Atheism: What Are Its Blessings? How Does It Shape Our Faith?

Rev. Christina Sillari returned to our pulpit and asked: “Frankly, do you need to believe in God to be convinced that sincerity is preferable to dishonesty, courage to cowardice, generosity to egoism, gentleness and compassion to violence and cruelty, justice to injustice, love to hate.” by Andre Comte-Sponville

Watch a recording of it here:

We donated to Hungarian Unitarian Church efforts to aid Ukrainian Refugees and stayed after worship for a congregational conversation during social hour on feelings about the use of our new media screen.

About Rev. Christina Sillari: Christina exchanged pulpits with Rev. Barnaby in Fall 2019 and returns to us this month during his sabbatical. She recently retired from her ministry at UU of Maine. She’s a mystic seeking priestess with masters in Divinity and Psychology and Mind Body Health. Before entering ministry, she served as a therapist, yoga teacher, and shamanic practitioner. She is passionate about star beings and justice. She lives in Portland with her husband, daughter, and yellow lab. Her husband’s family has a summer home in Westport on Lake Champlain, where they often spend their vacations and holidays. You can reach out to her at christinasillari@gmail.com.

Order of Service

Bell: Land Acknowledgement  

Welcome & Pathways to Connection:  Jay Harrington, Worship Associate

Prelude: Ronnie Romano, Music Dir.

Call to Worship: Little Book of Atheist Spirituality by Andre Comte-Sponville (excerpt)  Rev. Christina Sillari

Chalice Lighting: Jay Harrington

May we release ourselves from the need to

fit every truth neatly into our own language.

May we occasionally forget ourselves

long enough to remember each other.

Hymn:  Come Sing a Song With Me (Gray #346) Ronnie Romano

Time for All Ages:  Rev. Christina Sillari

Offering:  For most of May, we’ll share our collection with Hungarian Unitarian Church Ukrainian Relief Efforts referred to us by Neil Chippendale.  Please write all checks to CVUUS. All cash and checks not otherwise specified will be split between CVUUS and our donee. You can give online at https://cvuus.breezechms.com/give/online.  You can also contribute directly to this UUA-supported project online here.

Offering Music: Ronnie Romano

Receiving the Offering:   From You I Receive (Gray #402)

Milestones & Passages: Jay Harrington

Prayer/Meditation:  Rev. Christina Sillari

Hymn: Spirit of Life (Gray #123) Ronnie Romano

Sermon: What Are the Blessings of Atheism — How Does It Shape Our Faith? Rev. Christina Sillari

Read it here: Atheism Christina Sillari

Hymn:  For All that Is Our Life (Gray #128) Ronnie Romano

Benediction: Rev. Christina Sillari

Postlude:  Ronnie Romano

Credits: Thanks to Jay Harrington for assisting Christina Sillari in leading worship; Avi Freund, Mary Hadley, Abi Sessions and Richard Hopkins for technical support; our Flower Co-op for seasonal arrangements; Mike Greenwood and Alan Moore for overseeing safety, sound, and social hour and Lise Anderson and Bill Sessions and others who helped set up, usher, and greet.

Thank you for joining us for worship!