MOUNTAIN MOVERS

A Collection of Inspirational

Readings &

Worship Resources

About the Mountain Movers program:

Mountain Movers is a volunteer network of Mountain supporters—our Congregation

Mountain Movers--that work to strengthen connections between The Mountain and

Unitarian Universalist congregations. They do so by regularly sharing information about

our programs and retreat facilities, promoting active participation, membership, and

financial support.

One aspect of our Mountain Movers program is for congregations to invite

representatives of The Mountain staff and volunteer leaders as guest speakers for

Sunday services and other group meetings and gatherings. We may not always have

representatives available for every event, but will do our best to respond.

For more information about our Mountain Movers program or to designate a

Congregation Mountain Mover for your local congregation, contact Laurel Amabile,

Development Director, development@themountainrlc.org

Note for individuals and congregations using this resource:

Many of these books and resources are available through the UUA available online at

www.UUA.org\bookstore.

Since most of these materials are copyrighted, we are including only the titles except

those for which we have permissions granted by the authors.

We welcome any other suggested readings, prayers and meditations, small group

ministry resources, homilies and sermons, that may be considered for inclusion in this

compilation. All submissions should acknowledge the original source and/or include

explicit permission by the author for use in this way.

The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, Inc.

P.O. Box 1299, Highlands, NC 28741 | Phone: 828-526-5838 ext. 254

www.themountainrlc.org

development@themountainrlc.org

Thank you to Lois and

Charles Lee, who

diligently worked to

compile these

inspirational resources

during their volunteer

service at The Mountain

Retreat & Learning

Center in August 2016.

Chalice Lighting, Opening, Offertory, and Closing Words

The Light Invisible, Rev. David A. Johnson

“May the lighting of the candles of faith…“ -Paul MacMillan, p. 11

“O creative flame, quicken our spirits …” -Adel Smith-Penniman, p. 13

“Out of the stars in their flight…” -Robert Terry Weston, p. 21

“Today impetuous green thrusts upward…” -Robert Terry Weston, p. 21

“We are all here to grow in wisdom …” -Rachel Naomi Remem, p. 22

‘May the sun warm you and mists cool you…” -Orlanda Brugnola, p. 22

“Only a few things wear the mark of the eternal...”

-Sidney L. Freeman, p. 23

“Violence merely increases hate….” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., p. 24

“There’s a light that was shining when the world began…

-Sydney Carter p. 31

Opening Words- Singing the Living Tradition (UUA Hymn book)

#422- “Surely the Lord is in this place…” -Genesis 28

#428- “Come out of the dark earth…” -May Sarton

#429- “Come into this place of peace…” -William F. Shultz

#433- “It is joy to give thanks in the morning…” -Psalm 133

#446- “To The Four Directions” - Joan Goodwin

Collections of Readings, Poetry & Meditations

Rejoice Together- Prayers, Meditations, and Other Readings for Family, Individual and

Small Group Worship, edited by Helen Pickett. Skinner House Books, Boston, 2006.

Suggestions for lay persons in planning and conducting simple worship services or

special ceremonies in family and small group settings. Contains suggested opening

words, chalice lightings, prayers, devotions and meditations for general use, seasons and

special occasions which primarily come from contemporary Unitarian Universalist

sources.

A Guest of the World Meditations by Jeffrey Lockwood, Skinner House Books, Boston,

2006

“The Gift” pp. 3-4

“Fishing for Answers” pp. 9-10

“Raffle Wisdom” pp. 27-28

”Quiet Eloquence” pp. 29-30

“Hear, Hear” pp. 43-45

Admire the Moon by Mary Wellemeyer. Skinner House Books, Boston 2005

“In Frozen Fog” pp. 21-22

“Trees” p. 46

“You Get Used to It” p. 24

Amethyst Beach Meditations by Barbara

Merritt, Skinner House Books, Boston, 2007

“Hiding the Mess” pp. 4-5

“You Get Used to It” pp. 23-24

Consider the Lilies, Meditations by Stephen M. Shick, Skinner House Books, Boston

