 Good morning, and welcome to the First Unitarian Society of Madison. This is a community where curious seekers gather to explore spiritual, ethical, and social issues in an accepting and nurturing environment. Unitarian Universalism supports the freedom of conscience of each individual as together we seek to be a force for good in the world. My name is Leslie Ross, and on behalf of the congregation I would like to extend a special welcome to all of our visitors today. We are a welcoming congregation, so whoever you are and wherever you happen to be on your life journey, we celebrate your presence among us. Newcomers are encouraged to stay for fellowship hour after service, and to look for persons holding teal, stoneware, coffee mugs. These are FUS members who are knowledgeable about our faith community and who would love to visit with you. Experience guides are generally available to give a building tour after each service, so if you'd like to learn more about the sustainably designed addition and our national landmark meeting house, please meet near the glass windows over there on the left side of the auditorium immediately after service. We welcome children to stay for the duration of the service, but if you or your child needs to talk or move around, the Child Haven or Commons are a good place to retire. The service can still be heard and seen from those areas. This would also be a good time to turn off all electronic devices that might cause a disturbance during this morning service. I would like to acknowledge the many individuals who help run our services smoothly. They include Karen Perrin, who is our greeter this morning, John McEvna and Ken Gage, and Ann Ostrom, who are ushers this morning. Mark Schultz is on sound, and Jean Sears, our staff member, is a handling coffee for this morning, so give her a big thank you. And a couple of announcements. We learned on Friday that long time FUS member Lillian Redding passed away following a lengthy struggle with dementia. A memorial service will be held this Thursday, May 11th, at 4.30pm in our landmark auditorium. Also, we learned that some of you received perhaps the wrong program for this morning service. We have one program for 11 o'clock and one for 9 o'clock. If you check out your program, and it says 11 o'clock towards the bottom of the cover, please turn that in on your way out so that we have enough for the 11 o'clock service. And we apologize for that little snafu. And now we have a quick but lively message from Steve Goldberg. Thank you, Leslie. This announcement is brought to you by the number 5. Five days until Cabaret, Friday evening right here, 6 o'clock to 9 o'clock, where we will spend the night in Ireland. And we'll have a chance to bid on some wonderful silent and live auction items. Here's some nice Irish music. There will also be Irish food, but please don't let that keep you away. We are selling tickets in advance. Those are $35 if you wait in the Unitarian fashion until the last minute. And by tickets at the door, those are $40, but well worth it. And we also would invite people to volunteer for this event. We need a few more volunteers to make it run smoothly. And the attraction for those of you who volunteer is that you'll get a discount on your admission ticket as well. And if you would like to bring kids to Cabaret, we're going to have childcare. This is an adult event, and we will have childcare available, but you need to register in advance for that. So I hope to see many of you here on Friday evening because Cabaret is coming. It'll be here real soon. We'll spend the night in Ireland and we'll dance to some Irish tunes. We'll have a silent auction and a live one wait and see. And we'll raise a lot of money for our first society. I told you it would be lively. In addition to those announcements, please check out the announcements that are on the red floor's insert in your order of service, which describe upcoming events at the society and provide more information about today's activities. And now, welcome to our annual Coming of Age Worship Service. Today we are privileged to hear from a really impressive group of teens who have spent that past eight months in our Coming of Age program. As many of you know, Coming of Age is the final class in our Children's Religious Education program and is our rite of passage marking the transition from childhood to youth. The Coming of Age program offers experiences that help our teens to better understand who they are, who they hope to be, and what beliefs ground and guide them on their way. They've explored beliefs about God. They've spent hours in the wilderness without electronics and with no one to talk to but themselves and a few bugs along the way. They've talked with their elders about their spiritual evolution and they've looked more closely at our Unitarian Universalist principles and how those relate to their own lives and the choices that they make. After many hours of conversation and contemplation, they set themselves down to writing their own belief statements which they will courageously share with you today. You're probably wondering about these decorative poles that are leaning against the podium. These bamboo poles are walking staffs that were created by the Coming of Age elders and gifted to each youth at their wilderness retreat. The staffs were given to remind them that as they walk this journey of life, our FUS community is always here to support them along the way. We have them here today to remind them of that support and to share with you how awesome they are. Feel free to come take a look after the service. And now let's welcome our Coming of Age team of youth facilitators and elders. Not hearing, not hurrying to nor turning from the goal. Not mourning for the things that disappear in the dim past or holding back in fear. From what the future veils but with a whole and happy heart that pays its toll. To youth and age that travels on with cheer. So let the way wind up the hill or down or rough or smooth, the journey will be joy. Still seeking what I sought when but a boy. New friendship, high adventure and a crown. My heart will keep the courage of the quest and hope the road's last turn will be the best. Please rise in body or spirit and join in the words of affirmation as we light our chalice. To be of the earth is to know the restlessness of being a seed, the darkness of being planted, the struggle toward the light, the pain of growth into the light, the joy of birthing and bearing fruit, the love of being food for someone, the scattering of your seeds, the decay of the seasons, the mystery of death and the miracle of birth. And now, before we join in song, please turn and greet your neighbor. I invite anyone who would like to come forward for our story to join me down on the carpet. Okay, ready? Okay, so we're going to read you a book about the day you were born, okay? On the eve of your birth, word of your coming past from animal to animal. The rainduers told the arctic turns who told the humpback whales who told the Pacific salmon. Who told the monarch butterflies who told the green turtles who told the European eel who told the busy garden warblers and the marvelous news migrated worldwide. While you waited in darkness, tiny knees curled to chin, the earth and her creatures with the sun and the moon all moved in their places, each ready to greet you the very first moment of the very first day you arrived. On the day you were born, the round planet earth turned toward the morning sky, whirling past darkness, spinning the night into light. On the day you were born, gravity's strong pull held you to earth with a promise that you would never float away. While deep in space, the burning sun sent up towering flames lighting up your sky from dawn until dusk. On the day you were born, the quiet moon glowed and offered to bring a full, bright face each month to your windowsill. While high above the North Pole, Polaris, the glittering North Star, stood still, shining silver light into your night sky. On the day you were born, you were born, the moon pulled the ocean below, wave by wave, a rising tide washed the beaches clean for your footprints. While far out at sea, clouds swelled with water drops, sailed to shore in a wind and rained you a welcome across the earth's green lands. On the day you were born, a forest of tall trees collected the sun's light in their leaves where, in silent mystery, they made oxygen for you to breathe. While close to your skin and as high as the sky, air rushed in and blew out, invisibly protecting you and all living things on earth. On the day you were born, the earth turned, the moon pulled and the sun flared and then, with a push, you slipped out of the dark quiet where you could suddenly hear, a circle of people singing with voices familiar and clear. Welcome to the spinning world, the people saying, as they washed your new, tiny hands. Welcome to the green earth, the people saying, as they wrapped your wet, slippery body. And as they held you close and whispered into your open, curving ear, we are so glad you've come. Okay, now the children can head to their classes. All right. I never expected to be into sports in high school. But the time I spent on my school's swim team and tennis team have pleasantly surprised me. I've discovered and developed interests that are important to me and made friends doing it. Despite the swim team being small with only eight people total this year, we managed to become very close and have memorable moments created by all of us, such as the time that some of us stayed at school past closing time and proceeded to run around in one of the school's gyms and get caught by the janitors. Not just that, we were also one of the best teams, at least in how loud we cheered for our swimmers. Throughout the season, we have supported each other to the best of our abilities and helped each member grow. The school's tennis team is a lot larger, but I've made a lot of friends on it as well and had just as much fun. We also support each other as much as we possibly can on the tennis team as well. Coming of age is a lot like these teams, and that we support each other through a lot, and I always look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday every week. All in all, these experiences have led me to one core belief. The belief in the power of communities to support each member and help them grow. No matter what community I find myself in, I always feel appreciated and supported, and different communities have helped me get through some rough patches in life. Being a part of communities in my life is important to me, as well as joining and creating new communities. These things are important to me because they help me feel supported and help me feel like I'm helping out other people because I enjoy seeing people happy and knowing that they are there for me whenever I need it. Having a caring and enjoyable community is one of the most necessary things to have in life, and I hope to continue having communities in my life as long as I live. Next year, I'm planning to join Youth Group and have high hopes for that. I'll never forget how this coming of age class has impacted me and helped me grow and meet a whole ton of great people. In my opinion, having a caring and enjoyable community is one of the most necessary things to have in life. This is my belief. I believe in the power of our choices. When I first started writing this, I found myself staring blankly at a piece of paper with jumbled thoughts in my head about what I truly believe in. I wondered if sitting out in the wilderness for six hours straight would help me gather my thoughts, and if some ideas would come to me about what to write about, but in reality, they did not. And although my beliefs are constantly changing as I continue to grow into the person I'm becoming, I found that there are some that have stayed the same, and one of those is the power of our choices. From the start of my understanding of the world to write at this very moment, I've wondered, what do I believe in? When I was younger, I gathered the belief through others that it was God, the big old man in robes that waits for you upon your arrival to the golden gates that I should believe in. I seem content with this until my maturing mind started realizing that, in fact, it is us, humans, that I actually believe in. As humans, all seven billion of us, we all share one thing, that this being that we are all born with two very important organs, the brain and the heart. With our heart, we share an unexplainable bond with others called love, a bond that is truly miraculous and can essentially be stronger than any other tangible thing on earth. With our brain, all 100 billion cells, we are given the power to make choices that shape us into who we become. I believe each and every one of us as humans is responsible for our own lives, not a higher power. Although I find uneasiness in the belief that every decision I make could impact my life so greatly, I also find comfort in this. The thought that I am given the choice to make the world a better place, that I have the choice to be who I want and choose who I become, and the thought that I have the power to make all these decisions gives me such confidence and hope. After all, I wouldn't be on this beautiful planet today if it wasn't for the decision my amazing parents made to have me. For my dad, I have gathered the belief that all things on earth are beautiful and wonderful in their own way, even trees, and that sometimes it's the little things, like going on a drive or just stopping to admire the stars that matter most. And for my mom, I have gained the crucial belief that kindness is one of the most important things to spread to others in life. The world is an enormous, scary, and confusing place, but with the belief that I am in control and I have the power to impact it and make change through my decisions, I think I can handle it. I believe in the quest for happiness. Ever since I can remember, I've always been coming up with crazy ideas and starting ambitious projects. That has always been my thing. It's what makes me happy. I think that most people, if not everyone, have something that makes them happy or will make them happy when they reach it. When I'm working on a project, I'm happy because I enjoy what I am doing. And I know that when I'm finished with my project, I will enjoy having the end product. And if I'm not happy with the end product, I will still feel happy that I had commitment to doing this project. I think that the same thing can apply to many people. They are either doing something that is making them happy right then, or they are doing something that in the end will make them happy, even if they're not enjoying doing it in the moment. I believe that most things, if not everything, revolves around happiness. Because in a lot of cases, it's what motivates people. But in some cases, a person's quest for happiness can be harmful to other people. It can be very destructive. This is why it is important to promote productive ways to be happy. I find that in most cases, though, quest for happiness is a good thing and will have good results. I think that a big part of having a happy life is being a good person. Being honest, kind, and empathetic can lead to being a very happy person. It can lead to be very happy and satisfied with your positive contribution to your community and to this world. And so I believe that happiness is the most important thing in life, and I should never be forgotten. This is why I believe in the quest for happiness. I believe in the power of storytelling. After we were born and once we are ready to listen, we begin to be told stories. And eventually we begin to create stories as well. I am a descendant of storytellers. My parents and my sister are storytellers too. When we were little, my sister weaved the story that when everyday things in the house went missing, it was because Rose, the ghost girl scout who lived in the forest behind our house, was borrowing them and that she'd give them back eventually. And sure enough, a few days later they'd show up again. That was the most exciting part. As I was growing up, my mother tirelessly read me each and every Laura Ingalls Wilder and Anna Greengable's book, and my father taught me the older stories, constellations, ancient legends, and mythology, as well as how to write my own stories as he writes his, and not just as an author. As humans, stories are our first line of defense. At some point we all learn that we are going to die someday, and it can be difficult to face, that nothing lasts forever. So we create things to make ourselves last longer. We try to give ourselves certainty of what comes after we are gone with an all-powerful God that awaits in the heavens, our prayer, sacrifice, reincarnation. We tell the stories of our lives to our descendants to pass down. We give the stories in our heads to the public to criticize and enjoy. We tell stories of all-knowing vengeful gods that watched over us and immortalized the great heroes and heroines and the stars. But even the brightest star eventually flickers out, and nothing is lovely because it lasts. Truth be told, I don't know what I believe comes next, but I do know that I believe that as long as we have stories to pass down and comfort ourselves with, to tie ourselves