Flower Communion is a ritual service common in Unitarian Universalism, though the specific practices vary from one congregation to another., by Reginald Zottoli It is usually held before summer, when some congregations recess from holding services. For a typical Flower Communion, congregants contribute flowers to a central location, and later the flowers are distributed among the participants. The first Flower Communion, called a "Flower Celebration," was held in Prague in 1923, and the practice was reportedly introduced to Unitarians in the United States in 1940. History The Flower Communion was initiated by Norbert Čapek, who was also the founder of the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia. He saw the need to unite the diverse congregants of his church, from varying Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish backgrounds, without alienating those who had left these traditions. For this reason he honored the universal beauty of nature by having a communion of flowers instead of the Eucharist. The first Flower Communion was held in Prague on 4 June 1923. Čapek's term is more accurately translated as "Flower Celebration," a term which continues to be preferred by Czech Unitarians today."Fragile and Rooted", by Joan Van Becelaere, CLF Quest, June 2002 The Flower Communion was reportedly introduced in the United States in 1940 by  Maja Čapek, Norbert's wife, and was widely adopted by the American Unitarian churches, and their successor Unitarian Universalist congregations. Earlier Unitarian "Flower Services," documented in Midwestern U.S. Unitarian congregations beginning circa 1880, were somewhat different in form from Čapek's service. Many congregations include this blessing used by Čapek to "consecrate " the flowers before they are passed to or distributed among the people: "Infinite Spirit of Life, we ask thy blessing on these, thy messengers of fellowship and love. May they remind us, amid diversities of knowledge and of gifts, to be one in desire and affection, and devotion to thy holy will. May they also remind us of the value of comradeship, of doing and sharing alike. May we cherish friendship as one of thy most precious gifts. May we not let awareness of another's talents discourage us, or sully our relationship, but may we realize that, whatever we can do, great or small, the efforts of all of us are needed to do thy work in this world."
Flower Communion is a ritual service common in Unitarian Universalism, though the specific practices vary from one congregation to another., by Reginald Zottoli It is usually held before summer, when some congregations recess from holding services. For a typical Flower Communion, congregants contribute flowers to a central location, and later the flowers are distributed among the participants. The first Flower Communion, called a "Flower Celebration," was held in Prague on 4 June 1923, and the practice was introduced to Unitarians in the United States in 1940. History The Flower Celebration was initiated by Norbert Čapek, who was also the founder of the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia. He saw the need to unite the diverse congregants of his church, from varying Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish backgrounds, without alienating those who had left these traditions. For this reason he honored the universal beauty of nature by having a communion of flowers instead of the Eucharist. The first Flower Celebration was held in Prague on 4 June 1923. Čapek's term is more accurately translated as "Flower Celebration," a term which continues to be preferred by Czech Unitarians today."Fragile and Rooted", by Joan Van Becelaere, CLF Quest, June 2002 The Flower Communion was reportedly introduced in the United States in 1940 by the Rev. Maja Čapek, Norbert's wife, and was widely adopted by the American Unitarian churches, and their successor Unitarian Universalist congregations. Earlier Unitarian "Flower Services," documented in Midwestern U.S. Unitarian congregations beginning circa 1880, were somewhat different in form from Čapek's service. Many congregations include this blessing used by Čapek to consecrate the flowers before they are passed to or distributed among the people: "Infinite Spirit of Life, we ask thy blessing on these, thy messengers of fellowship and love. May they remind us, amid diversities of knowledge and of gifts, to be one in desire and affection, and devotion to thy holy will. May they also remind us of the value of comradeship, of doing and sharing alike. May we cherish friendship as one of thy most precious gifts. May we not let awareness of another's talents discourage us, or sully our relationship, but may we realize that, whatever we can do, great or small, the efforts of all of us are needed to do thy work in this world."
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in
on 4 June
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reportedly
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Communion
Celebration
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Communion
Celebration
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the Rev.
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"consecrate "
consecrate