Order of Service

Water Communion

Sunday, September 7, 2025, 10:25 am

Online on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/738363620
Passcode: BUF

Zoom by phone, for audio only: (346) 248-7799
Meeting ID: 738 363 620
Passcode: 306220

Gathering Music

Welcome                                      Carrie Koehnline, celebrant

Prelude                                         Improvisational

Jane Epperson, pianist

Opening Words                            Rev. Barbara ten Hove, minister

Hymn                                            #1010, Oh We Give Thanks!

Chalice Lighting

Covenant

Love is the spirit of this fellowship, and service
gives it life. Celebrating our diversity, and joined
by a quest for truth, we work for peace and honor
all creation. This is our covenant.

Offertory                                       Improvisational

Jaco ten Hove, musician

Backpack Blessing                     Led by Lis Epperson, RE Coordinator
Song                                             The Earth is Our Mother/The Sea is Our Sister

Interactive Story                          The Sea Speaks

with Tom Nicholas, Steffany Raynes & Marsha Vollkommer

Musical Interlude

Gathering the Waters                   Jabari, Kivrin, Poppy, & Greta

Water Communion

Poem                                              Praise for Water! B. ten Hove

Song 

There’s a River flowing in my soul/heart/mind
And it’s telling me that I’m somebody

Closing Words and Extinguishing the Chalice

Closing Song                                 #155, Circle Round for Freedom

Afterward

If you’re with us on Zoom today, please stay after the service for our online coffee hour. If you’re here in person, please join us downstairs for coffee and conversation. Visitors: you may wish to use a red cup — then we’ll know you’re open to a bit of orientation.

If you’re new, we’d be grateful to have you provide us with contact information so we can let you know what’s happening here. There are buff-colored visitor contact cards in the pew racks, and in the entryway, that you can drop in the collection basket. Or provide your contact information HERE. 

Contributions payable to “BUF” may be sent to:
1207 Ellsworth Street, Bellingham 98225
For info about donating online (credit card or PayPal), by automatic bank transfer, or via phone apps, see the “give” button in the upper right-hand corner at buf.org or contact the office: (360) 733-3837 / admin@buf.org