Past Services

What Is Remembered, Lives
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
October 31, 2021
Beth Karow, with Rev. Kevin Tarsa

All Hallows Eve, Día de Muertos, All Souls, and All Saints days invite us each autumn to remember our ancestors and our beloveds who have died. These tender days on the way to winter even open a window to working on our relationships with those who have gone before us.

In a service steeped in ritual and music, we will remember with honesty, gratitude, and hope.

Music for Gathering Jordan Thomas-Rose, with UUCM musicians 

Ringing of the Chimes 

Land Acknowledgement   

Welcome/Casting of the Circle Beth Karow, Worship Associate 

Lighting of the Chalice Rev. Kevin Tarsa and Beth Karow 

Opening Music/Opening Words Bright Morning Stars are Rising #357, sung by Jordan Thomas-Rose and Rev. Kevin, with spoken words by Beth Karow 

Wisdom for All Ages Beth Karow 

Remembering 

UUCM Ancestors
Those Who Died in the Past Year
Our Beloved Dead
Ritual of the Forgotten

Music All My Memories of Love #336, text by Anna Akhmatova, translated by Mark Belletini, sung by Jordan Thomas-Rose 

Litany We Remember Them by Sylvan Kamens and Jack Riemer 

Closing Words and Blessing   

Release of the Directions 

Thank you! 

Community Benediction 
        Let us carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.  

Music For Going Forth 

Getting to Know One Another
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
October 24, 2021
Chuck Champlin, Rev. Kevin Tarsa, and You!

Our fourth in a series focused on cultivating relationship, this interactive, café style service offered people a chance to connect several times in small groups for conversation. Envisioned and planned by Wendy Wernigg and Chuck Champlin, Rev. Kevin joins Chuck to facilitate the service itself.

Greeting Rev. Kevin Tarsa 

Song for Gathering Enter, Rejoice, and Come In #361, by Louise Ruspini, Jordan Thomas-Rose, Director of Music

Welcome Chuck Champlin, Worship Associate 

Lighting of the Chalice by Mark Morrison-Reed, read by Lesley Champlin 

Land Acknowledgement read by Elizabeth Bloom 

Opening Words The Heart of Our Faith by Monica Jacobson-Tennessen, read by Susan Merrill 

Wisdom for All Ages Stories for each other 

Your nameA comfort food for youA game you played or an activity you enjoyed happily as a child

Joys & Sorrows Rev. Kevin Tarsa   

Prayer & Meditation In Gatherings by Marta I Valentín, read by Rev. Kevin Tarsa 

Song Come Sing a Song With Me #346, by Carolyn McDade, Jordan Thomas-Rose

Getting to Know One Another 

Introduction  Rev. Kevin Tarsa and Chuck Champlin

Where were you born?What is one thing on your bucket list, something you would yet like to do in your lifetime?Metaphoraging (Without thinking too much, find an object nearby, perhaps within reach. Any object. Note its qualities. Reflect on how that object is like you or vice versa.)What is one of your favorite treats for yourself?

Closing– Rev. Kevin Tarsa

Offering Chuck Champlin 

25% of our offering this month will support: Habitat for Humanity, which brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Habitat for Humanity envisions a community where everyone has the opportunity to have a safe, decent, affordable place to live. 

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 Jordan Thomas-Rose 

Dedication Chuck Champlin 

Thank you 

Closing Song The Hokey Pokey (Yes, THE Hokey Pokey. Well, part of it, anyway.) Jordan Thomas-Rose

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  

Me, Myself, and I: Cultivating a Relationship with Ourselves
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
October 17, 202
Dawn Bateman, Janet Bullock, Stu Matthews and Jordan Thomas-Rose, Rev. Kevin Tarsa,
Jeff Stone, Worship Associate

How does living through a pandemic influence our relationship with ourselves. And how does that work in the context of living in relationship or not. A tapestry of members and friends reflect on this most intimate of journeys.  

Greeting Rev. Kevin

Song for Gathering There’s a River Flowin’ in My Soul by Faya Ora Rose Touré #1007 

Welcome Jeff Stone, Worship Associate 

Lighting of the Chalice Until We Draw Together by A. Powell Davies, read by Bob Branstrom 

Land Acknowledgement read by Penny Harlan 

Opening Words Woven Anew by Rev. Scott Tayler, read by Jim Bair 

Wisdom for All Ages The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, read by Jeff Stone (We do not have permission to post our reading of this book. You may watch and listen to an online reading of it HERE.)

