The Summer Solstice: Wednesday 20th/Thursday 21st June 2018

Many of us experience a sense of awe at the natural world, and want to mark our connectedness with nature, and express our thanks for its sustaining goodness. Different points in the turning year may be understood as corresponding with different stages of our lives – which may help us to make some sense of our life experiences, and to go onwards more cheerfully and trustingly.

This ceremony provides an opportunity to mark the Summer Solstice on the eve of 21^st June (or 21^st December in the Southern Hemisphere).The word 'solstice' means 'standstill' and refers to the fact that the sun appears to rise and set in the same place for a few days at this time of year. The Sun is at the height of its power for us, bringing growth and abundance, before continuing its rotation towards the vital rest and darkness of Winter. It is a good time to celebrate the fullness of life, to recognise the spiritual fire within each and every one of us, and to honour our connection with the Sun - our source of light and life.

The short responsive liturgy, below, is appropriate for use by any group of people.

It is particularly suitable for use at the beginning of a party outdoors – and you may wish to stay up all night to greet the dawn on the longest day! If possible, sit in a circle. If it will be safe to do so, and you will be out of doors, you may have a bonfire; otherwise you will need a large candle, and matches to light it. Please exercise common sense when lighting fires or candles and do not leave them unattended: stay safe! You will also need a container of water and something to use to sprinkle the water over everyone – a bunch of foliage (sparge) would be good. There may be one leader, or you can take it in turns around the circle of speak the biddings. Everyone is invited to join in saying the words in bold type.

The liturgies, celebrations, ceremonies, prayers, and reflections offered on this blog are the result of my thoughts, reflections, and experiences, woven together using my own words and sometimes adapting the words others have used: I am indebted to their wisdom. Please use these liturgies freely, adapting them as suits your own context. I am always pleased to hear from people who have used them.

The Welcome, Thanksgiving and Petition:

Welcome to you all, as we gather to celebrate the Summer Solstice.

We give thanks for the blazing Sun of Midsummer,

for the fertile earth, and for the turning year,

moving through light to darkness, and through darkness to light.

         May the fire of the Sun enliven our hearts!

We give thanks for meadows and gardens in bloom,

for oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams,

for hills and green woods and sandy beaches.

         May the abundance of the Earth prompt our generosity!

We give thanks for the richness of human life,

for the breadth of our dreams, and the opportunities to heal.

         May the light of the Moon awaken our compassion!

A large candle or a bonfire is lit

The Reflection:

In springtime we planted; now we tend and enjoy our gardens & fields, before the work of harvest:

         This is a good time to take stock of our lives.

         What have we planted, and what is growing?

         What are we achieving for ourselves

         and for the people and creatures we care about?

Are we still aligned with our recognised goals

or have we strayed from them?

         What changes do we need to make

         in order to achieve our aims more closely?

A short time of quiet is kept.

If anyone wishes, they may share their thoughts.

The Renewal and Closing:

As the rays of the Midsummer Sun nourish and sustain us,

so may this water bless and renew us.

Water is (gently!) sprinkled on everyone using a sparge. Make sure the person leading the ceremony is also sprinkled by someone else. Everyone then says:

         May this water bless and renew us;

         may our minds be open to the truth,

         and our lips open to speak it;

         may our hearts seek the ways of love;

         may our hands be gifted to work for one another;

         may our eyes see the visible and

         the invisible wonders of the world;

         may our feet ever walk upon the paths of peace;

         and may we joyfully come home

         when our earthly time is done.

Farewell to the waxing year, season of planting, fertility and growth:

         Welcome to the waning year, season of harvest,

         and the quiet hidden replenishment of winter.

Seasons must change:

         The Summer Sun will surely return!

Please do not leave the candles &/or bonfire unattended,

and ensure they are safely extinguished at the end of the evening.

Food for the Feast:

If you're holding a party, then a barbecue would be one option for the feast. But if the weather where you live is changeable, then you may prefer to plan a few drinks and nibbles for outside at the end of the liturgy, but have the food inside. We're opting for a middle way this year, and our menu includes guacamole and crudites, herb bread, salads, grilled corn cobs and vegetable skewers,

honey-lavender cheesecake, and baked fruit salad. Pink wine is pretty, or, if you like it, mead is appropriate (although it tastes like cough mixture to me!) and we'll also be offering a non-alcoholic fruit cup.

Decorative details:

The summer wreath I made for May Eve just needs refreshing from time to time with fresh flowers and greenery. Instead of a jug of flowers, I shall be bundling together wild flowers, lavender, and herbs, tying them with twine or raffia, and hanging them upside down to fragrance the house as they dry. And for the table centrepiece, I'm borrowing an idea from the website of the Witch of Howling Creek: float flower heads in a shallow bowl of water – very simple and very pretty.

