Our Special Traditions and Celebrations
Our congregation loves celebrating a wide variety of meaningful holidays and rituals—some drawn from Unitarian Universalist history, others adapted to reflect our growing and evolving spiritual life. Each one helps us deepen our connections to ourselves, to one another, and to the wider world.
Annual Flower Communion
Each spring, we celebrate the beloved Flower Communion, a ritual created in 1921 by the Rev. Norbert Čapek of the Unitarian Church in Prague. Wanting a ceremony that honored beauty, diversity, and community—without mimicking traditional Christian communion—he invited people to bring flowers from home and place them on the altar. After celebrating the joy of spring through words, music, and reflection, the flowers were redistributed so everyone took home a different bloom.
We carry on this tradition with gratitude. Just as each flower is unique, so is each person—and when we gather together, we create a vibrant and beautiful community.
Annual Water Communion
Our Water Communion is inspired by a ritual created in 1980 by Carolyn McDade and Lucile Schuck Longview during the UU Women’s Conference. Each woman brought water from home as a symbol of her journey and her presence. During the service, these waters were poured together—forming one shared, meaningful whole.
Today, we honor this tradition by inviting everyone to bring a bit of water from a place that matters to them. As we blend our waters, we celebrate our individual paths and the shared life we create together. Water, the source of all living things, reminds us of connection, dependence, and renewal.
A Ritual for the New Year of Letting Go, Cleansing, Intention, and Hope
This powerful ritual invites us to pause and reflect: to let go of what burdens us, to refresh our spirits, and to set intentions for the days ahead. Through words, music, and the ancient practice of the burning bowl, we journey through symbols of flame, water, oil, and light.
At each station, you become your own healer, guide, and spiritual companion. It is a deeply personal and communal moment of release, cleansing, and hope—a chance to begin again.
Christmas & Easter
Since our founding in 1997, we have approached Christmas and Easter with a focus on the teachings of Jesus rather than traditional doctrines of the Trinity. For us, these seasons are times to explore themes of birth, transformation, renewal, and the enduring power of love.
Other Special Mornings
We honor the richness of many world traditions—Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Pagan, and more—because understanding diversity brings people closer together.
We also reflect on the spiritual meaning within U.S. holidays, discovering how shared stories and values can deepen our sense of community.
