May we light this chalice this morning to remind us of the power and beauty of balance and contrast. It is darkness that can make the flame of a single candle so powerful, and light that deepens those shadows in turn. A chalice flame is the meeting point, the union of the refuge, safety, and incredible beauty of darkness, and the warmth, the assurance, and the joy of light.

May this act of lighting our chalice this morning remind us that we are stronger together, in all the complexities and the disagreements of relationship, because we are different, and because we are one.