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[SINGING]

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[SINGING]

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[SINGING]

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[APPLAUSE]

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Olivia Schueboe-elizinga:
Welcome to the synergy worship

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service.

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Let our light shine.

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We are so glad to
see you here today.

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Christopher Watkins:
What does synergy mean?

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Olivia Schueboe-elizinga: Funny
you should ask, Christopher.

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I'm not quite sure.

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Christopher Watkins: Hmm.

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Too bad there's not some
wise, all-knowing being

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we could find to
ask such a question.

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Olivia Schueboe-elizinga: What,
haven't you heard of Google?

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[LAUGHTER]

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Christopher Watkins: Google.

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Of course.

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Let's check right now.

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Ah.

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Here it is.

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Synergy is the
interaction or cooperation

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of two or more organizations,
substances, or other agents

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to produce a combined
effect greater

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than the sum of their
separate effects.

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Olivia Schueboe-elizinga:
The whole

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is greater than the
sum of the parts.

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Christopher Watkins:
And that's why

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we're so glad to see
you all here today.

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Each one of you brings a light
that makes us better together.

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Olivia Schueboe-elizinga:
That's right.

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Together we can
support each other

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to turn outward and shine
light into our communities.

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Our service this evening focuses
on helping that light shine

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through the transition
our youth, like me, are

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making into adulthood.

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But it is also a
theme that resonates

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at all points in our lives.

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Join us in celebration
of the light shining

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from within all of us.

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Christopher Watkins: Welcome.

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And let the light of love shine.

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Please join us in
speaking together

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as we light our chalice.

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All: At times our
own light goes out

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and is rekindled by a
spark from another person.

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Each of us has cause to think
with deep gratitude of those

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who have lighted
the flame within us.

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Olivia Schueboe-elizinga:
We gather together

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to tend our fires because
one candle in the wind

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can feel so small in the
world's darkness, a little light

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in a great night.

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We gather together to
tend our fires because

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like a sky full of
twinkling stars,

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just to be alive in
good company makes us

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joyful, humble, and strong.

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So stoke the fires
bright, outward, onward.

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We shine our light, reaching
out to warm chilled bones.

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And to shed our tears with
the mourners, outward, onward.

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We shine our light, flames
licking the complacent,

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exposing dark places when
others would turn away.

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With strong hearts
and open eyes,

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we gather together to attend our
fires because love reaches out.

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So the inner light
becomes the outer,

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as we lift each
candle to the wind.

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Christopher Watkins:
Please join me in song.

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This is one we will
learn now and sing

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through the chorus later
as part of our story.

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The words to the chorus are,
"hold your candle to the wind.

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Let it blow, let it bend.

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Hold your a candle to the wind.

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Let it blow, let it bend.

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Let it shine, let it
shine, let it shine."

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[MUSIC PLAYING]

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[SINGING]

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[APPLAUSE]

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Lane Campbell: Let our
lights shine, my friends.

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This evening we're going
to explore this theme

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through a story.

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So gather around
and get comfortable

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as we begin this story the same
way so many others have begun.

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Once upon a time, in a town
not so very far from here

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and not so very long
ago, it was bitter cold.

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Hard to imagine on a sunny
day like today, isn't it?

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But this town was bitter cold.

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It was cold in the winter, and
it was even cold in the summer.

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And when the days grew
longer in most places,

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the town stayed pretty dark.

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The sun only shone
for a few hours a day.

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As you could imagine,
the people of this town

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were not a happy bunch.

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Pretty gloomy, really.

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Most of them kept to themselves.

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When they went outside,
they wrapped themselves

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in large winter
coats, so large it

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was hard to see who was inside.

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So people kept to themselves
and didn't talk to each other

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very often.

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They stayed at home and lit
fires in their own fireplaces,

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huddling close to the
fire and worrying only

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about keeping themselves warm.

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Then one day, she arrived.

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A woman the people in this
town had never seen before.

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She walked into the center
of town and stood there.

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Just stood there.

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The people of this town
continued about their business,

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wrapped up in their thick coats,
scurrying from here to there.

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When people got
back to their homes,

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they talked with their families.

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Speaker1: Did you
see her out there?

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Speaker2: Who is she?

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Speaker3: Where
did she come from?

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Speaker2: She going
to freeze out there

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if she doesn't find
a way to get warm.

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Speaker1: Well,
that's her business.

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It's none of my business
if a stranger is cold.

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I have enough to worry about
keeping my own family warm.

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Rev. Christina Leone Tracy:
It's hard to keep our own fires

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going.

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In our own lives, we
have a lot going on.

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We have work or school, family
responsibilities, chores,

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sports.

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It's a lot.

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We've got so much
going on in our lives,

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it's easy to just want to
hunker down into our homes

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with the people we know best and
to focus only on our own needs.

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These days, more and more people
don't know their neighbors.

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People don't even
talk to each other.

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How many of you have seen
people on their phones

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or with their ear buds in
on the train or the plane

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or in the gym as a way
to avoid conversation?

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These are the modern
equivalents of the giant winter

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coats from our story.

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They're a way to say,
don't talk to me.

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Leave me alone.

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Now, it's fine to feel
that way sometimes.

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We all need alone time.

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But when that becomes the
norm, it can be very isolating.

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We run the risk of thinking
only about ourselves,

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our own needs, our own concerns.

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We become the center of
our own little universe.

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And that can be dangerous.

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To make matters
worse, our society

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encourages this
super-individualism

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with personalized coffee and
custom-tailored Facebook feeds

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and Pinterest boards
and i-everythings.

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Who needs to step outside
their comfort zone?

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Our friends in the
story found themselves

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feeling just this way in
their very cold village.

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They're busy tending to their
own fires in their own homes.

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They don't have time to
worry about other people.

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Who cares why that
weird lady is out there?

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It's none of our business.

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Seems like a pretty
gloomy way to live.

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We'll come back to the
story in a little while.

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We'll have to wait and see
if things get warmer there.

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But first, some poetry that
sure to heat things up.

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Dylan Debelis:
Let's play a game.

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I say, remember.

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Y'all repeat back
to me, remember.

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Remember.

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All: Remember.

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Dylan Debelis:
That was all right.

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I know we just ate.

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We can do better.

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Remember.

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All: Remember.

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Dylan Debelis: One more time.

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Remember.

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All: Remember.

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Dylan Debelis: An open letter
to those bridging tonight.

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I see y'all.

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[CHEERS, APPLAUSE]

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Dylan Debelis: When you
pull up your final anchors

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and drag the last loose ends
and cast nets into port.

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When you take stock
of your damaged hulls,

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heal the wounds
worth tending to,

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and hastily patch your sails
with well-worn band T-shirts

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and friendship bracelet twine.

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When you muster up the courage
to finally give the signal,

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to finally let the
lighthouse keepers rest.

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When you set sail, for the love
of God, remember to breathe.

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Remember.

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All: Remember.

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Dylan Debelis:
This twin-sized bed

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you have slept in for
14 years or so will not

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forget your shoulders' shape.

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This doorstep that bore witness
to your lips' first kiss

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will not forget
your body's weight.

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And those fingers that have
fed you since you were a baby

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will not forget how to trace
the creases in your cheeks

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or how to feel your
forehead for fevers

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when you're feeling a bit off.

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Remember--

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All: Remember.

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Dylan Debelis: --to breathe.

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When that harbor
drifts behind you

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and the wind picks
up and pulls you,

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00:19:35,990 --> 00:19:39,890
and your arms are thrown
out in celebration

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00:19:39,890 --> 00:19:45,260
to greet the coming of
a new day in a new city

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00:19:45,260 --> 00:19:50,430
where a new moon sets new
rhythms for its tides,

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remember--

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00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:52,690
All: Remember.

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00:19:52,690 --> 00:19:53,970
Dylan Debelis: --to breathe.

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00:19:53,970 --> 00:19:58,740
When the waves collapse across
your bow and the compass needle

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00:19:58,740 --> 00:20:02,620
suddenly spins a
little too fast for you

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00:20:02,620 --> 00:20:05,740
to take note of
its measurements.

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00:20:05,740 --> 00:20:09,410
When those floorboards
creak like murder mysteries,

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00:20:09,410 --> 00:20:13,540
and the skeletons you thought
you had kept in storage

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00:20:13,540 --> 00:20:18,065
crawl out from your dorm
room closets, remember--

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00:20:18,065 --> 00:20:19,122
All: Remember.

