Coming of Age Chalice Lighting Words

First Parish

Bedford, MA

At First Parish, Bedford, Massachusetts, the Coming of Age participants not only compose credo statements, they write chalice lighting words to be read in the culminating all-church service. Here are a few samples from that congregation's eighth-graders.

This light unites us.
This light unites us with our neighbors,
Our friends and our enemies.
Most importantly,
This light unites us within ourselves.
Our hearts,
Our souls,
Our spirits.
This light unites us.

Rebecca Pankhurst

We light this chalice
To symbolize our unity and diversity.
Just as the flame in this chalice has patterns and differences,
So do we have patterns and differences with each other.
Just as the base of this chalice forms a solid foundation for the flame to grow on,
So do we form solid foundations for others to grow on.
And just as the fire in this chalice creates light and warmth for all around it,
So do we create light and warmth through love and friendship for all around us.

Natty Smith

As we light this chalice
We take those little sparks
Glowing within all of us
And combine them to create this flame.

Jamie Dorer

Slowly,
With the start of a thin match
We fill this room with light.
Slowly, with the flicker of hope from inside
We fill ourselves with light.
Slowly,
With this chalice
With ourselves as a match
We kindle others' flames
Never dying
Forever passing our light to others
We fill this world with light.

Marianna Ballou

This is a light of love,
A light of happiness,
A light that brings people together,
A light of friendship,
A light of compassion,
A light of truth,
A light that clears a path in the world of darkness.
A light of hope,
A light of peace,
A light of sorrows that will be made better.
This light is a light of love.

Elliot Rabinowitz

We light this flame as a beacon of hope for those who are lost,
As a binding of friendship and love for all people,
And as a center for our own circle of friends.

Marissa Jones

Burning Chalice, bright with light,
Help us all find our internal light
Let the light from each of us glow.
With the light from people everywhere,
Let it grow.

Chris Wilkins

We light this chalice for the memories of the past,
The dreams fulfilled today,
And the hopes that keep us moving.

Andrew MacRobert

The flame sparks, then grows to give off light.
A child is nurtured by family and grows
To an adult to share the light of love.

Laura Townsend

In the light of day
In the darkness of night
No matter where we are
This light unites us.

Katie Southard

 

UU Faith Works Home | Summer/Autumn 2003

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