Joys & Sorrows 

Prayer & Meditation Know You are Not Alone and Discover the Way Our Voices Rise by Rev. Gretchen Haley, read by Rev. Kevin  

Song Voice Still and Small by John Corrado #391 

Reading My brain and heart divorced by John Roedel, read by Jeff Stone 

Cultivating Relationships with Oneself: a Tapestry of Sharing Dawn Bateman, Janet Bullock, Stu Matthews, and Jordan Thomas-Rose 

Offering Jeff Stone, with Jim Phelps, Development Director of Nevada County Habitat for Humanity 

25% of our offering this month will support: Habitat for Humanity, which brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Habitat for Humanity envisions a community where everyone has the opportunity to have a safe, decent, affordable place to live. 

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 Jordan Thomas-Rose 

Dedication Jeff Stone 

Thank you 

Closing Song This Little Light of Mine #118

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  

In Respectful and Right Relationship: Beyond the Words
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
October 10, 2021
Shelly Covert, Spokesperson for the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe, with Frank Lawrence, Rev. Kevin Tarsa, and Jeff Stone, Worship Associate

UUCM members have chosen to include in UUCM’s budget a contribution to the Ancestral Homelands Reciprocity Program, a community generated initiative to support and uplift the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe, the original peoples of this land, through their tribally guided 501(c)(3) nonprofit CHIRP (California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project).

This Sunday, with guest Shelly Covert, tribal spokesperson, and UUCM member Frank Lawrence, whose career has focused on Indian law, we as a community invest ourselves in and seek to live a respectful and right relationship with the people whose ancestors knew this land as “home” long before any of the rest of us arrived. We do so by our presence, our willingness to hear, and our willingness to take what we hear to heart.

Within our October theme of “cultivating relationship” theme, this Sunday we focus on cultivating this relationship between two groups of people.

Greeting Rev. Kevin Tarsa and Shelly Covert, Spokesperson, Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe 

Land Acknowledgement read by Carmen Riley  

Song for Gathering We Would Be One #318, words by Samuel A. Wright, music by Jean Sibelius 

Welcome Jeff Stone, Worship Associate 

Lighting of the Chalice This Is Our Home, But Not Just Ours by Laura Bogle (adapted slightly), read by Holly Rice

Opening Words “First Death: Coyote is crying for the loss of his son”, a cry song sung by Shelly Covert’s great uncle, Dan Rose

Wisdom for All Ages Shelly Covert 

Joys & Sorrows Rev. Kevin Tarsa 

Prayer & Meditation  

Song Spirit of Life by Carolyn McDade #123, Frank Lawrence, guitar, sung by Jordan Thomas-Rose  

Reflection Frank Lawrence 

Message Cultivating Relationship, Shelly Covert, Spokesperson for the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe, with Frank Lawrence of UUCM’s Nisenan Task Force 

Offering Jeff Stone

25% of our offering this month will support: Habitat for Humanity, which brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Habitat for Humanity envisions a community where everyone has the opportunity to have a safe, decent, affordable place to live. 

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 Jordan Thomas-Rose 

Dedication Jeff Stone 

Thank you 

Closing Song We Shall Be Known by MaMuse, sung by Shelly Covert, Rev. Kevin Tarsa, and Jordan Thomas-Rose 

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  

We Get There Side by Side
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
October 3, 2021
Rev. Kevin Tarsa, with Worship Associate, Jeff Stone

We introduce and enter our October theme of “cultivating relationship,” with story, song, reflection and invitation. How in the world do we cultivate relationship now? 

Greeting Rev. Kevin Tarsa

Song for Gathering Enter, Rejoice and Come In by Louise Ruspini, Jordan Thomas-Rose, Director of Music

Welcome Jeff Stone, Worship Associate

Lighting of the Chalice Gathering in Our Own Spaces by Jeff May, read by Connie Wright

Land Acknowledgement read by Jenny Dewey

Opening Words Here Together (Part 1) by David Glasgow, Jordan Thomas–Rose

Wisdom for All Ages Parable of the Spoons, with “Side by Side” by Lea Morris

Joys & Sorrows

Prayer & Meditation by Sean Parker Dennison, Rev. Kevin Tarsa

Music The Lone Wild Bird lyrics by H. R. MacFayden, music from William Walker’s Southern Harmony, Julie Tillinghast, voice, Rev. Kev Tarsa, piano

Reading Community Means Strength by Starhawk, read by Reine Thibeault

Sermon We Get There Side by Side, Rev. Kevin Tarsa

Offering Jeff Stone

Offertory Jordan Thomas–Rose

Dedication Jeff Stone

Thank you

Closing Song Gather the Spirit #347 by Jim Scott

Closing Words Here Together (Part 2) by David Glasgow

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

Music for Going Forth

Imagine My Surprise
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
September 26, 2021
Gail Johnson Vaughan and Cheryl Morris, Worship Associates

Nineteen months into the restrictions of the pandemic has been like climbing to the top of a high mountain – a climb most of us would have thought impossible. Now here, we can see unexpected possibilities in every direction. Join us this week as members of our congregation share the surprising possibilities that have been revealed to them during this difficult journey as we conclude our month of exploring the theme of what it means to be a people who embrace possibility.