2004

“Reflections” p. 4

“The Blessing” p. 22

“Rich Earth” p. 25

“Communion with Earth and Sky” pp. 34-35

“Making Sacred” p. 49

Collections of Readings, Poetry & Meditations

Dancing in the Empty Spaces- Meditations by David O. Rankin, Skinner House Books,

2001

“Dancing in the Empty Spaces” p. 1

“Being Human” p. 7

“Silence” p. 28

“Sunday Morning” p. 32

“Simple Pleasures” p. 39

“A Time to Be Silent” p. 54

Falling into the Sky, A Meditation Anthology, Abhi Janamanchi & Abhimanyu

Janamanchi, editors, Skinner House Books, Boston, 2013

“Out of Season” -Judith Campbell

“Beyond Borders” -Rick Hoyt p. 17

“Autumn” -Ann Willever pp. 40-41

“A Calm, Clear Place” -Jezibell Anat p. 48

“Benediction” -Colin Bossen p. 62

Glad to Be Human Mediations by Kaaren Solveig Anderson, Skinner House Books, 2000

“One’s Hands” pp. 19-20

Lift Every Voice- Edited by Stephen Patterson and

S.M. Wu. Barnes and Noble Books, New York,

2000

Morning Watch- Meditations by Barbara Pescan,

Skinner House Books, 1999

“First Fire” p. 9

“Listen” p. 15

Our Seven Principles in Story and Verse by Kenneth W Collier, Skinner House Books,

Boston 1997

“The World Is a Single Place” pp. 41-42

“Shirley’s Story” pp. 81-83

Collections of Readings, Poetry & Meditations

This Piece of Eden- Meditations by Vanessa Rush Southern. Skinner House Books,

Boston 2001 (Stories for Meditation )

“The Things We Hold Dear” pp. 6-8

Going Mobile” pp. 22-24

“Expect Chaos” pp. 45-46

“Revelation on the Sand Courts” pp. 47-49

“Me, I Pack” pp. 50-51

Why I Wake Early- Mary Oliver, Beacon Press, Boston, 2004

“Why I Wake Early” p. 3

“Clouds” p. 22

“Logos” p. 40

“This Morning I Watched Deer” p. 49

“The Best I Could Do” p. 54

“The Wren From Carolina” p. 56

“Goldenrod, Late Fall” p. 62

“November” p. 63

“One” p. 66

“Lingering in Happiness” p. 71

Red Bird- Mary Oliver, Beacon Press, Boston, 2008

”Red Bird” p. 1

“Maker of All Things- Even Healings” pp. 4-5

“Night and the River” p. 8

“Straight Talk from Fox” p. 11

“Summer Story” p. 25

“Small Bodies” p. 31

“In the Pasture” p. 50

“Of Goodness” p. 60

“There you were and it Was Like Spring” p.72

“Red Bird Explains Himself” - p.78

Collections of Readings, Poetry & Meditations

Ponderings and Prayers- M. Maureen Killoran, D. Min, 1999

“Holy is This Place” by M. Maureen Killoran, D. Min. (used with permission)

Blessed is this ground on which we stand. Holy is this place.

Holy are the places of memory,

the places which have formed us,

where we store the icons of success and shattered dreams

and gather threads and pieces of what we would become…

Holy are the places of memory.

Holy are the places of the dream,

the places over the rainbows,

where all children are wanted and all people are fed,

where colors are the source of celebration

and youth and age come to the table as one….

Holy are the places of the dream.

Holy are the places of change and pain,

the places of our struggle,

where the rivers of our lives run white and

fast,

and we hold on, hold on and grow…

Holy are the places of change and pain.

Holy are the places of connection,

the places where we risk ourselves,

where hands touch hands, touch souls, touch minds,

and in awareness still, we change our lives…

Holy are the places of connection

Holy are the places of becoming,

the places of clear vision,

where life and world are intertwined

and we can see forever in this moment and give thanks…

Holy are the places of becoming.

