Order of Service - December 21, 2014 (Evening Solstice Service)
Date of Service:
December 21, 2014
December 21, 2014, 7pm Winter Solstice
May the light around us guide our footsteps…
may the darkness around us nurture our dreams.
-- Kathleen McTigue
*Gathering Song Round and Round Author unknown
Round and round the earth is turning,
Turning always 'round to darkness,
And from darkness 'round to light.
Prelude The Holly and the Ivy Traditional
Lynn Angebranndt, cello
Welcome Judith Martin-Straw
Chalice Lighting Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur
Opening Words Darkness to Light
Story The Return of the Sun
Musical Response Come Darkness, Come Light arr. Rima Snyder
Rima Snyder, singer
Karen Hsu Patterson, piano and Lynn Angebranndt, cello
Candle Lighting
Meditation in Darkness
Responsive Reading I who am the beauty of the green earth Starhawk
I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among
the stars and the mysteries of the waters,
I call upon your soul to arise and come unto Me.
For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe.
From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return.
Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold—all acts of
love and pleasure are My rituals.
Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and
humility, mirth and reverence within you.
And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning
will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery
For if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never
find it without.
For behold, I have been with you from the beginning,
And I am that which is attained at the end of desire.
Invitation to the Spiral Dance Judith Martin-Straw
*Closing Song Light is Returning Charlie Murphy
Light is returning, even though this is the darkest hour.
No one can hold back the dawn.
Let's keep it burning, let's keep the light of hope alive.
Make safe our journey through the storm.
One planet is turning, circling in her path around the sun.
Earth Mother is calling her children home.
*Benediction May the Light of Your Soul Guide You John O'Donohue
Rima Snyder
Extinguishing the Chalice
*Please stand in body or in spirit
Service Notes
Thank you to our service participants and musicians: Lynn Angebranndt, Rev. Rebecca Benefiel
Bijur, DeReau Farrar, Carrie Lauer, Karen Hsu Patterson, Kit Shaw, Rima Snyder and Judith
Martin-Straw.
Many thanks to our reception hosts, Kirk Attebury, Joyce Holmen, and Katie Malich.
❦ ❦ ❦ ❦
May the Light of Your Soul Guide You, by John O'Donohue
May the light of your soul guide you.
May the light of your soul bless the work
you do with the secret love and warmth of your heart.
May you see in what you do, the beauty of your own soul.
May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal to those
who work with you, and to those who see and receive your work.
May your work never weary you;
May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement.
May you be present in what you do.
May you never become lost in the bland absences.
May the day never burden you.
May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams,
possibilities and promises.
May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.
May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected.