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"Home Still Rocks My Soul"
Rev. Jane Rzepka led the full worship service of the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) attended by approximately 190 people on Saturday night June 24. Rev Rzepka was installed as minister of CLF in a ceremony the previous night. The theme of the service was home. The music was the Tashian String Band featuring Holly and Barry Tashian from the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville and also Ross Sermon on the upright bass and Amanda Mathis on the fiddle.
The opening words invited us to make this place and time our home away from home. The incoming chair of CLF, Beth Neidel, and the outgoing chair, Linda Melski, lit the chalice. Betsy William, Director of Religious Education at CLF, read from Visions of Utopia by John Egerton. Rev David Horst, CLF Staff, read from Gemini by Nikki Giovanni.
The imagery conjured by Rev. Rzepka's sermon was from a story by Tennessee poet Charles Wright who "swears" this story is true. It is about the sleep-walking escapade from campsite by an 11 year old boy. He awakens next to a black bear on the edge of a 1,000-foot cliff drop. 
For the boy, the reassuring comfort of home was beneath the tent flap at the campsite. It is this same comfort we seek in Unitarian Universalism as we awaken next to our black bears and our cliff drops. "We go out into the wild with the hope that we will return home to a place that offers respite." Like refugees, we take solace in the trappings of home amidst the impoverishment and sameness of our surroundings.
Rev. Rzepka acknowledged Mary Gordon's insight that the "the realistic home is a vexed place with an ambiguous halo." All the greater is the need for our chosen home in Unitarian Universalism. Rzepka's closing blessing was "May this home of Unitarian Universalism rock your soul." On this night and in this place, with the help of Rev. Rzepka and the Tashian String Band, we rocked. And we were at home.
Church of the Larger Fellowship
General Assembly
Nashville, Tennessee
June 24, 2000
"Sometimes people hit upon a place to which they mysteriously feel that they belong. Here is the home they sought, and they will settle amid scenes that they have never seen before, among people they have never known, as though they were familiar to them from their birth. Here at last they find rest."
The Moon and Sixpence (adapted)Prelude
Somerset Maugham
Fiddle Tunes The Tashian String BandOpening Words and Welcome
The Rev. Jane Rzepka Minister, CLFSong
Come Sing a Song With Me
Unison Chalice Lighting
Beth Neidel, Incoming Chair, CLF BoardMusic
Linda Melski, Outgoing ChairIn the light of truth,
And the warmth of this evening's community
We gather.
May the flame we now kindle
Be to us a symbol
Of the holiness we seek.
Home
Barry and Holly Tashian
Reading
Visions of Utopia, John EgertonInterlude
Betsy Williams
Director of Religious Education, CLF
The Tashian String BandReading
Gemini, Nikki GiovanniSong
The Rev. David Horst, CLF Staff
I'll Take My TimeSermon
Barry and Holly TashianChorus:
I'll take my time, I'll take my time
I don't have to worry, I won't fall behind
Everybody hurries everywhere they roam
But I'll take my time going home.
Home Still Rocks My SoulSong
Sweet Sunny South
Closing Words
Postlude
Fiddle TunesNotes
The Tashian String Band
Many thanks go to Barry and Holly Tashian who performed their original songs for the service. Thanks also go to the Tashian String Band: Barry and Holly Tashian, vocals and guitars; Alan Johnson, fiddle; and Ross Sermons, upright bass.
The Chalice is shared by the Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Congregation of Unitarian Universalists. It was created by Jim Kelly, an artist and member of the group.
The beautiful flowers were brought by Linda Eller and other volunteers. Thank you.
Thanks also go to Nelson Simonson, head usher, and to the ushers themselves.
Come, Sing a Song with Me has been reprinted by permission of the Surtsey Publishing Co., Plainville, MA.
Church of the Larger Fellowship is a church without walls serving isolated religious liberals. We create community with our parishioners through the mail, on the phone and electronically (email and on our website).
Email: clf@uua.org
Phone: (617) 948-6166Visit our website!!
http://www.uua.org/clfChurch of the Larger Fellowship, 25 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02108
Barry & Holly Tashian, Rounder Recording artists from Nashville, TN both grew up in Westport, CT. They have been performing country/bluegrass duets for over 25 years, touring the US and Europe, and appearing on A Prairie Home Companion and The Grand Ole Opry numerous times.
They were Speakers of the Week at Star Island conferences in 1997 and 1999, giving workshops on harmony singing and songwriting. They have also taught at Summer Acoustic Music Week and Augusta Music Camp.
Their fourth album, Straw Into Gold received the INDIE Award for Country Album of the Year in 1994. Country artists Ty England, Daniel O'Donnell, and Roland White are among the many to record their songs. Their latest album, Harmony was nominated for Bluegrass Album of the Year at the Nashville Music Awards.
Their albums are available for sale after the service
Barry Tashian (lead guitar and vocals) opened for The Beatles on their last tour in 1966 with his rock band Barry and The Remains. Barry has written a book about the tour titled: Ticket to Ride: The Extraordinary Diary of the Beatles Last Tour, Dowling Press. He spent 10 years touring and recording with Emmylou Harris and The Hot Band in the 1980's and has recorded with many artists throughout his career.
Holly Tashian (rhythm guitar and vocals) has recorded with folk singer Nanci Griffith and bluegrass singer Delia Bell. She has written songs for The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Jody Stecher and Kate Brislin and others.
Ross Sermons (upright bass) is from western North Carolina. He played bass in Jimmie Buffet's Band, and recorded on various projects. His latest recording is Summer Villa, a collection of country/bluegrass songs by various artists recorded live at his home place in North Carolina.
Amanda Mathis (fiddle) is from eastern Tennessee
Tashian Music
PO Box 150921
Nashville, TN 37215
Tel: 615-383-8948 Fax: 615-292-6722
Email: harmony@tashian.com
Website: http://www.tashian.com/~carl/tmusic
