Chalice Order of Service 1.25.26 10am
Chalice Admin
SUNDAY SERVICE
Onsite & Online ~ 10 am
Reverend Tom Owen-Towle
Hopers Unite!
There is no virtue more crucial at this juncture in human history than the steadfast practice of hopefulness! It is the energizing power and presence we desperately need as we launch 2026, the 250th anniversary year of the founding of the United States of America.
The registration link below will allow you to register for the service with your preferred email address. A service link will then be sent to that email. This service link will be active 5 minutes prior to the service. As an added benefit, you’ll be sent a recording of the service after it is done streaming!
Registration Link for the StreamYard Meeting:
You can also view our Livestream on FB: https://www.facebook.com/ChaliceUUF
Guest Minister: The Rev. Dr. Tom Owen-Towle was ordained in 1967 and is currently dwelling with his wife, Loretta Solsbery, in Santa Barbara. Tom is still mentoring, singing in nursing homes, and preaching, hither and yon. Owen-Towle is the author of two dozen books on progressive spirituality and social justice, and his latest book, Living with Purpose and Integrity: A Fresh Perspective on the Ten Commandments (2025), is currently available at the uuabookstore.org.
It has been several seasons since Owen-Towle last preached in Thousand Oaks, and he’s excited to be returning to our pulpit during his homestretch.
Centering Thought:
The capacity for hope is the most significant fact in life. It provides humans with a sense of destination and the energy to get started.
~ Norman Cousins
Welcome - Merlin Snider
Call to Worship - Reverend Tom Owen-Towle
(with everyone in unison)—by Vaclav Havel
Hope is not prognostication. It is an orientation of the spirit, an orientation of the heart.
Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense,
regardless of how it turns out.
Chalice Lighting - Merlin Snider
Opening Song- #347 Gather the Spirit
Time for All Ages - Rev. Tom Owen Towle - “Cool, Just As I Am!”
Manna Collection - Merlin Snider
Announcements - Merlin Snider
Singing the Children Out - Anthony Concepcion
Offering Words - Randall Edwards
Offering Music - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart/Love Train" arrangement by Greg Gilpin
Receiving the Offering - Merlin Snider
Joys and Sorrows - If you are in person please fill out an index card. You can also email your joys or concerns during the week to j...@chaliceuu.org
Time of Meditation - Reverend Tom Owen-Towle
Meditation Song - Come Sing a Song with Me #346
Reading - “You Have to Pick Your Team” by Sonya Tinsley-Hook
Talk- “Hopers Unite!”- Reverend Tom Owen-Towle
Closing Hymn - Answering the Call of Love #1014
Extinguishing the Chalice - Merlin Snider
Closing Words - Reverend Tom Owen-Towle (in unison) by Valerie Brown
Hope leans forward, always. It asks that we love hard and true.
It asks that we release and let go wisely with grace and kindness,
because that’s the right thing to do.
Postlude - Anthony Concepcion
Reminder! After service today we’ll be holding our Mid-year Congregational Meeting and we hope all members will attend! If you choose to attend virtually, here is the Zoom link for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/209555249?pwd=dkVSdDE1ZWh5dHBVcXo2ZHVKQUJkQT09