together and remember our past or vision our future, we are going to be okay. I am going to be okay. I believe that through the power of storytelling, I can become not only the person I want to be, but a person worth telling about. I believe in the moments in life that sustain us. Like a couple years ago, when I got my dog, I saw this time of the thing running me, jumping around and yipping, wanting to meet new people and wanting to play with those new people, and I put a smile on my face. It gave me happiness that I got to take home that little bundle of joy, and she would be there to greet me every time I got home. That little bit of happiness can go a long way to make the rest of your day just a little bit better, rest your league just a little bit less than notness. Another moment that could be helpful is walking in the park, the afternoon light shining through the gaps in the trees, the songs of the birds drifting on the breeze. A small creek gargling by next to you, and in that moment, you'd find some peace and quiet in your mind and just relax and look at a pair of squirrels chasing each other, or an RV man crawling over a leaf. And after you return home, maybe that problem that's been eating away at you, or the deadline that's been weighing you doesn't feel that bad after all. Or you give out a front porch, talking to your close friends about the times that long since passed and those that come in the future, and you once while you laugh or make a joke, but you get a sense of belonging, a sense of perseverance that you're able to get to this moment. To be here among friends, you have made it through a tough day at work, or at school, or a day when nothing went right, or even a few years where life wasn't so great, but this moment makes those other moments worthwhile. For if there are no bad times, then nothing would seem good. And don't these moments recharge us and give us strength to persevere through hard times, but sometimes these moments aren't obvious. Sometimes you won't get a perfect moment. You just have to take a second to look around you, find something that makes you happy, or somewhere you find peace. There must be a whirlwind of responsibility and pressure, moments that slow that whirlwind to breathe, those are the moments I'm talking about. So whoever you are, whenever you find yourself on time, when your life is down and nothing goes right, all you have to do is look for your little moments. Remember that little life is bad right now. There's always hope to find those special moments. That's why I believe that the little moments in life sustain us. Being utilitarian means I validate the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and I am free and responsible to search for truth and meaning. I believe in God, the face of love, compassion, and good in the world. I believe Jesus was sent as the bridge between God and us. Jesus came to TSS and show us God's love. My faith in life stands from these beliefs. I believe God has most easily experienced in nature. Its open space and beauty helps me be a piece of myself and experience of their life forms. Service is a big part of me, and I've often found ways to serve where needed in my life. Service is a lived experience that helps me renew my faith by taking actions into what I believe. I believe that I am the hands of God as I work towards good. Living a good life means having a strong connection to family, friends, and the world around me. I believe an ethical person lives the integrity of what they believe, what they say, and what they do match. I learned the once omniverse from the Bible in the Old Testament or the Hebrew Scriptures. The prophet Micah says, But to live justly, walk home elite, and love mercifully. My mother said, If you would only want to page the Holy Scriptures and you follow this, then you'd be doing most of what the Bible asks of you. You'd be a person of integrity, and you'd be a person of law. My purpose is to be who I was created to be and help others in trying to do this. Because in the end that is God's plan. My goals are to grow into a strong person like my grandpa, who I thought of when I read, if it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you. And I'd like to continue to learn from my stepdad, Scott. He makes life an adventure and is hardworking. He teaches me attention to detail matters. In the end, I was faithful and as loyal as my grandma and my dad with our family, and I will feel happy with my life. Finally, I'm anchored in my life by love, and as we all know, God is love. When I was 10, I did a report on Mother Jones. You can imagine me, four and a half feet tall, in an oversized dress and hat, talking to my bored to tears class about something I barely understood. But I was on top of the world. Obviously, I had proved my intelligence. Success was sure to come my way. In Sunday, a nerdy little fifth grader was going to do a report about me. This childlike philosophy about success stayed with me until my mom decided to run for school board a few months ago. One of the many strangers who kept taking over our house was the campaign manager. He was 20, had been a super active high schooler, then graduated college two years early. Basically, my dream life. That I learned that he wasn't a doctor or a lawyer. He was a substitute teacher. This brings me to my belief. I believe that making the world a better place is more important than recognition. In short, I believe in the power of substitute teachers. Substitute teaching is questionably one of the most difficult jobs out there. At short notice, you have to be ready to teach in an unfamiliar school to 30 antsy kids with virtually no way to make them listen to you. But somehow substitutes manage to do it. I've had substitute teachers who have turned boring classwork