‘Kindling Our Sacred Flame’ – 29/01/23
Musical Prelude: ‘Träumerei’ by Robert Schumann from Kinderszenen, Op.15 – played by Brian Parsons
Opening Words: ‘In Praise of Fire’ by John O’Donohue
Let us praise the grace and risk of Fire.
In the beginning,
The Word was red,
And the sound was thunder,
And the wound in the unseen
Spilled forth the red weather of being.
In the name of the Fire,
The Flame
And the Light:
Praise the pure presence of fire
That burns from within
Without thought of time.
The hunger of fire has no need
For the reliquary of the future;
It adores the eros of now,
Where the memory of the earth
In flames that lick and drink the air
Is made to release
Its long-enduring forms
In a powder of ashes
Left for the wind to decipher.
As air intensifies the hunger of fire,
May the thought of death
Breathe new urgency
Into our love of life.
As fire cleanses dross,
May the flame of passion
Burn away what is false.
As short as the time
From spark to flame,
So brief may the distance be
Between heart and being.
May we discover
Beneath our fear
Embers of anger
To kindle justice.
May courage
Cause our lives to flame,
In the name of the Fire,
And the Flame.
Words of Welcome and Introduction:
These opening words, by John O’Donohue, welcome all those who have gathered this morning for our Sunday service. Welcome to those who have gathered in-person here at Essex Church and also to all who are joining us via Zoom from far and wide. We are glad to have you with us this day. If we’ve not previously met, my name is Jane Blackall, ministry coordinator with Kensington Unitarians. Whoever you are, however you are, wherever you are, I hope you find some of what you need.
Today’s service is titled ‘Kindling Our Sacred Flame’. In the coming hour we’ll explore interweaving themes of Imbolc, Candlemas, and the symbolism of our own Unitarian Chalice. And we’re doing something a little different: our service will be co-led by Rev. Laura Dobson, Minister with Chorlton Unitarians, who has recorded our sermon and a reading for us. We thought we’d make use of the technology to bring in some voices – and excellent worship leaders – who we wouldn’t get to hear from otherwise because they live too far away and have their own congregations to preach for on Sunday mornings. We’ve got a couple of these virtual visits to look forward to this spring.
Before we go any further though, let’s take the time to truly arrive, and ground ourselves in the here and now. We’ve each chosen to come here, and join together, for this hour of spiritual nourishment. To set time aside from the rest of the week and all its demands and reflect on what matters most. So let’s set aside whatever we might have come in carrying, whatever is weighing on us this day, we can afford to put it to one side for an hour, and pick it up later on if need be, or maybe we can let it go. Maybe take a breath, and breathe out with a big sigh, as you settle down into this present moment.
Chalice Lighting: ‘A Symbol of our Faith’ by David Usher
Let’s light our chalice flame now, as we do each week. This simple ritual connects us in solidarity with Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists the world over, and reminds us of the proud and historic progressive religious tradition of which we are a part.
(light chalice)
We light this chalice as a symbol of our faith.
By its light may our vision be illumined;
By its warmth may our fellowship be encouraged;
And by its flame may our yearnings
for peace, justice and the life of the spirit be enkindled.
Hymn 158 (purple): ‘The Flame of Truth is Kindled’
Let’s sing together now. Our first hymn today is ‘The Flame of Truth is Kindled’. It’s number 158 in the purple hymnbook and for those joining via Zoom the words will be up on screen to sing along at home. Please stand or sit as you prefer as we sing: The Flame of Truth is Kindled.
The flame of truth is kindled,
our chalice burning bright;
amongst us moves the Spirit
in whom we take delight.
We worship here in freedom
with conscience unconstrained,
a pilgrim people thankful
of what great souls have gained.
The flame of thought is kindled,
we celebrate the mind:
its search for deepest meaning
that time-bound creeds can’t bind.
We celebrate its oneness
with body and with soul,
with universal process,
with God who makes us whole.
The flame of love is kindled,
we open wide our hearts,
that it may burn within us,
fuel us to do our parts.
Community needs building,
a Commonwealth of Earth,
we ask for strength to build it –
a new world come to birth.
