Have you seen this version of Little Drummer Boy?
Compassionate Friends Candle Lighting
Lighting a candle from 7pm til 8pm tonight for my nephew Tyler Rudy.
And for my friend Robert.
And for all the children that have died too soon.
Please join the world in light a candle tonight from 7 pm til 8 pm and watch us light up the world.
The Seventh Day of Chalica 2013
We light our chalice for respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. Examples:
- start a compost
- recycle bottles and cans and donate the money to an environmental / animal aid society
- rescue an animal from a shelter
- hold an outdoor worship service (dress warm/bonfire)
Image courtesy of digitalart/FreeDigitalphotos.net
Give gift(s) to our earth and/or its creatures
What will you do today to honor our earth? I am finding a little harder to bend down and pick up trash left from others this year. But I still had the kids help at the park with a trash race this year. This year we decided to go with a recycling company that picks up everything in one can. It has made recycling in our home so much easier! We are already training our 2 year old grandson to put things in the recycling can! He has been putting trash in the trash basket since he was about 18 months. Both our grandsons are a joy. Another things we are working on is recycling or re-purposing our "STUFF". It is amazing how much stuff we gather in our homes and how it really can take over our lives. And how we often don't really need it. There are many places that take used clothes, toys and other things and resale them for low prices. It gives me a good feeling when I give things away when I know someone else will get some joy out of them.Here's a great article on 101 Household Tips for your home that reuses & re-purposes many items. * see below for a couple of my favorites.
I read an article about paring down the amount of clothes in your closet. One of the things that it talks about is that by paring down the clothes in your clothes it makes it easier to find your favorite clothes, you save time by not having to search for certain items and that you can feel good by giving others a chance to enjoy your clothes.
I have found that it is easier to do this in stages. Stage 1 was getting rid of clothes that were too big or too small. Stage 2 was starting the process of getting rid of things that I don't wear that often. Stage 3 will be to continue the process. One easy way for me was to do it while the week's laundry was in the laundry room.
Good luck in your work for making the earth a better place.
Blessed be,
Kathy
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| CD large case for small cake dish |
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| Plastic bottle top to seal bags |
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| Egg carton for Christmas decorations |
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| Old slinky made into bird feeder |
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| toilet paper rolls |
The Sixth Day of Chalica 2013
Today we light our chalice for the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.
I would like to remind you about something that is happening on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013 to bring the world community together. It is the Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting. Compassionate Friends is an organization for people who have lost children in anyway. they have support groups and once a year on the 2nd Sunday in December they do this candle lighting that starts at 7pm in New Zealand and as different time zones turn to 7pm, they’ll light up for an hour - so candles will be lit for a full 24 hours across the globe.
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These Worldwide Candle Lighting Posters may be used for publicity. Posters are copyrighted and may not be changed in any manner.
Give gift(s) to honor our global community
Examples:
- volunteer with an organization that has global influence
- write a letter for amnesty international
- help your social justice committee hold a fundraiser
- donate to a cause such as UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, etc.
Blessed be,
Kathy
P.S.
For more information check out the following posters:
The Fifth Day of Chalica 2013
What will you do today to honor our Fifth Principle?
To the left is the children's version of our Principles, which is we can search for what is true.
The adult version of this principle is: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
Give gift(s) to honor democracy
Examples:
- help a political party- write your government- help a committee at church- host a dinner / party to celebrate democracyWhat are you doing today with the Fifth principle in mind?
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| My Chalica Chalice |
Today I will be lighting my Chalice for the 5th Principle and for the great man Nelson Mandela who died yesterday. He was 95 and led an incredible life. Mr. Mandela was a man who stood up for the people as a fighter against apartheid in South Africa. He was jailed for 30 years. When he was released he was still determined to see a apartheid free South Africa, but he wanted to do it without a Civil War. In 1994 he was then elected President of South Africa and served until 1999. He was South Africa's first black President. After his election he said:
"The time for the healing of the wounds has come. The moment to bridge the chasms that divide us has come,"Let us never forget that it can take just one person to start the democratic process for anything.
What are you doing today with the Fifth principle in mind? Have you thought of writing to your Senators and House of Representatives asking them to work together to straighten out the economy?
