Advent, adventus, means waiting. And the holiday season is nothing if not waiting—to get done the chores; to find the right gift; to find time for quiet moments; to accept that our loved ones will not be as we wish them to be....
Speaking from the heart can turn an ordinary meeting into a rewarding one.
We kindle this flame (hold arms together in a chalice shape and wiggle fingers) to honor the heart of a Unitarian Universalist (hold hands together in a heart shape) Someone who shows strength (flex both arms in a strong motion) Someone who lends a helping hand (flip one hand, palm facing outward...
As we gather in this sacred moment, the Holy Spirit settles among her people.
Our common work is the creation of Beloved Community.
We come together trusting that in gathering we will be renewed.
We gather to honor our covenant and engage in congregational life.
Can we find space for lifting our heads in wonder—that we’re still striving, still trying together
The circle of the chalice helps keep the fire small.
Our chalice reminds us that the fire within ourselves is the same fire that illuminates the Universe. It is our reminder that all is connected even though the space of the void is vast, and our experience here is but a blip in the cosmic timeline....
We gather here, around this flame; seeking, believing, and being, together.
This burning flame represented hope during the bleakness of World War II.
Our ancestors in faith acted with courage to bring hope and safety.
We are stronger together because we are different, and because we are one.
We tend the spark of imagination and hope for the world to come.
We light this chalice today as a people dedicated to personal growth.
Every creature is an embodiment of the Love of the Universe.
We light this chalice to remember the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.
We light this chalice today to illuminate our way toward Love.
Help us to see that for the smallest, the humblest, the least of these burns the brightest star.
We light this chalice as a symbol of courage to move into that time of this and that / and not this / and not that
Here we gather to celebrate hope, and the infinite possibilities of love.
We are all able In different ways With various strengths and talents. We are all holy Part of the universe And the interdependent web. We light this chalice Cherishing our differences And holding each other in sacredness.
As we light this flame, we remember friends and loved ones near and far and we give thanks. As the fire burns brightly, we open our minds and hearts to new ways of being and we feel alive....
Unitarian Universalism has a place for you. It is right here.
Amidst the swirl of life's challenges, fears, and even moments of crisis, I make time to gaze at the night sky to see the vastness there, And to remember that this moment in time is but a flicker— Not an inconsequential flicker— For what I do and think now does matter. My work, though, is to let...
More than relic— Living symbol: Beacon to the bewildered illuminating refuge; Light of love calling to community; Signal of sacred mission. Shine now in the world, Set being ablaze, Kindle our courage, Ignite intuition. Spark our hearts to service. Glow hope.
May today bring forth transformation in ourselves—from grief, healing; from memory, wholeness; and from celebration, love.
To be a Unitarian Universalist means we’ll never be done with the work.
We light this chalice to kindle a flame of warmth as a reminder of the connection that draws us in to a community that opens us up.
With humility and courage born of our history, we are called as Unitarian Universalists to build the Beloved Community where all souls are welcome as blessings, and the human family lives whole and reconciled. With this vision in our hearts and minds, we light our chalice. —“A vision for...
May this chalice light guide us toward the courageous and openhearted apology, toward repair of relationships in our lives.
This is a house of reflection and contemplation, of joy and sorrow, friendship, sharing and laughter. We light this chalice in remembrance of what we have been and in the hope of what we may become.
We light this flame To ignite the sacred power of justice. We light this flame So that it may be a beacon of hope In moments of uncertainty, fear, anxiety, and the unknown....
My beloved people, I cannot pretend, And so I will not tell you, That everything is okay right now. That there is no reason to be angry, That you must be optimistic Or at peace. I cannot pretend these things, And so I won't tell them to you. But now our chalice is lit, And so all I ask in this...
The chalice, as a symbol of Unitarian Universalism, arose as a beacon of hope in an atmosphere of tyranny. The chalice arose as a sign of promise that the marginalized would neither be forgotten nor ignored, because they are beloved and precious from the perspective of the Holy. This morning, we...
May God—the mind that sees our faults, the tears that sting our wounds, the laugh that soothes our aches, and the love that redeems us all—be illuminated by the light we kindle in this house of faith.
Our Unitarian heritage bids us light our chalice In the name of freedom, In the light of reason, In actions of tolerance. We gather in community to celebrate a heritage of freedom, reason, and tolerance....
Our prophets died for the freedom of faith; We are here in their spirit. We are here to practice and sustain our living tradition; To light a chalice, Claiming for justice The heat and power of fire....
Leader: We believe and trust that all people are equal in humanity: Black or White; Rich or Poor; Gay or Straight. Congregation: All people are equal in humanity. Leader: Our prayer today is that the Government in Uganda will listen to the cry of its people. May they find wisdom and recognize the...
We light our chalice, symbol of our faith, For truth, sought through a questioning heart and an attentive mind; And for love, pursued through obstacles inside and outside our own human heart; And for forgiveness, and all it entails— The place where truth and love meet and merge.
(Can be preceded by singing the first verse of "Bright Morning Stars," Hymn 357 in Singing the Living Tradition) Day breaks on our gratitude for family and friends, For the freedom to find our own truth, For the company of those who gather here, And the promises we offer one another....
Mindful that With great power comes great responsibility, We light this chalice in the hopes that In brightest day, in blackest night, Our faith will Flame on! —Spiderman, Green Lantern, & the Human Torch (compiled by Cynthia Landrum)...