Candles of Joy and Concern:
Each week when we gather together, we share a simple ritual of candles of joy and concern, an opportunity to light a candle and share something that is in our heart with the community. So we’ve an opportunity now, for anyone who would like to do so, to light a candle and say a few words about what it represents. This time we’re going to go to the people in the building first, and take all of those in one go, and then I’ll call on the people on Zoom to come forward.
So I invite some of you here in person to come and light a candle and then if you wish to tell us briefly who or what you light your candle for. We’re asking people to keep their masks on for this candle lighting – please keep your masks on – if you use the hand-held microphone, get it really close to your mask, and SPEAK UP, people should be able to hear what you’re saying. I really want to emphasise this – the people at home really want to hear what you’re saying – and if you don’t hold the microphone really close they simply can’t hear you. So point it directly at your face and keep it right up against your mask and that should do the trick. Thank you.
(in person candles)
And if that’s everyone in the room we’ll go over to the people on Zoom next – you might like to switch to gallery view at this stage – just unmute yourselves when you are ready and speak out – and we should be able to hear you and see you up on the big screen here in the church.
(zoom candles)
And I’m going to light one more candle, as we often do, to represent all those joys and concerns that we hold in our hearts this day, but which we don’t feel able to speak out loud. (light candle)
Time of Prayer & Reflection: based on words by Deborah Weiner
And let’s take those joys and concerns into an extended time of prayer now. This prayer is based on some words by Deborah Weiner.
You might first want to adjust your position for comfort, close your eyes, or soften your gaze. There might be a posture that helps you feel more prayerful. Whatever works for you. Do whatever you need to do to get into the right state of body and mind for us to pray together – to be fully present here and now, in this sacred time and space – with ourselves, with each other, and with that which is both within us and beyond us. (pause)
Spirit of Life, God of All Love, in whom we live and move and have our being,
we turn our full attention to you, the light within and without,
as we tune in to the depths of this life, and the greater wisdom
to which – and through which – we are all intimately connected.
Be with us now as we allow ourselves to drop into the
silence and stillness at the very centre of our being. (pause)
We pause for a moment on this winter day
to reflect on the changes one week can make in our lives.
We celebrate the feast of Imbolc, the holiday that heralds the coming of spring.
Our hearts stir with the thought that lambs are being born, that the light is increasing,
that the earth has begun to stir from its winter sleep,
and green shoots are pushing through the warming soil.
We bow to the forces of nature that have stirred, again and again,
and reminded us, through storms and sudden changes in our weather,
that we are not in charge—that earth is moved by jet streams,
and polar vortices, and we must endure and be patient.
We bow to the wisdom that new life springs up without our help.
In spite of everything we do or don’t do,
snowdrops and daffodils will bloom,
grass will grow, and dandelions will appear.
And through it all, we are reminded, again and again, that we are not alone:
May we continue to recognize that in this spiritual home, we are held.
In this house of memory and hope, we will be welcomed and supported.
In this space of celebration and contemplation, we may bring all of who we are,
and be both honoured and affirmed. (pause)
In a few moments of shared stillness now, let us call to mind those people and situations
who are on our hearts this morning, and let us hold them gently in loving-kindness. (pause)
And let us hold ourselves in loving-kindness too. Each of us carries our own private burdens.
So let us rest in self-compassion now as we ask silently for what we need this day. (pause)
And let us take a moment to reflect on the week just gone in a spirit of gratitude;
let us notice and give thanks for those blessings, large or small, that have helped to lift our spirits. (pause)
Spirit of Life – God of all Love – as this time of prayer comes to a close, we offer up
our joys and concerns, our hopes and fears, our beauty and brokenness,
and we call on you for insight, healing, and renewal.
As we look forward now to the coming week,
help us to live well each day and be our best selves;
using our unique gifts in the service of love, justice and peace. Amen
Hymn 27 (purple): ‘Dark of Winter’
Let’s sing together now. Our next hymn is ‘Dark of Winter’. I realised we’ve only sung this once this winter and if we don’t sing it soon it’ll be another 9 months before we hear it again! If you’re here in-person it’s number 27 in your hymn books and the words will also be up on your screen to sing along at home. Please feel free to stand or sit, as you prefer, as we sing.
Dark of winter, soft and still,
your quiet calm surrounds me.
Let my thoughts go where they will,
ease my mind profoundly.
And then my soul will sing a song,
a blessed song of love eternal.
Gentle darkness, soft and still,
bring your quiet to me.
