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On the first Sunday after Labor Day, many Unitarian Universalist congregations kick off the new congregational year with an Ingathering service, and some congregations include the Water Communion ritual (or Water Ceremony) in this service.

Themes often used include: reunion; re-gathering; re-covenanting as a community of faith; hospitality; returning home to the church community that holds us; hope; looking forward with excitement to church year. The service may be intergenerational in whole or in part.

Unitarian Universalist Perspectives

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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6

  • Scrabble letters spell out the word "January."
    For the new year, just days old, beginning today, always beginning: We light our chalice, symbol of faith, perseverance, and hope, in astonished thanksgiving and irrepressible praise. For beginnings that emerge out of endings, appear amidst continuity, become visible in hindsight: We light our...
    Chalice Lighting | By Lisa Doege | January 8, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Beginnings, Faith, Gratitude, Homecoming / Ingathering, Hope, New Year, Unitarian Universalism
  • The Kanuti River winds through banks of golden trees in autumn on the Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
    There are so many spiritual lessons from the natural world and—in a season filled with Ingatherings and Water Communions—this is one for me: oxbow lakes as a beautiful combination of resiliency, strength, and flexibility.
    Reflection | By Tim Atkins | September 11, 2019 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Beginnings, Direct Experience, Discernment, Earth, Earth-Centered, Environment, Homecoming / Ingathering, Journey, Nature, Power, Strength, Water Communion
  • Fat drops of dew on the emerald leaves of a succulent
    We gather together this morning tenderly—like drops of dew on a leaf of grass hopefully—like gathered raindrops in a cloud gleefully—like water rushing in a stream to the sea deeply—like groundwater pulled up from a well We gather from every direction, for another year of growth and depth,...
    Opening | By Molly Housh Gordon | September 4, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Beginnings, Community, Earth, Earth-Centered, Homecoming / Ingathering, Interdependence, Nature, Water Communion
  • A red apple, from above, on a white plate.
    Happy new year! Happy new year for our beloved community. Happy new school year....
    Opening | By Debra Haffner | September 14, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Beginnings, Community, Homecoming / Ingathering, Inclusion, Judaism, Rosh Hashanah, Unitarian Universalism, Vision, Water Communion
  • In a trick of photography, nine people "float" in a chain, led by a red balloon.
    All that we have been separately and all that we will become together is stretched out before and behind us like stars scattered across a canvas of sky. We stand at the precipice, arms locked together like tandem skydivers working up the courage to jump. Tell me, friends: What have we got to lose?
    Meditation | By Leslie Ahuvah Fails | October 6, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Beginnings, Body, Calling, Commitment, Courage, Homecoming / Ingathering, Installations, Interdependence, Judaism, Ordinations, Playfulness, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Relationships, Trust, Unitarian Universalism
  • Image of hands under running water.
    Note: This ritual combines fresh water with water from the previous year that has been boiled and filtered. The combined water is poured over the hands into the common bowl. Minister: The ancient Greek philosopher Heracltus of Ephesus is famous for one belief. He taught his students that...
    Blessing | By Charlie Dieterich | April 22, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Beginnings, Body, Caring, Children, Earth-Centered, Education, Generations, Gratitude, Growth, Homecoming / Ingathering, Humanism, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Purpose, Teacher Recognition, Tradition, Unitarian Universalism, Water Communion, WorshipWeb