Past Services

Come celebrate, restore, re-find and refine your faith in the heart and possibility of this UU Community of the Mountains, even as we seek to hold onto our faith in humanity.

Calling all ages, sizes, shapes, and personalities – we mean it – EVERYBODY IN! Join us for a vibrant celebration of widening the circle, through parable, song and . . . well, you’ll see! 

What Circle? – Toxic polarization, cloudy conflicts, and the need to change our ideas about change
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
February 20, 2022
Rev. Kevin Tarsa, with Grace Kendrick, Worship Associate

Impossible. Frightening. Dangerous. That’s how it feels.

In The Way Out, Peter T. Coleman takes head on the pressing question, “What can we do to escape the grip of partisan contempt in our divided society and get back to solving our most pressing problems?” His experience researching, teaching, and facilitating conflict resolution leads him to suggest answers, but likely not the answers you expect. Let’s open up our sense of hope by first opening up our sense of the problem. 

Song for Gathering/Opening Words Will the Circle Be Unbroken words by Ada R. Habershon, music by Charles H. Gabriel, sung by Claire Leve, Rev. Kevin Tarsa, and Jordan Thomas-Rose, with Marginal Wisdom by Leslie Takahashi, read by Melissa Ridgway

Lighting of the Chalice A Chalice Lighting for When Things Aren’t Okay by Molly Brewer, read by Beth Rose

Musical Response There is a Love by Elizabeth Norton, words by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker  

Welcome Grace Kendrick, Worship Associate 

Land Acknowledgement read by Aspen Cisneros

Wisdom for All Ages A Human Family by Martha Dallas, read and led by Grace Kendrick

Joys & Sorrows 

Meditation by adrienne maree brown

Music The Star of Truth, music by Dede Duson, text by John Andrew Storey, Jordan Thomas-Rose, voice, Rev. Kevin Tarsa, piano, Claire Leve, guitar 

Reading A Stone’s Throw by George A Tyger, read by Bob Branstrom

Sermon What Circle? Rev. Kevin Tarsa 

Offering Grace Kendrick 

25% of our offering this month goes to KARE Crisis Nursery, which supports children and families in our community and surrounding areas by providing safe, nurturing care for the small children of families experiencing a stressful situation. 

Offertory Jordan Thomas-Rose 

Dedication Grace Kendrick 

Thank you 

Closing Song We Would Be One #318, music by Jean Sibelius, words by Samuel Anthony Wright

Closing Words Ever-Widening, Perfectly Imperfect, Precisely Imprecise by Rev. Rod Richards, read by Rev. Kevin Tarsa 

Community Benediction / Extinguishing of the Chalice  
                   Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.  

As Grace, Jeff, and Rev. Kevin explored the theme of “widening the circle,” they kept being drawn back to the awareness that expanding the edges of our circle outward is most possible, perhaps only possible, when we stay rooted in or connected to the center. Or is it that expanding the edges of our circle ultimately leads us into our center? 

Come, celebrate our connection to Unitarian Universalists far beyond UUCM in this embodied, engaging, multi-gen on-line worship service focusing on a parable of interdependence and unity. We joined congregations all over the western third of the United States, plus Alaska and Hawaii.

Until the current COVID surge, a consultant was scheduled to engage members of the congregation this weekend as part of figuring out next steps regarding UUCM’s facilities. Though that weekend was postponed, we still focus on the promises at the heart of creating community such as this, and at the heart of finding our way forward as a community.

All month long we’ve been inviting you to consider your word for the new year – a word to travel with, to put under your pillow, to eat breakfast with, to dance, wrestle, and cavort with. A word to keep near your heart all year long. This Sunday, we ask you to choose and share your word as part of your own effort to live with intention.

Living With Intention: We Have a Dream
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
January 16, 2022
Gail Johnson Vaughan and Cheryl Morris, co-worship associates,
with Special Guest Tracy Pepper, Color Me Human executive director 

Inequality and injustice hurts us all. Martin Luther King Jr had a dream that one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls would be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. There is still so much work to do. Join us as we give voice to the dream we ourselves hold that our nation must and will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” 

(Access music videos via the links below)

Lighting of the Chalice What is The Promise and the Practice? By Rebekah Savage, read by Cheryl Morris 

Land Acknowledgement Lindsay Dunckel 

Musical Opening Why Not Every Man? (Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel), traditional Spiritual, arr. Adam Podd, featuring the First Unitarian Brooklyn Quartet, produced and edited by Adam Podd for First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn (see the music video HERE) 

Wisdom for All Ages Seeding the Love by Geneva Keyes, retold by Tracy Pepper

Joys & Sorrows Beth Karow 

Prayer & Meditation Elijah by Bill Harley and arranged by Peter Amidon, featuring the First Unitarian Brooklyn Choir & The Westerlies (see the music video HERE) 

Reading Battle Hymn of the Republic by Heather Cox Richardson, read by Gail 

Music Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia Ward Howe, Jordan Thomas-Rose, guitar and voice 

Conversation Dr King’s Work is Not Done, Tracy Pepper and Gail Johnson Vaughan   

Offering Cheryl Morris and Gail Johnson Vaughan 

25% of our offering this month will support: Sierra Roots, whose members take a relationship-based approach in their work with homeless people. They are dedicated to listening to homeless people and collaborating with them to make progress in their health, self-reliance, and action plans for secure, safe homes. 

