Optical Delusion

Optical Delusion of Separateness – What do the mystic physicists, Saint Paul, our seventh principle, and the Hindu concept of Atman have in common? They all break through the optical delusion of consciousness. As Einstein said: “this delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

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Sample OOS

Prelude - “All Things Bright & Beautiful”

Welcome, Introductions, & Announcements (Introduce Amy) - SA/Board Host

Chalice Lighting -

Invocation - Amy (Singing Bowl)

Gathering Song #175 “We Celebrate the Web of Life” - music person

Intergen Reflection - “Pla TuKa Tu KaTu” (Ghanaian children’s clapping game) - Rev. Amy

Sing young people to RE - Sing and Rejoice #359

Reading - “On Widening Circles of Compassion” Albet Einstein

Offering /Offertory

Joys & Sorrows

Meditation- Amy

Pastoral Song “toning” by -Amy

Reflection - Optical Delusion of Separateness - The Reverend Amy Beltaine

Commitment Song - #21“For the Beauty of the Earth,”

Chalice Extinguishing

Benediction - Amy

Postlude- "You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Rodgers & Hammerstein

Suggested hymns for service

• • “Earth My Body” and “We Are A Circle” for the gathering songs before service

  • #175 We Celebrate the Web of Life,

  • #21 For the Beauty of the Earth,

  • “Toning” (Amy can lead),

  • #121 Spirit of Life (with ASL amy can teach ASL interp.) for blessing song immediately after sermon

  • for pastoral song: Voice Still and Small, or Listen Listen Listen (Amy can teach and lead, short chant), or toning

  • #128 for all that is our life (Pastoral Hymn)

  • Sing and Rejoice #359

Suggestions for performed music

• • Hammer and a Nail by Emily Saliers, Indigo Girls, Offertory?

  • Gentle Arms of Eden by Tracy Grammer and Dave Carter (Amy has the sheet music and can scan and send it)

  • All Things Bright and Beautiful, traditional English folk tune, Offertory?

  • “One song” by Marvin Hamlisch and Bergman

  • You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Rodgers & Hammerstein

Suggestions for READINGS (chalice lighting, extinguishing, etc.)

We rededicate ourselves before this light

to affirm and practice truth, wisdom, love and freedom,

today and in the days to come. (Upanishads, adapted)

Elizabeth Selle Jones, #456

We extinguish the flame

But not the light of truth,

The warmth of community

Or the fire of commitment.

These we carry in our hearts

Until we are together again

quotes for reflection, print on the OOS:

“Unitarian Universalists see ourselves as one thread in a single fabric of all existence.”

- Commit2Respond at http://www.commit2respond.org

“This is my home, this is my only home. This is the only sacred ground that I have ever known.”

- "Gentle Arms of Eden" by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer