Core Elements for the Service:
(Updated Mar 4, 2022 -- RK)
This service may be as condensed/simplified, or as fully-implemented as you would like. The idea is to have a service that is manageable for your congregation.
The following script is available for you to use for your congregation’s Luminescence service. These are the unique elements of a Luminescence service. If you have other parts of your regular service you would like to include, you can place them before and/or between the lighting of the candles. Please note that the [italicized text] that appears in brackets are instructions for the presenters and participants of the service and are not intended to be read aloud with the rest of the text.
- Chalice Lighting (read by Chalice Lighter)
- Lighting of the First Candle -- The Light Within Ourselves (read by First Candle Reader)
- Lighting of the Second Candle -- Recognition of Diversity (read by Second Candle Reader)
- Lighting of the Third Candle -- Reflection (read by Third Candle Reader)
- Lighting of the Fourth Candle -- Refocus (read by Fourth Candle Reader)
- Lighting of the Fifth Candle -- Renewal (read by Fifth Candle Reader)
- Pathways (read by Worship Host)
- Sharing the Light (Read by Worship Host)
- Concluding Prayer & Benediction (read by Concluding Prayer reader)
[Worship Host to do the actual candle lightings to prevent the lull from readers going to the candelabrum and back]
WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
Today is our annual Luminescence Holiday service. Luminescence is a home-grown Unitarian Universalist holiday. The inspiration for it was that while UUs have found a way to authentically celebrate holidays that were developed in other faith traditions, it was felt that it would be beneficial for UUs to have more holidays of our own.
Why do we hold this service at this time of year? The service is offered in February so as to correspond with the growing light as we move from darkness of the Winter Solstice toward the shared light of the Vernal Equinox.
What do we say to each other today? We say Happy Luminescence!
Why is it called Luminescence? The term “luminescence” refers to the process of generating light in a way that doesn't consume the source. Of course, a regular fire consumes the source, eventually extinguishing the light. We are celebrating the nurturing of our own personal sparks along with the light that resides in all that around us. So by calling this holiday Luminescence, we are recognizing with delight the fact that the light within us does not extinguish as it is used. Our light GROWS each time we share it! So through nurturing our own light and sharing it with others, we cultivate the expansion of even more illumination throughout the world. Today, we are celebrating that which guides us to a transformation. We rejoice in the fact that this transformation happens through a UU faith that seeks truth through both the blaze of spirit and the light of reason.
CHALICE LIGHTING
We welcome you to this special service by lighting our flaming chalice, symbol of our Unitarian Universalist faith. The flaming chalice reminds us of the values, principles, and ideals that we hold.
After the chalice lighting, and throughout the service, we will light five more ceremonial candles, each one representing a different affirmation of our faith. As more candles get lit one-by-one, we see how the light from a single small flame can grow, illuminating our world. Growing in strength and light so that Illumination from this one little chalice can be shared among every person here today, reminding us to rejoice in the light which resides within each of us and within all that is.
[Light the Chalice]
As we light the five candles, we ask you to reflect on the meaning of each candle being lit and how one or more of them may inspire you into action or to reaffirm actions or activities that are already a part of you and your spirituality. It could be something very small, a kindness that you could do within the next week to help brighten someone’s day – like calling a friend who hasn’t heard from you in a while. Or it could be something major that you want to do in the upcoming year – like helping with the proposed 8th UU principle work of building a diverse multicultural Beloved Community.
Whatever you select, we call this “an Intention”. To be clear, unlike a resolution, intentions are softer and more qualitative. An intention is focused more on being in the present, even if that present is ever changing. They are bigger picture and may be used to try and embody a quality or manner of being that we would like to attain.
And so, later in the service, we’re going to ask anyone who feels comfortable letting us know their “Intention” to write it in the chat or briefly say it aloud. So be thinking about whether you might be inspired by some of this service to call out an “Intent” – a way to give part of your light to others, and thereby growing the light inside of you.
There is a prayer known as the Gayatri that embodies our relationship to this light – “You who are the source of all power, whose rays illuminate the world, illuminate my heart so that it too can do your work.” Think about the work that your heart is illuminated to do.
LIGHTING OF THE FIRST CANDLE - The Light Within Ourselves
[HOST:] We welcome [First Candle Reader] to lead us in the lighting of the 1st candle.
[Reader:] We light the first candle, which represents the light within ourselves. We kindle this candle from our common chalice.
[Worship Host lights the first candle from the Chalice]
This first of the five candles represents the Source of light that lives within us and within all that is. It is as enveloping as the awesome light we receive from the sun that powers all that we know on Earth, and yet as intimate as the “still small voice” that is an ever-present glow within each of us.
The light within us gives us spirit. It radiates from us and touches others. It drives our creativity and love. And, collectively, it radiates outward from this congregation and this faith into the world. It is the Spirit of Life, the essence behind all things.
Together we offer the Unison Prayer that’s shown on the screen [or printed in your readings sheet]. Please join with me.
