Intergenerational Winter Solstice Service
West Shore U.U. Church, Cleveland, OH
December 21st, 2009
Gathering Music- “Listen, Children of Earth”
Call Directions
EAST
Winter is a time for cold winds and freezing breezes.
Spirit of the East, Yours is the power of clarity and inspiration.
By the Air that is Her Breath, bring forth your power and be with us this Solstice night.
SOUTH
Winter is a time for sitting in front of roaring fires for warmth and blazing candles for light.
Spirit of the South, Yours is the power of passion and transformation.
By the Fire that is Her Spirit, bring forth your power and be with us this Solstice night.
WEST
Winter is a time of snowflakes falling and water turning to ice.
Spirit of the West, Yours is the power to cleanse and heal.
By the Water that is Her Blood, bring forth your power and be with us this Solstice night.
NORTH
Winter is the time of barren Earth and crops returning to the ground.
Spirit of the North, Yours is the power to produce, grow and nurture.
By the Earth that is Her Body, bring forth your power and be with us this Solstice night.
Storyette Part 1
Once, Robin and Owl had an argument. Owl said that night time was the best part of any day. Robin said daytime was the best part of any day. Owl and Robin wanted to be right so much that they did not listen to one another. They argued and argued and argued. The animals and plants and insects begged them to stop arguing, but Owl knew he was right and Robin knew he was right and on and on they argued. Wind and rain and, even, sun begged them to stop arguing, but Owl and Robin wanted to be right.
It would have been fine if the argument had only been between Owl and Robin. However, when people argue their friends often take sides. The animals and insects and plants began to side with Owl or Robin depending on their favorite part of the day. The argument grew and grew until people began to stop talking to each other and would even refuse to be near each other except to argue.
Now, the elements of the earth were old. The sun, moon, wind, water, fire, earth, the night time void, and the stars had great power between them and grew weary of the constant battling amongst the animals and insects and plants. At dusk and at dawn for four days they met to decide what, if anything, they could do.
At dawn on the fourth day, the spirits asked all of the animals to listen. The moon said, “we are greatly troubled by your big argument. We do not like to see you fight so much.” The stars said, “we are unhappy and are clearly unwanted by many of you.” The night time void said, “therefore, we, the moon, stars, and nighttime void are leaving you. We have enjoyed our time together, but it is time for us to go.” And with a loud thunderous clap, the moon and stars and nighttime void were gone.
The wind and water had agreed that they would only have it rain for an hour a day so that there would as much sunlight as possible.
For a few days, many of the animals and plants and insects were relieved. There was sunlight all of the time. Many of the creatures were happy, they could see whenever they needed to, they could stay up and play, work, and eat at all hours of the day. However, their happiness did not last for long. Many animals found it difficult to sleep, the plants did not have nighttime to remind them to rest, and the insects did not know when to stop eating. The creatures began to look forward to the one hour of rain each day. After seven days, the animals and plants and insects that needed nighttime began to get sick. They were dying because they could not survive in just the sun.
Owl became angrier and angrier. He went to the sun and yelled and screamed- “you see! Look how we suffer! I was right! Nighttime is better!” Eventually, all of the animals and plants and insects who sided with Owl and, even some of the ones who sided with Robin began to yell at the sun. They shouted together, “WE WANT NIGHTTIME WE WANT NIGHTTIME!” And, the Elements knew it was time. After the one hour of rain on the next day, the elements made another announcement.
“I am greatly troubled by your big argument. I do not like to see you fighting so much. I am unhappy and am unwanted by many of you. Therefore, I am leaving you. I have enjoyed our time together, but it is time for me to go. I will ask the moon and stars and nighttime void to return.” There was a loud thunderclap and the world went dark immediately.
Light Candles
Reading (Responsive?)
The response to each line is "The light is reborn”.
In the greatest darkness
Out of winter's cold
From our deepest fears
When we most despair
When all seems lost
When the earth lies waste
When animals hide
When the leaves are gone
When the river is frozen
When the ground is hard
Shadows are fleeing
Light is returning
Warmth will come again
Summer will be here once more
Plants will grow again
Animals will be seen once more
Green will come again
Life will continue
Leader: Explain that we are sending energy to the earth to help it get through the winter. We will move around the circle shaking rattles or shakers, gradually getting louder until a signal from the drum. Then we will stop and ground ourselves.
Chant: "The light is reborn."
Blow Out Candles “Chant of Darkness”
Continued Chanting- Keep chanting for two rounds after all of the candles are out.
Storyette Part 2
It was finally nighttime. For a few days, all of the animals and plants and insects were relieved. It was cooler and many of the animals could sleep. The bats and owls and other nighttime creatures were able to eat. The plants knew to rest. Many of the creatures were happy, they could see whenever they needed to, they could stay up and play, work, and eat at all hours of the day. However, their happiness did not last for long.
The animals and plants and insects that needed sunlight became sick. They were dying. The plants did not bloom or create food. The bees did not make honey. Many of the creatures could not sleep without the daylight to tell them when to burrow. With the cold nights also came snow which made them stay in their homes most of the time.