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00:20:19,122 --> 00:20:20,830
Dylan Debelis: This
awkward body that you

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00:20:20,830 --> 00:20:24,780
have courted all your
life, this imperfect shadow

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00:20:24,780 --> 00:20:27,040
that you have spread
on the corners

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00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:30,490
of countless convenience stores
and awkward middle school

217
00:20:30,490 --> 00:20:35,190
dances, the lungs and the
hearts and the muscles

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00:20:35,190 --> 00:20:38,790
that have spoke to you in
bizarre pubescent tongues.

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00:20:38,790 --> 00:20:42,750
None of them will leave you.

220
00:20:42,750 --> 00:20:46,430
They will be with
you as you watch out

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00:20:46,430 --> 00:20:50,130
for those low-hanging bridges.

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00:20:50,130 --> 00:20:53,490
For high blood alcohol
content-- maybe, some of you,

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00:20:53,490 --> 00:20:55,530
don't do it.

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00:20:55,530 --> 00:21:00,530
For God, hiding
in the unexpected.

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00:21:00,530 --> 00:21:04,210
They will be with you as
you keep your eyes peeled

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00:21:04,210 --> 00:21:07,410
for the smiles hiding
in the overgrowth,

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00:21:07,410 --> 00:21:09,750
for the subtle shifts
in the previously

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00:21:09,750 --> 00:21:13,020
locked tectonic
plates, for those keys

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00:21:13,020 --> 00:21:17,050
to drill into your chest and
pluck open your heart strings,

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00:21:17,050 --> 00:21:20,600
and for chances to
strip the chastity belt

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00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:25,630
off your vocal cords and
let your spirit to sing.

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00:21:25,630 --> 00:21:29,990
Shhh.

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00:21:29,990 --> 00:21:31,940
Listen.

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00:21:31,940 --> 00:21:35,510
Come in close.

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00:21:35,510 --> 00:21:41,100
Do you remember your first
step into the Atlantic Ocean,

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00:21:41,100 --> 00:21:45,760
the way that you dipped your
toe to test the temperature.

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00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,960
And it generated ripples.

238
00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,760
And those ripples, they
spread infinitely outward.

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00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:55,920
And they mingled with the waves.

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00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:57,202
Remember--

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00:21:57,202 --> 00:21:59,130
All: Remember.

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00:21:59,130 --> 00:22:01,080
Dylan Debelis: --this moment.

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00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:06,900
As you dip your calf into the
water, and then your thigh,

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00:22:06,900 --> 00:22:10,730
and then you wade
in up to your waist.

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00:22:10,730 --> 00:22:14,330
And then you swim
out into the water

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00:22:14,330 --> 00:22:17,750
while the lighthouse
keepers rest.

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00:22:17,750 --> 00:22:18,970
Remember--

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00:22:18,970 --> 00:22:20,170
All: Remember.

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00:22:20,170 --> 00:22:22,550
Dylan Debelis: --this moment.

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00:22:22,550 --> 00:22:26,730
This apprehension
to begin again.

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00:22:26,730 --> 00:22:30,270
This annoyance at this
GA, at these parents

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00:22:30,270 --> 00:22:35,380
who always seem to walk
too slow or talk too much.

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00:22:35,380 --> 00:22:42,180
This gratitude to a community
that holds you no matter what.

254
00:22:42,180 --> 00:22:46,250
The strive to change the world.

255
00:22:46,250 --> 00:22:50,030
May this moment be
your touchstone.

256
00:22:50,030 --> 00:22:54,550
May this blessing
live within you.

257
00:22:54,550 --> 00:22:56,640
And may you go
forth into a future

258
00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:02,160
that pulls you towards
love, joy, and justice.

259
00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:06,374
But besides all of
that, remember--

260
00:23:06,374 --> 00:23:08,840
All: Remember.

261
00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:15,788
Dylan Debelis: --for the
love of God, breathe.

262
00:23:15,788 --> 00:23:26,440
[APPLAUSE]

263
00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:30,370
Lane Campbell: We return
back to our story.

264
00:23:30,370 --> 00:23:32,770
A while later, it
was one of the youth

265
00:23:32,770 --> 00:23:37,250
in the town who
approached the stranger.

266
00:23:37,250 --> 00:23:38,800
Youth: Hello.

267
00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:39,710
Who are you?

268
00:23:39,710 --> 00:23:41,870
Where did you come from?

269
00:23:41,870 --> 00:23:43,850
Greta: Hi, I'm-- I'm Greta.

270
00:23:43,850 --> 00:23:46,030
I've traveled many
miles to be here.

271
00:23:46,030 --> 00:23:50,450
I come from the land-- it's
far, far away from here.

272
00:23:50,450 --> 00:23:55,150
Your town, it's beautiful.

273
00:23:55,150 --> 00:23:57,000
Lane Campbell: The
youth was surprised.

274
00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:01,280
She had never thought of this
town as particularly beautiful,

275
00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:04,270
just cold and mostly dark.

276
00:24:04,270 --> 00:24:05,860
Youth: Aren't you cold?

277
00:24:05,860 --> 00:24:08,240
Greta: Of course I am,
it's freezing here.

278
00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:10,240
Aren't you freezing?

279
00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:11,300
Freezing.

280
00:24:11,300 --> 00:24:12,290
It's cold.

281
00:24:12,290 --> 00:24:14,390
Shall we build a fire together?

282
00:24:14,390 --> 00:24:16,090
Maybe right here?

283
00:24:16,090 --> 00:24:18,610
Youth: In this town, we
never build fires outside.

284
00:24:18,610 --> 00:24:20,100
We always keep them inside.

285
00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:22,324
It's better to keep
the warm in that way.

286
00:24:22,324 --> 00:24:23,990
Would you like to
come back to our house

287
00:24:23,990 --> 00:24:26,220
and share the fire there?

288
00:24:26,220 --> 00:24:26,880
Greta: No.

289
00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:28,240
Thank you.

290
00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:32,880
I-- I'd rather stay here and
admire the beauty of your town.

291
00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:36,220
Lane Campbell: And then she
pulled firm her thick winter

292
00:24:36,220 --> 00:24:40,990
jacket a flimsy pack of matches.

293
00:24:40,990 --> 00:24:43,230
Greta: I only have these.

294
00:24:43,230 --> 00:24:44,790
They're not very good.

295
00:24:44,790 --> 00:24:48,240
Do you, perhaps, have something
better to start a fire?

296
00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:50,290
Lane Campbell: It
just so happened

297
00:24:50,290 --> 00:24:52,770
that this youth
had in their home

298
00:24:52,770 --> 00:24:57,230
a beautiful matchbox, gilded
with sturdy-- with gold,

299
00:24:57,230 --> 00:25:00,790
with sturdy matches inside
that their grandmother had

300
00:25:00,790 --> 00:25:02,520
made by hand.

301
00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:07,100
She went home, and then brought
them out to this stranger.

302
00:25:07,100 --> 00:25:09,040
When she brought them
out, the stranger

303
00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,700
smiled such a big smile.

304
00:25:11,700 --> 00:25:15,600
You could see it
through her thick hood.

305
00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:17,630
Greta: These are beautiful.

306
00:25:17,630 --> 00:25:20,510
Your grandmother has
done a spectacular job

307
00:25:20,510 --> 00:25:22,980
with these matches.

308
00:25:22,980 --> 00:25:24,370
Lane Campbell:
And then they both

309
00:25:24,370 --> 00:25:27,800
realized they had a problem.

310
00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:33,000
There were matches, but no
wood to light and no place

311
00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:34,910
to make a fire.

312
00:25:34,910 --> 00:25:38,650
This youth knew just the
person for the firewood.

313
00:25:38,650 --> 00:25:43,540
She went to the shopkeeper in
town who sold wood each family.

314
00:25:43,540 --> 00:25:47,010
Now this shopkeeper had
many different kinds of wood

315
00:25:47,010 --> 00:25:49,440
from the surrounding forests.

316
00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:51,930
He listened to the
story this youth told.

317
00:25:51,930 --> 00:25:55,290
He wasn't sure
this was best idea.

318
00:25:55,290 --> 00:25:58,750
Everyone made fires
in their own homes.

319
00:25:58,750 --> 00:26:02,280
They didn't need this huge
fire in the middle of town.

320
00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:04,607
It would be wasteful.

321
00:26:04,607 --> 00:26:06,690
Shopkeeper: Well, you know,
since I have known you

322
00:26:06,690 --> 00:26:09,250
since you were a small
child in this town,

323
00:26:09,250 --> 00:26:11,940
I do have this pile
of wood over here

324
00:26:11,940 --> 00:26:14,630
that I was just
going to throw away.

