Sermon: the Welcome Table by Sally Fritsche Preached at the First Parish in Needham Unitarian Universalist on November 25, 2018
!1 Sermon: The Welcome Table By Sally Fritsche Preached at The First Parish in Needham Unitarian Universalist on November 25, 2018 Earlier this year, this congregation celebrated an ingathering water communion, in which we each added a few drops of water from many different places, combining them into one communal pool, a reminder of how we are all connected. Later, in the Spring, we will celebrate a flower communion, and everyone will leave with a single bloom to remind us of life’s constant renewal and its unique worth. We Unitarian Universalists call these ceremonies “communion,” partly because they are, literally, communal acts of fellowship and exchange. But we also call them “communion” because that word in particular carries a deep history, with roots in the Christian ritual of shared bread and wine, and the power of tradition and repetition. Unitarianism and Universalism began as Protestant Christian denominations, and our celebration of various “communions” is a reflection of that history. So, given that this month’s ministry theme is “legacy,” let’s talk about the legacy of Communion. In fact, another name for Christian communion, “Eucharist,” is simply the greek word for “Thanksgiving,” so if any Sunday were a time to reflect on sharing food around a communal table in a celebration called thanksgiving, today’s the day. Unitarian Universalism has most certainly grown beyond its Christian roots, and expanded into something far more inclusive and theologically diverse. Our congregations include Christians yes, but also Jews, Buddhists, atheists, and more, including those whose theologies do not fall easily under just one label.
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