On one of these nights, Robin and Owl came across one another. They had to get away from their homes because they were miserable being cooped up all the time. They complained about the elements and the constant night. The owl complained that he never knew when to sleep. The Robin complained that he couldn’t see where he was going anymore. After awhile, they realized that they agreed on something- they didn’t want it to always be day or night. They stopped talking about what they didn’t want and started talking about what they did want- the night and the day and balance. Time to run and play and time to be thoughtful and at home with family and friends. Time to grow and time to rest. Time for each insect and plant and animal to be who they were at the time of day that was best for them.
Prayer
Silence
Letting Go Ritual
Write Down Things on Pieces of Paper
Go Outside to Burn Papers
Light Candles “Chant of Light”
Share something that you are hoping for in the coming year as you light your neighbors candle. Ends in lighting of candle for those not there.
Storyette Part 3
Water, listening in a stream nearby, heard Owl and Robin talking together. Water went to tell the elements what ghe had heard. The next morning, the elements called on the insects, plants, and animals to listen again. The earth said, “we heard Owl and Robin speaking together in agreement that you need both day and night. The sun has agreed to return, but from now on, during some of the year, the nighttime void, stars and moon will have more time each day and this will be called winter, but do not fret, for slowly more time will be given to the sun and that time will be called summer.
May you always remember that you need the sun and the moon and the stars and the nighttime void. You need times of rest and to be with family and friends. You need times of play and work and to be outside. For some of you, that is nighttime and winter and for others of you it is daytime and summer.
Today, we celebrate the return of the sun. We will call it Yule. On this day, remember to reflect on what old ideas you need to let go of, as Owl and Robin have done in accepting the importance of night and day. Remember to think about what you want to do when the sun returns. Most importantly, remember that you need one another at all times of the year.
The sun has returned, we are all here, it is a joyous day. Happy Yule Tidings for all!” And with that, the earth went to sleep under the snow, the fire element lit a big bonfire, and all of the insects and plants and animals celebrated together.
Tarot Divination
Closing Prayer/Blessing
Closing Song “The Sun Will Return Again”
Release Thank Directions
NORTH
Spirit of the North, Power of Earth,
We thank you for your gifts of growth and nurturing.
We ask for your blessing on this Solstice night.
Spirit of the North, Hail and Farewell.
WEST
Spirit of the West, Power of Water,
We thank you for your gifts of cleansing and healing.
We ask for your blessing on this Solstice night.
Spirit of the West, Hail and Farewell.
SOUTH
Spirit of the South, Power of Fire,
We thank you for your gifts of passion and transformation.
We ask for your blessing on this Solstice night.
Spirit of the South, Hail and Farewell.
EAST
Spirit of the East, Power of Air,
We thank you for your gifts of clarity and inspiration.
We ask for your blessing on this Solstice night.
Spirit of the East, Hail and Farewell.
Parting Words
The circle is open, but not broken.
May the Peace of the Goddess go in your hearts.
And May the Light of the Sun shine upon you in your lives.
Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again. Blessed be.
Call Directions
EAST
Winter is a time for cold winds and freezing breezes.
Spirit of the East, Yours is the power of clarity and inspiration.
By the Air that is Her Breath, bring forth your power and be with us this Solstice night.
SOUTH
Winter is a time for sitting in front of roaring fires for warmth and blazing candles for light.
Spirit of the South, Yours is the power of passion and transformation.
By the Fire that is Her Spirit, bring forth your power and be with us this Solstice night.
WEST
Winter is a time of snowflakes falling and water turning to ice.
Spirit of the West, Yours is the power to cleanse and heal.
By the Water that is Her Blood, bring forth your power and be with us this Solstice night.
NORTH
Winter is the time of barren Earth and crops returning to the ground.
Spirit of the North, Yours is the power to produce, grow and nurture.
By the Earth that is Her Body, bring forth your power and be with us this Solstice night.
Storyette Part 1
Once, Robin and Owl had an argument. Owl said that night time was the best part of any day. Robin said daytime was the best part of any day. Owl and Robin wanted to be right so much that they did not listen to one another. They argued and argued and argued. The animals and plants and insects begged them to stop arguing, but Owl knew he was right and Robin knew he was right and on and on they argued. Wind and rain and, even, sun begged them to stop arguing, but Owl and Robin wanted to be right.
It would have been fine if the argument had only been between Owl and Robin. However, when people argue their friends often take sides. The animals and insects and plants began to side with Owl or Robin depending on their favorite part of the day. The argument grew and grew until people began to stop talking to each other and would even refuse to be near each other except to argue.
Now, the elements of the earth were old. The sun, moon, wind, water, fire, earth, the night time void, and the stars had great power between them and grew weary of the constant battling amongst the animals and insects and plants. At dusk and at dawn for four days they met to decide what, if anything, they could do.
At dawn on the fourth day, the spirits asked all of the animals to listen. The moon said, “we are greatly troubled by your big argument. We do not like to see you fight so much.” The stars said, “we are unhappy and are clearly unwanted by many of you.” The night time void said, “therefore, we, the moon, stars, and nighttime void are leaving you. We have enjoyed our time together, but it is time for us to go.” And with a loud thunderous clap, the moon and stars and nighttime void were gone.
