Worship services at Marshfield Old Meeting
Services at Marshfield Old Meeting are Unitarian. They are Unitarian in that worship is directed simply to the One God - while recognising the great range of understandings of the word ‘God’. Services are also Unitarian in that adherence to a creed or statement of belief is not required - you do not have to be a Unitarian to participate fully in Unitarian worship. And services are Unitarian in that doubt is an option and being willing to ask questions is as important as knowing answers.
Welcome
(Adapted from words of welcome of the former Trim Street Unitarian Chapel, Bath)
We welcome you to our service of worship.
It is right and good that we should meet together for the worship of God,
the conserving and creative spirit of Goodness in us and in all things.
When we meet together for worship...
we express our thanks for all the uplifting and joyous experiences of life;
we assert our belief that there is meaning in the Universe: that our ideals are not delusions;
we confess our constant failure to live up to our highest ideals of goodness, truth and beauty;
we make resolutions to serve these ideals more faithfully in the days to come;
and above all
we look to strengthen our faith and to deepen our knowledge, wisdom and love, that we may live better lives.
We welcome you to our service of worship.
It is right and good that we should meet together for the worship of God,
the conserving and creative spirit of Goodness in us and in all things.
When we meet together for worship...
we express our thanks for all the uplifting and joyous experiences of life;
we assert our belief that there is meaning in the Universe: that our ideals are not delusions;
we confess our constant failure to live up to our highest ideals of goodness, truth and beauty;
we make resolutions to serve these ideals more faithfully in the days to come;
and above all
we look to strengthen our faith and to deepen our knowledge, wisdom and love, that we may live better lives.
Opening Words
(Adapted from the 1752 Foundation Stone of the Meeting House)
We meet together today not for schismatical or heretical separation, not as a source of bigotry and superstition,
but for principles quite the reverse: for promoting pure religion, the glory of God, and the happiness of humankind.
In that spirit we light the chalice, the symbol of our faith.
May its flame be for us a symbol of love, the fire at the heart of our spiritual life.
(response) May love always be in our hearts, may we always give it generously. Amen.
We meet together today not for schismatical or heretical separation, not as a source of bigotry and superstition,
but for principles quite the reverse: for promoting pure religion, the glory of God, and the happiness of humankind.
In that spirit we light the chalice, the symbol of our faith.
May its flame be for us a symbol of love, the fire at the heart of our spiritual life.
(response) May love always be in our hearts, may we always give it generously. Amen.
Closing Words
Almighty God
when evil darkens our world
(response) give us strength.
When despair numbs our souls
give us hope.
When we falter and fear
surround us with your presence.
When nothing seems sure
give us trust in your providence.
When we lose our way
light our path.
And now and forever
may the blessing of God descend and rest upon us all.
Amen.
when evil darkens our world
(response) give us strength.
When despair numbs our souls
give us hope.
When we falter and fear
surround us with your presence.
When nothing seems sure
give us trust in your providence.
When we lose our way
light our path.
And now and forever
may the blessing of God descend and rest upon us all.
Amen.
