As we light this chalice, beacon of our people,
we remember the guiding light of Love,
we welcome the shining light of Truth,
and we orient ourselves
toward constructive action.
[Light chalice.]
The flame we gaze upon is held aloft
in a cup of communal covenant.
It calls us all to a relational way of being,
in which issues are communicated with care,
are received with grace, and are resolved in keeping
with our values of mutual respect and accountability.
In this spirit we meet one another
and begin.