The Water Ceremony, also sometimes called Water Communion, was first used at a Unitarian-Universalist (UU) worship service in the 1980s. Many UU congregations now hold a Water Ceremony once a year, often at the beginning of the new church year in September.

Members, friends, and visitors are asked to bring a small amount of water representing a place special to them or something they have done this year. During the appointed time, the water will be poured one by one into a large bowl. As the water is added, the person who brought it can share why this water is special.

Participants may bring water that is symbolic of the actual location to add to the bowl.  The combined water is symbolic of our shared faith coming from many different sources. The Water Ceremony is an excellent opportunity for Unitarian Universalist congregations to express their commitment to our Sixth Principle: We covenant to affirm and promote the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.

Presenter / Worship Associate: Don Morishita