Verses of the Soul: Poetry as Spiritual Practice

with Rev. Dr. Xolani Kacela

April 27, 2025

Join us for a soul-stirring journey through the power of poetry. We’ll explore how verse can deepen our spiritual lives, challenge our perspectives, and connect us to the sacred. Through readings, reflection, and shared experience, we’ll discover how poetry can be a form of prayer, meditation, and revelation. Come ready to be moved, inspired, and transformed by the magic of words.

Sounding of the Bowl – Rev. Xolani Kacela, Ph.D.                                  

Prelude – Jaime Ramirez                                              

Welcome and Greeting – Maggi Joseph                       

Opening Words – “Planetarium” (1968) by Adrienne Rich

Chalice Lighting                                                                          

Opening Hymn – #17 Every Night and Every Morn – lyrics by William Blake                                          

Covenant                                                                                                 

Anthem – “The Road Not Taken” by Randall Thompson, lyrics by Robert Frost                            

Stone Ceremony                                       

Music for Reflection                                                 

Reading the Community Book of Life 

New Member Celebration – Membership Chair, Claudia Glass & the Membership Committee

We welcome these New Members – Barb Dauerty, David Feagins, Nate Larson, Becca Murillo, Francisco Murillo, Anahi Reyes, Joel Nelson, Turtle Nieves, Janet Robinson, Rebecca Rockeymoore, Mark Rockeymoore, Judith Rowland, Jeanne Strauss, Natalie Sunde, Stephanie Younts. Jason Younts, Sarah Walch, Graham Nessler

Story Wisdom – “Alligator Pie and Other Poems” by Dennis Lee, read by Tim Versteeg DLRE                                                   

Children’s Recessional                                                                                   

The Occasion 

Poetry, Part I – “American Arithmetic” by Natalie Diaz, 2019; “On Marriage” by Kahlil Gibran, 1923; and “Kindness” by Naomi Shihab Nye, 1991 – read by Kathy Coronado

Interlude 

Poetry, Part II – “Working in the Rain” by Robert Morgan, 1995 and “won’t you celebrate with me” by Lucille Clifton, 1993 – read by David Feagins

Interlude 

Poetry, Part III – “majestic disabled/queer/people of color elders instruct how to dance in the struggle” by Naomi Ortiz, 2022 and “OCD” by Neil Hilborn, 2013 – read by Natalie Sunde

Invitation to Generosity                         

Offertory Music                                                                                               

Closing Hymn – #60 In Time of Silver Rain; lyrics by Lanston Hughes                                               

Extinguishing the Chalice/Benediction – “The Summer Day” by Mary Oliver, 1990                                                        

Postlude