This note is intended for the exclusive delectation of those of us here at Cornell (or once here), who know of Sage Chapel and its non-sectarian Sunday morning services. Of course, it may bring a smile to the faces of others as well. The name “non-sectarian” is deceiving: trust me, this group is one very special bunch of loonies with their own ideology. I can’t imagine that Sage Chapel has a regular Sunday morning “congregation”; rather, I suppose that the size of the gathered “faithful” varies with the hipness of the person leading the “meditation”, i.e. sermon. On that note, I should also point out that this Sunday - in case any of you were interested - is the “special annual jazz service”; the “Postlude”, so-called, is “Take the A Train” by Duke Ellington. I think that they would be better off with some of Mozart’s compositions for the Masons, which I am enjoying listening to as I type this post. It’s kinda jazzy in its way.

But this is what I wanted to share - I stole into the Masons’ offices to get you a sneak peak of this Sunday’s “liturgy”. It begins with a “Call to Worship: A Litany to Light and Life” (because this Sunday’s theme is “Light and Life in Winter”). I don’t believe that you’ll find this litany among the approved, though my researches haven’t been exhaustive.

LEADER: In the beginning God said,
ALL: “Let there be light.”

LEADER: At the end, the enlightened one, Buddha said,
ALL: “Make of yourself a Light.”

LEADER: Jesus of Nazerth [sic], The Christ once said,
ALL: “You are the Light of the World.”

LEADER: And we, here and now, do Pray,
ALL: May we be light to life in Winter.

LEADER: Let us worship the Creator of all.

Good stuff, huh? Maybe I should have put sic’s by all the words - it’s all kinda rich. The music after the Anthem and before the Readings is “Embraceable You” by George and Ira Gershwin. Cool.