Flower Communion

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Flower Communion is a ritual service common in Unitarian Universalism, though the specific practices vary from one congregation to another. It is usually held before summer, when some congregations recess from holding services.

See http://www.uua.org/aboutuu/flowercommunion.html for more information.

[edit] History

The Flower Communion was initiated by Norbert Capek, 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 rejected the Eucharist. The Flower Communion instead borrows from the universal beauty of nature. The first Flower Communion was held in Prague on June 4, 1923. Capek's term is more accurately translated as "Flower Celebration," a term which continues to be preferred by Czech Unitarians today. [1]

The Flower Communion was reportedly introduced in the United States in 1940 by Maja Capek, 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 c. 1880, were somewhat different in form from Capek's service.

[edit] A sample Flower Communion

In its essentials, a flower communion involves the following: each congregant brings a flower to be used in the service; congregants leave their flowers in a central location either as they enter or during the service; towards the end of the service, congregants leave with a flower different from the one they brought.

The actual order of service varies widely in different congregations, and often closely resembles the ordinary order of service. Other service elements might include a sermon, the blessing of or a prayer over the flowers, a reading by Norbert Capek, the story of the Flower Communion, hymns, etc.

[edit] Symbolism

As with the flaming chalice there is no one orthodox interpretation of the Flower Communion. The beauty and diversity of flowers is seen as symbolic of the beauty and diversity of life. Czech Unitarian Iva Fišerová has written: "The flower is the most beloved symbol for Czech Unitarians.... The symbol of various unique beings -- flowers/people -- uniting to create a unique bouquet.... Parting and being given a flower as a symbol of anybody in attendance whom I am expected to accept as my brother or sister." [2]