Greeting Gail Johnson Vaughan, Worship Associate

Song for Gathering Open My Heart #1013, Henry Flurry, Jordan Thomas-Rose

Welcome Gail Johnson Vaughan

Lighting of the Chalice Holding Reality and Possibility Together by Samuel A Trumbore, read by Shannon Dooley Miller              

Land Acknowledgement read by Andy Dooley Miller

Opening Words by Rev. Scott Tayler, read by Cheryl Morris

Wisdom for All Ages The Dot by Peter J. Reynolds (permission to share granted by Candlewick Press), read by Gail Johnson Vaughan

Joys & Sorrows Beth Karow

Prayer & Meditation Meditation on Letting Go by Carol Allman-Morton, read by Beth Karow 

Song Comfort Me #1002, Mimi Bornstein, Jordan Thomas-Rose

Reading by Charles Eisenstein, read by Cheryl Morris

Option B What Makes Surviving the Pandemic Possible? Gail Johnson Vaughan, with photos from members and friends.

Tapestry Imagine My Surprise!

 Pam Kisor – Pandemic Surprises
 Tom Wernigg – Embracing Possibility  
 Grace Kendrick – What’s Possible       
 Jasper Waters – Embracing Possibility in a Time of Confinement 

Offering Gail Johnson Vaughan

25% of our offering this month will support Color Me Human, whose mission is to “Celebrate, Elevate, Educate, Advocate to create a safe, equitable world for Black, Indigenous, People of Color and LGBTQ folks.” 

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 Jordan Thomas-Rose

Dedication Gail Johnson Vaughan

Thank you

Closing Song How Can I Keep From Singing (My Life Flows On In Endless Song) #108 by Pauline T. and Doris Plenn, music by Robert Lowry

Closing Words An Ending, or Merely a Prelude to Glorious Beginnings? by Michael A. Schuler, 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  

There is often a significant gap between what we expect or wish for, and what actually exists. And, wow, the past two years have given us abundant opportunity to experience that! Wisdom traditions guide us away from using all our energy to lament and rail against the gap, and toward finding greater peacefulness by learning to be gently present to what is. After the journey of discovering what’s lost, we realize that not all is lost, ever, and we gain ability to see what remains. Let’s mind the gap mindfully. 

Greeting Rev. Kevin Tarsa 

Song for Gathering Morning Has Come #1000 by Jason Shelton, Jordan Thomas-Rose

Welcome Gail Johnson Vaughan, Worship Associate

Lighting of the Chalice Building the Possible by Rev. Scott Tayler, inspired by and with use of the words of John Schaar, read by Christy Barden

Land Acknowledgement read by Scottie Hart

Opening Words Let Astonishment be Possible by Rev. Gretchen Haley, read by Cheryl Morris

Wisdom for All Ages Maybe Yes, Maybe No told by Lea Morris, with Whatever Comes Next by Lea Morris

Joys & Sorrows 

Prayer & Meditation  

SongThere is a Balm, a Black spiritual from the period of slavery, and I Know This Rose by Mary E. Grigolia 

Reading by Arundhati Roy, read by Shanti Emerson 

Sermon Whatever Comes Next, Rev. Kevin Tarsa 

Offering Gail Johnson Vaughan

25% of our offering this month will support Color Me Human, whose mission is to “Celebrate, Elevate, Educate, Advocate to create a safe, equitable world for Black, Indigenous, People of Color and LGBTQ folks.” 

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 Jordan Thomas-Rose 

Dedication Gail Johnson Vaughan

Thank you 

Closing Song I Know I Can #1015, words by Dennis Hamilton, music by Jeannie Gagné

Closing Words by Margaret Fuller, Rev. Kevin Tarsa 

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

Music for Going Forth  

Return Again: Water, Community, Spirit, You
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains, Grass Valley, CA
September 12, 2021
with Rev. Kevin Tarsa
Cheryl Morris and Gail Johnson Vaughan, Worship Associates

This Sunday we launch into the September theme of “embracing possibility.” While the need to alter our face-to-face plans might seem counter to such a theme, Rev. Kevin had already planned to invite us into the first part of the three-part process unfolding over this month’s remaining services – the spiritual process of finding what’s lost, what remains, and what’s possible. In that necessary order.

We use water differently in the service than originally planned and are saving our communal water ceremony for an upcoming Sunday when we can indeed meet in the same place together and embody regathering.

