Born and Reborn Again: us at 250
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
July 5, 2026
Rev. Kevin Tarsa
Gail Johnson Vaughan, Worship Associate
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You want to feel celebratory about this year’s 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, a founding nurtured by the ideas, values and writings of our religious ancestors, but it can be difficult to scrape up enthusiasm when the nation’s shortcomings are apparent and when so much that we value is in such deep jeopardy. You are invited to this birthday party both to celebrate and to be real.
Prelude America Michael Bankston, trumpet, Kevin Tarsa, Piano
Songs for Gathering
Oh, I Woke Up This Morning #153 arr. Shelton
Happy Birthday to You (America)
Candle of Compassion, Resistance, and Resilience
Greeting One Another
Land Acknowledgement read by Jay Corey
Lighting of the Chalice A True Story (adapted) by Li Kynvi, read by Jax
Wonder Box & Singing the Children on Their Way
Welcome Gail Johnson Vaughan, Worship Associate
Joys & Sorrows
Song Return Again #1011 by Shlomo Carlebach
Prayer & Meditation July 4th Meditation by Maureen Killoran read by Sarah Joy Blum
Freedom Summer Moment What to the Slave is the 4th of July? (excerpted) by Fredrick Douglass, read by Bob & Leslie King, UUCM Bending the Arc Task Force
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round Community Church of NYC
Message Born and Reborn Again Rev. Kevin Tarsa
Offering Gail Johnson Vaughan and Debbie McDonald, Development Director, Hospitality House
Offertory What the World Needs Now words by Hal David, music by Burt Bacharach, Michael Bankston, trumpet, Linda Snyder, piano
Dedication Gail Johnson Vaughan
Thank you & Announcements
Closing Song The Tide is Rising by Rabbi Shoshona Meira Friedman, b.1982
Closing Words
Community Benediction / Extinguishing of the Chalice
Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.
Music for Going Forth