familiar with each stone and then lift it to shape the wall, it’s easy to imagine God at work in the immense universe, quietly humming, pulling our lives together into something strong and useful.

I don’t mean we’re mute or helpless, waiting passively for the great Stonemason to lift and move our lives or tell us where we belong. I mean only that there is a place for us, that our gifts – the shape of our minds and talents, the angles of our interest and concern – fit the needs of the world the way my neighbour’s stones anchor themselves in the lengthening wall. I mean that the world’s possibilities shift and change each time we put ourselves into building something large and strong and beautiful. Whether or not we find room in our theologies for the word God, the world itself calls us to imagine ourselves essential to this engaged holiness, bringing forth what is ours to give of creation and strength, toward mending the broken world.

Sharing Our Own Reflections on ‘Tending, Mending, and Taking Care’

So we have ten minutes now to share our own brief reflections and experiences on ‘tending, mending and taking care’. I invite anyone who wants to join in to come up to the mic in turn, and we’ll do it like our joys and concerns, except we are going to try and mix and mingle in-person and online, people online can chip in as you’d like, unmute and speak up when you’re ready.

As always there’s a balance to be struck; I’m not sure how many people will want to join in, and I don’t want to inhibit anyone’s sharing, but do bear in mind how long you’re speaking for so that everyone who wants to join in can get a chance to do so. Just to let you know this will be default stay in the service recording; if you want to be edited out let me know straight after the service. And as with everything else it’s an invitation not an obligation (either now or during the closing music).

(people come up and speak out)

If everyone who wants to speak has spoken – thank you for your contributions – I’d like to share one last very short reading to bring our reflections to a close. Maybe we could take it as a blessing.

Reading: ‘Caretaking’ by Jill-Beth Veronica Sweeney

Take care of your home, your remarkable body.
It needs blueberries, brisk walks, and back rubs.

Take care of your home, your mind and soul.
It craves stillness, friendship, a pile of books by the bed.

Take care of your home, the roof over your head.
It asks to be filled with music and candlelight, to be free from cobwebs and shadows.

Take care of your home, your community.
It expects you to protect the weak, to visit the lonely, to love the children.

Take care of your home, the earth.
It cries out for abundant green forests, clear blue waters, and peace.

May we each take care, as best we can, for the greater good of all. Amen.

Hymn 37 (purple): ‘For the Fruits of All Creation’

Time for our last hymn – 37 in the purple book – I love this tune: ‘For the Fruits of All Creation’. We don’t sing it that often so again I’m going to ask Andrew to play it through. Give it a good go!

For the fruits of all creation,
thanks be to God;
for the gifts to every nation
thanks be to God;
for the ploughing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth’s safe-keeping,
thanks be to God.

In the just reward of labour,
God’s will is done;
in the help we give our neighbour,
God’s will is done;
in the world-wide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests we are sharing,
God’s will is done.

For the harvest of the spirit,
thanks be to God;
for the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God;
for the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all, that love has found us.
thanks be to God.

Announcements:

Thanks to Ramona for tech-hosting and Jeannene for co-hosting. Thanks to Brian, Sonya and ? for reading and to you all for your contributions. Thanks to Andrew for lovely music and Benjie for supporting our singing. Thanks Patricia for greeting. For those of you who are here in-person, if you want to stay, David will be serving refreshments in the hall (plus Berry Lime Drizzle cake which is Juliet’s unofficial birthday cake! Juliet turns 80 tomorrow so let’s raise a slice of cake to her). If things seem a bit quiet in the hall you might find there are more of us out in the garden. If you’re online I do encourage you to hang on after the service for a chat with Jeannene.

We have various small group activities for you to meet up. There are still spaces left for our online Heart and Soul contemplative spiritual gatherings (Sunday/Friday at 7pm) and this week’s theme is ‘Learning’. Save the date for the next GreenSpirit gathering for Lammas which is online on Tuesday 1st August at 7pm – please get in touch with Sarah if you want to sign up for that.

Next Sunday is our ‘End of an Era’ celebration service – Sarah and Harold will be joining us – we’ll be thanking them both for their years of service to this church – it’s your last chance to let us know if you’re going to be staying for the lunch afterwards so do have a word with Patricia today please.

Details of our various activities 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 Cynthia Landrum

We leave this gathered community,
But we don’t leave our connection,
Our concerns, our care for each other.

Our service to each other, to the world,
and to the promptings of our faith, continues.

So until we are together again, friends,
Be strong, be well, be true, be loving,
and nurture Goodness wherever you go.
May it be so, for the greater good of all. Amen.

Closing Music: ‘Tanzlied des Pierrot’ (Korngold) played by Andrew Robinson

Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall

16th July 2023