325
00:26:14,630 --> 00:26:18,984
I guess I'd be glad to let
you have it if you'd like.

326
00:26:18,984 --> 00:26:20,400
Lane Campbell:
See, the shopkeeper

327
00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:24,670
had seen this youth grow
up from a very small child.

328
00:26:24,670 --> 00:26:28,110
He had a warm spot in
his heart for the youth.

329
00:26:28,110 --> 00:26:32,740
And besides he had just
the perfect firewood.

330
00:26:32,740 --> 00:26:35,840
It caught fire quickly
and burned strong,

331
00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:39,280
so the wind outside
would not blow it out.

332
00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:42,900
The wood burned so strongly,
he had not sold any of it,

333
00:26:42,900 --> 00:26:46,610
because it was too
warm to burn in houses.

334
00:26:46,610 --> 00:26:49,030
To be honest, he had been
ready to throw it out,

335
00:26:49,030 --> 00:26:52,220
as the wood was of no
use to the shopkeeper

336
00:26:52,220 --> 00:26:54,250
if it could not be sold.

337
00:26:54,250 --> 00:26:56,510
He gave the youth this wood.

338
00:26:56,510 --> 00:26:59,310
Besides, he was
curious to see what

339
00:26:59,310 --> 00:27:04,080
it would look like to build
a fire in the center of town.

340
00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:09,210
The youth and Greta built
a tower of wood for a fire,

341
00:27:09,210 --> 00:27:13,660
and as they begin to build
this fire they began to sing.

342
00:27:13,660 --> 00:27:16,969
Christopher, can you remind
me what they started to sing?

343
00:27:16,969 --> 00:27:18,510
Christopher Watkins:
Well, Lane, they

344
00:27:18,510 --> 00:27:20,369
sang a song that might
be familiar to us

345
00:27:20,369 --> 00:27:21,535
all, as we heard it earlier.

346
00:27:21,535 --> 00:27:24,640
And I hope you'll join
me in singing the chorus.

347
00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:25,680
[LAUGHTER]

348
00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:28,055
Christopher Watkins: As people
join in building the fire,

349
00:27:28,055 --> 00:27:29,240
we'll sing it again.

350
00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:31,440
Greta and the youth
began to build this fire

351
00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:34,680
and they sang "Hold Your
Candle to the Wind."

352
00:27:34,680 --> 00:28:01,400
[SINGING]

353
00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,220
Lane Campbell: After hearing all
the singing that was going on,

354
00:28:04,220 --> 00:28:07,770
one of the women in the
town stopped to help them.

355
00:28:07,770 --> 00:28:10,030
Speaker2: you need some help?

356
00:28:10,030 --> 00:28:11,550
Lane Campbell: Like
the shop keeper,

357
00:28:11,550 --> 00:28:14,780
she wasn't so sure
about this idea.

358
00:28:14,780 --> 00:28:16,270
But without her
help, she worried

359
00:28:16,270 --> 00:28:18,910
that Greta and the
youth would freeze

360
00:28:18,910 --> 00:28:21,420
working outside for hours.

361
00:28:21,420 --> 00:28:25,580
She was strong and had built
many fires in her own home.

362
00:28:25,580 --> 00:28:27,220
She brought her
knowledge and skill

363
00:28:27,220 --> 00:28:29,310
to the building of this fire.

364
00:28:29,310 --> 00:28:32,010
And it turned out, she
had a wonderful voice

365
00:28:32,010 --> 00:28:34,740
to add to the singing as well.

366
00:28:34,740 --> 00:28:37,180
Christopher Watkins: So she
joined them in singing, too.

367
00:28:37,180 --> 00:28:40,206
Will you sing the chorus to
"Let It Shine" with us again?

368
00:28:40,206 --> 00:29:06,470
[SINGING]

369
00:29:06,470 --> 00:29:08,210
Lane Campbell: As
they were finishing up

370
00:29:08,210 --> 00:29:11,260
laying this giant tower
of wood, a builder

371
00:29:11,260 --> 00:29:14,650
stopped by to ask what
the group was up to.

372
00:29:14,650 --> 00:29:17,110
Once they explained
about the fire,

373
00:29:17,110 --> 00:29:20,840
the builder's face lit up.

374
00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:23,630
Builder: I have some
handmade bricks at home,

375
00:29:23,630 --> 00:29:25,970
left over from when
we built the house.

376
00:29:25,970 --> 00:29:27,970
They're in the basement
gathering dust.

377
00:29:27,970 --> 00:29:29,990
We could bring them out
and build a small wall

378
00:29:29,990 --> 00:29:32,330
to keep the wind from
blowing out the fire

379
00:29:32,330 --> 00:29:35,740
and help keep people safe.

380
00:29:35,740 --> 00:29:38,600
Lane Campbell: The group of
four thanked this person.

381
00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:39,660
Yes!

382
00:29:39,660 --> 00:29:42,160
Those bricks would
be so helpful.

383
00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,190
Soon the builder's
entire family came out

384
00:29:45,190 --> 00:29:48,520
with a wheelbarrow
full of bricks.

385
00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:52,430
Each person began to help
build a circular wall

386
00:29:52,430 --> 00:29:54,580
around the tower of wood.

387
00:29:54,580 --> 00:29:57,590
The wall was perfect.

388
00:29:57,590 --> 00:30:01,300
Low enough to feel
the warmth of the fire

389
00:30:01,300 --> 00:30:05,790
and yet high enough to keep
everyone safe and warm.

390
00:30:05,790 --> 00:30:08,520
As they stacked
bricks, each person

391
00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:12,710
joined the chorus, making
the song stronger and louder.

392
00:30:12,710 --> 00:30:15,127
Christopher, would you
help us sing it again?

393
00:30:15,127 --> 00:30:16,960
Christopher Watkins:
Just like in the story,

394
00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,100
we need all your
voices to join in.

395
00:30:19,100 --> 00:30:20,202
Join us in singing.

396
00:30:20,202 --> 00:30:46,740
[SINGING]

397
00:30:46,740 --> 00:30:51,180
Lane Campbell: It was finally
time to light the fire.

398
00:30:51,180 --> 00:30:55,480
Many people from the town
were gathered around now.

399
00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:58,220
They had stopped to see
what they were doing,

400
00:30:58,220 --> 00:31:02,410
to see what was going on
in the middle of town.

401
00:31:02,410 --> 00:31:06,510
To see what all the commotion
and the singing was about.

402
00:31:06,510 --> 00:31:10,270
The youth struck a match
to light some of the wood,

403
00:31:10,270 --> 00:31:15,330
but the wood wouldn't catch.

404
00:31:15,330 --> 00:31:18,220
The youth tried again.

405
00:31:18,220 --> 00:31:20,520
But no luck.

406
00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:24,050
She started to worry that she
would waste all her matches

407
00:31:24,050 --> 00:31:26,260
and the effort of
building this fire

408
00:31:26,260 --> 00:31:29,760
would go entirely to waste.

409
00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:34,810
Just then, a small
child came forward

410
00:31:34,810 --> 00:31:39,920
with a handful of rags,
bits of cotton, wool,

411
00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:43,880
and linen collected
from old winter coats.

412
00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:47,460
That was just what they
needed to get the fire lit.

413
00:31:47,460 --> 00:31:51,250
And soon the fire spread
from the lint to the wood,

414
00:31:51,250 --> 00:31:54,950
slowly at first and building
until all of the wood

415
00:31:54,950 --> 00:31:56,550
caught fire.

416
00:31:56,550 --> 00:31:59,120
By this time, the
entire town had come out

417
00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:04,110
to witness this amazing blaze in
the middle of their community.

418
00:32:04,110 --> 00:32:08,560
And then a funny thing happened.

419
00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:14,050
Something that had never
happened in this town before.

420
00:32:14,050 --> 00:32:18,880
People began getting warm.

421
00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:22,190
They got so warm and
comfortable that some of them

422
00:32:22,190 --> 00:32:25,960
began removing their hoods.

423
00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:29,450
For the first time, people saw
the faces of their neighbors

424
00:32:29,450 --> 00:32:31,100
outside.

425
00:32:31,100 --> 00:32:34,130
They recognized who was
bringing wood for the fire

426
00:32:34,130 --> 00:32:36,580
and who is sitting by
the side of the fire

427
00:32:36,580 --> 00:32:38,460
making sure it burned.

