In June of 1923, worshippers at the Unitarian Church in Prague, in the then-Czechoslovak Republic, were introduced to a new ritual by their minister, Rev. Norbert Fabian ÄŚapek (pronounced “CHOP-eck”). That ritual has endured and is treasured by Unitarian Universalists around the world who are now eager to celebrate its centennial.
The meaning of the Flower Ceremony, or Flower Communion–in Czech the name translates as Flower Celebration–is rooted in its powerful simplicity: each person brings a flower to church, where they’re mingled in a single vase. After being blessed–often using Čapek’s own words–the flowers are redistributed so that everyone takes home a flower different from the one they brought.
There’s more to the flower ceremony, though–more to understand about its origins, practice, and expressions–and so it’s been a delight to curate an online treasure-box of centennial resources for UU congregations. |
I’d like to look at the cantata
Aloha e Joel,
You can find more information, including the score of the cantata here: https://www.uua.org/worship/words/music/beauty-calls-us-together