into impassioned discussions. They'll never get biographies or statues and parts, but every day they'll change lives. And I don't know what happens after we die, but I do know that what we leave behind is important. And this is why substitute teachers are just as honorable as positions with Nobel prizes. So what should we focus on in place of recognition? I believe that it is most important to actually step out into the real world to volunteer where help is needed. It's also easier for me to get caught up in virtual worlds, also known as the internet, where recognition is the goal. Online, I can read articles about problems we face, such as hunger and homelessness. But I only help to fix those problems when I volunteer with Savory Sundays to help serve and prepare food for the needy. There, I can see the homeless as who they really are, as human as everyone here, not just an abstract social phenomenon. It is these human interactions that I believe help us leave behind a better world. So instead of obsessing over awards and Facebook friends, just take the time to thank your substitute teacher. I believe in the power of reading. For me, books are windows tinted to give the reader a glimpse of the world that surrounds them. They're like fragments of another's mind that helped me to piece together the bigger picture of our universe. Last spring, I had the incredible opportunity to go on a school trip to Washington, D.C. with the rest of my then eighth grade class. One thing that struck me as I was whisked around on that crowded bus was how much the entire city resembles a living book, like pages ripped out of history. I still remember that to this day. Every monument I passed screams with the triumphs of past heroes, and every war memorial is crushed with the weight of countless boys dying for a long forgotten cause. When I stood at the foot of the Washington Monument or ran my hand along the Vietnam Wall, I felt the stories of the past coming to greet me. They shook my hand, gave me reassuring smiles and sometimes cried on my shoulder until I moved on. In a way, we are all like that. Well, we might not all get Chinese statues commemorating our lives, all of our stories are woven into the same intricate tapestry of the ages. We all have fears and flaws, hopes and dreams, and we're all along for this ride, whatever we make of it. In this way, life is sort of like a book on its own. Its countless pages, yellowed and dusty with age, bound with memory, written and scribbled in steady and flowing hands, each narrative winding together into the same overarching story. Perhaps this is why I love books so much. When I read, I'm really seeing sentences out of that same ancient book. With them, I see the people hidden in the names of the chapters of old, hear their words described in vivid detail through the decades in the sentries. I hear the messages they thought were important enough to send forwards through time to me. Books are lenses that help us see the world in all of its glories and shortcomings and learn from the lives of those who came before us. And I hope that with my reading, I will eventually write my chapter in the book of mankind. I now invite you into the giving and receiving of today's offering, which supports our coming of age program. Thank you for your generosity. Christianity, Islam, Shinto, religion. When I was younger, I was never told my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, or anyone else I talked to what to believe in. I've even taught all that much about the different religions of the world. The only thing I remember is once I got a little bit older, my mom telling me that it was just as important to be a nice person as it was to get good grades. Occasionally, I was asked by a friend or a distant relative if I believed in God and nobody had really ever told me if there was or wasn't one. I usually just said yes because that's what they believed in too and I really didn't know an alternative. I started going to FUS with my mom when she would take my sister to class and my mom and I would listen to the service. There was always a different topic, but like my friends and family, they never really told me what I should believe. When I started taking classes at FUS, I thought it was always fun, especially when we got to play outside. As I got older, we started talking about celebrations. Building bridges in sixth grade was a class that really focused on that. We went on field trips to other churches in places of worship which helped me understand their beliefs better because I experienced them. Besides building bridges, we touched on learning about how different religions were formed in history class at school. As you can imagine, we really only learned about these religions in their historical context. Like rituals of how people and animals so they would have those things in their next life. Of course, everyone, including me, knew that they were wrong in sacrificing yourself or other beings would not help you in any way and we were confused on why anyone would think something so crazy. But when I thought about it for a little while, I realized if someone were to go back in time and hand them a Bible or Quran and teach them one of our modern religions, they might think that we were the crazy ones and that we were the ones who were wrong. I thought it was just so weird that so many people could be so sure that their beliefs were right even though other people thought very different things. If someone was 100% sure of something, obviously, they have to be right. But if another person is 100% sure they're wrong, does that make them wrong? I just couldn't wrap my mind around it so I decided for myself that I didn't believe in a God in afterlife or anything besides what we can prove to be true with no inconsistency