Pentecost: Sunday 20th May 2018

Pentecost is a Christian festival, celebrated 49 days after Easter. It commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit among Jesus' followers, gathered in Jerusalem for Shavuot (the Jewish Feast of Weeks) - the anniversary of the wheat harvest, and of the receiving of the Torah - instructions from God which offer a Way of Life for those who follow it.

The short responsive liturgy, below, is appropriate for use by any individual or group of people.

All the liturgies, celebrations, ceremonies, prayers, and reflections offered on this blog are the result of my thoughts, reflections, and experiences, woven together using my own words and sometimes adapting the words others have used: in this instance, a 2010 liturgy from Wellsprings (http://www.wellsprings.org.uk). Please use the liturgy below freely, adapting it as suits your own context. Feedback is always gladly received.

If you use it as it is, you will need a large central candle, surrounded by a circle of ten small candles, and matches/tapers to light them. Please stay safe and do not leave the candles burning alone.

Opening words:

In the beginning, earth was a formless void,

and the Spirit of God moved across the chaos of the waters,

and brooded under her wings the emerging Creation.

     Come, Holy Spirit,

     move across the chaos that we have created of your world;

     take us again to be under your wing.

A central large candle is lit

Litany of the Spirit:

God of all beginnings, God of all endings,

eternal light of God, warm breath of God,

melting touch of God, healing hand of God,

creative love of God: come upon us.

A small candle is lit from the central candle

     Life-loving Spirit, breath of the universe,

     crafter of the heavens, star-kindling Spirit,

     sun-warming Spirit, moon-burnishing Spirit,

     bud-bursting Spirit, sap-surging Spirit: come upon us.

A small candle is lit from the central candle

Painter of rainbows, architect of trees, artist of flowers,

midwife of all creatures, source of all life: come upon us.

A small candle is lit from the central candle

     Spirit of justice, righteousness, power, integrity, mercy,

     Spirit of compassion, perfection, generosity, invitation,

     Spirit of solitude, gladness, exuberance,

     and hope without horizon: come upon us.

A small candle is lit from the central candle

Light of our lives, supporter in our trials, strength in our weakness,

consolation in our grief, healer of wounds, quencher of thirst,

shelter in storms, tenderness in distress: come upon us.

A small candle is lit from the central candle

     Safe sheltering of God, strong guarding of God,

     soft enfolding of God, liberating challenge of God,

     joyous song of God, promise of God,

     graciousness of God, laughter of God,

     sweet sorrow of God, deep wisdom of God, 

     still centre of God, strong arm of God, guidance of God:

     come upon us.

A small candle is lit from the central candle

Giver of joy, giver of comfort, giver of peace, giver of wisdom,

giver of right judgement, giver of good counsel, giver of strength,
giver of awe and wonder, giver of love: come upon us.

A small candle is lit from the central candle

     Spirit of peace-making, breaker-down of walls of division,

     builder of bridges, loosener of chains,

     opener of new pathways, inspirer of creators,

     of seekers after truth, of workers for humanity,

     of children, of mystics: come upon us.

A small candle is lit from the central candle

Wellspring of life, fresh spring of renewal,
clear stream of refreshment, wide ocean of love: come upon us.

A small candle is lit from the central candle

     Breath of God, as a whisper on the breeze,

     as a wind dancing in the tree-tops

     and blowing on the cliff tops,

     so we sense you: come upon us.

The final small candle is lit from the central candle

and a time of quiet is kept...

Closing words:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

and kindle in us the fire of your love.

     Send forth your Spirit,

     and the face of the Earth shall be renewed.

May your blessing be upon all who have suffered,

all in need of repentance, of turning their lives around,

all who seek to redress wrongs,

and ensure there are places of grace and sanctuary for everyone.

     May your blessing, your fire, your challenges, your comforts,

     be upon us: Amen.

Each person present may wish to take away one of the small candles

or, if safe to do so, they can be left to burn down.

Extinguish the central candle once the small ones have been taken

or have gone out.

May Eve: Monday 30th April 2018

Different points in the turning year may be understood as corresponding with different stages of our lives – which may help us to make some sense of our life experiences, and to go onwards more cheerfully and trustingly.

May Eve is a festival of the Moon celebrating the passing of the last lingering traces of Winter, and the beauties and wonders of the Spring we have enjoyed and now leave behind as we enter into the Summertime. It is celebrated after dusk on 30^th April, the eve of May Day.

