Girls lighting a chalice at the General Assembly Opening Ceremony.

About the Chalice

A flame within a chalice (a cup with a stem and foot), represents the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and is a symbol of the Unitarian Universalist faith. Read more about the history and symbolism of the flaming chalice.

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  • Under the right circumstances, playing with fire is a delight—imagine being gathered round a firepit as the crackling flames invite us to sing, dance, and roast a marshmallow or two. Our chalice also invites us to play, although with ideas rather than with marshmallows. The flame encourages us to...
    Chalice Lighting | By Melanie Davis | October 6, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Humanism, Joy, Playfulness, Secular, Trust, Unitarian Universalism
  • Fire consumes, and casts a bright light. May our chalice flame consume our regrets for the past, our fears about the future, and our worries about today. May it light for us a path of joy and peace.
    Chalice Lighting | By Debra Burrell | November 21, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Beginnings, Direct Experience, Ending, Fear, Joy, Letting Go, New Year, Peace, Presence, Regret
  • Out of the darkness, light. Out of the light, warmth. Out of the warmth, joy. Out of the joy, togetherness. May this flame hold us for the time we are here with one another.
    Chalice Lighting | By Ben Soule | February 7, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Caring, Community, Connections, Joy, Presence, Unitarian Universalism, Unity
  • And so we gather, from the ebb and flow of our lives Thirsty for connection to ourselves Thirsty for connection to others Thirsty for connection to the larger life. As we light this chalice May all who gather here be filled: Filled with joy and hope Filled with compassion and love Here, may we be...
    Chalice Lighting | By Gregory Pelley | September 15, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 6th Principle (World Community), Agnosticism, Body, Community, Compassion, Connections, Direct Experience, Earth, Homecoming / Ingathering, Hope, Humanism, Joy, Love, Nature, Searching, Secular, Unitarian Universalism, Water Communion, WorshipWeb
  • This is a house of reflection and contemplation, of joy and sorrow, friendship, sharing and laughter. We light this chalice in remembrance of what we have been and in the hope of what we may become.
    Chalice Lighting | By Dale Hudson | June 19, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Commitment, Community, Connections, Direct Experience, Friendship, History, Hope, Joy, Reconciliation, Relationships, Sorrow
  • We take time to remember The ancestor’s journey Lit by a thousand stars What the wilderness taught them “Blessed art thou oh lord” Trust in the path Celebrate with joy What might the wilderness teach us Where can we pray to our thousand stars To feel our own life’s blessings To know our own...
    Chalice Lighting | By Sara Eileen LaWall | February 18, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Generations, Joy, Trust, Unitarian Universalism
  • In faith, together, we light this small scrap of light, symbol of Grandfather Sun's enormous power, whose energy burns so brightly In these days of deep Summer, catapulting the leaves and vines, vegetables, flowers and fruits to astonishing size, lengths and heights, spilling over the tops of cag...
    Chalice Lighting | By Ellen Hamilton | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Abundance, Community, Earth, Earth-Centered, Food, Freedom, Gratitude, Growth, Joy, Nature, Summer
  • Joy and grief Health and sickness Light and Darkness Peace and anger Life and death Wholeness and brokeness We each bring all of these here to this sanctuary of unity in diversity For this one hour of this one day And pour them out Commingling the oil of our lives To become the flame of this chal...
    Chalice Lighting | By Paul Stephan Dodenhoff | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Anger, Birth, Brokenness, Death, Diversity, Grief, Joy, Peace, Unity, Wholeness
  • All that we have ever loved And all that we have ever been Stands with us on the brink Of all that we aspire to create: A deeper peace, A larger love, A more embracing hope, A deeper joy in this life we share.
    Chalice Lighting | By Leslie Takahashi | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Creativity, Growth, Hope, Identity, Individualism, Joy, Love, Peace, Vision
  • We call this light before us in hope that we may always remain a strong community, working together to make the world a better place. When we are grieving or sad, When we are challenged, When we need help, This flame guides us out of the darkness. When we are cheerful, When we celebrate, When we...
    Chalice Lighting | By Atticus Palmer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Challenge, Community, Generosity, Hope, Joy, Playfulness, Responsibility, Sorrow, Strength, Unity
  • In this time of loss In this time of asking why We light a flame of sharing We light a flame of commitment. In this time of why We light this flame Sign of our searching Sign of our sharing Sign that together we remember Together we ask why Together in sadness and joy We share light. Together we...
    Chalice Lighting | By David Breeden | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Commitment, Community, Death, Generosity, Grief, Identity, Joy, Sacrifice, Searching, Sorrow
  • O light of life, Be kindled again in our hearts As we meet together this morning To celebrate the joy of human community Seeking a wholeness that extends beyond ourselves.
    Chalice Lighting | By Sam Trumbore | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Commitment, Community, Connections, Faith, Gratitude, Inclusion, Joy, Sacred, Strength, Wholeness
  • Deep calls unto deep, joy calls unto joy, light calls unto light. Let the kindling of this flame rekindle in us the inner light of love, of peace, of hope. And "as one flame lights another, nor grows the less,” we pledge ourselves to be bearers of the light, wherever we are.
    Chalice Lighting | By Gordon B McKeeman | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Calling, Caring, Commitment, Community, Covenant, Hope, Journey, Joy, Love, Peace
  • As frozen earth holds the determined seed, this sacred space holds our weariness, our worry, our laughter and our celebration. Let us bring seed and soul into the light of thought, the warmth of community, and the hope of love. Let us see together, hear together, love together. Let us worship.
    Chalice Lighting | By Laura Wallace | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Commitment, Community, Earth, Faith, Growth, Hope, Joy, Love, Sacred, Worry
  • In the mystery of life about us there is light. It gives us a place to be, to grow, to rejoice together. It opens the pathways to love. In this place of friendship there is freedom. Let the light we kindle go before us, Strong in hope, wide in good will, Inviting the day to come.
    Chalice Lighting | By George Kimmich Beach | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Connections, Friendship, Good, Growth, Hope, Journey, Joy, Love, Mystery, Unitarian Universalism