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Love is Calling
Scholar Cornel West tells us that “justice is what love looks like in public,” and the work of justice has shaped this faith, from its Unitarian and Universalist ancestors to this current moment. In a world where “justice” can be used as a tool for liberation as well as a cloak for oppression, our spiritual grounding offers an orientation toward justice that is needed now as much as ever. (This service continues our current worship series exploring the values articulated in the revised Article II.)
By Rev. Sarah Prickett
Music by Willie B and Molli McMills, Craig Boeker, Karl Mueller and Rusty Rhoad, featuring Matthew and Sara DaSilva and Jess and Dustin Jones
Lyrics
Magic Song by Molli McMills and Willie B
Intro
Maybe I could change the world if I could write a magic song
We could sing the notes we love and no one would hear the notes as wrong
There would be no time for hate, we’d be singing harmony
The world would be a better place, not just for you and me
When we’d sing those magic notes suddenly our hearts would start to change
People who are different could be different and no one would think it strange.
We’d sing away oppression everybody would be free
The world would be a better place not just for you and me
We would love one another that would put an end to war
We could hear each other’s music even if we couldn’t play the chords
Interlude:
The magic of the melody would teach us how to heal from our mistakes
Meet justice with forgiveness for all the past ones everybody made
This would lead us from the dream to true equality
The world would be a better place and not just for you and me (Repeat)
Lean on Me by Bill Withers
Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain we all have sorrow
But if we are wisewe know that there’s always tomorrow
Lean on me. when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend I’ll help you carry on…
For it won’t be long Till I’m gonna need somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride if I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs that you won’t let show
You just call on me brother when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you’ll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me. when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend I’ll help you carry on…
For it won’t be long Till I’m gonna need somebody to lean on
You just call on me brother when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you’ll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
If there is a load you have to bear that you can’t carry
I’m right up the road I’ll share your load If you just call me
Call me (if you need a friend) Call me (when you need a friend)
Call me (call me) Call me (if you need a friend)
Call me…
A Safe Place to Land by Sara Bareilles sung by Jessica and Dustin Jones
When holding your breath is safer than breathing
When letting go is braver than keeping
When innocent words turn to lies
And you can’t hide by closing your eyes
When the pain is all that they offer
Like the kiss from the lips of a monster
You know the famine so well, but never met the feast
When home is the belly of a beast
The ocean is wild and over your head
And the boat beneath you is sinking
Don’t need room for your bags, hope is all that you have
So say the Lord’s Prayer twice, hold your babies tight
Surely someone will reach out a hand
And show you a safe place to land
Oh, imagine yourself in a building
Up in flames, being told to stand still
The window’s wide open, this is leap is on faith
You don’t know who will catch you, but maybe somebody will
The ocean is wild and over your head
And the boat beneath you is sinking
Don’t need room for your bags, hope is all that you have
So say the Lord’s Prayer twice, hold your babies tight
Surely someone will reach out a hand
And show you a safe place to land
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
Little scared, but you’re strong enough
Be the light in the dark of this danger
‘Til the sun comes up
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
Little scared but you’re strong enough
Be the light in the dark of this danger
‘Til the sun comes up
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
You’re scared but you’re strong enough
Be the light in the dark of this danger
‘Til the sun comes up
‘Til the sun comes up (Oh)
‘Til the sun comes up (‘Til the sun)
‘Til the sun comes up (Ooh)
Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan
How many roads must a man walk down
Before they call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
How many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they’re forever banned?
[Refrain]
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind
[Verse 2]
How many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
How many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
How many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn’t see?
[Refrain]
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind
[Verse 3]
How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
How many deaths will it take ’til he knows
That too many people have died?
Where is the Love by The Black Eyed Peas – Performed by Matthew and Sara DaSilva
[Verse 1: will.i.am]
What’s wrong with the world, Mama?
People livin’ like they ain’t got no mamas
I think the whole world’s addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that’ll bring you trauma
Overseas, yeah, we tryna stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin’
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and the Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate, then you’re bound to get irate, yeah
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that’s exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y’all, y’all
[Chorus: Justin Timberlake]
People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurt, and you hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach?
And would you turn the other cheek?
Father, father, father, help us
Send some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questioning
Where is the love?
[Post-Chorus: will.i.am & Fergie]
(Love) Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love, the love, the love?
[Verse 2: Taboo]
It just ain’t the same, old ways have changed
New days are strange, is the world insane?
If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don’t belong?
Nations droppin’ bombs
Chemical gases filling lungs of little ones
With ongoing sufferin’ as the youth die young
So ask yourself, is the lovin’ really gone?
So I can ask myself, really, what is going wrong
With this world that we livin’ in? People keep on givin’ in
Makin’ wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin’ each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin’ on, but the reason’s undercover
The truth is kept secret, and swept under the rug
If you never know truth, then you never know love
Where’s the love, y’all? Come on (I don’t know)
And where’s the truth, y’all? Come on (I don’t know)
And where’s the love y’all?
[Chorus: Justin Timberlake]
People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurt, and you hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach?
And would you turn the other cheek?
Father, father, father, help us
Send some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questioning
Where is the love?