Darkness, soothe my weary eyes,
that I may see more clearly.
When my heart with sorrow cries,
comfort and caress me.
And then my soul may hear a voice,
a still, small voice of love eternal.
Darkness, when my fears arise,
let your peace flow through me.
Pre-Recorded Reading: ‘O Ignis Spiritus Paracliti’ by Hildegard von Bingen (read by Laura)
O Fiery Comforter Spirit, Life of the life of all creatures:
Holy are you—giving life to every form.
Holy are you—anointing the broken.
Holy are you—cleansing wounds.
O Fire of Love, breath of all holiness,
O taste so sweet within the breast, who floods the heart with fragrant good.
O clear fountain, in which is seen the mirrored work of God:
to gather the estranged and perplexed, and seek again the lost.
You are the hope of oneness for that which is separate.
Free from bondage those caught in prisons of the mind.
O You who course within and through everything,
up in the heights, upon the earth, and in every depth—
You bind and gather all together.
From you the clouds billow, the wind takes flight,
the stones drip with trickling streams,
streams that are the source of earth’s lush greening.
You are the source of human understanding, teacher of the truly learned.
You bless with the breath of Wisdom.
And so may you be praised, you who are the melody itself of praise,
the joy of life, the strength, the hope, and the giver of the gifts of the light.
Meditation: ‘Chalice Flame Contemplation’ by Samuel A Trumbore
We’re moving into a time of meditation now. I’m going to share some words for meditation, a contemplation of the chalice flame, by UU Samuel Trumbore. This will take us into a few minutes of shared silence which will end with the sound of a bell. Then we’ll hear some soothing meditation music from Brian. So once again let’s each do what we need to do to get comfortable – adjust your position if you need to – perhaps put your feet flat on the floor to ground and steady yourself – maybe close your eyes. As we always say, the words and music are just an offering, feel free to use this time to meditate in your own way.
In this time of long nights and short days,
let us seek the light within …
by contemplating, through our mind’s eye,
the image of a candle flame.
Notice how the soft, quiet, and gentle flame
tamely rises from the wick.
Yet, just by touching a dry twig,
it has the power to become a raging bonfire
to light up the night.
Let that little candle flame be your friend this morning.
Allow it to quiet your mind,
as you attentively watch its flickering glow.
Allow it to calm your mind in a way that brings a stillness
that can light up the interior of your being
that can help you find the wellspring of your feelings.
Allow it to show us our inner sense of knowing that
can help us notice the ways we’ve strayed or harmed others;
to warm us, reflecting on the ways we’ve been touched and
the ways we’ve opened our hearts;
and inspire us through making new connections and discovering new insights.
May this simple flame
touch the dry twigs that guard our hearts
allowing the power of light to penetrate our self-protection
and show us the amazing potential for heat and light
that resides within us.
Period of Silence and Stillness (~3 minutes) – end with a bell
Musical Interlude: ‘Arietta’ by Edvard Grieg from Lyric Pieces Op.12 – played by Brian Parsons
Reading: ‘Both the Burning and the Light’ by UU Sean Parker Dennison (read by Jane)
About six months ago, I got a new tattoo. It’s a lit match on my right wrist, added to an arm full of paintbrushes, pens and other art supplies. As a minister, my tattoos are sometimes controversial, and I was a little nervous about what people would think about this addition. When people asked why I chose a lit match, I’d joke that it was either to burn the world down or to light my inner chalice.
These days the joke is less funny because things have gotten more serious. As the President [note: this reflection was written early in President Trump’s term of office] signs executive orders that give tax breaks to the most privileged while attacking immigrants, refugees, Muslims, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and anyone else he disagrees with, I am more and more committed to resistance. This deepened calling to a life of non-compliance will take a lot of burning and a lot of light.
As an artist and religious leader, I believe in the necessity of creative destruction. A magnet on my refrigerator quotes the words of St Ignatius Loyola: “Go forth and set the world on fire.” For me it’s a statement of passion and a reminder that in order for justice to flourish, injustice must be dismantled. In order for freedom to be real, fences, cells, and walls must be torn down. In order for forests to remain healthy, wildfires must burn away the overgrowth. I am ready to embrace creative destruction as one of the tools we need in these times.
