Words for worship
As used at First Unitarian in New Bedford: words for welcome, offertory, and closing words. For the convenience of worship leaders at First Unitarian, a text file with these words, and all other transitional words, may be found here.
Closing words:
1. from the Khalidasa
Look to this day;
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course lie all the truth
And reality of your existence:
The bliss of growth,
The glory of action,
The splendor of beauty;
For yesterday is already a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision;
But today well-lived,
Makes every yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
2. from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures
May the truth that sets us free,
And the hope that never dies,
And the love that casts out fear
Be with us now
Until the dayspring breaks,
And the shadows flee away.
3. from Paul’s letter to Corinth
Go forth into the world in peace,
and be of good courage,
and hold fast to what is good,
returning to no one evil for evil.
Strengthen the fainthearted
and help the weak;
and be patient with all,
loving all living beings.
So we rejoice in life,
and give thanks for that which is good.
4. from a Hindu prayer
Lead us from death to life, from lies to truth.
Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace.
Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe.
5. from a poem by Rabindrinath Tagore
The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world, and dances in rhythmic measure.
It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass, and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.
It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth and of death, in ebb and flow.
I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life. And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.
6.
Claim your right to touch the eternal oneness of life.
Promise yourself to do this.
Reach out, in hope and courage, and in love.
7. adapted from words by John Murray
Go out into the highways and byways.
Give the people something of your new vision.
We may possess a small light,
but uncover it, let it shine,
use it to bring the light of understanding
to the hearts and minds of others.
Some will bring fear of hell and damnation;
some will bring hopelessness and despair.
But we bring the people hope and courage;
We will say, Together we can change the world.
8. adapted from James 1
Be doers, not merely hearers of the word:
If we will look into the law of life, and persevere;
If we will be, not hearers who forget, but doers who act;
We will be blessed in our doing.