Love Is at the Center

Emily Joy wrote “Love is at the Center” in 2023 during the year of discernment when Unitarian Universalists were “trying on” our new UU Values described in Article II. She sought to use her knowledge as a composer and speech language pathologist to create a song with lyrics that would be accessible, meaningful, and memorable for all ages to deepen understanding of Unitarian Universalism. She and the children of the congregation at the Unitarian Society of Germantown, PA created these optional hand movements:

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• On “giving,” hold hands out palm-side up.
• On “change,” hold one hand above and below, as if holding an imaginary ball, then switch hand positions.
• On “differences,” cross index fingers and uncross them.
• On "I believe in love,” tap the beat with your hand on your heart.
• For the chorus, clap!
• On “justice,” make a fist in the air.
• On “fairness,” move open palms up and down, like a balance scale finding balance.
• On “web of life,” interlock fingers.

Emily Joy Goldberg (she/her) is a composer, singer-songwriter, and speech-language pathologist based in Philadelphia, PA. She was soprano soloist for the Unitarian Society of Germantown for 13 years, and has preached and sung at UU churches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. In 2019 she released an album of original songs based on UU principles (Open Doors), and during the COVID-19 pandemic, she produced a compilation of original songs from the Philadelphia songwriters: Songs from the Inside (2020).

Emily Joy Goldberg (she/her) is a composer, singer-songwriter, and speech-language pathologist based in Philadelphia, PA. She was soprano soloist for the Unitarian Society of Germantown for 13 years, and has preached and sung at UU churches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. In 2019 she released an album of original songs based on UU principles (Open Doors), and during the COVID-19 pandemic, she produced a compilation of original songs from the Philadelphia songwriters: Songs from the Inside (2020).