But we need more than destruction. We also need to support each other. Lighting the flame of our common chalice (real or symbolic) is a powerful reminder that we cannot sustain ourselves by ourselves. We are not enough individually, and enclaves of “like-minded” people are not enough. We need each other to share the wisdom of lived experience, to remind each other to keep learning, and to love each other through the inevitable failures and eventual success of our resistance.
We need both the burning and the light.
Dennison concludes with a few words of prayer:
Spirit of Justice, help us be courageous and committed in these times.
Let us transform our ideals into action, our words into deeds.
Let the fire of our passion burn with both light and warmth.
In our anger, help us embody the spirit of creative destruction,
always making room for more justice, more compassion, more love.
May it be so. And may we be the ones that make it so. Amen.
Address: ‘Kindling Our Sacred Flame: Reflections on Imbolc, Candlemas, and the Unitarian Chalice’ by Rev. Laura Dobson
“Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright, In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” William Blake
At this time of year, we start to notice the lengthening daylight. The return of the light to the land has been celebrated for thousands of years in the northern hemisphere. As January turns to February the ancient Celts celebrated Imbolc, which translates as ‘in the belly’ or ‘ewe’s milk’, a festival honouring the Earth Goddess as she starts her transformation from the Crone aspect of winter to the Maiden aspect of spring.
In the Catholic Church in Ireland 1 February is the Feast of St Bridget, who is thought to be based on the Celtic goddess Brighid, who tends the triple fires of smith-craft, healing and poetry. In Roman times, candles were carried in the streets to celebrate the Goddess Februa, the mother of Mars, and in the Eleusinian mysteries, the carrying of torches celebrated the return of Persephone to the light. Catholic and Anglican Christians celebrate 2 February as Candlemas, commemorating the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the presentation of Christ in the Temple, when candles representing Christ as the Light of the World are blessed in church.
Throughout human history, fire has been regarded as sacred. The great fire in the sky, the sun, brought warmth and light. Humans learnt to use fire to cook food and to keep them safe from predators. People gathered around communal fires to tell stories, and hold ceremonies and celebrations. We still do this – if only on bonfire night. In my family, my cousin has a big party on the solstices, centred around a bonfire.
Fire can be tamed, but by its nature it is wild. It is both wonderful and terrible. It must be respected, because it burns. It has the power to create and to destroy. Some cultures honoured fire as a deity. Some saw fire as a sign of the presence of the divine.
Fire is often a symbol for the presence of the divine in the Bible. In the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus’ disciples at Pentecost in the form of tongues of fire. In Exodus, Yahweh speaks to Moses from the burning bush and counsels him on leading the people from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the promised land of Canaan. Yahweh says to Moses, “take off your shoes, for you are standing on holy ground.”
Sacred fire became an important part of many religious traditions. The ancient tribes of Northern Europe lit sacred bonfires as part of their festival celebrations. In Zoroastrianism, the temple fire is kept burning in perpetuity, representing purity and the light of the wisdom of the supreme God, Ahura Mazda. During the eight days of Hanukkah, Jews light the eight candles of the menorah. At Diwali, Hindus set small lamps all around the house. Candles representing Jesus Christ as the light of the world are part of several Christian rituals, such as Christingle and Candlemas services. In modern Druid rituals, the sacred circle is consecrated and blessed with fire and water at the start of the ceremony. Even if we do not practice any of these traditions, we may light candles to represent prayers and in memory of the dead. When Unitarians gather, we light our chalice. This is our sacred fire.
Incidentally, when I did an internet search for ‘Holy Fire’ I learned about the miracle of the holy fire in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, in which blue light is said to emit from the tomb of Jesus on Holy Saturday. The clergy in attendance light candles from this column of fire, and the candles are used to light the candles of the pilgrims gathered outside the tomb. According to Wikipedia, “the ceremony was marred in 2002 when a disagreement between the Armenian and Greek bishops over who should emerge first with the Holy Fire led to a struggle between the factions. In the course of the scuffle, the Greek Patriarch twice blew the Armenian’s candle out, forcing him to reignite his “Holy Fire” using a cigarette lighter, while the Greek Patriarch was despoiled of one of his shoes. In the end the Israeli Police entered the premises to restore order.” Thankfully, the lighting of our chalice is not usually so dramatic!