or error. Because of this, I believe that everyone has to make their own decisions and that no higher power than God can do to them. People should be nice and do good things for the earth, the people and the animals around them because it is the right thing to do, not because they think they are going to get punished or rewarded in some afterlife if they don't. I believe that through kindness, respect, responsibility, reason and science we will all have better lives and improve the world. So I suppose now is the time that I essentially tell you what this crazy thing called life is all about. I'm sorry, I can't do that. Life is all about or what everything means or what our purpose is. I can't explain why we are all here or why we are who we are. The odds of you existing are the same as 2 million people, each rolling a trillion sided dice and all getting the same number. But that happened and you exist. And as crazy as it seems, all the decisions in your life have led you to this very moment in one way or another to listen to me tell you what I believe. I believe in many things. I believe in long walks and enjoying the smell of the sidewalk after a thunderstorm. I believe in smiling and I believe in not smiling when you genuinely don't want to. I believe everyone is loved and is capable of loving. I believe in rolling down your car windows in the rain and worrying a little less about water getting in. In all, I believe about living in the moment. Living in the moment isn't being careless or only doing what you want to do. I believe in a lot of people in the sky while you're stuck in traffic. It's pausing what you're doing for even a few seconds to tell someone you love them. I'm well aware this is easier said than done. There's always that ticking clock in our heads allowing time to control us. But time is simply a constant, perfect measurement of how long this world has been spinning. Which in case you're wondering is around 4.54 billion years. In the grand scheme of things 78 years isn't very many. But in those years, there are countless perfect moments. Moments that make life such a wonderful thing. Moments that are easily missed when you're living in the past or stressing for the future. Instead, be here, live in the now and let some things go. Letting something go isn't admitting defeat. It's not forgetting about what happened. It's lightening your load so you can open your eyes and see the world. World is a breathtaking place but it doesn't matter how gorgeous the view is. If your eyes are closed, you'll never see it. I believe in living with your eyes open. Unfortunately, it's very easy to find yourself stuck on the same track. Eyes closed, only worrying about tomorrow. Allowing yourself to become afraid of the unknown. Allowing yourself to stay on that same beaten path that everyone else is. So I urge you, stray off the beaten path a little bit more and stress less about what means for tomorrow. The sun will still rise. Some things never change but some will and when they do don't try to stop it. It's heartbreaking when people say you've changed as if change isn't okay as if you should be ashamed of it but you shouldn't. You should be glad you've changed because the person you are now isn't any worse than the person you once were. Just different. Things can't stay the same. Whatever stops the moment is always changing. It's always moving forward with or without you. I promise, life will be much more enjoyable if you open your eyes and move forward with it. Self-affirmation and exploration of faith. Though many like me have been fortunate enough to truly explore ideas and philosophies of faith, many others have not been so lucky. Take my grandfather for example. He, like many others of his generation, was raised to be a devout Catholic. One who believed in the glory and presence of God as portrayed within Christianity. However, also within his childhood he was taught not to question any ideas or break any rules of his faith as doing so was a mortal sin and he would be eternally punished for doing so. This core fundamental belief of his faith would eventually clash with himself as he proceeded to marry his non-Catholic fiance. As during the wedding ceremony the Catholic priest demanded that she convert and accept its teachings. However, when she made it clear that she was not willing to do this, my grandfather was forced to choose between his love for her and the faith of his childhood and ultimately his family who refused to attend the wedding after he chose to marry out of the faith. My grandfather's tragic relationship with his faith has showed me the terrible, terrible effects that an environment oppressive or free thinking or question can oppose upon his members. After he left the church for several years that cloud of guilt haunted him that he would be unable to retain a place in heaven and he would be eternally damned. My religious suffering has been completely the opposite. I have been free for all of my childhood to constantly question various ideas and faiths. It is this way of going about religion that has bestowed upon me the ability to choose my own path, my own way of thinking and has given me many countless things. Among these I have been able to choose my own goals, aspirations likes and dislikes and most importantly beliefs without the judgment or guilt of others. It is this great gift that I thank you, the FUS community for giving me. What a joy it is to be celebrating another coming of age ceremony and the culmination of another coming of age year. This is truly a moment to stop and give thanks for our youth for the gift of their insights and their wisdom and to acknowledge that although their classroom learning here may be over their journey of lifelong learning on their own has just begun. Throughout