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Rev. Chris Jimmerson
June 7, 2026
First UU Church of Austin
4700 Grover Ave., Austin, TX 78756
www.austinuu.org
Join Rev Chris, Sol, and our Chalice Camp participants for this much-loved Unitarian Universalist ritual where we bring flowers to add to the large bouquet we create and take a different flower with you, symbolizing both the unique, sacred beauty of each of us and the even greater beauty we create when we share that sacred uniqueness with one another.
Welcome
Introit: “The Chalice Camp Song” & “Sing/Swing/Saints” (African American spiritual partner songs) – Camp Kids; Christina Tannert, director
Chalice Lighting
(Children’s Version)
We are Unitarian, Universalists,
Now we light our chalice.
We’re the church of the open minds,
We’re the church of the listening ears,
We’re the church of the loving hearts,
And helping hands.
Call to Worship
Come into this place of nourishment,
where we root ourselves in sacred soils.
Come as blossoms ready to open.
Come into this community of souls
that bloom in so many beautiful hues.
Come let us flower together,
as we join with one another in worship.
Come, you belong here.– Anonymous
Affirming Our Mission
Together we nourish souls, transform lives, and do justice to build the Beloved Community.
Anthem
Anthem: “One Little Heart” (The Okee Dokee Brothers) – The First UU Children’s Music Group w/the Camp Kids; Christina Tannert, Director
Reading
ALL OF US ARE BEAUTIFUL
Thomas RhodesWe come in a variety of colors,
shapes, and sizes.
Some of us grow in bunches.
Some of us grow alone.
Some of us are cupped inward,
And some of us spread ourselves out wide.
Some of us are old and dried
and tougher than we appear.
Some of us are still in bud.
Some of us grow low to the ground,
And some of us stretch toward the sun.
Some of us feel like weeds, sometimes.
Some of us carry seeds, sometimes.
Some of us are prickly, sometimes. Some of us smell.
And all of us are beautiful.
What a bouquet of people we are!
Centering
Music for Meditation: “Sleeping Lotus” (Joel Beving) – Valeria Diaz, piano
Sermon
Flower Communion Play
Presented by our Chalice Camp Children
ACT ONE, CHOOSE YOUR PATH
Narrator: Our protagonist, Norbert Capek, was born in the year 1870. He was raised as a good Catholic boy, but even quality rearing can’t stop a good Catholic boy from developing his own thoughts.
Norbert: Ma. Pa. I’ve joined the Baptists.
Pa: Son!
Ma: But honey!
Norbert: No Ma. No Pa. You can’t talk me out of this. I’ve been feeling lost in Catholicism for some time now. It just hasn’t felt right.
Pa: That’s just God testing you son. You’ve reached the time in every man’s life when they must choose the right path.
Norbert: I have chosen the right path, Pa. I’m now the minister of the Baptist congregation down the road.
Ma: Oh, Norbert! No! Don’t tell me these things!
[Pa makes the sign of the cross and says something under his breath. Ma puts her head in her hands and sobs.]
ACT TWO, HOME OF THE FREE, LAND OF THE BRAVE.
Narrator: Time passed by, and Norbert grew into an adult. He got married and had children.
[Maja Capek stands next to Norbert holding a baby. Norbert gives Maja a ring.]
Narrator: All was well for the Capek family, until disaster struck that no one could have ever imagined. World War I broke loose.
The Capeks are forced to flee the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They hop on a big boat and cross the Atlantic to a little-known country called The United States of America. Their boat docks next to a tall green statue of a woman holding a torch with her right hand high in the air.
[Maja and Norbert row the boat]
[Lady Liberty comes on stage, holding up her torch]
Lady Liberty: Welcome to America! Bee-en-ven-ido ah America! Bee-on-ven-oo en Ameri-kay!
Norbert: Who are you?
Lady Liberty: I am the Lady Liberty, otherwise known as the Statue of Liberty. I am here to welcome you to America.
Norbert: Thank you! Happy to be here! Can you help me find something? You seem to have a good view of the city.
Lady Liberty: Yes! Where would you like to go?
Norbert: Could you point me in the direction of the nearest Baptist church please?
Lady Liberty: Thataway sir!
[points to the right]
But, if ever you find yourself seeking a church that prides itself on its equal treatment of all. a very American value in my opinion, then go that way.
[points left to the Unitarian church.]
Norbert: The what now? You said this way to the Baptist church, right?
[points right]
Lady Liberty: Yes, sir! Ah-do!
Narrator: The Capek family spent some time at the Baptist church but soon realized they didn’t like it all that much. It was a good thing that Norbert remembered the direction of the Unitarian church.
[Maja and Norbert cross their arms and shake their heads].
Unitarian Minister: Here, we welcome everyone. Every beginning and path, every beautiful expression of human flowering.
Maja: You know what Norbert, this place isn’t half bad.
Narrator: Norbert smiled and thought to himself out loud.
Norbert: I like this place. [Smile]
ACT 3, NEW BEGINNINGS
At long last, the war ended, and the Capek family could finally return home.
[Maja and Norbert row the boat].
Although their home was now referred to by a different name, Czechoslovakia. There was no Unitarian church in Czechoslovakia, so Norbert decided to build one.
[Maja leaves stage – Norbert steps forward]
Norbert: Welcome all! Everyone in our congregation is different, and we like that!
Narrator: But Norbert wanted to somehow celebrate their differences. He needed to create a ceremony. He looked around and he realized that what truly connects us all is the natural world around us.
[Norbert looks around]
Norbert: Nature! Everyone, please bring a flower with you to service next Sunday.
[spreads arms wide]
Narrator: In the year 1923, the first flower communion was held.
[Everyone lines up and puts a flower in the vase]
Norbert: A bouquet is a beautiful thing, but it is even more beautiful when there is a variety of different flowers within it. This is just like our congregation. We are all different, but we are united, and we are beautiful together.
Extinguishing the Chalice
We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment. These we hold in our hearts until we are together again.
Benediction
As we go out into our world today, Just as we carry with us the flowers we have shared, The spiritual nourishment found only in communion. May we also carry with us the shared meanings of our shared ritual, Holding our history in our hearts, We embody a new and ever more just and loving future together,
So may it be.
Postlude
“I Giorni” (Ludovico Einaudi) – Valeria Diaz, piano
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