This Sunday we gather for our annual Homecoming service and Water Communion ceremony. It’s a cherished tradition that symbolizes how we are each on individual journeys, journeys that merge together, presenting us with the gift of shared wisdom from our experiences.
Over the summer, we tend to see less of each other, as we travel, have family visiting, go to camps or conferences, or take advantage of the weekend to hit Barton Springs or Lake Travis. The Homecoming service is when we "come home" to Live Oak, renewing our relationships and telling of our adventures.
Maybe for you, it's been longer than that. The truth is, life makes it easy to lose track of our days. Kids' sports, work deadlines, family obligations - we look up and realize it's been a while. And we miss our community. "Homecoming" is the perfect opportunity to get back in the habit of making time for a sabbath, a time off from the regular routine, and the chance to be around friends with similar values.
We honor that dance of individual lives coming together as a community with our Water Communion ceremony. We invite everyone to bring a small container of water that represents something meaningful in your life. It could be water from a special place you visited, from a local hike, or even tap water from your kitchen sink. The essence of this ritual lies in sharing our unique stories and experiences, helping to weave a collective tapestry of our community.
During the ceremony, we pour all of those waters together. This ritual was created in 1980 by Carolyn McDade and Lucile Schuck Longview for a service titled, "Coming Home Like Rivers to the Sea."
“Water is more than simply a metaphor. It is elemental and primary, calling forth feelings of awe and reverence. Acknowledging that the ocean is considered by many to be the place from which all life on our planet came—it is the womb of life—and that amniotic waters surround each of us prenatally, we now realize that [this worship service] was for us a new story of creation… We choose water as our symbol of our empowerment.” -- McDade/Longview
This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our individual paths, the diversity of our experiences, and how they contribute to the beauty of our community. Whether you’re a long-time member or a newcomer, your participation enriches the ritual. Afterwards, the water is boiled to sterilize it and used throughout the year in other ceremonies such as our child dedication and Blue Christmas vespers.
Join us this Sunday to celebrate our Homecoming Water Communion!
