Religious Education Update: April 22, 2007
Flower Communion
The children will participate with us today in one of UU’s most beloved rituals: the Flower Communion. This service originated with Rev. Norbert Capek (1870-1942), founder of the Unitarian Church of Czechoslovakia. He created this celebration partly to reclaim the word “communion”, which means drawing together. He also wished to honor springtime and the season’s new life which draws Unitarians to closer connection with the Earth.
It is most appropriate for us to celebrate Flower Communion on Earth Day, a time when people of all faiths and many nations honor our Earth and reflect on how we can join together to protect our planet.
Today’s celebration includes many symbols. The diversity of flowers reflects the individuality of each of us. When we take home a different flower than what we brought, we remember how we share with each other in creating our fellowship. The flowers themselves symbolize life in all its fragility and beauty. The flowers joined together in a beautiful bouquet represent our shared community.
Rev. Capek was an inspiring preacher and the composer of many hymns. There are several of his hymns in our hymnal, including View the Starry Realm, number 28. In this hymn, he writes of the beauty of the night sky:
Many modern Unitarian Universalists are inspired and uplifted by the wonder and beauty of the natural world, just as he was. As we honor community, the Earth, new life, and joy this morning, let us also honor this Unitarian leader who helped grow our faith in so many ways.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
The children will participate with us today in one of UU’s most beloved rituals: the Flower Communion. This service originated with Rev. Norbert Capek (1870-1942), founder of the Unitarian Church of Czechoslovakia. He created this celebration partly to reclaim the word “communion”, which means drawing together. He also wished to honor springtime and the season’s new life which draws Unitarians to closer connection with the Earth.
It is most appropriate for us to celebrate Flower Communion on Earth Day, a time when people of all faiths and many nations honor our Earth and reflect on how we can join together to protect our planet.
Today’s celebration includes many symbols. The diversity of flowers reflects the individuality of each of us. When we take home a different flower than what we brought, we remember how we share with each other in creating our fellowship. The flowers themselves symbolize life in all its fragility and beauty. The flowers joined together in a beautiful bouquet represent our shared community.
Rev. Capek was an inspiring preacher and the composer of many hymns. There are several of his hymns in our hymnal, including View the Starry Realm, number 28. In this hymn, he writes of the beauty of the night sky:
View the starry realm of the heaven,
Shining distant empires sing,
Skysong of celestial children turns each winter into spring
Turns each winter into spring.
Many modern Unitarian Universalists are inspired and uplifted by the wonder and beauty of the natural world, just as he was. As we honor community, the Earth, new life, and joy this morning, let us also honor this Unitarian leader who helped grow our faith in so many ways.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
posted by Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma @ 8:41 PM
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