Barry Salad

Two years ago, First Parish Church in Taunton organized an amazingly successful penny drive to assist the survivors of the Southeast Asia tsunami.  I was amazed at the response we got from the entire community.  As the anniversary of the tsunami recently passed, I thought I would reprint the final letter I wrote, summing up what had been accomplished.  Visit our church website for photos of the penny drive.

Most, if not all, Unitarian Universalist churches have a chalice lighting at the beginning of each worship service.

In February 2005, I wrote the following as a chalice lighting for our annual IllUUmination Sunday service at First Parish Church in Taunton.

Everyone in the congregation has a candle.  The lights can be dimmed for effect.  There are 2 chalices on the altar - the church’s chalice used each Sunday and the children’s chalice, which they made from a flower pot.

The minister or chalice lighter can hold a lit candle or long match.

In the early days of the first people, a flame meant life.  It meant warmth and protection.  It also meant community.  The people would gather by the flame and share its light and heat.  At these times, the people would also share their stories, passing important lessons on to future generations.

The flame was always cared for and protected.  If it was lost, so would they all be lost.

Today, we cherish our flame as a symbol of our church community.  Around it, we gather each week to share its warmth and light - a spiritual warmth and a guiding light.  We gather around the flame each week to share our stories and pass along our faith.

Today, we celebrate and share the flame that is the symbol of our proud Unitarian Universalist history.

The minister/chalice lighter lights the chalice.  Adults from the congregation light their candles from the chalice, passing it along to their children and guests.  The youngest in the congregation lights the children’s chalice.

Like the flame, our faith is not diminshed as we share it.  It grows, spreading its warmth and light.

Another in my collection of prayers, reprinted with permission.  Originally written by Rev. Richard M. Fewkes as Closing Words to a worship service, this prayer has always seemed to me appropriate as a grace before meals.

I first met Rev. Fewkes in January 1988 - my first exposure to Unitarian Universalism.  He was at that time, the minister at First Parish Church in Norwell, MA.

To water in excelsis. In vino veritas.

As Jesus came eating and drinking and made friends with the people of the earth regardless of social distinction or class let us strive to do likewise in our own eating and drinking, thinking and speaking, living and acting.

And let us ever be thankful in the food we eat, the friends we share, the water and wine we drink, the air we breathe, and the songs we sing. So be it. Amen.

Here is a re-creation of a story I told the children (and adults) at First Parish Church in Taunton in September or October 2004.  Feel free to share it.

The stories about Jesus in the Christian Bible often are of Jesus telling stories, or parables, as a way to teach important lessons.  In one story, Jesus tells of a shepard who leaves his 99 sheep to search for a single lost sheep.  This is not a story about sheep or shepards.  It is a story about people.  Jesus was teaching that everyone is important, that no one is expendable.

On Christmas morning or at a birthday party, there are lots of wrapped presents.  Big presents, small presents, boxes, gift bags, presents wrapped in pretty paper, plain paper or even newspaper.  No matter how many presents there are, or what they look like, every present is always opened.  No one would leave a present under the tree or on the gift table unopened.  We just have to find out what is inside each gift-wrapped package.  No one ever says, "That one is too small or too plain or too much work to unwrap."  Who knows, the last one might be the best one - the one we really wanted more than anything else.

Children are presents.  Some might say they are gifts from God or a present that parents give to the world.  These presents, too, come in many shapes and sizes, some fancy, others not so much.  It takes a lifetime to unwrap these special gifts, to unlock their potential and find out what wonders they hold.  One may be a scientist who finds a cure for AIDS or cancer.  Another might be an inspirational minister who helps people find a right path to follow.  Another may be a great teacher, a wise leader or a school bus driver who makes sure that the children arrive safe at school every day.  Until each one is opened, we just don’t know.  What if the one we missed might have had the most beautiful smile and every time you looked at that smile you felt just a little bit happier.

No present is ever left unopened and no child can be left behind.  We must ensure that children receive what they need to reach their full potential , to be that special gift to the world.

From the past, source of wisdom and knowledge, I seek understanding.
From the future, source of hope and challenge, I seek inspiration.
From the present, source of mindfulness and energy, I seek courage.
From the Eternal, source of love and peace, I seek the Great Mystery.

I wrote this prayer after reading Simply Pray by Erik Walker Wikstrom.  It has become a part of my daily prayer practice.  It seems like a good way to get started here at Barry Salad.