[Unison Prayer:] “In this season and in all to come, may we honor the Source of light, which resides within me and within all that is.”
[HOST:] Notice that this first candle was lit from our common chalice. In turn, all the rest of the candles throughout the service will be lit from this first candle. This is symbolic of the very real truth -- that an illumination that begins from just a single light, can, with time and nurturing, strengthen and grow. After all 5 of the candles in our community candelabrum are lit, you will all be symbolically lighting your own candles from the candelabrum. And so in this way, the light from ALL these candles will have blossomed from the seed of the initial single chalice flame.
LIGHTING OF THE SECOND CANDLE - The Light Within All That Is: Recognition of Diversity
[HOST:] We welcome [Second Candle Reader] for the lighting of the second candle.
[Reader:] We light the second candle, which is for the Light Within All that Is. Recognizing that the light is within all, leads us directly to a deep appreciation of our Diversity. We symbolically light the second candle from the first.
[Worship Host lights the second candle from the first.]
If we look only on the surface of things, we may be misled into thinking that all light is the same. But as we know from when light shines through a prism, it reveals all the individual colors that make up the entirety.
This candle stands for a recognition of the diversity—sometimes seen, sometimes not—in all that we experience. We affirm that it is precisely this diversity which gives strength to the totality; to the single integrated community of all life.
Together we offer the Unison Prayer that’s shown on the screen [or printed in your readings sheet]. Please join with me.
[Unison Prayer:] “In this season and in all to come, may I discern and celebrate the nuances of color, shape, and perspective that comprise the light, which resides within me and within all that is.”
LIGHTING OF THE THIRD CANDLE - Reflection
[HOST:] We welcome [Third Candle Reader] to lead us in the lighting of the third candle.
[Reader:] We light the third candle, which is for reflection.
[Worship Host lights the third candle from the first.]
This third candle represents light's reflection, as from a mirror. We look into the mirror and see ourselves revealed.
It’s important to perceive what we see at a deeper level than simply our physical reflection. We take joy in that which we have accomplished … and recognition of that which may not have been accomplished to our satisfaction. We take stock of our spiritual growth. We realize that sometimes we need to forgive ourselves for our mistakes and disappointments so that we can grow beyond them. We remind ourselves to periodically cast our gaze on important things that we may be just too busy to look at during the comings and goings of our everyday lives.
We pause to reflect not only on the light and on our own journey, but in this time of reflection, we consider those among us who are part of our circle of inclusion. Moving outward further still, we are reminded of the value of exploring and understanding the larger essence that we are a part of, to do our best to comprehend the nature of the things and our responsibility in it.
Together we offer the Unison Prayer that’s shown on the screen [or printed in your readings sheet]. Please join with me.
[Unison Prayer:] “In this season and in all to come, may I reflect deeply upon all that is, growing in understanding of the light, which resides within me and within all that is.”
LIGHTING OF THE FOURTH CANDLE - Refocus
[HOST:] We now invite [Fourth Candle Reader] to lead us in the lighting of the 4th candle.
[Reader:] This fourth candle represents the focusing of light, as through a lens. It embodies the re-focusing and empowering of ourselves through action.
[Worship Host lights the fourth candle from the first.]
The concept of focusing signifies our ability to transform things, to bend the arc of light toward the direction of justice. We work toward creating transformation at all levels.
We can change ourselves for the better. We can improve the lives of others. And we can help to heal the world.
So, the fourth candle reminds us that through Refocusing our light we uplift ourselves, enhance our communities, and transform the world.
Together we offer the Unison Prayer that’s shown on the screen [or printed in your readings sheet]. Please join with me.
[Unison Prayer:] “In this season and in all to come, may I be moved to redirect that which is, through conscious refocusing of the light, which resides within me and within all that is.”
LIGHTING OF THE FIFTH CANDLE - Renewal
[HOST:] [Fifth Candle Reader] will lead us in the lighting of the 5th candle.
[Reader:] We light the fifth candle, which is for Recommitment and Renewal.
[Worship Host lights the fifth candle from the first.]
At this point, we have honored the light that resides within ourselves, as well as within every individual. We understood the need to search within, as well as to refocus ourselves onto the task of transforming “what is” into a better “what can be.” Now, this fifth candle symbolizes our commitment to achieving results that embody these ideals. In this rededication, we create the idea of what we want to personally become as well as what we want our world to become.
We commit to taking action to attain these ideals. There is value in knowing that our efforts are supported on the shoulders of those who have come before us, and we hope that our efforts will help to support those who will come after. This candle reminds us of the high standard we set.
Together we offer the Unison Prayer that’s shown on the screen [or printed in your readings sheet]. Please join with me.
[Unison Prayer:] “In this season and in all to come, may I be ever faithful to the highest good that may be, in honor of the source of light, which resides within me and within all that is.”
PATHWAYS
[HOST:] All the candles we've lit today symbolize something that we want to ideally encompass within ourselves, what we want to promote within our communities, and what we can pass along to the world and to future generations. The concepts and pathways are already a part of Unitarian Universalism, just recast in a slightly different way – like looking at the same jewel from a slightly different perspective.
