FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON
Order of Service

Sunday, August 6, 2023

Rumni Saha, guest speaker

Service musicians: Erin Anderson

and Larry Thomas Bell

Prelude: Piano Etude no. 8 (Op. 109 no. 8) Larry T. Bell (b. 1952)

Andante con moto

Welcome and Opening Words: Land Acknowledgment  (words by Boston City Councilor Liz Breadon)

Opening Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth No. # 21

Chalice Lighting                                                                            

First Church Boston Affirmation                                           

Love is the spirit of this church, and Service its law.
This is our great covenant, to dwell together in peace,
to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.

Announcements

Reading: “Stream of Life” by Rabindranath Tagore

Musical Meditation: Down in the Forest        Landon Ronald                                  (1873-1938)

text by Harold Simpson

Joys and Concerns

Meditation/Sermon Reading: “Speaking Tree” by Joy Harjo

Sermon Hymn         I Sought the Wood in Summer # 328

Sermon “In  the Company of Trees”                   Rumni Saha 

Call to the Offering

Offertory The Grass (Op. 77 no.4)           Vincent Persichetti                                              (1915-1987)

text by Emily Dickinson

Doxology          OLD HUNDREDTH

Extinguishing the Chalice

We extinguish this 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

Closing Hymn   We laugh, We Cry #354 

Benediction

Postlude Piano Etude no. 9 (Op. 109 no. 9)       Larry T. Bell

Softly and Tenderly

Rumni Saha graduated with Master of Divinity degree from Boston University School of Theology.  Ms. Saha serves as a Interfaith Chaplain at Dana Farber Cancer Institute as well as the Hindu affiliate chaplain at Wellesley College.