Chalice Lighting Words

Sometimes you will want separate passages for the chalice lighting and for the opening words. More can be found in the hymnal.


Symbol of Our Faith

Behold the symbol of our faith,
Fed by differing beliefs,
Merging together to become,
One fine flame burning brightly,
In beloved community.

by kasey 2012.01.07


Flaming chalice, burning bright,
now you share with us your light.
May we always learn to share
With all people everywhere.

by Eva M. Ceskava, adapted (from Family Prayers: A Sampler)


We light this chalice for the light of truth.
We light this chalice for the warmth of love.
We light this chalice for the energy of action.

by Mary Ann Moore (from Family Prayers: A Sampler)


May the light of this chalice give light and warmth to our family,
On good days and bad, happy and sad,
And may we feel the warmth spread from our family circle
to wider and wider circles,
Until we feel our family part of the one circle of life.

by Betsy Darr (from Family Prayers: A Sampler)


In times of light and times of darkness
May this small flame
Kindle what is good
In us and in the world.

by Sarah Gibb Millspaugh (from Family Prayers: A Sampler)


We light this chalice to celebrate the love within us, among us, and all around us.

by David Herndon (from Family Prayers: A Sampler)


For daylight and darkness,
for sunshine and rain,
for the earth and all people,
we offer deep thanksgiving.
We kindle this light in celebration of the life that we share.

by Gary Kowalski (from Family Prayers: A Sampler)

Touchstones: Vocation

2.1: A Communion of Heart and Soul
by Rev. Bruce Southworth

For the gift of this day and for our community of spiritual nurture and compassion, we give thanks.
We light this chalice as a symbol of our faith.
May our many sparks meet and merge in communion of heart and soul.

[View Source]

2.2: Deep calls unto deep, joy calls unto joy
by Rev. Gordon B. McKeeman

Deep calls unto deep, joy calls unto joy, light calls unto light. Let the kindling of this flame rekindle in us the inner light of love, of peace, of hope. And "as one flame lights another, nor grows the less," we pledge ourselves to be bearers of the light, wherever we are.

[View Source]

2.3: For every time we make a mistake
by Rev. M. Maureen Killoran

(May be read responsively)
For every time we make a mistake and we decide to start again:
      We light this chalice.
For every time we are lonely and we let someone be our friend:
      We light this chalice.
For every time we are disappointed and we choose to hope:
      We light this chalice.

[View Source]