Courageous Curiosity
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
May 10, 2026
Gail Johnson Vaughan, Worship Associate
We live in country split by deep differences in beliefs about what it takes to make American the nation our founders designed. Many of us have leaned into the hard work of being curious about our role in healing this divide and on the way are learning new and interesting things about ourselves.
As hard as these paths of curiosity are, might there be a part of us that doesn’t want curiosity to just be fun or interesting, a part that wants to be enriched with the courage and skill to dialogue deeply with some of those on the other side of the divide?
This service offers invites us into the spiritual practice of deep dialogue across difference.
Song for Gathering Building Bridges #1023 by the women of Greenham Common peace occupation in England 1983
Greeting and Welcome Gail Johnson Vaughan
Land Acknowledgement Reine Thibault Jax
Lighting of the Chalice by Erich Fromm, read by Jax Maureen McNair
Candle of Compassion, Resistance, and Resilience Joyce Wilson
Wonder Box & Singing the Children on Their Way
Opening Words Gail Johnson Vaughan
Message, Part 1 Gail Johnson Vaughan
Song Return Again #1011 by Shlomo Carlebach
Guided Meditation Gail Johnson Vaughan
Joys & Sorrows Gail Johnson Vaughan
Message, Part 2 Gail Johnson Vaughan
Song Weave Us Together by Rosemary Crow, Betsy Haydon & Linda Snyder, musicians
Offering Tracy Pepper
Offertory Let it be a Dance by Ric Masten, Betsey Haydon & Linda Snyder, musicians
Dedication Tracy Pepper
Thank you & Announcements
Closing Song Love Lives Here written by Betsy Hayden, performed by Betsy Haydon, Linda Snyder, and congregation
Closing Words by Eric Fromm and Stewart Levine, read by Gail Johnson Vaughan
Community Benediction / Extinguishing of the Chalice
Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.
Music for Going Forth