Offertory Spiritual Medley, Samuel Tolbert (see the music video HERE) 

Dedication Cheryl Morris and Gail Johnson Vaughan  

Thank you Gail Johnson Vaughan 

Closing Song Let Justice Roll Down, words & music ©Aileen Vance/Avenida Music, recorded and produced by Lea Morris (see the music video HERE) 

Closing Words A Spark of Hope by Melanie Davis, read by Gail Johnson Vaughan and Tracy Pepper

Community Benediction / Extinguishing of the Chalice  
                   Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.  

Music for Going Forth 

Opening to Joy: Letting Go to Peace
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
December 12, 2021
Rev. Kevin Tarsa, with Rev. Karyn Packard and Jeff Stone, Worship Associate

Even in these more cautious times, the pace and energy of the holiday season picks up, with challenges, joys, and sadness all amplified. In this annual service inviting embodied peacefulness, we’ll draw on silence, sound, breath, and movement as the words spoken invite us to let go of our striving in order to arrive where we are. 

Song for Gathering I’ve Got Peace Like a River #100 by Marvin V. Frey, Rev. Karyn Packard, piano 

Land Acknowledgement read by Renee Weilmann

Welcome Rev. Kevin Tarsa

Lighting of the Chalice Promise of Peace by Hal Walker, Jordan Thomas-Rose, Julie Tillinghast, Rev. Kevin Tarsa 

Opening Movement Circle of Joy Grace Kendrick

Breathing 

Wisdom for All Ages The Tiger and the Strawberry, as told by Lea Morris, with Joy is Free by Lea Morris

Joys & Sorrows 

Song Filled with Loving Kindness #1031, Buddhist meditation, music by Ian W. Riddel, Rev. Karyn Packard, piano 

Holding Silence 

Prayer Rev. Karyn Packard

Homily Opening to Joy: Letting Go to Peace, Rev. Kevin Tarsa 

Offering George Dunstan

25% of our offering this month will support: Hospitality House whose mission is “to bring homeless people in Nevada County into a circle of community caring that offers shelter, sustenance, medical care, advocacy, opportunity, dignity, and hope as we assist them in transitioning from homelessness to housing.” 

Since we are not passing a plate in person, giving in other ways is vital to our ability to sustain the work of our community. Thank you for your generosity. See the insert for ways to give by text, PayPal, UUCM’s website or by mail. 

Offertory Karyn Packard, piano 

Dedication George Dunstan

Thank you 

Closing Song There is More Love Somewhere #95, African American Spiritual

Closing Words   

Community Benediction / Extinguishing of the Chalice  
                   Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.  

Music for Going Forth  

Opening to Joy: Odes to Hope
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
December 5, 2021
Rev. Kevin Tarsa and Gail Johnson Vaughan, Worship Associate

This service introduces the December theme: Opening to Joy. Let’s face it, we are dealing with a lot of impediments to joy – an ongoing pandemic, steady escalation of extremism in our country with frightening assaults to freedom and democracy coming ever closer to home, and of course wildfires. 

So, really, you want us to open to joy and hope. YES, and that’s what this service aims to do. Be ready for everything from a flash mob to a special embodiment of heart opening… and lots more.

Song for Gathering There Is More Love Somewhere #95, an African American Hymn, Jasper Waters, song leader; Delaney Sherr and Tom Wernigg, violin; Christy Sherr, cello; Rev. Kevin Tarsa, piano 

Land Acknowledgement read by Gene Gilligan

Welcome Gail Johnson Vaughan, Worship Associate 

Lighting of the Chalice Still So Much Good, and Beauty, and Joy… by Rev. Gretchen Haley, read by Melissa Ridgway

Opening Movement Circle of Joy, Grace Kendrick

Wisdom for All Ages Ode to Joy, from Beethoven’s Symphony No.9

Joys & Sorrows 

Music Southwind played by Delaney Sherr, violin  

Prayer & Meditation Witnessing the Miracle by Andrea Mason, read by Gene Gilligan, Gail Johnson Vaughan, Melissa Ridgway, Rev. Kevin Tarsa

Song Sweet Surrender 

Reflection Gail Johnson Vaughan  

Music Out Beyond, text by Jalal al-Din Rumi, as translated by Coleman Barks, music by Joanne Hammil 

Homily Opening to Joy: Letting Go to Hope, Rev. Kevin Tarsa    

Offering Gail Johnson Vaughan, with Hospitality House Development Director, Ashley Quadros  

Offertory The Humours of Lissadell, Delaney Sherr, violin 

Dedication Gail Johnson Vaughan 

Thank you 

Closing Song Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee #29, lyrics by Henry Van Dyke (adapted), music by Ludwig van Beethoven, Jasper Waters, song leader; Delaney Sherr and Tom Wernigg, violin; Rev. Kevin Tarsa, viola; Christy Sherr, cello 

Closing Words Rev. Kevin Tarsa  

Community Benediction / Extinguishing of the Chalice  
                   Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.  

Music for Going Forth