A Prayer for Homecoming:
Blessed is this ground on which we stand. Holy is this place.
Holy are the places of memory,
the places which have formed us,
where we store the icons of success and shattered dreams
and gather threads and pieces of what we would become. . .
Holy are the places of memory.
Holy are the places of the dream,
the places over the rainbow,
where all children are wanted and all people are fed,
where colors are the source of celebration
and youth and age come to the table as one. . .
Holy are the places of the dream.
Holy are the places of change and pain,
the places of our struggle,
where the rivers of our lives run white and fast,
and we hold on, hold on and grow. . .
Holy are the places of change and pain.
Holy are the places of connection,
the places where we risk our selves,
where hands touch hands, touch souls, touch minds,
and in awareness still, we change our lives. . .
Holy are the places of connection.
Holy are the places of becoming,
the places of clear vision,
where life and world are intertwined
and we can see forever in this moment
and give thanks. . .
Holy are the places of becoming.
Blessed is the ground on which we stand. Holy
-- and
whole-making -- is this place.
A Chalice Lighting Inspired by Our UU Principles:
In this free church, we come
together without creed, focusing instead on the core values of justice, equity
and compassion . . .
Of mutual acceptance of our
diverse ways of being, as we seek to connect ourselves more fully with the
unfolding truths of life and of our world.
We come together in shared
conviction that all people deserve a voice in matters that concern them, and
that it is up to each of us to protect the rights of all – particularly those
who, for whatever reason, have long been held in silence.
We come together in the
stubborn belief that community is possible and that peace is more than a dream.
We commit together to affirm
in our actions as well as our words, the
inherent worth and dignity of every human being.
We come together in awareness
of our interdependence with all humanity, and with the wider web of existence,
for that too is part of what is meant by “we.”
In this free church, we come together without creed,
believing that the way we live in the world bears testament to the value of our
beliefs.
We light this chalice as a
beacon of hope for those who have gathered here this day. For all who have ever walked through our
doors. For those who may yet find this
spiritual home, and for those whose paths will never come our way.
For all this, and for all
those things we dare to hope and dream, we kindle our chalice flame this day.
(Second last stanza inspired
by my colleague the Rev. Erik Wikstrom)
A Prayer for the Advent of the "Holiday Season:"
We gather this morning,
both
because and in spite of
the
pressures of the season.
May we on
this day commit ourselves
To banish
cynicism and welcome wonder.
To downplay
our differences
And claim
the kinship of community.
May we be
mature enough
to free the
child we once longed to be.
May we be
foolish enough
To deny the raucous demands
of the things
that
populate our days . . .
foolish
enough to wait, to listen,
and to let
the tranquilty of peace blossom
and become
the essence of our being.
Words for Kindling a Chalice Flame:
A
small flame, this, in a world where power speaks loudly and empathy is too
often ignored.
A
small flame, this, but then symbols are always much smaller than their
signifier.
A
small flame, and more, for this flaming chalice is at once our proclamation:
This gathering bears witness to our
belief that community is possible.
This gathering affirms that human
beings can make a difference, that by living our values with love, we contribute to the healing of the world.
A small flame, this, but great is the energy inspired by its light.
Please contact Rev. Killoran for additional prayers
and meditations.