Opening Words by Rev. Cecil Williams

We come together this morning in acknowledgement of our need of one another.
Some of us need to be heard, but have no one who will really listen.
Some of us need to be loved, and some of us need to love.
Some of us want to change, but it’s too (painful) difficult.
Some of us are lonely, but afraid to tell anyone.
Some of us want to just be ourselves but (we’re afraid we won’t be accepted as we are.)
Some of us want to make the world a better place but feel weighed down by a sense of futility.
Some of us don’t even know what we need, but hope to find out, here.
We come together, sometimes in fear, sometimes in trust, sometimes in sorrow and pain, sometimes in joy, but always in hope and faith that we can help and strengthen each other in our quest for healing.