Whoever You Are, We Welcome You

By Rev. Phil Lund

The opening words are “Come, Come,” adapted from Rumi by Unitarian Universalist minister Rev. Leslie Takahashi.

Come, come, whoever you are
Come with your hurts, your imperfections, your places that feel raw and exposed.
Come, come, whoever you are
Come with your strengths that the world shudders to hold
Come with your wild imaginings of a better world,
Come with your hopes that it seems no one wants to hear.
Wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving
We will make a place for you,
We will build a home together.
Ours is no caravan of despair.
We travel together;
Come, yet again come.

Come, Come, Whoever You Are
Congregational Hymn
Words adapted from Rumi (1207-1273) Public Domain
Music by Lynn Adair Ungar; Permission Given

Love and Joy
Words and Music: John Prescott
Permission Given
Performed by the First UU Choir

Go Now in Peace
Congregational Round
Words and music by Natalie Sleeth; OneLicense

The Final Reading is “Prayer,” from Rev. Bill Sinkford, a former UUA president.

Spirit of Life and of Love. Great Mystery at the heart of things. Dear God.
These days when our confidence in easy progress has been shaken,
When our vision of the Beloved Community seems clouded in an uncertain future,
Be with us and help us be with one another.
Let us be clear in our commitment to welcome the human spirit
In each of us, as all that we are.
Spirit of Life, move in our hearts and help our lives take the shape of justice.
Move in our hands so that our actions point us toward the Beloved Community.
Move within us and among us
Let our voices sing your song
As we witness with our lives
That the power of love is stronger
Than the love of power
Let our voices sing your song
As we answer the call of love.
So may it be. And Amen.