428
00:32:38,460 --> 00:32:41,910
People brought food and
drink from their houses-- tea

429
00:32:41,910 --> 00:32:44,130
and bread and soup.

430
00:32:44,130 --> 00:32:46,830
They all came together
in the center of town

431
00:32:46,830 --> 00:32:48,570
and joined in the singing.

432
00:32:48,570 --> 00:32:51,254
And Christopher was
there to help them.

433
00:32:51,254 --> 00:32:52,050
[LAUGHTER]

434
00:32:52,050 --> 00:32:54,640
Christopher Watkins: I know
many of us know it well by now.

435
00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:56,580
Let's welcome new people
who have come here

436
00:32:56,580 --> 00:32:59,020
to warm themselves by the fire.

437
00:32:59,020 --> 00:33:01,640
Each one of us has
gifts to bring here.

438
00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:04,580
Let's continue to hold
our candles to the wind,

439
00:33:04,580 --> 00:33:06,040
join with the group in singing.

440
00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:32,320
[SINGING]

441
00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,630
Lane Campbell: So many people
were bringing forward gifts

442
00:33:35,630 --> 00:33:37,760
to keep the fire going.

443
00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:39,760
And the community gathered.

444
00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:42,350
Gifts they didn't see
as gifts, because they

445
00:33:42,350 --> 00:33:46,430
were just what folks had
lying around the house.

446
00:33:46,430 --> 00:33:51,080
By now, the tea was what
was keeping people warm.

447
00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:53,870
The matches are what
started the fire that

448
00:33:53,870 --> 00:33:55,610
got everyone together.

449
00:33:55,610 --> 00:33:58,430
The wood was what
kept the fire going.

450
00:33:58,430 --> 00:34:02,400
And the bricks surrounding the
fire kept the fire from blowing

451
00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:05,860
out while also keeping
everyone safe .

452
00:34:05,860 --> 00:34:09,840
And even the littlest child
had contributed something--

453
00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:13,020
the lint that allowed
the fire to catch.

454
00:34:13,020 --> 00:34:15,620
What gifts this town had.

455
00:34:15,620 --> 00:34:23,912
And what a beautiful fire
they had made together.

456
00:34:23,912 --> 00:34:32,310
[APPLAUSE]

457
00:34:32,310 --> 00:34:35,380
Rev. Christina Leone Tracy:
So, you know this story, right?

458
00:34:35,380 --> 00:34:40,560
Usually when we hear this
story, it's about soup.

459
00:34:40,560 --> 00:34:43,739
A special rock that gets
things going, and everyone

460
00:34:43,739 --> 00:34:45,070
has something to contribute.

461
00:34:45,070 --> 00:34:45,570
Right?

462
00:34:45,570 --> 00:34:46,900
We know this.

463
00:34:46,900 --> 00:34:51,739
Here in our story village,
Greta has used the same tactic

464
00:34:51,739 --> 00:34:54,400
to help the villagers
come out of their houses

465
00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:58,230
to build a common fire
in the center of town.

466
00:34:58,230 --> 00:35:00,330
Not that long ago,
the villagers had

467
00:35:00,330 --> 00:35:04,040
felt like they couldn't possibly
worry about other people.

468
00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:08,830
They were too busy tending
the fires in their own homes.

469
00:35:08,830 --> 00:35:12,870
These people are now sharing,
supporting one another,

470
00:35:12,870 --> 00:35:16,110
and enjoying the
company of neighbors.

471
00:35:16,110 --> 00:35:20,410
And it didn't take too much
sacrifice on their part.

472
00:35:20,410 --> 00:35:22,730
In fact, it seems
like all the gifts

473
00:35:22,730 --> 00:35:25,110
that they had to share
they didn't even realize

474
00:35:25,110 --> 00:35:27,650
were gifts at all.

475
00:35:27,650 --> 00:35:30,440
Our Unitarian
Universalist communities

476
00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:34,130
are much like this bonfire.

477
00:35:34,130 --> 00:35:35,780
People don't even
realize what they're

478
00:35:35,780 --> 00:35:37,900
missing until they
warm themselves

479
00:35:37,900 --> 00:35:41,070
at the fire of this faith.

480
00:35:41,070 --> 00:35:42,620
I'm busy.

481
00:35:42,620 --> 00:35:44,830
I've got enough
going on at home.

482
00:35:44,830 --> 00:35:47,650
I don't have time for church.

483
00:35:47,650 --> 00:35:51,410
But we know that each
of us brings our gifts,

484
00:35:51,410 --> 00:35:56,930
whether we are elders, or
children, or adults, youth,

485
00:35:56,930 --> 00:35:58,590
or young adults.

486
00:35:58,590 --> 00:36:02,000
It doesn't take too much
from any one of us alone.

487
00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:07,030
And while we share our gifts,
while we warm ourselves

488
00:36:07,030 --> 00:36:10,090
in our bright beloved
communities together,

489
00:36:10,090 --> 00:36:12,870
we get to sing.

490
00:36:12,870 --> 00:36:15,250
And don't forget the tea.

491
00:36:15,250 --> 00:36:18,350
We get to drink tea.

492
00:36:18,350 --> 00:36:21,011
Or coffee.

493
00:36:21,011 --> 00:36:21,760
Who're we kidding?

494
00:36:21,760 --> 00:36:24,190
We drink coffee.

495
00:36:24,190 --> 00:36:26,580
And what's not to
love about that?

496
00:36:26,580 --> 00:36:28,910
What a great thing
we have going.

497
00:36:28,910 --> 00:36:33,200
Communities of faith and
warmth and light and justice,

498
00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:36,030
filled with people bringing
their gifts to share

499
00:36:36,030 --> 00:36:39,480
and making something
bigger than themselves.

500
00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:40,780
With singing.

501
00:36:40,780 --> 00:36:43,590
And coffee.

502
00:36:43,590 --> 00:36:48,130
And so our villagers
have made their bonfire.

503
00:36:48,130 --> 00:36:51,650
Each of you here is
a part of this larger

504
00:36:51,650 --> 00:36:53,690
Unitarian Universalist faith.

505
00:36:53,690 --> 00:36:58,740
And we know that you have helped
build fires in your own homes,

506
00:36:58,740 --> 00:37:01,690
in your own cities and towns.

507
00:37:01,690 --> 00:37:08,480
Congregations and communities
of love and hope and justice.

508
00:37:08,480 --> 00:37:11,480
Think for a moment.

509
00:37:11,480 --> 00:37:14,350
Think for a moment about
those congregations,

510
00:37:14,350 --> 00:37:17,690
those communities
that you represent.

511
00:37:17,690 --> 00:37:21,100
Those fires that continue
to burn back home

512
00:37:21,100 --> 00:37:23,600
while you are here.

513
00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:28,650
Imagine the faces of the
people who gather there,

514
00:37:28,650 --> 00:37:34,370
the space that you hold dear,
the work that you cherish.

515
00:37:34,370 --> 00:37:37,960
Hold those fires, those
congregations or communities

516
00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:41,270
in your heart for a moment.

517
00:37:41,270 --> 00:37:44,320
Bring them into this space.

518
00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:46,290
And while we sing
our next song, we

519
00:37:46,290 --> 00:37:50,470
will invite our youth bridgers
up to the stage, each of them

520
00:37:50,470 --> 00:37:54,380
a beautiful flame from
the bonfires of their home

521
00:37:54,380 --> 00:38:10,212
communities.

522
00:38:10,212 --> 00:38:11,670
Guitar Player: I
invite you to rise

523
00:38:11,670 --> 00:38:13,990
as you're willing and
able for this one.

524
00:38:13,990 --> 00:41:10,952
[SINGING]

525
00:41:10,952 --> 00:41:12,910
Rev. Christina Leone
Tracy: We left our village

526
00:41:12,910 --> 00:41:16,100
at the end of the story
with their beautiful bonfire

527
00:41:16,100 --> 00:41:19,310
blazing, the gifts from the
villagers, young and old

528
00:41:19,310 --> 00:41:24,980
together, creating a place for
everyone to come for warmth.

529
00:41:24,980 --> 00:41:27,690
Just like our home
congregations and communities,

530
00:41:27,690 --> 00:41:30,870
this bonfire is something
bigger, and stronger,

531
00:41:30,870 --> 00:41:36,040
and more powerful than any one
of us could have made alone.

532
00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:38,490
Beautiful story.

533
00:41:38,490 --> 00:41:40,176
The end.

534
00:41:40,176 --> 00:41:45,160
[LAUGHTER] Happily ever after.

535
00:41:45,160 --> 00:41:46,600
Right?

