Our Monthly Spiritual Themes guide our Chalice Circles, which are small, intentional groups of members and friends that gather for spiritual enrichment through personal sharing. For more information on Chalice Circles, please email chalicecircles@uuprinceton.org. Our Chalice Circle thoughts and questions around the theme of Ancestors this month are:

“To forget one’s ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root.” – Chinese proverb

What times in your life are you reminded of your ancestors? Have you thought of different ancestors for the same events as you got older?

 

“The Greeks had just one word for ‘economize.’ Our New England grandmothers had twelve: ‘Eat it up; use it up; make it do; or do without.’” – Helen Lyon Adamson

What sayings did your ancestors pass on to you? Or what old sayings resonate with you?

 

“Juneteenth means so much to me. It represents the freedom that my ancestors fought so tirelessly for. But rather than focusing on the brutalization of my people then and now. I choose to focus on hope. June 19th reminds me that I am the force of power to change this world and to follow in the footsteps of my ancestors to work towards liberation.” – Mariah Cooley

In what way are you continuing the work of your ancestors?

 

“Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.” – Crazy Horse

What other items do you feel are borrowed from the next generation and not given by our predecessors?