Theme “Freedom”
Kindling the Flame of Truth
Inspired by Cliff Reed’s hymn, The Flame of Truth is Kindled.
We light our chalice, symbol of our Unitarian and Free Christian faith,
For that which is best in us:
For the truth that makes us free,
For the thought that leads us to wisdom,
And for the love that makes us whole.
May this light
Enabling Love
(Inspired by Hymn 220 in Hymns for Living: ‘Break not the Circle of Enabling Love’)
May our chalice shine as a hearth light,
welcoming friend and stranger alike
to a circle of compassion that embraces all the living.
May our chalice shine with the wonder of the love that frees,
empowering those of every race and nation
Benediction
This is a blessing for a service about the Edict of Torda.
Let us live in the spirit of Torda
So that in every place, under every sky
Each person’s understanding of God is
Permitted and respected.
Let us likewise guard that no one is
Reviled, threatened, imprisoned
Or in any way prejudiced for their religion
or
Blessing of freedom
May you know freedom
Freedom born of complete trust in God
May you know freedom
Freedom born of difficulties faced and conquered
May you know freedom
Freedom born of full knowing of God’s love for you
May you know freedom
Rivington chalice words
These are Chalice Words that I wrote a long time ago and they are an attempt to encapsulate the joy of being Unitarian, they are easily adjusted to suit an occasion.
We light our chalice flame, it is our Unitarian symbol of Freedom, Hope and Love. Freedom to express our many and varied beliefs and ways
Love of ages
The classic hymn ‘Rock of Ages’ draws heavily on Calvinist ideas about the atonement, the cross and original sin, all areas where Unitarians have differed from Calvinism. Here, its words are adapted to a more Unitarian perspective by Francis Elliot -Wright.
1
Love of Ages, meant for me,
Let me find myself in Thee;
Even
Closing words
We have always believed – and we are right to do so – that we are free to make choices; and even if that belief is not absolutely correct and the freedom is limited, we have to go with it, because otherwise how could we influence society in the ways it needs to be influenced.
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall
We see barriers erected between people of different lands.
We see sheets of steel and towers of concrete called ‘Protection’.
We see boundaries policed.
Watch men, women and children running from hunger and persecution,
looking for a gap in the wall………
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall…………
We see walls of fear