536
00:41:46,600 --> 00:41:48,400
But I wonder.

537
00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:53,540
I wonder what happens next,
after that happily ever after.

538
00:41:53,540 --> 00:41:57,540
I wonder how the fire
continues to burn.

539
00:41:57,540 --> 00:41:59,830
Who tends it?

540
00:41:59,830 --> 00:42:02,800
I imagine there will
probably be a lot of people

541
00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:05,350
who put a lot of time
and energy into tending

542
00:42:05,350 --> 00:42:10,920
that fire while others probably
just warm themselves near it.

543
00:42:10,920 --> 00:42:14,050
And then those who have been
tending will need a break,

544
00:42:14,050 --> 00:42:16,950
and others will step
up and take a turn.

545
00:42:16,950 --> 00:42:18,140
I hope.

546
00:42:18,140 --> 00:42:20,930
That's the best
way to tend a fire.

547
00:42:20,930 --> 00:42:25,270
It doesn't work if only some
people do all of the work.

548
00:42:25,270 --> 00:42:27,830
We have to take turns.

549
00:42:27,830 --> 00:42:29,070
Amen.

550
00:42:29,070 --> 00:42:33,160
So we all get a chance
to rest once in awhile.

551
00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:36,980
Now as they are all
gathered around enjoying

552
00:42:36,980 --> 00:42:44,750
the warmth, singing songs,
sipping tea-- coffee.

553
00:42:44,750 --> 00:42:48,100
Someone realizes
something important.

554
00:42:48,100 --> 00:42:50,930
Not everyone is
there at the bonfire.

555
00:42:50,930 --> 00:42:53,880
Some of the village
elders can't make it out

556
00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:56,720
into the cold to enjoy the fire.

557
00:42:56,720 --> 00:43:00,470
Their joints get too
achy in the cold.

558
00:43:00,470 --> 00:43:02,880
The couple down the
lane with the young baby

559
00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:04,250
is also not there.

560
00:43:04,250 --> 00:43:06,200
It's tough to come out
when the baby still

561
00:43:06,200 --> 00:43:08,630
can't sleep through the night.

562
00:43:08,630 --> 00:43:13,080
And there are others, too, who
haven't made it to the fire.

563
00:43:13,080 --> 00:43:16,930
Friends serving in the military
or the Peace Corps, those

564
00:43:16,930 --> 00:43:19,860
away at college, neighbors
who are struggling

565
00:43:19,860 --> 00:43:23,080
with illness or addiction.

566
00:43:23,080 --> 00:43:25,160
What happens now?

567
00:43:25,160 --> 00:43:29,840
Everyone is so consumed with
keeping the fire going, warming

568
00:43:29,840 --> 00:43:33,950
themselves by the fire,
no one wants to leave it.

569
00:43:33,950 --> 00:43:37,200
I wonder if the original
problem will repeat itself.

570
00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:40,010
Will someone say,
we've got enough

571
00:43:40,010 --> 00:43:45,280
going on here at the bonfire
to worry about those people

572
00:43:45,280 --> 00:43:47,400
out there?

573
00:43:47,400 --> 00:43:49,460
Maybe.

574
00:43:49,460 --> 00:43:51,390
Probably.

575
00:43:51,390 --> 00:43:53,220
Just like before,
when people believed

576
00:43:53,220 --> 00:43:55,880
they had too much going
on to worry about anything

577
00:43:55,880 --> 00:43:59,130
outside their own
homes, it's easy to feel

578
00:43:59,130 --> 00:44:00,820
that way in our congregations.

579
00:44:00,820 --> 00:44:02,450
We have enough to worry about.

580
00:44:02,450 --> 00:44:05,670
The sanctuary needs a new
roof, the Sunday School

581
00:44:05,670 --> 00:44:08,310
needs more music
supplies, we never

582
00:44:08,310 --> 00:44:12,010
have enough people
signed up to usher.

583
00:44:12,010 --> 00:44:17,260
We can't be worrying about
those people out there.

584
00:44:17,260 --> 00:44:19,280
Now I have to say,
if the choice is

585
00:44:19,280 --> 00:44:22,880
between small individual
fires in individual homes

586
00:44:22,880 --> 00:44:27,030
and a big bonfire in the center
of town, I choose bonfire.

587
00:44:27,030 --> 00:44:27,806
Amen?

588
00:44:27,806 --> 00:44:28,306
All: Amen.

589
00:44:28,306 --> 00:44:29,680
Rev. Christina
Leone Tracy: Amen.

590
00:44:29,680 --> 00:44:31,430
But the choice is
bigger than that.

591
00:44:31,430 --> 00:44:36,580
We can have a big bonfire in
the center of town and take

592
00:44:36,580 --> 00:44:41,080
the fire to those who
cannot come join the fun.

593
00:44:41,080 --> 00:44:43,190
It's not either-or.

594
00:44:43,190 --> 00:44:45,790
It's both-and.

595
00:44:45,790 --> 00:44:48,870
It's not a choice
between congregations

596
00:44:48,870 --> 00:44:51,590
or changing the world.

597
00:44:51,590 --> 00:44:57,030
It's about creating both
meaningful congregational life

598
00:44:57,030 --> 00:45:01,170
and spreading Unitarian
Universalism beyond our walls

599
00:45:01,170 --> 00:45:03,430
and throughout the world.

600
00:45:03,430 --> 00:45:10,142
It's about congregations
and beyond.

601
00:45:10,142 --> 00:45:15,300
[APPLAUSE]

602
00:45:15,300 --> 00:45:22,850
Rev. Christina Leone Tracy: It's
about love reaching in and out.

603
00:45:22,850 --> 00:45:25,210
Our congregations
are like that bonfire

604
00:45:25,210 --> 00:45:28,480
in the center of town,
beautiful, bold places filled

605
00:45:28,480 --> 00:45:30,320
with warmth and light.

606
00:45:30,320 --> 00:45:32,570
We worked hard to
build those fires.

607
00:45:32,570 --> 00:45:35,756
People who came before
us gave their gifts

608
00:45:35,756 --> 00:45:37,860
and tended the flames.

609
00:45:37,860 --> 00:45:40,870
And people who came after
them continued to tend it,

610
00:45:40,870 --> 00:45:44,620
to grow it, allowing
generations to warm themselves

611
00:45:44,620 --> 00:45:50,260
with ritual, and friendship,
and song, and coffee.

612
00:45:50,260 --> 00:45:52,240
Right.

613
00:45:52,240 --> 00:45:57,720
These young people here, they
came up from these bonfires.

614
00:45:57,720 --> 00:46:00,570
They each have a specific
Unitarian Universalist

615
00:46:00,570 --> 00:46:02,660
community that they call home.

616
00:46:02,660 --> 00:46:06,620
And for them, it is important
that we keep those fires

617
00:46:06,620 --> 00:46:09,520
burning big and
bright as they bridge

618
00:46:09,520 --> 00:46:11,500
from youth to young adulthood.

619
00:46:11,500 --> 00:46:13,390
As they venture
forth into the world

620
00:46:13,390 --> 00:46:15,390
and make a path for
themselves, they

621
00:46:15,390 --> 00:46:19,880
need to have their home
bonfires to return to.

622
00:46:19,880 --> 00:46:23,880
But keeping the fire going
for ourselves is not enough.

623
00:46:23,880 --> 00:46:28,900
It is our job to spread the
light, to let our candles blow

624
00:46:28,900 --> 00:46:32,920
and bend in the wind and
spread beyond ourselves.

625
00:46:32,920 --> 00:46:35,610
To let our little lights shine.

626
00:46:35,610 --> 00:46:38,350
To new places, to dark corners.

627
00:46:38,350 --> 00:46:41,470
To bring warmth and light.

628
00:46:41,470 --> 00:46:43,850
So let's go back to our story.

629
00:46:43,850 --> 00:46:47,730
Let's go back to a
moment, to our village.

630
00:46:47,730 --> 00:46:51,240
Let's imagine that youth,
the one who with Greta helped

631
00:46:51,240 --> 00:46:52,920
start the whole thing going.

632
00:46:52,920 --> 00:46:57,120
Let's imagine that that youth
says, this fire we've got going

633
00:46:57,120 --> 00:46:58,280
is great.

634
00:46:58,280 --> 00:47:00,490
And I'm planning on moving soon.

635
00:47:00,490 --> 00:47:03,460
I'm finishing high school, and
I have new places to explore.

636
00:47:03,460 --> 00:47:07,080
I'd like to bring
some light with me.

