Water Communion is an annual ritual to welcome our congregation back into community at the beginning of the church year. People usually mingle waters that are meaningful for them in a single large vessel. This might include water they used to nourish their garden, tears of self-discovery, or vital waters they visited over the summer. This year’s ritual is a little different, but we still welcome you to bring your special waters with you if you have them.
Our Water Communion ritual comes with two options this year, both on Sunday, Sept. 19: In-person and online. You will move through four different stations, either mentally via a meditative prerecorded YouTube experience or by physically moving through the same stations with your Fellowship Group (see explanation below) in person at the church. The stations are contemplative and address themes like "What do you bring to this community?" "What would you like to let go of?" and "What are your hopes for our future?"
In-person Water Communion
The in-person ritual will take place outdoors at HVUUC (136 Bob Jobe Rd).
Registration is necessary (see below) to ensure there are enough spots for everyone who wants to participate.
Masks are required to protect each other and the staff and religious services committee members serving at each station.
Fellowship Groups (see explanation below) progress together through four Water Communion stations. This will take about 55 minutes.
You should expect to fellowship only with those in your self-selected Fellowship Group and the Water Communion station hosts.
Online Water Communion
The online ritual will take place Sunday morning Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. on the Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church YouTube channel as usual, though it will be significantly different than our usual Sunday morning service.
This will be a guided progression through the same four stations that in-person participants will visit.
In-person Water Communion--How to participate
Find your Fellowship Group
A Fellowship Group is a cohort of 9 or fewer people who will go through the stations of the Water Communion ritual together. You will fellowship with them in fairly close quarters (but your group will socially distance from other fellowship groups and the station hosts).
Your Fellowship Group can be any combination of family, friends, etc., as long as you number 9 people or fewer and are comfortable being in close quarters. If you choose to come alone or with only 1 or 2 other people, that is absolutely OK.
Select and register for a time slot for your Fellowship Group
Select one time slot for the entire group.
Choose one member to register the entire group at https://hvuuc.betterworld.org/events/water-communion.
Please include the names of the people in your group.
Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept 12.
Registration closes at Noon on Saturday, Sept. 18. Please don’t wait until the last minute to register your Fellowship Group.
PLEASE NOTE: The Noon and 12:30 time slots are specifically for groups with one or more members with mobility issues as these spots allow more time to progress through the stations. In addition, if you try to register and there is not a spot available for your group, please email communications@HVUUC.org.
Go to church!
Please arrive at HVUUC on Sun., Sept. 19, at the time you registered for. Because we are serving many groups, it is important to respect everyone’s time and safety by being on time.
Please remember to wear your mask.
Bring some special water if you have it. This might include water you used to nourish your garden, tears of self-discovery, or vital waters you visited over the summer—or simply water from your home.
Your Fellowship Group will gather at the first station, under the trees in the middle of the parking lot. You will receive instructions from there for moving on to the next station.
When you are finished with your last station, please do not linger. Say farewell to your Fellowship Group and head home so we all help maintain a safe, quiet, meditative space for everyone.