this year our youth have begun in earnest to study themselves to get to know themselves examining their beliefs and values, ideals and aspirations with their belief statements our youth have given us a glimpse of where this process has led them and we would pause for a moment to thank those who've walked with them on this journey. We begin with those who served as the adult facilitators for coming of age who have given our youth direction, insight wisdom and guidance throughout the year. They brought patience, good humor and much love and compassion. Davis, Chitola Anne Galebspie and Jay Ranny. We also pause to give thanks to our elders each youth is matched with an elder who was carefully chosen to embody the thoughtfulness kindness and commitment we hope to encourage in our youth throughout the year our elders were steadfast they took this challenge cheerfully and joyfully and we owe them great thanks if you would please stand as your names are called Michelle Reese Bob Ault Bill Crawley Helena McGevna Emily Cusick Putnam and if our youth will come forward and so to all of you here on this fine May morning thank you for being here to help our youth celebrate this achievement and so we ask you to remember your own important role in the spiritual and the moral development of these youth you see before you where they journey from here is not entirely up to them it is also clearly up to us we must remember that deepening their experience of our tradition, unitarian universalism is not the responsibility of their mentors or their parents alone helping them to blossom as loving and conscientious human beings that is a responsibility we all share and now that they have indeed completed their coming of age year that responsibility becomes even more relevant and more immediate for these young men and women you can serve both as an example and an inspiration of how people live out today their spiritual values through you they can observe unitarian universalist faith in action there can be no greater or more effective teaching than your good example and so now we would ask will you continue to encourage the spiritual growth of the youth that you see before you will you recognize their insights their emerging convictions and also recognize the gifts and the talents that they bring and the enthusiasm and the hope that they bring to our larger world and if you are willing to continue to assist them in this adventure that they have begun please say we will and now to our youth we recognize today the work you have done we're grateful for the gifts and the talents you've brought to us in your time here will you continue this journey you have begun to grow as an individual expressing your beliefs growing in faith and continuing to question and explore if so please say we will and now will the parents of these articulate and talented young men and women please stand good job folks but you beyond everyone else you have been the witnesses to the unfolding and maturing of your child from their day of birth until this very moment in the beginning of this our coming of age year we ask that you give permission for your child to participate in this program and to come of age we ask you now will you continue to open your hearts in order to receive your child into your family for all that they have become in the course of this past year do you promise now to continue your journey together with respect, patience, guidance and if so please say we will you may be seated at the dedication of a child we give to each a rosebud fragrant symbol of beauty promise and love the rose we give then has no thorns symbolizing the better world we would like to give to our children we hope that these children will learn to recognize the beauty and the goodness which exists that they'll grow in wisdom and passion adding their own beauty to the world our hope is that as each rosebud unfolds in all its natural beauty so may their life unfold today we give to each of these young people a rose in full bloom symbolizing the beauty and the gifts that they already give to our world and the natural beauty that is found in each of them yet this time the thorns are still intact when you were a child we could do our best to shield you from the harshness and cruelty of the world but now as a youth we can no longer protect you from all that you encounter both the beauty and the brutality but no matter where you may go and how far you may travel you will always be with us in spirit and we will always bless your way so accept these roses knowing that there are harsh realities in this world but there is much beauty as well may you choose to see the beauty and now as we did when you were young we ask that you be granted clarity of thought integrity of speech and a compassionate heart may the blessings of strength integrity of purpose love received and given be yours today and remain with you as you go forward into ever fuller life if you will join me in congratulating our youth and if you will rise and body your spirit to join in our closing hymn number 288 it is now that we end our time but we as students would like to give thanks firstly our facilitators who have organized each lesson, retreat and discussion and allowed us to delve into the vast sea of beliefs which you have explored in this past year parents it is you who have taken a noble action in the best interests of your child to allow them to come to their own conclusion and be satisfied with their own religious truth I would like to thank my peers who have given their class its unique personality and made it the experience that it is elders perhaps you most of all have given this class its unique touch as you have provided your mistakes your advice and countless other things to help us make our way through our journey thank you