637
00:47:07,080 --> 00:47:09,590
The people grow nervous.

638
00:47:09,590 --> 00:47:13,320
Murmurs rumble
through the crowd.

639
00:47:13,320 --> 00:47:15,170
Take it with her?

640
00:47:15,170 --> 00:47:17,310
But we need the fire here.

641
00:47:17,310 --> 00:47:18,810
What's going to
happen to the fire

642
00:47:18,810 --> 00:47:22,470
if everyone starts taking
bits and pieces of it?

643
00:47:22,470 --> 00:47:25,090
Greta calms the crowd gently.

644
00:47:25,090 --> 00:47:27,710
"Friends, friends.

645
00:47:27,710 --> 00:47:31,180
Let's test this concern
with an experiment.

646
00:47:31,180 --> 00:47:38,480
Does anyone have a candle?"

647
00:47:38,480 --> 00:47:40,280
Someone brings up a candle.

648
00:47:40,280 --> 00:47:44,930
Now Greta says, "I hear that you
were worried the bonfire might

649
00:47:44,930 --> 00:47:47,480
diminish if we share
it with the youth

650
00:47:47,480 --> 00:47:51,940
as she goes off on her journey."

651
00:47:51,940 --> 00:47:55,430
Nods and mumbling rumbles
through the crowd.

652
00:47:55,430 --> 00:47:58,120
"So let's see what
happens if we light

653
00:47:58,120 --> 00:48:00,140
this candle off the fire."

654
00:48:00,140 --> 00:48:05,400
And with that, she dips the
candle into the big flame

655
00:48:05,400 --> 00:48:07,840
and withdraws it.

656
00:48:07,840 --> 00:48:11,860
The bonfire continues
to blaze brightly.

657
00:48:11,860 --> 00:48:17,184
And now a new light, the candle,
lit from the original flame.

658
00:48:17,184 --> 00:48:20,110
"Hmm," says Greta.

659
00:48:20,110 --> 00:48:25,170
"It looks like our fire only
grew bigger, not smaller.

660
00:48:25,170 --> 00:48:28,600
We needn't worry about
losing our flame here.

661
00:48:28,600 --> 00:48:31,950
Sharing it will
only help it grow."

662
00:48:31,950 --> 00:48:35,510
And so the villagers gather
torches, and lanterns,

663
00:48:35,510 --> 00:48:39,360
and candles, lighting them
from the central bonfire

664
00:48:39,360 --> 00:48:41,490
that they had worked
so hard to build.

665
00:48:41,490 --> 00:48:43,740
They pass them out to
each of the youth who

666
00:48:43,740 --> 00:48:45,790
are preparing to
go into the world,

667
00:48:45,790 --> 00:48:49,780
and they took them to the homes
of the elderly, the sick, those

668
00:48:49,780 --> 00:48:52,810
with young children, and
those who had never even heard

669
00:48:52,810 --> 00:48:57,230
the good news of
the bonfire before.

670
00:48:57,230 --> 00:48:59,360
The bonfire didn't
get smaller after all.

671
00:48:59,360 --> 00:49:01,140
Right Greta was right.

672
00:49:01,140 --> 00:49:04,200
The flames carried
out into the world

673
00:49:04,200 --> 00:49:10,360
began new fires, some small
and intimate, some large

674
00:49:10,360 --> 00:49:12,520
and blazing.

675
00:49:12,520 --> 00:49:15,380
And when the candles
burned low, they

676
00:49:15,380 --> 00:49:20,270
could return again to the
bonfire to warm themselves

677
00:49:20,270 --> 00:49:23,390
and to relight their
flames before going

678
00:49:23,390 --> 00:49:26,470
back out into the world.

679
00:49:26,470 --> 00:49:28,280
May it be so.

680
00:49:28,280 --> 00:49:31,355
And amen.

681
00:49:31,355 --> 00:49:54,000
[APPLAUSE]

682
00:49:54,000 --> 00:54:05,987
[SINGING]

683
00:54:05,987 --> 00:54:08,570
Olivia Schueboe-elizinga: Take
a deep breath with me to center

684
00:54:08,570 --> 00:54:12,950
ourselves in as we join
together to bear witness

685
00:54:12,950 --> 00:54:16,450
to this rite of passage and
the heart of our service

686
00:54:16,450 --> 00:54:27,680
this evening.

687
00:54:27,680 --> 00:54:29,900
Christopher Watkins:
Please join us

688
00:54:29,900 --> 00:54:33,260
in singing our words
of affirmation.

689
00:54:33,260 --> 00:54:37,520
Shine, shine, shine.

690
00:54:37,520 --> 00:54:38,950
Try it with me.

691
00:54:38,950 --> 00:54:45,065
All: Shine, shine, shine.

692
00:54:45,065 --> 00:54:46,690
Olivia Schueboe-elizinga:
In the hearts

693
00:54:46,690 --> 00:54:51,290
of each one of us, young and
old, there is a fire burning.

694
00:54:51,290 --> 00:54:56,440
All: Shine, shine, shine.

695
00:54:56,440 --> 00:55:00,690
Christopher Watkins:
Glowing and shining

696
00:55:00,690 --> 00:55:06,300
with inner wisdom, truth,
justice, and purpose.

697
00:55:06,300 --> 00:55:11,525
All: Shine, shine, shine.

698
00:55:11,525 --> 00:55:12,900
Olivia Schueboe-elizinga:
We have

699
00:55:12,900 --> 00:55:17,760
tended the fires of our
youth as a congregation,

700
00:55:17,760 --> 00:55:20,720
nurturing them and providing
them with the tools

701
00:55:20,720 --> 00:55:23,150
to grow and learn.

702
00:55:23,150 --> 00:55:29,660
All: Shine, shine, shine.

703
00:55:29,660 --> 00:55:33,260
Christopher Watkins:
Now as we come together

704
00:55:33,260 --> 00:55:38,860
for this bridging, we pass
along these glow sticks.

705
00:55:38,860 --> 00:55:44,495
All: Shine, shine, shine.

706
00:55:44,495 --> 00:55:46,620
Olivia Schueboe-elizinga:
That you will shine forth

707
00:55:46,620 --> 00:55:51,070
into the world and to let your
brilliant flame illuminate

708
00:55:51,070 --> 00:55:53,100
every corner,

709
00:55:53,100 --> 00:55:57,990
All: Shine, shine, shine.

710
00:55:57,990 --> 00:56:00,240
Christopher Watkins: And
with these chalice necklaces,

711
00:56:00,240 --> 00:56:02,100
we entrust you
with the continuity

712
00:56:02,100 --> 00:56:04,280
of our sacred community.

713
00:56:04,280 --> 00:56:07,440
We entrust you to bring your
many stories and identities

714
00:56:07,440 --> 00:56:10,630
forward with you as
you carry on the light

715
00:56:10,630 --> 00:56:13,530
of our sacred tradition.

716
00:56:13,530 --> 00:56:19,870
All: Shine, shine, shine.

717
00:56:19,870 --> 00:56:21,920
Olivia Schueboe-elizinga:
Let us begin.

718
00:56:21,920 --> 00:56:25,250
We invite you to come forward
and to speak your name

719
00:56:25,250 --> 00:56:27,800
into the microphone.

720
00:56:27,800 --> 00:56:31,520
And then we ask you to go
out into this gather group

721
00:56:31,520 --> 00:56:36,530
of folks, to go out and
to let your light shine.

722
00:56:36,530 --> 00:56:39,052
Both: Let us begin bridging.

723
00:56:39,052 --> 00:56:55,110
[MUSIC PLAYING]

724
00:56:55,110 --> 00:56:57,290
Ethan Russell
Benoit, First Parish,

725
00:56:57,290 --> 00:57:05,410
Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

726
00:57:05,410 --> 00:57:15,600
Tia Patel, First
Parish, Brewster.

727
00:57:15,600 --> 00:57:24,530
Mina Calvo, First Parish,
Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

728
00:57:24,530 --> 00:57:34,180
Rose Cronin Jackman,
First Parish, Brewster.

729
00:57:34,180 --> 00:57:43,410
Rista Paulo, First
Parish, Brewster.

730
00:57:43,410 --> 00:57:51,800
Jennifer Sanders,
First Parish, Taunton.

731
00:57:51,800 --> 00:58:04,150
Shaunie Powers, 1st
Parish, Brewster.

732
00:58:04,150 --> 00:58:14,840
Robert King, Live
Oak, Austin, Texas.