Blessed is the ground on which we stand.

Holy—the whole-making—is the place.

.

Collections of Readings, Poetry & Meditations

“Pilgrimage” by M. Maureen Killoran, D. Min., Killarney, Ireland, June 1997 (used with

permission)

Take yourself to a place where tourists do not go.

Leave behind umbrellas, luggage, your address book, ID

Take only what you ca carry on your back.

If you are lucky, you will not return

or, failing that, you will not return unchanged.

Take yourself into the woods where maps fail and

there is no sound but the promising of rain.

Let your feet carry you to the entrance of a cave.

Sit there, and listen, to what the cave will say.

Sit there. Listen.

It is for this moment that you were born.

It is for this moment that Life has called you to this place.

Sit. Listen.

Know your presence as your prayer.

Blessings and Prayers

Blessings From A Grateful Heart, edited by M.J. Ryan, Conari Press, Berkeley, CA 1994

“We join with the earth and with each other”

-U.N. Environmental Sabbath Program, p. 13

“O Great Spirit…” -Native American Prayer, pp. 18-19

“Earth, ourselves, breathe and awaken…” -Pawnee Prayer p. 117

“We give thanks for the Sun…” -Annabelle Woodard p.213

“May we live our lives beyond separation…” -Jacqueline T. Snyder,

Sacred Life Association, p. 235

Earth Prayers From Around The World- Prayers, Poems, and Invocations Honoring the

Earth, Edited by Elizabeth Roberts, Harper Books, San Francisco, 1991

“The mountains, I become part of it…” -Navajo Chant, p. 1

“My help is in the mountain…” -Nancy Wood, p. 97

“To live content with small means…” -William Ellery Channing, p. 108

“I have come to terms with the future...” -M.J. Slim Hooey, p. 109

“Great Spirit, give us hearts to understand…”

-U.S. Environmental Sabbath Program, p. 118

“To see the greatness of a mountain….” -Lama Govinda, p. 144

Giving Thanks- The gifts of Gratitude-M. J. Ryan, Conari Press, 2007

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life…” -Melody Beattie, p.11

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you really have.”

-Eckhart Tolle, p.33

Meditation and Prayer- Singing the Living Tradition

#480- Let us open our minds and hearts Composite

#485- Turn scarlet leaves -Raymond J. Baughan

#498- In the quietness of this place -Howard Thurman

Readings- Singing the Living Tradition

#539- Late October -Maya Angelou

#542- Solstice - Diane Lee Moomey

#545- In Time of Silver Rain -Langston Hughes

#548- Summer Warmth -Helen Cohen

#552- My Help Is in the Mountain -Nancy Wood

#553- Earth cure me -Nancy Wood

#554- Water flows from high in the mountains -Thich Nhat Hahn

#687- Go your ways, knowing not the answers to all things -John W. Brigham

#688- Hold on to what is good even if it is a handful of earth -Nancy Wood

#691- Help us to always be the gardeners of the spirit -May Sarton

#696- To live in this world you must be able to do three things -Mary Oliver

Lifting Our Voices- Readings in the Living Tradition, UUA Boston 2015

The book begins with Worship Tips, Suggested Hymn Pairings, and a note on

Multicultural Readings.

Readings are listed by topics:

“Awe, Mystery, and Spirit”

#2- Sarah York, Adapted p. 1

#9- Julianne Lepp p. 3

#20- Amanda Udis-Kessler p. 6

Lifting Our Voices Readings are listed by topics: (continued)

“Beloved Community”

#23- Jonipher Kwong p. 7

#26- Wendy Bartel and Lynn Gardner p. 8

#28- Barbara J. Pescan, Adapted p. 9

#33- Patrick Murfin, Adapted p. 10

“Courage and Call to Action”

#46- Nelson Mandela p. 15

#63- Langston Hughes, Adapted p. 20

“Grace”

