Inherent worth and dignity of every person-Reading 3

When all the Peoples on This Earth

Singing the Living Tradition 147

words: anonymous

music: Betty Jo Angebranndt 1931-

When all the peoples on this earth know deep inside their precious worth, 

When every single soul is free, 

We'll earn the name Humantity. 

The choice to be the best we can begins the day we say "I am"

The unity for which we sigh

will never come through hate or lie. The lights of Kwanzaa now proclaim that when we share out inner flame

And nurture root and branch with pride, 

We'll harvest peace both far and wide.

Thoughts

• I think that to see the inherent worth and dignity in others I have to first believe that I have inherent worth. By saying "I am", I declare my value even when I am not perfect, which is often! Do you think that really believing in your own worth is the way to full humanity?

• Kwanzaa also celebrates 7 principles and is a holiday of feasting and gifts for family and community. Kwanzaa principles include Unity, Self-determination, Collective work & responsibility, Cooperative economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith. I wonder what gifts I can give this week to myself and others that would honor these traditions and my own? 

Chalica (Infinite Light)

Lighting & Closing the chalice

Chalice Lighting

At times our own light goes out & is rekindled by a spark from another person.

Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.

 - Albert Schweitzer

Chalice Closing

We extinguish this flame but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment.

These we carry in our hearts until we are together again. 

- Elizabeth Selle Jones 

Opening Chalica Season - Words

When love is felt or fear is known

When holidays & holy days & such times come

When anniversaries arrive by calendar or consciousness

When seasons come, as seasons do old & known, but somehow new

When lives are born or people die

When something sacred's sensed in soil or sky

Mark the time

Respond with thought or prayer or smile or grief

Let nothing living slip between the fingers of the mind.

For all of these are holy things we will not, cannot, find again.

-Rev. Dr. Max A Coots (1927-2009)

Opening the Season - Words and Ideas

Rituals are a good way to begin a season. They mark a beginning - now we are entering a time to focus on what happens next. Accordingly, Chalica as a season should begin with a ritual. 

You might begin by designating a set time and place to hold a Chalica ceremony in your home every week. Lighting a chalice. You may use one chalice for all 7 weeks or a new chalice for each weeks principle. 

In the Arts tab are ideas for making your own chalice(s) and links for buying a home chalice. 

Also included are three songs dedicated to the Chalica season, perhaps one or all of them appeal to you or maybe your family would like to create their own song!

Each week click on 1 of the Principle Tabs. I will have included 5 reading selections from various sources, 2 Unitarian Universalists individuals who lived the principle and ideas for exploring how to incorporate each principle into day to day life. 

Please blog along with me and add your own ideas and rituals - we are creating our own tradition and how much fun to share what we are doing! 

Welcome - the idea of Chalica

Chalica began in 2005 as an unofficial holiday week for Unitarian Universalists to focus and celebrate our 7 principles. Chalica tradition calls for UU's to reflect on one principle a day and with its placement at the first week in December, provides Unitarian Universalists with a way to focus on our church in addition to holiday traditions already established. It is a way for UU's to claim a holiday unique to our church and beliefs.


For myself, one principle a day turned into a mad dash trying to read, contemplate and put a principle into action every 24 hours. 


This site is dedicated to the idea of expanding Chalica into a 7 week season within the Holiday Season of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years so that UU's have the opportunity to bring our unique religion into the existing traditions we love and share or to create brand new traditions for those who long to bring our religion into the season more fully. 


Feel free to explore along with me as we create Chalica - 7 Principles for 7 Weeks.


Freely in Faith, 


Michelle Moore 
First Unitarian, Oklahoma City, OK