First Parish Sermon

The Unitarian Universalist Flowers Communion service, which we are about to celebrate, was originated in 1923 by Dr. Norbert Capek, founder of the modern Unitarian movement in the Czech Republic. On the last Sunday before the summer recess of the Unitarian church in Prague, all the children and adults participated in this colorful ritual, which gives concrete expression to the human life affirming principles of our liberal faith. This gentle man, an innocent prisoner of war, suffered a cruel death, but his message of human hope and decency lives on through his Flower Communion, which is widely celebrated by Unitarians and Universalists around the globe.

CONSECRATION OF THE FLOWERS

Infinite Spirit of Life, we ask thy blessing on these, thy messengers of fellowship and love. May they remind us, amid diversities of knowledge and of gifts, to be one in desire and affection, and devotion to thy holy will. May they also remind us of the values of comradeship, of doing and sharing alike. May we cherish friendship as one of thy most precious gifts. May we not let awareness of another’s talents discourage us, or sully our relationship, but may we realize that, whatever we can do, great or small, the efforts of all of us are needed to do thy work in this world.  (Norbert Capek)

FLOWER COMMUNION CEREMONY
--Adapted from Anonymous Source

We use flowers in our ceremony this morning to help us symbolize the love that is hidden deep inside us.

Flowers are beautiful, and so are the feelings of love among people.

Their beauty cannot be measured, and neither can the feelings of people be measured.

Their life is short, but new flowers will replace the flowers that die, and new love can come into our hearts.

This bud is for the new babies who have joined us this year. Last year they did not exist. This year they are here among us. Before they could lift a hand, they learned to smile. Before they could speak, they learned to love. If we help them keep this love in their hearts, they will pass it on to others, many years in the future.

This flower represents all the people among us who died in the past year. Though they are no longer with us the memory of their days upon the earth will remain and the love that they share with family and friends will never die.

This flower represents the people living all over the world. Maybe we will never wee them face to face, or touch their hands. But we can still touch their hearts, because we know that their hopes are like our hopes, their pain is like our pain, their love like our love.

These flowers were each brought here by different persons and put together in these vases. They stand for all the people here today and for all the people in our spiritual fellowship here and abroad.

These flowers, so lovely today, will fade tomorrow. But the love among brothers and sisters, families and friends, will go on and on. We know one another. We know what is in each other’s hearts.

We have brought our flowers and our love to brighten our church and gladden our hearts. Let us remember the communion of the flowers in the summer days ahead and in all seasons yet to come.
                                                               

PARTAKING OF THE COMMUNION

It is time now for each of us to share in the Flower Communion. With a sense of reverence, gentleness and love may you select a flower from the communion vase(s)—different from the one you may have brought. Please note its particular shape and beauty. It is a gift that someone else has brought to you, who in turn received it from the Giver of Life. We have all of us received the gift of life from the Source of all Being. Each gift is special and unique, and each contributes to the pattern of love and beauty, which we share in fellowship one with another.