Why the flaming chalice?

A chalice or cup is an ancient symbol of community, hospitality, and nourishment. A flame is an equally ancient symbol of life, spirit, intellect, and insight. The two of them came together in the early 1940s, when people associated with the Unitarian Service Committee were trying to help Jews and other people at risk from the Nazis, and they needed a logo they could use to identify people who were trust-worthy. The Austrian artist Hans Deutsch drew a flaming chalice, which he considered a symbol of sacrifice and love. In the decades since then, the flaming chalice has become a symbol of Unitarian Universalism.

As I was thinking about visual symbols I might want to include in this webpage, I realized that the flaming chalice embodies much of my life. The chalice: building community, nurturing relationships, drawing people together, providing hospitality in a broad meaning of the word. The flame: seeking clear vision, understanding, and insight. The flaming chalice: trying to put my values into action, as best I can, in my own time and place.