Flame is among the oldest of religious symbols, and the chalice cup has been associated with communion since the early centuries of Christianity. The chalice and the flame were brought together as a Unitarian symbol by an Austrian artist, Hans Deutsch, in 1941. Living in Paris during the 1930s, Deutsch drew critical cartoons of Adolf Hitler. When the Nazis invaded Paris in 1940, he fled to Portugal, where he met Reverend Charles Joy, director of the Unitarian Service Committee (USC), newly founded in Boston to assist Eastern Europeans who needed to escape Nazi persecution.
Lisbon was the only open port in Europe in the early 1940s and was thus the preferred destination for millions of refugees. The USC helped artists, intellectuals, and dissidents escape the Nazis, many of whom fled without identification papers. The Lisbon office concentrated on helping them obtain replacement papers. Deutsch began working for the USC. He later wrote to Joy: “There is something that urges me to tell you…how much I admire your utter self denial and readiness to serve, to sacrifice all, your time, your health, your well being, to help, help, help… I am not what you may actually call a believer. But if your kind of life is the profession of your faith—as it is, I feel sure—then religion, ceasing to be magic and mysticism, becomes confession to practical philosophy and—what is more –to active, really useful social work. And this religion— with or without a heading—is one to which even a `godless’ fellow like myself can say wholeheartedly, Yes!”
From his Lisbon headquarters, Joy oversaw a secret network of couriers and agents. The USC was an unknown organization in 1941 and Joy felt that it needed some visual image to represent Unitarianism to the world, especially when dealing with government agencies abroad. Joy asked Deutsch to create a symbol for their papers “to make them look official, to give dignity and importance to them, and at the same time to symbolize the spirit of our work… When a document may keep a man out of jail, give him standing with governments and police, it is important that it look important.”
Hans Deutsch thus made his lasting contribution to Unitarianism. In pencil and ink he drew a chalice with a flame. Joy described it to the USC board in Boston as “a chalice with a flame, the kind of chalice which the Greeks and Romans put on their altars. The holy oil burning in it is a symbol of helpfulness and sacrifice…. This was in the mind of the artist. The fact, however, that it remotely suggests a cross was not in his mind, but to me this also has its merit. We do not limit our work to Christians. Indeed, at the present moment, our work is nine-tenths for the Jews, yet we do stem from the Christian tradition, and the cross does symbolize Christianity and its central theme of sacrificial love.”
The flaming chalice design was made into a seal for papers and a badge for agents moving refugees to freedom. In time it became a symbol of Unitarianism and Unitarian Universalism all around the world. When Deutsch designed the flaming chalice, he had never been to a Unitarian church, but he had encountered faith in action, people who were willing to risk their lives to save others.
We light our chalice at the beginning of every service to signify that we are creating sacred space. The act of lighting our chalice connects us with other Unitarians all over the world who start worship in the same way. The chalice cup signifies the cup of community that holds us together. Its use in symbolic acts of sharing in community goes back to an early Czech dissenter, Jan Hus, who, in the early 1400s, offered the communion chalice cup of wine to his congregation at a time when it was reserved for priests alone.
The chalice flame also symbolises our community. A flame is dynamic and changing. A flame needs three elements:
Fuel – material things such as a building, chairs, a sound system, money – all the physical things that we need to sustain our community.
Heat – the spark of intelligence, the warmth of human connection, even the friction of honest disagreement – all the thought-provoking and moving moments that contribute to the energy and vitality of the life of our community as we support each other on our spiritual journeys.
Air – the element of air is associated with the Spirit, the same word – ruach – means both breath and spirit in Hebrew. Inspiration, the breathing in of that invisible element of Spirit – deep moments of sacred connection in meditation, in prayer, and in listening to each other. With the element of air, we also give people the space to develop their own spiritual path, free from the restrictions of dogma, whilst being held in the warmth of human community.
The chalice flame can also symbolise hands lifted in prayer, the light of the truth we seek, and the divine spark in all of us – the inner light of conscience, reason and experience.
There is another set of three fiery things that I think represent the vitality of our community – the triple fires of Brighid, Irish Saint and Goddess. Brighid tends the fires of smithcraft, poetry and healing: The forge is the fire of passion and transformation. The cauldron of poetry is lit by the fire of illumination and inspiration. The hearth is the healing fire of nurture and compassion.
