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TZID:America/New_York
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UID:72@firstparishbeverly.org
DTSTART:20200913T100000Z
DTEND:20200913T110000Z
DTSTAMP:20200904T154858Z
URL:https://firstparishbeverly.org/events/water-communion-2020/
SUMMARY:Water Communion\, 2020
DESCRIPTION:Each year\, like most Unitarian Universalist congregations\, we
  mark the beginning of a new church year in September by observing the Com
 munion of the Waters\; a ritual in which each of us brings a little bit of
  water to church to pool into a common font\, symbolic of the way our live
 s and our spiritual journeys merge into a greater whole as we share in com
 munity. Of course\, this is an unusual time\, at the threshold of what we 
 expect to be an unusual year. How can we have a Rally Sunday when we liter
 ally cannot rally together? How can we hold an Ingathering\, when we expli
 citly are not gathering in? Prepared\, as we are\, for many more months of
  social distancing\, with all our services held on-line\, how can we find 
 connection and the shared spiritual sustenance that we renew each year in 
 the Water Communion? Trying times call for us to be even more determined t
 o connect with one another\, and even more creative in the ways we find to
  observe our cherished rituals.\n\nThere are two ways to participate in th
 is year’s special Water Communion – please feel invited to do either o
 r both\, as you are willing and as your circumstances allow. The first is 
 to send in a picture for the photo montage that will be displayed during t
 he Zoom worship service on September 13th. When the Water Communion ceremo
 ny was first conceived in 1980\, it focused\, in part\, on water as our sh
 ared point of origin and the source of our very being. For this year’s c
 eremony\, we’re returning to that theme. Your picture should have some w
 ater in it that is personal to you. Most of us are staying pretty close to
  home these days\, so please don’t feel an expectation for distant and u
 nusual locations! Your kitchen sink\, a drinking glass\, a garden hose –
  all of these are very valid choices. Because we all dearly miss each othe
 r\, you are particularly invited to send along a picture that includes you
  in it – we would love to see your face! Please either take the picture 
 yourself or have permission from the photographer to use it. You may submi
 t a photo with this link:\n\nWater Communion Photographs\n\nThroughout thi
 s highly unorthodox church year\, we’ll be trying to find new ways in wh
 ich we can share in rituals and meaningful experiences that take place in-
 person while still practicing the utmost care to prevent transmission of C
 OVID-19. So the second way of participating in this year’s Water Communi
 on is by coming to First Parish to add your water to our common font\, in 
 person. There will be two open opportunities to do so:\n\nThursday\, Septe
 mber 10th from 1pm – 3pm\, and\nSaturday\, September 12th from 2pm – 4
 pm\n\nOn the sidewalk in front of the church steps\, there will be place w
 here you can pour your water\, and a blessing to read for it\, if you wish
 . Just like every other year\, there will also be a jug of water from the 
 previous year’s ceremony – so you don’t even need to remember to bri
 ng water yourself and can add your water symbolically if you wish. Rev. Ke
 lly will be on hand to watch over and maintain the ritual space\, to greet
  you\, and to take your picture for the montage\, if you’re willing. Ple
 ase use the same good safety practices you would for any other outing righ
 t now: washing your hands before and after\, maintaining social distance f
 rom people outside your household\, and wearing a mask. If more than one p
 erson or family shows up at the same time\, it’s wonderful to wave and g
 reet each other\, we just ask that you allow for the flow of traffic on th
 e sidewalk\, and not inadvertently become a crowd. If you would like to pa
 rticipate in this way but can’t make either the Thursday or the Saturday
  times\, please call Rev. Kelly to make alternate arrangements: 585-329-07
 81.\n\n
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