#71- Malka Heifetz Tussman, Translated by Marcia Falk, Adapted p. 22

#74- Bernadette R. Burns p. 24

#76- Francisco X Alarcon, Adapted p. 24-25

“Hope”

#95- Carl Sandburg, Adapted p. 31

#106- Langston Hughes, Adapted p. 35

#107- Maureen Killoran p. 36

“ Interconnectedness”

#126- Bettye A. Doty p. 43

#129- Aaron R. Payson p. 43

#139- Langston Hughes, Adapted p. 47

#140- Navajo Chant p. 47

#141- Joy Harjo p. 47

“Justice”

#144- Rosemary Bray McNatt p. 49

#149- William Schulz, Adapted p. 50

#152- Maya Angelou p. 51

“Love”

#186- James Baldwin, Adapted p. 62

#194-Emily Dickinson p. 64

Sources of Inspiration for

Small Group Discussions & Worship Services

Lift Every Voice- Edited by Stephen Patterson and S.M. Wu. Barnes and Noble Books,

New York, 2000

“What Are We Worth?” (Excerpt from A VOICE FROM THE SOUTH) by Anna Julia Cooper

1892. pp. 67-73.

Quotations from the Wayside- edited by Brenda Wong, Skinner House Books, Boston,

1999

Very short quotations of 1-2 sentences, with an alphabetized topical list.

Inspirational Quotes

It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph

begins with you. Always. -Oprah Winfrey

What makes you really happy is when you love and give and understand, when you

look at beauty and really see it. We are so busy watching the road under our feet

we forget to look up at the beauty all around us.

-Dorothy Dandridge

Find the power. Find the Queen who lives inside of you, embrace her, nourish her,

praise her, hold her accountable, and love her. Become her.

-Queen Latifah

Today, let us become aware of the healing power within and dedicate ourselves o

uplifting those we touch. -Iyanla Vanzant

There’s different ways that you can measure people’s greatness. And the way I

like to measure greatness is: How many people do you affect? In your time on this

earth, how many people can you affect? How many people can you make want to

be better? Or how many people can you inspire to do what you do?

-Will Smith

Whatever we are waiting for —peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner

awareness of simple abundance--it will surely come to us, but only when we are

ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.”

-Ellen Vaughn

Hymns & Songs

Music and lyrics that reflect the Spirit of The Mountain Community

From Singing the Living Tradition (Unitarian Universalist Hymn book)

“Just as Long as I Have Breath”- Words by Alicia S. Carpenter, music by Johann G. Ebeling,

“Morning Has Broken”- Words by Eleanor Farjeon, music Gaelic melody

“Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen”- African-American Spiritual

“Spirit of Life”- Words and music by Carolyn McDade

“Gonna Lay Down My Sword and Shield”- African-American Spiritual

“One More Step”- Words and music by Joyce Poley

“We Shall Overcome”- African-American Spiritual, adaptation by William Farley Smith,

“We Are a Gentle, Angry People”- Words and music by Holly Near

“Let It Be a Dance”- Words and Music by Rick Masten

“We Would Be One”-Words by Samuel Anthony Wright, music by Jean Sibelius

“Come Sing a Song With Me”- Words and music by Carolyn McDade

“We Laugh, We Cry”- Words and music by Shelley Jackson Denham

“Enter, Rejoice and Come In”- Words and music by Louise Ruspini

“Kum ba yah”- African-American Spiritual

“Go Now in Peace”- Words and music by Natalie Sleeth

Singing the Journey –Supplement to Singing the Living Tradition

“Morning Has Come”- Words and music by Jason Shelton

“Praise in Springtime”- Words by William Channing Gannett, music by Thomas Benjamin,

“When Our Heart Is in a Holy Place”- Words and music by Joyce Poley

“The Oneness of Everything”- Words and music by Jim Scott

“Mother Earth, Beloved Garden”-Words and music by Amanda Udis-Kessler

Homilies & Sermons

Inspired by or Reflecting The Mountain

Submissions for consideration are welcomed! development@themountainrlc.org