Join us Sunday, September 12th for Water Communion at
9:30 or 11 am!
The rise in COVID cases due to the Delta variant has delayed our planned return to the building. We also know that it has been over a year since we have gathered in person. To give us a chance to be together in person this year’s Water Communion and Ingathering Service will be held outdoors in the parking lot of our church.
Water Communion is a tradition in many Unitarian Universalist congregations. In this ritual, usually conducted in the fall when friends and members return from their summer travels, you are invited to bring a sample of water that has significance for you. The water can be from far away, your backyard or tap (or you can bring symbolic water). We gather all the water in a vessel to signify our coming together again. It's a way of symbolizing that many are one.
On September 12th there will be two services, at 9:30 and 11 AM and RSVPs are necessary to attend. Attendance is limited to 60 people at each service and masks and social distancing are required. Seating will be spaced in designated areas for each person or group and ushers will check you in and direct you to your space. We will also livestream the service on Zoom (at 9:30) for those unable or uncomfortable attending in person. The service will be posted to YouTube by 11:00 am. There will not be a Fellowship Hour.
If you plan to attend the service, you will need to:
1. - Read the Out Door Services Agreement and Release of Liability HERE (needs to be read to RSVP)
2 - RSVP here: https://rsvp.church/r/SUb9rdhM by noon on Friday, September 10th (Online reservation is preferred. You may also call the church office - 314-361-0595 by noon, Sept. 10th,)
3 - Bring your own chair
4 - Park on the street or at Central Reform Congregation
We recommend:
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Wearing sunscreen
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Bringing a hat or umbrella
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Bringing water to drink
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Bringing water for the water communion ritual
One of the hardest parts of this pandemic is not being able to gather. We very much look forward to being able to share this special service with you and to being together once more.
One of the traditions of Water Communion is sharing where our water came from. To make our ritual as safe and as inclusive as possible, we're creating a reading out of the sources you submit. Please send an email to (email hidden; JavaScript is required)
with the source of your water. Your water can come from somewhere you went, a place that has comforted you during this pandemic, somewhere you have found renewal or somewhere meaningful and close to home. Examples include, this water comes from the hose that watered my garden or this water comes from the tap at my brother's house where I visited after more than a year apart. It can even be symbolic, for example, this water comes from the tears I cried at the death of a friend this summer. Please send submissions by Friday, September 10th.