Chalice lighting
Chalice lighting for Beltane
The trees are green, the forests awakened from the sleep of winter.
Deck the boughs with ribbons;
make bowers in the field for Robin and Marian.
Make merry; sing, dance, laugh and make love.
As the Beltane fires are kindled on the hilltops,
So we light our chalice flame,
in honour of the Spirit of
Chalice lighting for Easter
Joy to the World
Life calls to life
Arise! Awake!
Fear no more the silence of the tomb
For the lives of humanity
are strung like pearls on the thread of the spirit
and the pearl shines in the darkness of the deep.
Life arises,
Life unending,
Life triumphant!
Spirit like a flame catching on
Chalice lighting for Tenebrae (the night before the Crucifixion)
The night seemed endless:
drawn like a veil over the suffering land
that cried out in its sleep,
“The Anointed One is betrayed.”
The Sun was eclipsed, the veil of the temple rent in two But a single star of hope
Illuminated the uncanny dark:
the resilience of the human spirit.
And so we light
Chalice lighting for Holi
The many colours of the spring
Are splashed exuberantly over the land
And so people splash colour in imitation of nature.
May all the colours of the rainbow
Be contained in our chalice flame.
Chalice lighting for Palm Sunday
The cries of welcome for the anointed one
rang in the streets.
Each saw the fulfilment of their hopes and dreams.
May we know the fulfilment that is to be found
in our own spark of the Divine
in our own hearts
and as we light this chalice flame
let us remember all those who
Chalice lighting for the Spring Equinox
Day and night are equal now
But day has the upper hand.
In the endless dance of dark and light
And the turning of the Wheel of the Year
A moment’s pause at the equinox
to reflect on the glory of the dance.
As we light our chalice flame,
It recalls the fire of the
Chalice lighting for Imbolc/ Candlemas
A crown of lights
For the gentle healer
A crown of lights
For the inspired poet
A crown of lights
For the smith of dreams
A crown of lights
For the midwife of Ireland
And the chalice of life
For her wisdom.
Chalice lighting for Eid
The morning star is caught in the horns of the Moon;
the month of fasting is over.
Put on your robes of joy
and come to the feast.
Kindle the holy flame of love
and welcome joy.