The short responsive liturgy, below, [posted early so you have time to prepare, is appropriate for use by any group of people, and is particularly suitable for an outdoor gathering, if possible around a safely managed bonfire, but it can easily be adapted for use indoors around a table. If possible, sit in a circle. There is a dance included in the liturgy, so enough space needs to be allowed for this, and for the inclusion of people who have mobility difficulties. A steady drum beat or some music for the dance would be helpful. You will need a bonfire or a large candle, a small candle or night-light for each person present, and matches to light them. Please exercise common sense when lighting and using fires or candles, and do not allow any risks: stay safe! There may be one leader, or you can take it in turns to lead. Everyone is invited to join in saying the words in bold type.

The liturgies, celebrations, ceremonies, prayers, and reflections offered on this blog are the result of my thoughts, reflections, and experiences, woven together using my own words and sometimes adapting the words others have used: I am indebted to their wisdom. Please use these liturgies freely, adapting them as suits your own context. I am always pleased to hear from people who have used them.

The Welcome and Recollection:

Welcome to you all, as we gather here

to celebrate the passing of Spring into Summer.

As dusk is the transition from day to night,

so this evening is a threshold in time:

       We step from the season of Spring

       into the beginning of Summer.

As we take this step, we recollect all the many steps we have taken:

       We recollect the changes we have been through in our own lives,
       which have ultimately brought us together here and now.
Times of transition, as we shift our balance

from one stepping stone to another, can be difficult:

       What has gone before is familiar;

       what is to come is unknown.

But from our conception onwards, we have everything we need:

       We have everything we need
       to enable us to make our unique journey
       into becoming who we are each born to be.

Here and now, as we stand in the doorway of Summer,

it is safe for us to let go of everything and anything that disrupts,

or holds us back, from our safe passage through life.

A short time of quiet is kept

The Thanksgiving:

Now we are ready to step forward, in perfect love and perfect trust,

lifting up our lives and our hopes for the future,

offering up our thanksgiving for the glory and abundance of our world,

and giving thanks that nothing in our universe lives in isolation:

       We give thanks!

We give thanks that we can rely on the Sun for warmth and light,

that we can rely on the atmosphere around our planet

to enable life as we know it;

and that we can rely on one another:

       We give thanks!

We give thanks that that we are able to step beyond self-interest,

to share with other people, to give and receive help in times of need,

and to form relationships of friendship and love.

And we give thanks for the passionate unions of men and women

which enable new life:

       We give thanks!

We give thanks for the delights and passions of our senses,

and we rejoice in the passions and talents that bring us music and art and science and literature, and all the ways our spirits are lifted and united:

       We give thanks!

We give thanks for the amazing variety of life on our planet,

for the intricacies of nature, and the beauty of all the creatures;

and we give thanks that every one of us is unique and equally valuable:

       We give thanks!

The Circle Dance:
Part 1: Holding hands with your neighbours, sidestep left for 8 steps, then sidestep right for 8 steps. Repeat once.

Part 2: Run four steps forwards, swinging arms up; release hands, and clap with hands high, then join hands again; take four steps backwards bringing arms back down. Repeat once.
Part 3: Repeat parts 1 & 2 once; then release your neighbours hands, and begin a chain, stepping or skipping, as you interweave all the way round the circle.

The Lighting of Fire:

As we step over the threshold from Spring to Summer,

so we light this fire:

       Token of the Sun that warms the earth,

       giving us light and life,

       and symbol of the light that guides each of us

       on our paths of life.

A bonfire or central candle is lit.
Everyone takes a small candle.

One person lights their candle from the bonfire/candle,
and then uses it to light the next person's candle,
and so on until everyone has a lighted candle.

Like the light of Sun, of fire, and of candle:

       May light guide us on the way of life, as we move

       together and separately through the season of Summer.

The Closing:

Now we break our circle, to enjoy the fire,

to feast together, to sing and perhaps to dance again!

And when we go to our homes, may we have hope in our hearts,

passion for justice in our minds,

and the blessings of love and life in our souls.

       Happy have we met, happy have we been,

       happy may we part, happy meet again!

The candles are now extinguished.

If a bonfire has been lit, please do not leave it unattended,

and ensure it has either burnt out or is put out with sand or soil.

Food for the Feast:

Ask everyone to bring something with them for a shared pot-luck picnic, whether you're in or out of doors.

Decorative details:

If you're celebrating of doors, then simply enjoy whatever nature is surrounding you with. At home, of course we'll be making a wreath of seasonal branches and greenery for our front door; there'll be a big jug of fresh flowers on the hearth; and for the table, I'll be making a ring of fresh flowers, with birds, bees, butterflies, and bugs (ornamental ones of course!) to surround a big candle, inspired by this beautiful creation: