Fully letting go is ultimate renewal ... You are invited to participate in the annual Burning Bowl ceremony led by Vicki Reithel this Sunday.  We will gather in honor of the potential for transformation in the extraordinary every day.

​In addition to a short service we will have a time of sharing with all who are present!    We will close the service with the reading shared earlier at the Love Feast:   "The Work of Christmas" by Howard Thurman.   

    The Work of Christmas
    by Howard Thurman 
        When the song of angels is stilled,
        When the star in the sky is gone,
        When the kings and princes are home,
        When the shepherds are back with their flock,
        The work of Christmas begins:
              to find the lost,
              to heal the broken,
              to feed the hungry,
              to release the prisoner,
              to rebuild the nations,
              to bring peace among the brothers,
              to make music in the heart.

​Our UUCO Holiday Lovefeast is our traditional 'Tis the Season' worship service. We invite all -- youngest to oldest, visiting guests and favorite neighbors -- to join in!  We will sing the familiar songs of the season, read words from historic texts, share traditional Lovefeast buns and warm cider, and hold aloft our candles at the conclusion of the service. Our offertory will go to help families in our own congregation and community who could use a little extra this season.  All are welcome at this multi-generational gathering, which is our own adaptation of the traditional Moravian Lovefeast. 
  
The Lovefeast service is very simple and is focused upon love of humankind: a communal meal is shared in love. Music and readings are offered to support reflection about the meaning of this season of the year. The distinctive feature of the gathering is that sweet rolls and cider are served to the congregation and all hold lighted candles to end the service.  Within the Christian tradition it has been noted that the Lovefeast is not a substitute for the Christian sacrament of communion, rather it is a simple, shared meal.  Many Unitarian Universalist congregations celebrate Lovefeasts at this time of year.  

The original Moravian Lovefeast had its roots in the early Moravian Church.  Once, after a worship service, some Moravians shared a simple meal and were moved by the unity and good will they felt toward one another. This practice soon became a tradition and was called a 'lovefeast.'  Moravian Lovefeasts are still held today to celebrate many occasions of special significance.  Now practiced and adapted in many different faiths, it is a universal celebration and a calming way to engage the holiday season in a participatory and multi-generational service.