Tapestry of Faith: Faith Like a River: A Program on Unitarian Universalist History for Adults

Opening

Activity time: 5 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED battery-operated candle
  • Optional: Decorative cloth

Preparation for Activity

  • Set up a worship or centering table with the chalice and (optional) decorative cloth.

Description of Activity

Light the chalice and share these words of the Reverend Barbara Pescan:

today we light this flame

in memory

and in appreciation

for all who have gone before

lighting with the passion of their lives

the way to freedom.

for all who have lighted fires at hearths

for those who have kept the flames alive

in cold and dangerous times

for those whom the fires consumed

because they would not betray their souls

nor their covenants with their gods

for those who knew their small light

would not put us one spark closer to truth

but who would not yield to dire predictions.

nor to cynicism

nor to common sense

their uncommon sense that it was their light

that was called for

that it was they

who were called

by name.

we light this flame in memory

and in appreciation

for all those who have gone before.

Let us do something worthy

of its light.