If there is one simple takeaway from this service it is as Columnists Karen Salmensohn wrote: “Be the reason someone believes in the goodness of people.”
To get more granular, we included 5 candle lightings in this service. We can think of these 5 candles as each representing a pathway that we hope to illuminate. They are analogies for the ideals we want to encompass within ourselves, and the integrity we want to promote.
As an easy way to remember the symbolism of each of the 5 candles throughout the year, think of this: The middle 3 candles are actions you can do with light. You can break up the light into its essential parts, as happens when shining light through a prism. That allows us to see all the parts within the light. This analogy is that it reminds us to recognize and appreciate the diversity that makes up the whole. Or, you can look in a mirror to see yourself and the world around you. This reminds us to take stock of ourselves, as well as to concentrate on understanding. And lastly, you can focus the light as through a lens. The analogy is for us to refocus our efforts to make the world a better place. Then on either side of these 3 middle candles, the first candle represents the source of that light, which is simply the illumination we all carry within ourselves. And the last candle is the everlasting impact of how we apply our light. So to put it another way, we’ve got the source of light, then what we do with that light (those 3 middle candles), and then the end-result of what we’ve accomplished with it.
Ours is a living tradition, growing and changing as the needs of the world shift and change. So, as we tend to the light within ourselves as individuals, and among us as a gathered community, we pass the flame to those who will carry the light further, to others and to future generations.
Within our unity and in this radiant light, let us honor all these paths that lead to our higher ideals.
As author, feminist, and social justice activist, L.R Knost, wrote, “The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you."
INTENTIONS
[HOST:] We recognize the meaning of these candles and how they symbolize and affirm those values and attributes we hold dear as Unitarian Universalists. We also recognize, as the fifth candle represents, that it is actions that we take in the realm of social justice and helping one another and our beloved communities that has also drawn many of us to this faith.
And so, as we asked before, what are your Intentions? What acts of loving kindness and generosity are part of your daily life now? What have you been inspired to start doing now, this day, this week? And what longer term intentions may you have.
Please take a moment to share some, if you are comfortable, with the congregation. [This could be spoken, or if an online service, this could be via Chat.] [Provide enough time for people to “come out of their shells” and share. If you want, make some suggestions – contributing to UUSC, donating blood, etc]
Thank you all for sharing these intentions and we honor those that keep theirs private or are still considering what makes meaning to you.
SHARING THE LIGHT
[Sharing the Light should come toward the end of your service to wrap things up. The suggestion is to use narrow vigil candles with a bobesh (drip guard) to protect the facility against dripping wax, however flameless candles can be utilized for this part. Battery-powered candles are OK, but don't quite have the same effect. Or this part could be skipped. If handing out candles, plan a way for people to get candle quickly.]
This is the time to light your candles. [If service is live, one idea is to have each Candle Reader light a candle from the Chalice and go around to light everyone else’s candle. Can play light instrumental music. If online, pre-arrange for people to bring candles, and tell them it’s now time to light them.]
[Light the candles]
The candle you’re holding is a representation of our chalice light, the blaze of spirit and the light of reason that we began this service with.
[Candle up] I’d like to encourage everyone to switch to gallery mode if you can, so we can see each other and be alongside each other, in community. Let’s just take a few moments, as if in meditation, to just “be” with one another.
[Play light meditative music. “When Our Spirits Unite” instrumental is available on this website.]
CONCLUDING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
Within each life pulses the light of love, the light of wisdom and truth - radiating these qualities into the world.
Sharing this light with one another, we illuminate the gifts of life … and reveal those places in our hearts and in the world still obscured by shadows of fear, of wounds unhealed, and futures undreamed.
Sharing this light with others, we reveal strength and vulnerability, joy and sorrow, the need to give and the need to receive.
May our collective lights be tended well, nurtured and fed. May it inspire hope, courage and compassion, as we journey together the blessed path of our seasons. May the light of these candles remind us that to whatever degree we might may be diverse in our beliefs, diversity is a gift. We share a common light, we share common goals, and we share common community.
In this season and in all to come, may we rejoice in the light which resides within each of us and within all that is. Amen.
[Optional Song: When Our Spirits Unite]
As we blow out our candles, we keep in our minds and hearts the knowledge that we ALL continue to carry the radiance of its light inside of us, and that we all have the capability of spreading light to the world.
As Rev. Elizabeth Selle Jones wrote:
“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.”
[blow out candles]
[snuff the chalice flame]
May love and wisdom be in your mind.
May love and courage be in your heart.
May love and strength be in your hands.
May Spirit be with you and work through you
Today and all your days.
May the light from the flames that we illuminated this hour continue to shine in our hearts and minds.
Please feel free to repeat after me.
Go in peace, [Go in peace]
Live in love [Live in love],
Be a light unto the world [and be a light unto the world].
Happy Luminescence!!!!! [Happy Luminescence!!]
Amen!
[The service is now over]