Global Chalice Lighting Words for June 2011

This is the 94th in the monthly series of Global Chalice Lightings from the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, for use during June 2011. It is submitted in French and English by the Eglise Unitarienne Francophone in homage to Norbert Capek. Please see that this Global Chalice Lighting is translated, if necessary, and distributed as widely as possible within your group.

Chaque fois que je vois une fleur, je pense à toi,

Chaque fois que je vois une fleur, je pense à nous,

Car nous assemblons les fleurs, n’est-ce pas ?

Pour qu’elles forment un éventail arc-en-ciel

Pour qu’elles fassent bouquets

Pour qu’elles fassent Eglise.

On dit que, dans ta Bohème natale,

Elles sont si nombreuses au printemps

tant belles et mutines

Qu’elles courent et dansent dans les prés

Célébrant la vie en farandole de liberté.

Each time I see a flower, I think of you.

Each time I see a flower, I think of us.

For we gather flowers, do we not?

So that they may bloom into a fan-shaped rainbow

and make up lovely bouquets,

making up the Church.

They say there are so many of them

in your native Bohemia,

so beautiful and lively,

that they run and dance in the fields

celebrating life in a frolic of freedom.

Jean-Claude Barbier

Eglise Unitarienne Francophone

Global Chalice Lighting Words for May 2011

The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists announces the 93^rd in its monthly series of global chalice lighting readings. Congregations worldwide are invited to participate.

ICUU-affiliated groups have been asked to submit brief chalice lightings for the project. Every month, a reading will be distributed to Unitarian and Universalist congregations around the world. We ask each congregation to use the reading for at least one worship service in the designated month, identifying it as the “Global Chalice Lighting” for that month and naming the group which submitted it. Readings will be circulated in English and, where different, in their original language.

It is hoped that the ICUU Global Chalice Lighting Project will enhance the worship experience in our congregations and raise awareness of the international dimensions of our religious movement.

This Global Chalice Lighting is submitted in English and Spanish by the Unitarian Universalist Association. It is to be used during May 2011.

We speak different languages. We live on different continents. And yet we share a common love, a common faith, and a common destiny. We share a commitment to create a world where compassion guides us, where all are cherished, where all are free.

We light this chalice in recognition of our enduring connections, in honor of our shared legacy, and in anticipation of the future we shall create together.

Hablamos idiomas diferentes y vivimos en continentes distintos, pero compartimos un amor común, una fe común y un destino común. Compartimos el compromiso de crear un mundo en el que nos guíe la compasión, donde todos seamos amados, donde todos seamos libres.

Encendemos este cáliz en reconocimiento de nuestras relaciones duraderas, en honor de nuestro legado compartido y en la expectativa del futuro que crearemos juntos.

Peter Morales

Unitarian Universalist Association

ICUU Founders Vision Awards

The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists is 15 years old and in commemoration of that achievement, we celebrate fifteen men & women pivotal in founding the worldwide network of Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist (UU) groups and organizations.

Recognizing that they come from and continue to support significant local and national UU communities as well as international connections, ICUU representatives will present Vision Awards to these prophetic people at the national meetings of their home organizations.

ICUU recognises that the implementation of its sustaining vision depended on many other people as well and that the vision cannot grow for the future without the dedication of many others to come. Therefore it is expected that further ICUU Vision Awards will be given in the future.

The following persons are to be honoured at the indicated national events:

Canada (Canadian Unitarian Council Annual Meetings Toronto May 2011):
Herman Boerma
Ellen Campbell

EUU (event & date to be determined):
Gevene Hertz

Germany (presentation event & date to be determined):
Wolfgang Jantz

India (presentation event & date to be determined):
Carleywell Lyngdoh

Philippines (presentation to be determined)
The Rev Rebecca Sienes

Transylvania
(presentation event & date to be determined):
The Rev Szabó Árpád
The Rev Kovács István

United Kingdom
(Annual Meetings Swansea April 2011):
Christine Hayhurst
The Rev Cliff Reed
The Rev David Usher

USA
(UUA General Assembly Charlotte June 2011):
The Rev John Buehrens
The Rev Polly Guild
The Rev Jill McAllister
The Rev Kenneth MacLean

Global Chalice Lighting for April 2011

The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists announces the 92nd in its monthly series of global chalice lighting readings. Congregations worldwide are invited to participate.

All ICUU-affiliated groups have been asked to submit brief chalice lightings for the project. Every month, a reading will be distributed to Unitarian and Universalist congregations around the world. We ask each congregation to use the reading for at least one worship service in the designated month, identifying it as the “Global Chalice Lighting” for that month and naming the group which submitted it. Readings will be circulated in English and, where different, in their original language.

It is hoped that the ICUU Global Chalice Lighting Project will enhance the worship experience in our congregations and raise awareness of the international dimensions of our religious movement.

This Global Chalice Lighting is distributed by the ICUU in response to the recent Japanese earthquake and its aftermath. In popular Japanese mythology earthquakes are caused by the great fish, Namazu, who lies imprisoned underground beneath a huge stone. This reading is to be used during April 2011.

AFTER THE GREAT WAVE
For Japan, March 2011

Namazu, the Great Fish, stirs
and the earth quakes.
Tsunami, the Great Wave, races
to the shore.
Harbours are engulfed, and towns
and villages and farmlands.
The fragile, perilous works of humankind
are assailed and shaken.
Nature’s power and human folly have
combined.
People are filled with fear. They suffer
ruin, devastation, and death.
Human weakness is exposed. We feel
helpless in the face of so much grief,
so much suffering.
And yet we cannot afford ourselves
the luxury of despair.
We are here to say that, in us, the
universe cares for its children.
We are here to reach out in love
to the people of Japan;
to unite our spirits with theirs in an affirmation
of hope beyond apocalypse.
And to do what we can.
And so we kindle our sacred flame.
-Rev. Cliff Reed
16th March 2011

Concern for the People of Japan

Dear Friends,

Like many around the world I have been watching the events in Japan with sadness and growing concern. The quakes and the tsunami have ripped apart so many families. Perhaps thousands have died, and countless numbers have been injured, displaced and have lost their homes and livelihoods. As one who has never endured a natural disaster, it is difficult for me to understand what it must be like for the survivors.

In the short term there is need for emergency relief, but in the longer term there is also a concern brought about by the damage to nuclear reactors. There have been so many natural upheavals in the last year or two that perhaps it is time for humanity to rethink how we produce and manage the resources we use to live and build wealth.

And as always happens with these events, we are starting to learn of the miracles, the selfless efforts of rescuers, and the courage and simple generosity of common people. It is in these small things that I find hope for the human race. It strengthens my belief in the essential goodness of people.

There is not an ICUU member group in Japan, but there are some UU contacts and many with whom we have friendships and alliances through the IARF and other interfaith contacts.

I ask you to join me in offering prayers, thoughts and good wishes for the people of Japan. And for those of us in a position to offer more support, please contribute through various legitimate charitable organizations such as the Red Cross, Red Crescent and funds created by the UUA and IARF.

Rev. Brian Kiely

President, International Council of Unitarians and Universalists

Kenyan UUs Given Emerging Group Status

The ICUU Executive Committee (EC) has granted Emerging Group Status to the Kenya Unitarian Universalist Council (KUUC) following an application from that body. After an extensive discussion, the EC unanimously voted to grant Emerging Group Status to the KUUC.

This is only the first step in the building of a relationship that could ultimately lead to full membership.

It is the policy of ICUU that new groups are admitted as emerging groups and after a period of time and as part of a developmental process can later be considered for provisional membership.

Emerging Group Status is a way we can recognize the start of our formal relationship and represents our intention to work with a new or reorganized faith body in further developing their Unitarian Universalist community. It does not come with any voting status or right to send delegates, but the EC does have the discretion to invite observers from the group to any meeting.

ICUU is encouraged that the KUUC continues to be open to involvement and participation from the other UU groups in Kenya that have so far not joined in this initiative. We live in hope that this preliminary step can be a catalyst towards the inclusion of all our UU brothers and sisters in Kenya around one table, independent in organization but united in love.

From Steve Dick, Executive Secretary on behalf the ICUU Executive Committee

Urgent: News of Christchurch, NZ UUs

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS INFORMATION AS APPROPRIATE TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE

Christchurch, New Zealand, was hit by 6.3 magnitude earthquake on Monday, February 21. Following on the heels of another quake just six months ago, plus many aftershocks, this quake was the most devastating so far, given that the epicenter was only a few miles from the city center.

News from the Unitarian Universalists’ of Christchurch is quite limited at the moment. ANZUUA President Peter Ferguson has been in New Zealand this week, and reported the following from his contact with Derek McCullough, leader of the Christchurch UU congregation, immediately following the earthquake:

"I have spoken to Derek this morning at 8.30 am NZ time. Derek and Rebecca (his wife), his mother and Rebecca's parents are all physically uninjured. Sadly their home has been destroyed by the earthquake, and at this present time they are leaving for safe accommodation in the country."

ICUU President Brian Kiely sent the following message to Derek McCullough and ANZUUA colleagues:
“Dear Derek and all Members and Friends of the Christchurch community,

It is with deep sadness that I learned of the earthquake that struck your homes and your city today. On behalf of your Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist co-religionists worldwide I send our thoughts and prayers on your behalf. Selfishly we hope that no one in your community has been seriously hurt or suffered great damage, but on a wider scale we hold all Christchurch residents in our hearts.

Tragedies like this anywhere in the world stir our emotions, but those feelings are heightened when it happens to people or places we know or have visited.

In the days ahead may things go as right as they possibly can and may you all find some joys to celebrate.”

PLEASE NOTE A “Causes” page has been set up on Facebook and UUs around the world are encouraged to show their solidarity with our sisters and brothers in New Zealand by joining the cause.

You can also make a donation through the “Cause” and all funds donated will be sent on to Christchurch. You can appreciate they will need our assistance, moral and financial, at a difficult time like this.

The Cause Page can be reached by going to the following web page:
http://www.causes.com/causes/583046

The ICUU will post news and follow-up information as it becomes available.

Thinking of our faith colleagues in distress and need,

Kind Regards,

Steve Dick & Jill McAllister