Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Reflection: Flaming Chalice and Interfaith Action

Rev. John Beverley Butcher
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Palo Alto, CA

Four and a half years ago when the United States started bombing the people of Iraq and destroying that country, something snapped inside me and I knew there would be significant changes in my life. I joined the Steering Committee of MultiFaith Voices for Peace and Justice. That is where I met the Rev. Kurt Kuhwald. I decided to visit the Unitarian Universalist Church and listen to what my new friend Kurt Kuhwald had to say.

I experienced his preaching to be intellectually stimulating: he selects carefully from many sources, Thich Nhat Hanh, Mary Oliver, and Jesus, for example. He speaks not just from the head but also from the heart. His message addresses what is going on in the world right now. He has a deep spiritual practice that backs up his social action. His delivery is with full body expression: it is clear to me that Kurt totally believes what he is saying. In short, when he preached he had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Six months later I joined this congregation.

Now I am delighted to learn that Kurt is returning to this congregation and will be serving in partnership with the Rev. Amy Morgenstern. In my opinion, I think Amy and Kurt will make a winning combination and a creative balance with each other!

Now I must tell you that when I walked in the door of this church on a Sunday morning for the first time, something happened that really surprised me: an usher handed me a copy of the order of service. When I sat down I noticed that there was going to be a “Lighting of a Chalice.” “What?” I said to myself. “You don’t light a chalice. You drink from it: usually wine or water. this is preposterous!” Then someone lit this extraordinarily beautiful chalice and I understood immediately. Then I got it: Yes, I am the chalice — so go ahead, “Light my fire!”

The symbol of the Flaming Chalice has come to have very deep and significant meaning for me. I have a chalice at home that I light each morning to begin my spiritual practice. I have written a eucharistic liturgy called “A Chalice of Mystery” which was published last December in my book, THE TAO OF JESUS.

Two years ago I was first invited to conduct services in the Pescadero Community Church. I took my chalice with me and lit it to open the Sunday celebrations.

After awhile, people in the congregation wanted to have a Flaming Chalice for Pescadero Community Church so they commissioned a local artist named Dan Geraci to make one of glass and pewter. People brought branches from their gardens and Dan use these as the forms to cast the pewter.

The result is a beautiful Flaming Chalice that holds water with the fire in the center:

Water and Fire live in harmony with each other.
Yin and Yang live in balance.

The Flaming Chalice was dedicated on Easter Sunday.

This chalice here in Palo Alto UU Church inspired the one now in Pescadero Community Church. The church in Pescadero was organized as an autonomous congregational church in 1865 and the church building was constructed in 1867. Today it continues as a Community Church with an Open Pulpit. Regular speakers include Congregational, United Church of Christ, Methodist, Presbyterian, Jewish, Muslim, New Age and more. Agnostics, Atheists, Humanists are welcome. Under the by-laws there is one requirement: you have to stand up in front of the congregation and say, “I would like to become a member!” Sounds rather like UU, right?

The congregation has elected me to be one of their Ministers. As most of you know, I am a priest of the Episcopal Diocese of California and a Unitarian Universalist. I am bi-ecclesial. So with me they get two for the price of one.

You might say that I am a UU evangelist working coastside and that’s where I am most Sunday mornings at 11 o’clock. What I learned from you and this Flaming Chalice I am now lighting up in Pescadero. To put it as simply as I can: I am a student of Jesus of Nazareth, Mary of Magdala, and Lao Tzu of China. I live from UU principles, I light the chalice and I celebrate the Chalice of Mystery eucharistic liturgy.

I also carry the UU principles in my wallet and when it seems appropriate in a conversation, I reach into my wallet, take out a card and hand one to the person I am talking with and say, “What do you think of these?”

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person
• Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large
• The goal of world community, with peace, liberty, and justice for all
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

“Are they in accord with your own thinking?” If so, then I like to say, “Perhaps you, too, are UU.”

These little cards are a handy way to open up a conversation. There are many people who are thinking this way. Who will let them know that Unitarian Universalist Church is available to them? When the time is right, who will invite them to come here and see for themselves? We can do some advertising and open the doors and hope that people walk in.

We can also take some initiative and invite people to come here with us. One way to help do this is to carry a few wallet cards with you and have them ready to hand to people and open up conversations. I just happen to have 300 of the wallet size with me. I ordered tham so that I could offer them to you this morning. Usually when these baskets come to you, you are expected to put something in — this morning I invite you to take a few cards out. Take as many as you like to carry with you in your wallet or purse to share with others whenever appropriate …

 

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