Chalice lighting
Chalice lighting and welcome
Let this be a light of welcome, of hope and of joy.
You may have had a busy day-you are here
You may have had a quiet day-you are here
You may have had a difficult week-you are here
You may have faced challenges-you are here
You are here, bring joy or sadness.
Be calm in this moment.
May you find the
Gathering words
We gather together and, in lighting our chalice, we witness a flame of hope.
Whatever has been our personal pathway here today and where ever it takes us afterwards, whatever our beliefs, religious heritage, faith, certainty and doubt: we are all sisters and brothers in common humanity.
We join in this community seeking the best way
Taking the journey together
As we travel the paths that our lives reveal to us,
We are often not sure of the way, the distance, or the destination.
Nevertheless, we have each other.
We can look to one another for wisdom,
We can be grateful for each other’s companionship,
And we can seek support when we have lost hope.
What do we want from this church?
What do we seek from this church?
What is it that we want?
How do we plan to get it?
How will we know when we have it?
We light our chalice this morning to help guide our way.
Draw near
This is a holy place –
enter by the true and living Way,
draw near with true hearts
to consider one another
and the works of love.
Chalice lighting
Let this light remind us of the sacred flame of life that blazes within
Constant, yet ever-changing
Burning, yet never consumed
O inner light of soul and spirit
Lead our minds to greater understanding
Lead our hearts to love more fully
And lead our hands to create justice
As leaves flame
As leaves flame yellow, red, and gold,
then fall,
and flames and sweet aromas
rise from autumn bonfires,
so too we kindle our chalice-flame
in thanks for the season’s beauty
and the love that makes us one.
Chalice lighting
We gather as Unitarians,
old and new friends
Seeking truth love meaning
and deep connection.
We respect the integrity of our individual selves
Even as we are shown the inter-connectedness of all that is;
We light this chalice
The symbol of our open creedless faith
For holding
And being held.