Greeting Rev. Kevin Tarsa 

Song for Gathering Come, Come, Whoever You Are #188 by Lynn Unger, arr. by Rev. Kevin Tarsa, Jordan Thomas-Rose 

Welcome Cheryl Morris, Worship Associate 

Lighting of the Chalice by Gail Johnson Vaughan, read by Lindsay Dunckel 

Land Acknowledgement read by Siobhan Boylan 

Opening Words Thirsty by Gregory Pelley and We Gather as Many Drops by Leslie Takahashi, read by Randy McKean 

Wisdom for All Ages The Overflowing Teacup…and other stories, Rev. Kevin Tarsa, Lindsay Dunckel, and Randy McKean 

Joys & Sorrows

Sermon/Reflection Return Again, Rev. Kevin Tarsa 

Water Ceremony with There is a Healing by Rev. Kevin TarsaRev. Kevin, Janet Bullock, Kate Canan, and Jordan Thomas-Rose

Offering Cheryl Morris 

25% of our offering this month will support Color Me Human, whose mission is to “Celebrate, Elevate, Educate, Advocate to create a safe, equitable world for Black, Indigenous, People of Color and LGBTQ folks.” 

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 

Dedication Cheryl Morris 

Thank you 

Closing Song Life Calls Us On by Jason Shelton, Jordan Thomas-Rose  

Closing Words   

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

Music for Going Forth  

How can we make sense of the extreme divide over racial justice in our country? In this service our own Gail Johnson Vaughan gives us two keys to unlock the mystery and some suggestions for actions we can all take to remedy the fallout from the origins of our discontent. 

Greeting Gail Johnson Vaughan 

Song for Gathering I’m On My Way #116, Traditional African American Spiritual 

Welcome Allison Rivers Samson 

Lighting of the Chalice Nurture This Precious Light by Naomi King, read by George Dunstan, Janet Dunstan, and Gwen Eymann 

Land Acknowledgement read by Lisa Haden 

Opening Words by Isabel Wilkerson, read by Allison Rivers Samson 

Wisdom for All Ages Desmond Gets Free by Matt Meyer, illustrated by Khim Fam, read by Tracy Pepper 

Joys & Sorrows Beth Karow  

Prayer & Meditation Strange Fruit, written by Able Meeropol, sung by Billie Holiday    

Song When I am Frightened #1012, by Shelley Jackson Denham

Reading by Oprah Winfrey in What Happened to You, read by Gwen Eymann 

Sermon This Old House, Gail Johnson Vaughan 

Offering Allison Rivers Samson 

25% of our offering this month will support Community Beyond Violence: whose mission is to offer resources for building healthy relationships and to work with community partners to provide services for healing the effects of interpersonal violence. 

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   

Dedication  

Thank you Gail Johnson Vaughan 

Closing Song Answering the Call of Love #1014 by Jason Shelton 

Closing Words   

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

Music for Going Forth  

Making Powerful Trouble
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
August 15, 2021
Rev. Leela Sinha with Chuck Champlin, Worship Associate

Making Powerful Trouble: we’re accustomed to the idea that resistance has to come from below, from outside, from the Other.  But when we are the holders of power, how shall we resist then? 

Rev. Leela Sinha is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist and an entrepreneurial community minister who is continually willing to speak the truth in love. Rev. Leela resides in the Bay Area and is founder of The Intensives Institute, which supports people with big personalities in embracing and using their power for good through leadership development, coaching, and consulting. The Institute and its work are an outgrowth of Rev. Leela’s book, You’re Not Too Much: Intensive Lives in an Expansive World. 

Watch the video of the service! (Then check out UUCM’s YouTube Channel for more.)

Greeting Chuck Champlin, Worship Associate 

Song for Gathering Building a New Way #1017, by Martha Sandefer

Welcome Chuck Champlin 

Lighting of the Chalice Blessed is the Fire That Burns Deep in the Soul by Eric A Heller-Wagner, read by Susan Merrill 

Land Acknowledgement Chuck Champlin 

Opening Words Rev. Leela Sinha 

Wisdom for All Ages The Story of Robin Hood and Allan a Dale, Rev. Leela Sinha

Joys & Sorrows Beth Karow 

Prayer & Meditation Rev. Leela Sinha 

Song Comfort Me #1002  

Reading A Song for Many Movements by Audre Lorde, Rev. Leela Sinha 

Sermon Making Powerful Trouble, Rev. Leela Sinha 

Offering Chuck Champlin and Stephanie Fischer, Executive Director, Community Beyond Violence

25% of our offering this month will support Community Beyond Violence: whose mission is to offer resources for building healthy relationships and to work with community partners to provide services for healing the effects of interpersonal violence. 

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 Jordan Thomas-Rose 

Dedication Chuck Champlin 

Thank you Chuck Champlin 

Closing Song When the Spirit Says Do #1042 

Closing Words/Benediction Rev. Leela Sinha 

Community Benediction / Extinguishing of the Chalice  

                   Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.  

Music for Going Forth