Ask Minister Poppei 3 – Open Reflections and Thoughts Through “Opening Word”
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Canadian Atheist
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2020/03/20
Minister Amanda Poppei is a Senior Leader & Unitarian Universalist Minister at the Washington Ethical Society (Ethical Culture and Unitarian Universalist). Here we talk about some of the Opening Word and Opening Song
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How is the Opening Word important for setting a tone of the service? What have been some recent contents of opening words for the Washington Ethical Society?
Minister Amanda Poppei: I try to choose words that will not only introduce the theme or core message of the platform service, but will also set the tone. If we are having a platform that is about grief, the opening words will be more comforting or thoughtful. If a platform about justice, then I’ll choose words that exhort or inspire. Most of my opening words are poems, some are quotes or readings. I write them myself sometimes, but mostly share words from someone else.
Jacobsen: Why have those topics been focused on, in the recent opening words? How do these provide a context to transition into an Opening Song, which, as you noted, is a sing-along format?
Poppei: Sometimes I get lucky and find a poem or reading that really leads into the opening song perfectly, but most of the time it’s about having a similar tone.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Minister Poppei.
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