Remember to check in on Chalica! and let us know where you are from and if this is your 1st, 2nd, 3rd or ? year celebrating Chalica.
Blessed Be!
Kathy
The Fourth Day of Chalica 2013
What will you do today to honor our Fourth Principle?
To the right is the children's version of our Principles, which is we can search for what is true.
The adult version of this principle is: a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
What does this mean to you? Last year on the 4th day of Chalica the two lost Iowa couins were found unfortunately they were not found alive. In two days it will be that anniversary, and there are still no answers to what happened to them. One of my dear friends, Diane and her family were neighbors and friends of one of the girl, sometimes we forget that family are not the only ones affected by something like this. People are slowly getting on with their lives.
Give gift(s) to honor another tradition, to honor education
Examples:
- offer / take part in an event that celebrates another religion / tradition
- teach someone something you know and love
- learn something new from someone else
- give a book / read a book
I just learned about a new tradition being promoted by I am UU on Facebook. It is called "This Little Light" Chalice Challenge, Solstice Weekend! The challenge is to change your profile picture on Facebook to a flaming chalice for the solstice weekend or you can add a simple chalice to any profile, you can use this link to do so: http://twb.ly/IgJSWE
I love the following lines from the website:
"This is a non-intrusive way to share your Unitarian Universalist identity with your friends (and their friends) at a time of year when a lot of people are looking for a loving, encouraging community. Will you join us in spreading this idea? Share this idea with your friends and your congregation, and let's see if we can't get thousands of Flaming Chalices popping up all over Facebook!You might want to check out both these these sites."
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| This Little Light by Lisa C Williams |
Blessed Be!
Kathy
The Third Day of Chalica 2013
What will you do today to honor our Third Principle?
To the left is the children's version of our Principles, which is we are free to learn together.
It is interesting that it doesn't say what you are to learn, just learn with someone else. This a good day to have an older child read to a younger one.
The adult version of this principle is: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
Give gift(s) to honor fellow Unitarians and their spiritual journey.
Examples:
- a chalice / book / hymnal
- extend words of peace or forgiveness to a fellow Unitarian with whom you may have hurt / not understood in the past
- offer / take part in an event at your church / with your congregation
- church potluck
Some good books to read to children today are:
Aisha's Moonlit Walk: Stories And Celebrations For The Pagan Year byToday might be a good day to just listen to all the Chalica songs. I have looking them over again trying to pick one for each day.
Butterflies Under Our Hats (Paraclete Books for Children) by
A Lamp in Every Corner: Our Unitarian Universalist Storybook by
Unitarian Universalism Is a Really Long Name by
Here's a couple of my favorite quotes that I think go with Day Three.
“The truth is that the more intimately you know someone, the more clearly you'll see their flaws. That's just the way it is. This is why marriages fail, why children are abandoned, why friendships don't last. You might think you love someone until you see the way they act when they're out of money or under pressure or hungry, for goodness' sake. Love is something different. Love is choosing to serve someone and be with someone in spite of their filthy heart. Love is patient and kind, love is deliberate. Love is hard. Love is pain and sacrifice, it's seeing the darkness in another person and defying the impulse to jump ship.”
― Unknown
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.”
― Martin Luther King, Jr.
Blessed Be,
Kathy
The Second Day of Chalica 2013
What will you do today to honor our Second Principle?
To the right is the children's version of our Principles, which is to guide our children to treating everyone with kindness especially when in a group of people.
It is very easy on a one-to-one basis to be kind and fair with others, but when our children are in a group, especially with a group of their peers, this can be much more difficult.
The adult version of this principle is: justice, equity and compassion in human relations. Sometimes when we try to get justice for others we forget that all people need compassion.
Give gift(s) to honor those in your local community that are less fortunate.
Examples:
- spend time in a soup kitchen
- donate clothes to a worthy organization
- display kindness and care to those around you
- take part in a political demonstration at city hall
The UUA has a great article regarding the Second Principle that I highly recommend reading.
One of my favorite stories about compassion is located on a page at the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship website.
Some good books to read to children today are:
Accept and Value Each Person (Learning to Get Along) by
Horton Hears A Who! by
“Chalica is more about gifts than presents, baby girl.”
