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UUFF

Your NWA home for a liberal religion

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You are here: Home / About / Our Faith / The Flaming Chalice

The Flaming Chalice

“The Flaming Chalice,” emblem of the Unitarian Universalist movement, contains two circles – one symbolizing Unitarianism and the other Universalism, distinct movements in Europe and America, which formally joined together in the U.S.A. to form the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in 1963.

The chalice is inspired by Jan Hus (b.1370), Bohemian Catholic priest and Dean and Rector of the Charles University in Prague. While at the time the faithful had to rely on the priests to translate scripture from the Latin, Hus translated the Bible into the local language – a precedent the Reformation followed. And while the Church reserved the communion wine for the priest alone, Hus shared the chalice with the people that they might have both bread and wine together. For these and other “heresies”, the Church ordered Jan Hus burned at the stake in 1419. After his death the people he had served combined the fire of his martyrdom with the communal communion cup to create the symbol of the flaming chalice, which became the symbol of freedom in Bohemia.

The chalice and the flame were brought together as a Unitarian symbol by Austrian artist Hans Deutsch in 1941. Living in Paris in the 1930s, Deutsch drew critical cartoons of Adolf Hitler. When the Nazis invaded Paris in 1940, he abandoned all he had and fled to the south of France, then to Spain, and finally, with an altered passport, into Portugal. There he met the Reverend Charles Joy, executive director of the Unitarian Service Committee (USC). The Service Committee was new, founded in Boston to assist Eastern Europeans, among them Unitarians as well as Jews, who needed to escape Nazi persecution. From his Lisbon headquarters, Joy oversaw a secret network of couriers and agents.

The flaming chalice also evokes a cross which symbolizes our Christian history, and is off-center, symbolizing our progressive (non-static) movement towards truth. Today many Unitarian Universalist congregations light the chalice at the beginning of their Sunday services, renewing our common commitment to the “light of reason, the warmth of life, and the fire of our passion for justice.”

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Next Service

May 22 – “Commencement”

In this graduation season, Rev. Dr. Steven Gaines will help us reflect on “graduations” in life, endings and beginnings. You are enthusiastically invited to wear graduation items (caps, gowns, whatever you have or find)! UUFF’s Sunday 11am Worship Services can be attended in-person at the fellowship, or you can join remotely, via zoom. To join […]

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fayetteville

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Upcoming Events

  • UUFF Sunday Morning Meditation - 9:30am each Sunday, meeting via zoom.
    • 05/22/2022, 9:30 am - 10:30 am
  • Sunday 10am Adult Religious Exploration Discussion Group - now meeting again in person at UUFF!
    • 05/22/2022, 10:00 am - 10:45 am
  • UUFF's Children's (ages 5-11) Religious Exploration now meeting downstairs at UUFF each Sunday at 10am!
    • 05/22/2022, 10:00 am - 10:45 am
  • UUFF Grounds Work Days - each Thursday from 9-11am (unless it's raining) at UUFF!
    • 05/26/2022, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
  • UUFF Sunday Morning Meditation - 9:30am each Sunday, meeting via zoom.
    • 05/29/2022, 9:30 am - 10:30 am
  • Sunday 10am Adult Religious Exploration Discussion Group - now meeting again in person at UUFF!
    • 05/29/2022, 10:00 am - 10:45 am
  • UUFF's Children's (ages 5-11) Religious Exploration now meeting downstairs at UUFF each Sunday at 10am!
    • 05/29/2022, 10:00 am - 10:45 am
  • all events

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Join our Accessibility and Inclusivity Working Group!

Members from the Care Team and Justice Team are joining together to make sure UUFF is inclusive for all people, regardless of physical, cognitive, or sensory ability. Scope of project and timeline will be decided by members of the group. Let's welcome and celebrate the physical and neurodiversity of humankind.

Interested in being a part of the team? Send an email to
Elizabeth Littlepage
.

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Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship of Fayetteville

901 W. Cleveland St.
Fayetteville, AR 72701

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view front of UUFF building

About Us

Our mission as a diverse faith community is to promote justice and service while seeking personal and spiritual growth.
Learn More about UUFF.

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Sunday Schedule – All Online

Main Service: 11 AM

Adult Meditation – 9:45am

Adult Religious Exploration Discussion Group – 10am

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