Chalice Lighting on 'New Beginnings'

We gather together today and light our Chalice candle as a symbol of new beginnings.   We think of new beginnings especially at this time of year, when many of us will have made our New year resolutionsat the beginning of January, and now it is the beginning of February, the ancient Celtic Festival of Imbolc when the year subtly turns from Winter to the beginning of Spring.   We reflect on what we want to change in ourselves and in how we live our lives, and how we can build on what has gone before; we are aware of our roots that hold us close and our wings that set us free

In the words of the poet T.S.Eliot in 'The 4 Quartets': 'What we call a beginning is often an end and to make an end is to make a beginning.   The end is where we start from.   We shall not cease from exploration.   And at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.'   May we have courage for our own new beginnings.  

Blessed be/Amen/So be it.