“Presents, gifts … what’s the difference?”“The gifts of Chalica are not usually things you can wrap up with paper and ribbons. They’re things like forgiveness, understanding, joy and belonging. If Chalica is an alternative holiday, it won’t lead us to buy and consume even more stuff. It’ll lead us to explore our values, and find new ways to live as Unitarian Universalists.”
Blessed be,
Kathy
First Day of Chalica
What will you do today to honor our First Principle?
To the left is the children's version of our Principles, which is to guide our children to treating everyone as they would like to be treated.
Our adult First Principle is: The inherent worth and dignity of every person. So it is just a bit more than thinking everyone is important. We also have to be respectful of others and their choices in life. How does this effect you?
So things that you can do today:
Give gift(s) to honor those you do not understand / agree with / like.
- Examples:
- - a thank-you card celebrating differences
- - words of forgiveness / apology
- - a peace offering such as inviting someone to dinner
- - help someone in need
Read books:
- My favorite books for the little ones are: Pink by
- The Big Orange Splot by D. Manus Pinkwater and Daniel Manus Pinkwater
- I have just heard about a book called: Randy Bradley by Jake Bohstedt Morrill minister of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. Morrill's father was one of the people that attempted to stop that gunman at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville. The gunman started firing on the members and visitors because he believed that the church was being UnAmerican by accepting gays, lesbians and others that were different. Fortunately, there was a huge outpouring of love and healing from around the world from many different people of many different religions. On of the out comes was our Standing on The Side of Love campaign
Here's some interesting things to do at the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
UUA First Principle
For more ideas check out My Chalica Book: A Beginner's Guide created by Meredith Plummer, Director of Religious Education at the First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati
Blessed Be.
Kathy
Chalica starts Tomorrow!
If you have a smartphone and are at a loss as to a chalice lighting reading you might want to get the Illuminations app that the Church of the Larger Fellowship has put out. It has many different chalice lighting and a couple of different chalices that you can light.
Goodbye Halloween, Hello Fall!
Today I am finishing taking down and putting away the outside Halloween Decorations. It is sad to put them away as it really makes people happy to see them. I am worried that this year it will again get too cold to put up the Winter/Christmas/Holiday outside decorations after Thanksgiving, but I hate to put them up before that...
In the mean time it is time to start the planning for Thanksgiving and Chalica. What will you do this year? Will you start the day with a chalice lighting or end it.
I am thinking we will do something at lunchtime with Tyler and James. Maybe read a book that goes with each day's Principle. As I get ideas I'll keep you posted!
Blessed Be,
Kathy
I am thinking we will do something at lunchtime with Tyler and James. Maybe read a book that goes with each day's Principle. As I get ideas I'll keep you posted!
Kathy
Chalica 2013
I am starting to do some planning for
this coming Chalica and I
have been wondering if anyone has any new
ideas, plans, stories or songs.
I have been checking out the links on the right of this page. I fixed those that I could but the following links are not working and have been removed:
- Personal Chalice
- Chalica winter Break 2010
- Rev. M. Lara Hoke's blog: Chalica "to whUUm it may concern"
- UU Identity
- George Byrd's blog: "A Year of Chalica: The Celebration of a Holiday all Year Long"
- Chalica - Light the Flame
The following links to these articles do not work:
The following link to this sermon does not work:
If anyone has updated links please let me know.
The other thing I have been thinking about is the constant chatter about the name and really I think we just need to accept that Chalica is the name and stop the comparisons to other holidays. And just embrace Chalica.
Blessed Be,
Kathy
I just got an email from my site meter that records where people are from and how often someone
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| Taken by friend of Andrea Perry Lerner |
stops by and we still are getting 2+ visits per day. I usually add to this site about a month before and after Chalica, but this year I will try to add some comments or more information when I have a free moment. Such as right now.
Right now prayers and love go out to those in Moore, Oklahoma. My mom was born and raise in Oklahoma until she was in middle school. I have never been there but do have some friends (thankfully I have heard via facebook) most are doing okay.
It is now starting to rain very heavily there now. My heart goes out to the families that have lost members.
Her in Iowa we are now getting worried about our Cedar River it is very high and we are still suppose to have more rain.
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