733
00:58:14,840 --> 00:58:24,580
Kendra Cross, Eliot Chapel,
Saint Louis, Missouri.

734
00:58:24,580 --> 00:58:27,420
Tracy Siloway, All
Souls Unitarian Church

735
00:58:27,420 --> 00:58:36,060
in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

736
00:58:36,060 --> 00:58:39,370
Keridwen Spiller, Live Oak
Unitarian Universalist Church

737
00:58:39,370 --> 00:58:47,890
in Austin, Texas.

738
00:58:47,890 --> 00:58:57,240
Erin Sullivan, Live Oak UU
Church in Cedar Park, Texas.

739
00:58:57,240 --> 00:59:06,900
Corey Compton, Eliot Chapel,
Saint Louis, Missouri.

740
00:59:06,900 --> 00:59:17,660
Eric Ditmar, First Unitarian
Church of Dallas, Texas.

741
00:59:17,660 --> 00:59:19,950
Sam Stevens, also
All Souls UU Church

742
00:59:19,950 --> 00:59:27,940
of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

743
00:59:27,940 --> 00:59:30,560
Louis Braincottie, from
West Side Unitarian

744
00:59:30,560 --> 00:59:39,440
in Seattle, Washington.

745
00:59:39,440 --> 00:59:49,140
Christina Rico, First
Parish, Brewster.

746
00:59:49,140 --> 00:59:58,850
Lucy Johns, Unitarian Church
of Sharon, Sharon, Mass.

747
00:59:58,850 --> 01:00:01,680
Ben Gaffogan, Unitarian
Universalist Congregation

748
01:00:01,680 --> 01:00:08,960
of Frederick, Maryland.

749
01:00:08,960 --> 01:00:11,820
Victoria Zikovich, First
Unitarian, Providence, Rhode

750
01:00:11,820 --> 01:00:19,090
Island.

751
01:00:19,090 --> 01:00:28,510
Gary Reed, Unitarian
Church of Sharon.

752
01:00:28,510 --> 01:00:31,470
Rosemary Dean, First Unitarian
Church of Providence,

753
01:00:31,470 --> 01:00:38,460
Rhode Island.

754
01:00:38,460 --> 01:00:41,840
Owen Hilsbeck, Tacoma Unitarian
Universalist Congregation

755
01:00:41,840 --> 01:00:49,960
of Tacoma, Washington.

756
01:00:49,960 --> 01:01:00,120
Susan Mays, The UU Church
of Western Massachusetts.

757
01:01:00,120 --> 01:01:02,040
Yvonne Markou, Unitarian
Church of Sharon,

758
01:01:02,040 --> 01:01:10,770
Sharon, Massachusetts.

759
01:01:10,770 --> 01:01:13,550
Connie Davis Hugo, Unitarian
Universalist Church

760
01:01:13,550 --> 01:01:21,360
of Long Beach, California.

761
01:01:21,360 --> 01:01:24,050
Abby Hauling, Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship

762
01:01:24,050 --> 01:01:33,250
of Elkhart, Indiana.

763
01:01:33,250 --> 01:01:36,770
Phoebe Masterson, Eckhart First
Unitarian Universalist Society

764
01:01:36,770 --> 01:01:44,830
of San Francisco, California.

765
01:01:44,830 --> 01:01:47,300
Rosemary Dodd,
Unitarian Universalists

766
01:01:47,300 --> 01:01:55,180
of Petaluma, California.

767
01:01:55,180 --> 01:01:57,850
Erica Tigh, First
Parish UU Church

768
01:01:57,850 --> 01:02:05,680
of Arlington, Massachusetts.

769
01:02:05,680 --> 01:02:09,050
Hi, I'm Audrey Carlton,
from the UU Congregation

770
01:02:09,050 --> 01:02:17,360
of Rockville, Maryland.

771
01:02:17,360 --> 01:02:20,670
John Heflin, Unitarian
Universalist Congregation

772
01:02:20,670 --> 01:02:27,880
of Rockville, Maryland.

773
01:02:27,880 --> 01:02:30,610
Barrett Smith, Unitarian
Universalist Congregation

774
01:02:30,610 --> 01:02:38,580
of Rockville, Maryland.

775
01:02:38,580 --> 01:02:40,890
Luke Job, of Greenville
Unitarian Universalist

776
01:02:40,890 --> 01:02:49,840
Fellowship in Greenville,
South Carolina.

777
01:02:49,840 --> 01:02:53,640
Abigail Merrick, of First
Unitarian Church of Wilmington,

778
01:02:53,640 --> 01:03:01,020
Delaware.

779
01:03:01,020 --> 01:03:03,170
Henry Hennin, First
Religious Society

780
01:03:03,170 --> 01:03:11,510
of Carlysle, Massachusetts.

781
01:03:11,510 --> 01:03:14,090
Molly Vijaunt, Unitarian
Universalist Society,

782
01:03:14,090 --> 01:03:22,510
Eastern Manchester, Connecticut.

783
01:03:22,510 --> 01:03:32,640
Sarah Tory, UU Society, Eastern
Manchester, Connecticut.

784
01:03:32,640 --> 01:03:35,950
Tara Dorgan, The Universalist
Unitarian Congregation

785
01:03:35,950 --> 01:03:44,470
of Princeton, New Jersey.

786
01:03:44,470 --> 01:03:47,090
Zoey Brookman, Unitarian
Universalist Congregation

787
01:03:47,090 --> 01:03:57,060
of Princeton,
Princeton, New Jersey.

788
01:03:57,060 --> 01:03:59,770
Rebecca Raydo, Unitarian
Universalist Church

789
01:03:59,770 --> 01:04:08,350
of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

790
01:04:08,350 --> 01:04:12,040
Anna Brewer, First Unitarian
Universalist Society

791
01:04:12,040 --> 01:04:19,840
of Albany, Albany, New York.

792
01:04:19,840 --> 01:04:30,200
Eliot Valley, First Parish,
Needham, Massachusetts.

793
01:04:30,200 --> 01:04:40,270
Claire Rothfelder, the Unitarian
Church in Summit, New Jersey.

794
01:04:40,270 --> 01:04:43,285
Aloysius Gercka, Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship

795
01:04:43,285 --> 01:04:53,980
of Elkhorn.

796
01:04:53,980 --> 01:04:56,850
My name is Oliver Evans, I've
come from the First Unitarian

797
01:04:56,850 --> 01:05:06,610
Universalist Church
of Akron, Ohio.

798
01:05:06,610 --> 01:05:16,870
Julia Vity, Unitarian church
in Summit, New Jersey.

799
01:05:16,870 --> 01:05:19,060
Kendra Sweitzer, the
Unitarian Congregation

800
01:05:19,060 --> 01:05:27,310
of Westchester, Pennsylvania.

801
01:05:27,310 --> 01:05:30,280
Sam Spiro, Unitarian
Universalist First Parish

802
01:05:30,280 --> 01:05:38,750
in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

803
01:05:38,750 --> 01:05:48,710
Katie Rigden, Unitarian Society
of Ridgewood, New Jersey.

804
01:05:48,710 --> 01:05:58,630
Carter Smith, Community Church
of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

805
01:05:58,630 --> 01:06:08,010
Lily Tupper, First Universalist
Church of Yarmouth, Maine.

806
01:06:08,010 --> 01:06:10,590
Emily Parker, First Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship

807
01:06:10,590 --> 01:06:20,130
of Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

808
01:06:20,130 --> 01:06:29,810
Robert Ericson, UU
Church of Worcester.

809
01:06:29,810 --> 01:06:39,360
Tanya Smith, UU
Church of Worcester.

810
01:06:39,360 --> 01:06:41,670
Andrew Curry,
Unitarian Universalists

811
01:06:41,670 --> 01:06:48,890
of Clearwater, Florida.

812
01:06:48,890 --> 01:06:59,490
Ellie Brown, UU Fellowship
of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

813
01:06:59,490 --> 01:07:02,570
Valerie Wood, Unitarian
Universalist Church

814
01:07:02,570 --> 01:07:12,460
of the Lehigh Valley,
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

815
01:07:12,460 --> 01:07:15,070
Morgan Medvedz, Unitarian
Universalist Church

816
01:07:15,070 --> 01:07:23,570
of the Lehigh Valley,
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

817
01:07:23,570 --> 01:07:26,580
Rosalie Wendell, Mainline
Unitarian Universalist Church,

818
01:07:26,580 --> 01:07:36,050
Devon, Pennsylvania.

