The Water Communion (Water Ritual) is a

ritual A ritual is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects, performed according to a set sequence. Rituals may be prescribed by the traditions of a community, including a religious community. Rituals are characterized ...

service common in

Unitarian Universalist Unitarian or Unitarianism may refer to: Christian and Christian-derived theologies A Unitarian is a follower of, or a member of an organisation that follows, any of several theologies referred to as Unitarianism: * Unitarianism (1565–present) ...

congregations. It is usually held in the fall, during September, as it is the beginning of the Liturgical year. Some congregations of other religions have also adopted the ritual. For example, a

United Methodist The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelic ...

service on Earth Day 2013 in Austin, TX includes a water communion.

History

The first Water Ritual was held at the November 1980 Women and Religion Continental Convocation of Unitarian Universalists in East Lansing, Michigan.Carolyn McDade, Lucile Longview, ''Coming Home, Like Rivers to the Sea: A Women's Ritual''. Original booklet published by Pacific Central District W&R, November 1980. It was created by activist Carolyn McDade and UU leader Lucile Schuck Longview "as a way for women who lived far apart to connect the work each was doing locally to the whole".Kimberly French
"Carolyn McDade's Spirit of Life"
''UU World'', Fall 2007 Eight women were asked to bring water from different sources, including

rainwater Rain is water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It provides water fo ...

, the

Assiniboine River The Assiniboine River (''; french: Rivière Assiniboine'') is a river that runs through the prairies of Western Canada in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is a tributary of the Red River. The Assiniboine is a typical meandering river with a sing ...

, the

Atlantic ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...

, the Rio Grande, and the

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contin ...

. It has come to be used as an ingathering/homecoming ritual for UU congregations.

Ritual

Due to the nature of Unitarian Universalism, traditions vary from one congregation to another; however, most Water Communions follow the same basic framework. Throughout the year, members of the congregation collect small amounts of water that have meaning for them, either from a special location (e.g., the family home, an ocean or river, memento of a trip) or a special occasion (first rain after a dry spell). At the service, the samples of water are placed in a single bowl so they can merge. Oftentimes, some of the water is saved, sterilized, and then used for ceremonial purposes at other times of the year. The rest is returned to the world.

Symbolism

The symbolism, like that of the comparable Flower Communion, can be interpreted in various ways. The classic life-related symbolism of water is apparent. The rejoining of many waters can also symbolize the rejoining of the congregation after summer travels. McDade and Longview chose this way to honor the "journeys" of women, and to represent the way women both contribute to and draw from each other's strength, working both individually and together, to bring change.

References

External links

"The Water Ritual" Booklet of the original ceremony written by Carolyn McDade and Lucile Longview
{{UnitarianUniversalism-stub Religious rituals Unitarian Universalism Water and religion