By Rev. Michelle Scott-Huffman

Moment of Perspective – The Frog – AJ Fox

A new twist on a classic fairytale. Credit for the story given to Rev. Christopher Buice.

The opening words are The Heart of Both-And, by Lyn Cox.

Spirit of Life, ever adapting and renewing, we come together this morning with yearnings that do not match: We yearn for stability, for even one moment of feeling like we know what is going on, for the ability to predict and prepare for what is coming next. Yet we also yearn for change. We ache for a world that turns aside from racism, violence, dehumanization, and disregard for suffering. We pray for a change in the illness, grief, isolation, incarceration, and vulnerability of our loved ones. We reach for connections that will remind us that we are worthy as we are, and we reach for connections that will help us to become our best selves.

Hold us in the heart of Both-And. Cradle us in the mystery.

Cherish us in the eternal presence of love, and encourage us on the path of growth and development. As individuals and as a people, help us to become who we are called to be. Lead us to open pathways to deeper wisdom through reconciliation, self-respect and mutual respect, compassion, owning and making amends for our mistakes.

Source of Wonder, move us to express and live in gratitude for the beauty of this world, the loving people in our lives, and this day of possibility. To this we add the meditations of our hearts, as we enter into a time of silence.

Happy Cat
By John Prescott
Performed by the Brandon Street Stompers:
John Prescott – trumpet
Shawn Vomund – clarinet
Ric Coons – trombone
Gail Ralya – piano
Steve Samuelson – bass
Jeff Gouge – drums

This is Jazz Month and so I asked our good friend John Prescott for help and he always goes out of his way to connect with First UU with music and we are so grateful to have him in the community. This was the last performance for the Stompers before Covid. So, enjoy the energy and fun.

• Eva Riebold, Pianist

“Little” Rhapsody in Blue
By G. Gershwin
Performed by Eva Riebold

For our Interlude Sunday…… I usually say this is one of my favorites when I write for What’s Up. Rhapsody in Blue truly is about my most favorite….Gershwin, Bach and the Beatles. Gershwin pulled together classical music and jazz….. jazz being uniquely American music with roots in African American traditions, “characterized by swing and blue notes, complex chords, call and response vocals, polyrhythms, and improvisation.” (Wikipedia)

This is a simple arrangement. We all know Rhapsody in Blue is a complex orchestral piece. So, we get a little taste.

• Eva Riebold, Pianist

Pavane
By Gabriel Faure, jazz arrangement by John Prescott
Performed by John and Luke Prescott and Eva Riebold

Gabriel Faure was a major post-impressionist French composer. I asked John why he made a jazz arrangement of Pavane by Faure, a classical piece, and he said that the chord changes are similar to how jazz music moves. Faure used 7th and 9th chords, common in jazz, and John added syncopation. We thank him and Luke for doing this just for us.

• Eva Riebold, Pianist

In honor of National Poetry Month, the closing words are Out Beyond Ideas, by Rumi.

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase ‘each other’
doesn’t make any sense.