Yule/Christmas December 12, 2021

 You may see this liturgy in its original bulletin form here. 

Gather within. One DEEP Breath

Gathering Words

Though we are in the darkness, we prepare for the light

The days grow short as the night grows long

We look into our hearts to find the light within

The nights are long as we wait for dawn

We bring the light to the ones we love

The longest night comes closer still

We sit in silence to seek our souls

The dawn brings hope to those who seek

One DEEP Breath

Invocation

Holy Beloved, All That Is, we call upon You to awaken the knowledge of Your Presence within us, around us, and between us.

One DEEP Breath

Prayer

Holy Beloved, we give thanks for the silence in a velvet night, where we are cocooned in the darkness, listening for the wisdom in our souls. May we learn to walk in kindness and compassion. May we be strengthened in our purpose and empowered to bring the Light wherever we may roam. Amen.

In these weeks between All Souls/Samhain and the Winter Solstice, the nights truly do grow and the days shorten. This is the time in the Christian year called Advent, for it precedes the celebration of the birth of Christ. It is a time to ponder our lives; to take stock of how we have lived up until now, to consider what we need to change and how we can grow spiritually. There are many ways to go about this.

Here we can have a short discussion of how we take time to be silent and consider our lives.

Guided Meditation

Pastor Suzy will lead us through a short meditation.

Prayer

Help us, Holy Divine, to find the deep mystery within ourselves that we might light our lives with the joy, love, peace, and purpose which we so desire. May we be a light that shines upon others, helping them find their way. So may it be.

Benediction

Let us go forth into the coming days listening for the voice in the darkness that calls us toward the light.

Discussion topics

Celebrations of Light: Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali…There are others that take place in the spring, such as Chinese New Year. The days associated with religious traditions have stories and beliefs associated with them, but light is a major part of the story. Why? Why is the time of darkness important spiritually?

DISCUSSION

We talked about the different celebrations that take place around this time, how they associate with the Solstice, and the importance of both the times of darkness and the renewal of light. As we grow spiritually, we learn that times of darkness are gestational. Christians prepare for the birth of  Jesus by taking time during Advent to consider life without the Light. They return to the darkness during the days of Lent, particularly during Holy Week. Without the darkness, there would be no light. Without the winter, there would be no spring. These holy celebrations across the many traditions honor both the challenges we face in the dark as well as the joy we feel when the new light dawns. When you face the dark times in your life, do you take the time to explore your thoughts and feelings about what is happening? Do you intentionally find the strength you need to come through into the light? When the light returns, do you give thanks that you have made it to the next day? What practices do you have to mark these times throughout the year, and throughout your life?