Worship

Meditation on Flower Communion Sunday

William B. Rice
Adapted from Flower Sunday, 1969

Many congregations celebrate a Flower Communion with their Spring/Easter/Passover worship service. Some congregations include a Flower Communion in their Children's Day worship service (see previous pages on The Meaning of Children's Sunday). Although this prayer was written and spoken almost 35 years ago, it seems ever so appropriate for us in these times.
Pat Hoertdoerfer

On a day such as this may a great change come upon us. The sounds we have been hearing have been discordant; the sights we have been seeing have been violent; the words we have been reading have been hateful. All this has been wearying, discouraging and distracting. In our hearts we had a dream of love and in our minds we had a pattern of community, but this has been a sorry season of discontent, most difficult for visions.

Today is a new day: truly an hour for hope and joy and gladness. Let us be thankful for the persistence of flowers, and open ourselves to their long wisdom. Often they grow in spite of terrible winters and miserable summers. Strange beauty greets us in unexpected places, as if there is a particular grace that is stronger than our carelessness and indifference. But when we tend our gardens with love and care, the reward can be greater than the effort.

It is most wise to combine flowers and children in a day of celebration, for flowers and children ever speak to us of wonders and glories yet to be, of hopes fulfilled if we tend our gardens and our homes with patience and wisdom and love.

Let us be silent together.

Amen