Theme “Love”
A Unitarian Gloria
This reading is inspired by the words of the Gloria in the traditional Latin Mass, which is often set to music.
We rejoice in the glory of the universe
We live in the hope of peace on earth
For all people, even those who disagree with our views.
We praise the giver of life
The parent,
In the darkness of grief
In the world’s grief and darkness
we keep a flame burning –
the flame of hope, the flame of truth,
the flame that warms the heart with loving kindness.
Benediction
May the peace of God which passeth all understanding keep our hearts and minds strong and comforted in our restlessness and confusion, and fill us with love.
Amen
Alternative Lords’ Prayer
Spirit of Life and Love, here and everywhere,
May we be aware of your presence in our lives. May our world be blessed. May our daily needs be met, And may our shortcomings be forgiven, As we forgive those of others.
Give us the strength to resist wrong-doing, The inspiration and guidance to do right,
Follow the flame
Remember the flame that guides
The journeys of our lives;
Illuminates each hour and precious day.
Its radiance we need, we’ll follow its lead –
For love will guide us and show us the way.
Remember the reasons why
We’ll never choose to walk by;
But stand for what is right and just and true.
A prayer
Spirit of Light. Help us to look beyond. Beyond the blind eyes that imagine more than we can ever see; Beyond persuasive words, to the truth they try to conceal; Beyond materialist desire for things that can never make us truly happy.
Spirit of Love. Help us to look within. Within us lies a well
The chalice, the flame
You are the flame of the chalice. You dare to be seen, to flicker and dance your beautiful, vulnerable, dance. You have come alive to the possibility of the world. Your warmth embraces those around you. Your light illuminates our sacred purpose.
You are the flame in the chalice. You burn brightly because you are safe
Chalice lighting, for those who are not in the room
We light this Chalice for the people who are not in the room.
May our circle of light fall upon those on the margins; the vulnerable and forgotten, those trapped at home by illness and age, those who feel judged, excluded, ashamed, in pain.
May our warmth hold those with precarious lives; carers and struggling parents, those