It is this last one, the community hearth fire, which is key. We may not be inspired or challenged at every Unitarian gathering, but I hope that we will always experience the warmth of human community. Our sacred fire is a living flame, lit with intention. Like the first Unitarian chalice symbol, it signifies our intention to care for everyone who passes through our doors, regardless of their beliefs or background.
John O’Donohue, in his book The Four Elements, says, “The hearth is the place of warmth, belonging and intimacy. This is a powerful metaphor for the spiritual quest, for the hearth is the place where the heart is at home. This is the longing in all spirituality: to come in out of the winter of alienation, self-division and exile and into the hearth of warmth and at-one-ment.”
Hymn 165 (purple): ‘The Spirit Lives to Set Us Free’
Thanks so much to Laura for her reflections on Imbolc and the Chalice Flame. It’s time for one last hymn now and it’s an uplifting favourite to end with: ‘The Spirit Lives to Set us Free’ AKA ‘Walk in the Light’. Sit or stand (or sway and bob about) as you prefer as we sing: ‘Walk in the Light’.
The Spirit lives to set us free,
walk, walk in the light.
It binds us all in unity,
walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light, (3 times) walk in the light of love.
The light that shines is in us all,
walk, walk in the light.
We each must follow our own call,
walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light, (3 times) walk in the light of love.
Peace begins inside your heart,
walk, walk in the light.
We’ve got to live it from the start,
walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light, (3 times) walk in the light of love.
Seek the truth in what you see,
walk, walk in the light.
Then hold it firmly as can be,
walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light, (3 times) walk in the light of love.
The Spirit lives in you and me,
walk, walk in the light.
Its light will shine for all to see,
walk, walk in the light
Walk in the light, (3 times) walk in the light of love.
Announcements:
Thanks so much to Laura for her contributions to our service today. Thanks to Jeannene for tech-hosting and Maria for co-hosting. Thanks to Brian for stepping in at the last minute to play for us – much appreciated. For those of you who are at here in-person, Julia will be serving refreshments (including apple cake) after the service, if you want to stay and chat – thanks Julia – thanks Liz for greeting. There will be virtual coffee on Zoom with Maria too so do hang around for a chat.
We have various small group activities for you to meet up. There are still spaces left for our Heart and Soul gatherings (online Sunday/Friday at 7pm) and this week’s theme is ‘Making the Best of It’. Coffee morning is online at 10.30am Wednesday if you want to come and set the world to rights. The in-person poetry group is back on Wednesday evening – bring along a poem to read – and please let Brian know your poetry choices in advance so that he can make copies for everyone. West London GreenSpirit group are holding a meeting on Zoom this Thursday evening for Imbolc. Please sign up by emailing Sarah if you want to get the link for that. Next Sunday afternoon there is a special event put on by the LDPA (our London Unitarian District) and the ‘Seeds of Peace’ charity to mark Interfaith Harmony Week – there’ll be music, art, and storytelling – it will start at 2.30pm so you can pop out for lunch beforehand and admission is free. Looking a little bit further ahead: Make sure you’ve got the date in your diary if you’d like to join session two of our group discussing ‘Why Are We Here?’ on Unitarian mission. That’ll be on Zoom on Wednesday 8th February at 7pm. Our service next Sunday will be hybrid once again and it’ll be on the theme of ‘Inquiring Minds’. Details of all our events are on the back of the order of service and also in the Friday email.
The congregation very much has a life beyond Sunday mornings; we encourage you to keep in touch, look out for each other, and do what you can to nurture supportive connections.
I think that’s everything. Just time for our closing words and closing music now.
Benediction: ‘Share Your Glorious Light’ by James Morison
Within each of our hearts there is a most glorious light.
Go forth, and let its spark help you understand what troubles both you and others;
Go forth, and let its light of reason be a guide in your decisions;
Go forth, and bring its ray of hope to those in need of help
in both body and spirit, that they may find healing;
Go forth, and fan the flames of passion to help heal our world;
Go forth, and spread the warm glow of love, pushing back the darkness of the world;
Go forth, and share your glorious light with the world. Amen.
Closing Music: ‘Petites Litanies de Jesus’ by Gabriel Grovlez from Almanach aux Images – played by Brian Parsons
Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall and Rev. Laura Dobson
29th January 2023
