Chalice Lighting

Within us all burns the fire of life.
We share this common flame, symbol of our precious being.
Each flame burns with a unique glow,
signifying our respect for the inherent worth and dignity
of every person.

Reading/Song

Hymn 131, Love Will Guide Us, has the following lyric:
If you cannot sing like angels,
if you cannot speak before thousands,
you can give from deep within you. PLURALISM
You can change the world with your love.

Meditation

from Jeff Liebmann
Each of you is one of billions of humans inhabiting this planet. Billions – a scary number. But, a billion represents just a tiny fraction of the grains of sand here on Earth, or snowflakes that fall every winter. And yet, each grain of sand, each snowflake is different. In every case, perhaps microscopic variations make every grain, every flake unique. But, sand does not think. The snow crystal has no capacity to reason. The desert feels no emotion. And the blizzard cannot love.

On the other hand, each and every person thinks and has the capacity to reason. Each and every person feels and has within them the seeds of love. So, while sand has usefulness when melted into glass and the snow melts to provide life sustaining water, one would not miss a single grain, a stray flake.

Each and every person, however, has worth. Regardless of our status or our accomplishments, we impact the lives of others. In addition, each and every person possesses dignity – the right to self-determination, the right to pursue noble deeds, and the right to grant and earn respect inherent in the human
soul.

Mindfulness and Action

On this first week of Chalica, we affirm and celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology. We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.

• Are there people I don’t understand, and what can I do to bridge the divide between us?
• Are there people with whom I have disagreements, and can I work to find a common path for us to walk together?
• Is there someone I have disrespected to whom I can make amends?
• Someone who has helped me that deserves thanks or appreciation?
• Is there someone who could benefit from my affirmation?

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