We moved our worship as far away from the Roman liturgy as it was possible for us to go. We had no use for anything other than words. But the pendulum has begun to swing in the other direction, as we see with our Ingathering Water Communions, and Flower Communions and Lighting of the Chalice. We have begun to appreciate that symbols are useful because they take as where words cannot. We use symbols in attempting to express things for which there is, at least so far, no adequate verbal concept.
Meaning comes in many levels.
Opening ourselves to the many meanings of symbols enriches our lives as we begin to find meaning on those many levels. The Flaming Chalice may symbolize no more to you than it's time to begin a worship service. I believe we are made more whole when we open oursleves and experience all these dimensions of meaning. Today we extinguish our Chalice for the last time of this church year. I entreat you to carry the flame of peace and love, until we meet again.