819
01:07:36,050 --> 01:07:39,220
Alexandria Boutrose, Birmingham
Unitarian Universalist Church,

820
01:07:39,220 --> 01:07:47,650
Birmingham, Michigan.

821
01:07:47,650 --> 01:07:59,680
Baron Elshocks, of the Unitarian
Universalist Society East.

822
01:07:59,680 --> 01:08:02,400
Dan Hellen, First Unitarian
Universalist Society

823
01:08:02,400 --> 01:08:11,270
of Burlington, Vermont.

824
01:08:11,270 --> 01:08:22,200
Alex Edmondson, of Unitarian
Church of Lincoln, Nebraska.

825
01:08:22,200 --> 01:08:24,870
Michael Costello,
First Unitarian Society

826
01:08:24,870 --> 01:08:33,770
of Newton, Massachusetts.

827
01:08:33,770 --> 01:08:35,910
Hannah Peters, First
Universalist Church

828
01:08:35,910 --> 01:08:44,279
of Yarmouth, Maine.

829
01:08:44,279 --> 01:08:46,500
Dara Guyald, of First
Universalist Church

830
01:08:46,500 --> 01:08:54,720
of Yarmouth, Maine.

831
01:08:54,720 --> 01:08:58,210
Olivia Shchoeboe-Elizinga,
University Unitarian Church

832
01:08:58,210 --> 01:09:13,330
of Seattle, Washington.

833
01:09:13,330 --> 01:09:18,439
Rev. Christina Leone Tracy:
Young adults, that's you.

834
01:09:18,439 --> 01:09:19,740
As you go into the world--

835
01:09:19,740 --> 01:09:20,240
[APPLAUSE]

836
01:09:20,240 --> 01:09:21,573
Rev. Christina Leone Tracy: Yes.

837
01:09:21,573 --> 01:09:22,124
Yes!

838
01:09:22,124 --> 01:10:04,010
[APPLAUSE]

839
01:10:04,010 --> 01:10:07,030
Rev. Christina Leone
Tracy: Young adults,

840
01:10:07,030 --> 01:10:11,110
as you go into the world,
let your lights shine.

841
01:10:11,110 --> 01:10:13,410
Let's see them.

842
01:10:13,410 --> 01:10:17,440
Shine into the darkness, warm
the cold corners of the world.

843
01:10:17,440 --> 01:10:20,980
You are entrusted
with a sacred light.

844
01:10:20,980 --> 01:10:24,130
This light has burned in
many ways and in many places,

845
01:10:24,130 --> 01:10:28,930
carried forward by Francis
David and Michael Survedis,

846
01:10:28,930 --> 01:10:31,720
Jose Balloo, and Clara Barton.

847
01:10:31,720 --> 01:10:34,650
Theodore Parker and
William Ellery Channing,

848
01:10:34,650 --> 01:10:38,920
Ethel Red Brown and Francis
Ellen Watkins Harper.

849
01:10:38,920 --> 01:10:41,330
Ralph Waldo Emerson
and Olympia Brown.

850
01:10:41,330 --> 01:10:44,110
Sophia Faus and Peter Morales.

851
01:10:44,110 --> 01:10:47,250
To you, young leaders.

852
01:10:47,250 --> 01:10:49,200
You carry the light
that has been tended

853
01:10:49,200 --> 01:10:51,570
by these great people
and countless others,

854
01:10:51,570 --> 01:10:57,550
and now your names are added to
the list of the flame bearers.

855
01:10:57,550 --> 01:10:59,950
You are blessed with
that light, and yet you

856
01:10:59,950 --> 01:11:02,630
have a responsibility.

857
01:11:02,630 --> 01:11:07,230
Use your light to
change the world.

858
01:11:07,230 --> 01:11:11,210
We have every faith in your
abilities, your strength,

859
01:11:11,210 --> 01:11:12,820
and your power.

860
01:11:12,820 --> 01:11:17,610
But remember, young leaders,
and this is very important.

861
01:11:17,610 --> 01:11:20,410
You are not alone.

862
01:11:20,410 --> 01:11:23,860
Your home communities and those
around the country and even

863
01:11:23,860 --> 01:11:29,190
in the world are ready to help
you relight your flames when

864
01:11:29,190 --> 01:11:31,380
the need arises.

865
01:11:31,380 --> 01:11:33,020
We love you.

866
01:11:33,020 --> 01:11:35,120
We trust you.

867
01:11:35,120 --> 01:11:40,830
We send you forth
with a blessing.

868
01:11:40,830 --> 01:11:58,000
[APPLAUSE]

869
01:11:58,000 --> 01:11:59,670
Christopher Watkins:
So, Olivia, do

870
01:11:59,670 --> 01:12:03,460
you think we brought some
synergy to this space?

871
01:12:03,460 --> 01:12:05,960
Olivia Schueboe-elizinga: We
certainly came together tonight

872
01:12:05,960 --> 01:12:09,590
to recognize the power
in coming together.

873
01:12:09,590 --> 01:12:12,800
We have been blessed,
and we have bridged.

874
01:12:12,800 --> 01:12:15,530
Can the people who bridged this
evening raise up their glow

875
01:12:15,530 --> 01:12:19,070
sticks one more time,
letting their light shine?

876
01:12:19,070 --> 01:12:21,682
Isn't this amazing?

877
01:12:21,682 --> 01:12:29,920
[APPLAUSE]

878
01:12:29,920 --> 01:12:32,175
Christopher Watkins: Before
we leave this evening,

879
01:12:32,175 --> 01:12:39,720
can I ask everyone here and at
home to rise in body or spirit?

880
01:12:39,720 --> 01:12:43,230
Take the hand of your
neighbor or raise your hands

881
01:12:43,230 --> 01:12:46,590
to this sky, as you
feel comfortable.

882
01:12:46,590 --> 01:12:51,900
And our closing
blessing will begin.

883
01:12:51,900 --> 01:12:54,750
Olivia Schueboe-elizinga:
Blessed are the fire builders.

884
01:12:54,750 --> 01:12:58,737
Christopher Watkins: Providing
heat, strength, and hope.

885
01:12:58,737 --> 01:13:01,070
Olivia Schueboe-elizinga:
Blessed are the flame bearers.

886
01:13:01,070 --> 01:13:03,980
Christopher Watkins: Lighting
the way and gathering us

887
01:13:03,980 --> 01:13:04,715
together.

888
01:13:04,715 --> 01:13:06,090
Olivia Schueboe-elizinga:
Blessed

889
01:13:06,090 --> 01:13:07,900
are the bridge builders.

890
01:13:07,900 --> 01:13:10,760
Christopher Watkins:
Reaching out across divides.

891
01:13:10,760 --> 01:13:13,940
Olivia Schueboe-elizinga:
Blessed are the young leaders.

892
01:13:13,940 --> 01:13:17,300
Christopher Watkins: Stirring
the fires in our souls.

893
01:13:17,300 --> 01:13:24,060
And join us in the final
line of this blessing.

894
01:13:24,060 --> 01:13:27,620
All: Blessed are
the leaders of today

895
01:13:27,620 --> 01:13:30,470
and the lights of tomorrow.

896
01:13:30,470 --> 01:13:33,038
Amen.

897
01:13:33,038 --> 01:13:51,390
[APPLAUSE]

898
01:13:51,390 --> 01:18:44,710
[SINGING]

899
01:18:44,710 --> 01:18:49,620
[APPLAUSE]

900
01:18:49,620 --> 01:18:56,530
Christopher Watkins: Amen.

901
01:18:56,530 --> 01:18:58,970
Speaker6: Friends,
it is time for us

902
01:18:58,970 --> 01:19:02,360
to go forth from this
place, some of us

903
01:19:02,360 --> 01:19:06,160
a little different
than when we got here.

904
01:19:06,160 --> 01:19:09,640
So I would ask that those
of us who are in the seats

905
01:19:09,640 --> 01:19:12,920
would take those
seats for a moment.

906
01:19:12,920 --> 01:19:15,250
Those of us who
are in the aisles,

907
01:19:15,250 --> 01:19:17,780
if you would make your
way out as we drum.

908
01:19:17,780 --> 01:19:20,230
And then if we would give a
few moments for our friends

909
01:19:20,230 --> 01:19:24,460
who have difficulty navigating
those same aisles to exit

910
01:19:24,460 --> 01:19:28,720
before we rise and go
out into our world.

911
01:19:28,720 --> 01:19:29,580
Go in peace.

912
01:19:29,580 --> 01:19:31,730
[DRUMMING]

913
01:19:31,730 --> 01:20:40,022