The wind and water had agreed that they would only have it rain for an hour a day so that there would as much sunlight as possible.
For a few days, many of the animals and plants and insects were relieved. There was sunlight all of the time. Many of the creatures were happy, they could see whenever they needed to, they could stay up and play, work, and eat at all hours of the day. However, their happiness did not last for long. Many animals found it difficult to sleep, the plants did not have nighttime to remind them to rest, and the insects did not know when to stop eating. The creatures began to look forward to the one hour of rain each day. After seven days, the animals and plants and insects that needed nighttime began to get sick. They were dying because they could not survive in just the sun.
Owl became angrier and angrier. He went to the sun and yelled and screamed- “you see! Look how we suffer! I was right! Nighttime is better!” Eventually, all of the animals and plants and insects who sided with Owl and, even some of the ones who sided with Robin began to yell at the sun. They shouted together, “WE WANT NIGHTTIME WE WANT NIGHTTIME!” And, the Elements knew it was time. After the one hour of rain on the next day, the elements made another announcement.
“I am greatly troubled by your big argument. I do not like to see you fighting so much. I am unhappy and am unwanted by many of you. Therefore, I am leaving you. I have enjoyed our time together, but it is time for me to go. I will ask the moon and stars and nighttime void to return.” There was a loud thunderclap and the world went dark immediately.
Light Candles
Reading (Responsive?)
The response to each line is "The light is reborn”.
In the greatest darkness
Out of winter's cold
From our deepest fears
When we most despair
When all seems lost
When the earth lies waste
When animals hide
When the leaves are gone
When the river is frozen
When the ground is hard
Shadows are fleeing
Light is returning
Warmth will come again
Summer will be here once more
Plants will grow again
Animals will be seen once more
Green will come again
Life will continue
Leader: Explain that we are sending energy to the earth to help it get through the winter. We will move around the circle shaking rattles or shakers, gradually getting louder until a signal from the drum. Then we will stop and ground ourselves.
Chant: "The light is reborn."
Blow Out Candles “Chant of Darkness”
Continued Chanting- Keep chanting for two rounds after all of the candles are out.
Storyette Part 2
It was finally nighttime. For a few days, all of the animals and plants and insects were relieved. It was cooler and many of the animals could sleep. The bats and owls and other nighttime creatures were able to eat. The plants knew to rest. Many of the creatures were happy, they could see whenever they needed to, they could stay up and play, work, and eat at all hours of the day. However, their happiness did not last for long.
The animals and plants and insects that needed sunlight became sick. They were dying. The plants did not bloom or create food. The bees did not make honey. Many of the creatures could not sleep without the daylight to tell them when to burrow. With the cold nights also came snow which made them stay in their homes most of the time.
On one of these nights, Robin and Owl came across one another. They had to get away from their homes because they were miserable being cooped up all the time. They complained about the elements and the constant night. The owl complained that he never knew when to sleep. The Robin complained that he couldn’t see where he was going anymore. After awhile, they realized that they agreed on something- they didn’t want it to always be day or night. They stopped talking about what they didn’t want and started talking about what they did want- the night and the day and balance. Time to run and play and time to be thoughtful and at home with family and friends. Time to grow and time to rest. Time for each insect and plant and animal to be who they were at the time of day that was best for them.
Prayer
Silence
Letting Go Ritual
Write Down Things on Pieces of Paper
Go Outside to Burn Papers
Light Candles “Chant of Light”
Share something that you are hoping for in the coming year as you light your neighbors candle. Ends in lighting of candle for those not there.
Storyette Part 3
Water, listening in a stream nearby, heard Owl and Robin talking together. Water went to tell the elements what ghe had heard. The next morning, the elements called on the insects, plants, and animals to listen again. The earth said, “we heard Owl and Robin speaking together in agreement that you need both day and night. The sun has agreed to return, but from now on, during some of the year, the nighttime void, stars and moon will have more time each day and this will be called winter, but do not fret, for slowly more time will be given to the sun and that time will be called summer.
May you always remember that you need the sun and the moon and the stars and the nighttime void. You need times of rest and to be with family and friends. You need times of play and work and to be outside. For some of you, that is nighttime and winter and for others of you it is daytime and summer.
Today, we celebrate the return of the sun. We will call it Yule. On this day, remember to reflect on what old ideas you need to let go of, as Owl and Robin have done in accepting the importance of night and day. Remember to think about what you want to do when the sun returns. Most importantly, remember that you need one another at all times of the year.
The sun has returned, we are all here, it is a joyous day. Happy Yule Tidings for all!” And with that, the earth went to sleep under the snow, the fire element lit a big bonfire, and all of the insects and plants and animals celebrated together.
Tarot Divination
Closing Prayer/Blessing
Closing Song “The Sun Will Return Again”
Release Thank Directions
NORTH
Spirit of the North, Power of Earth,
We thank you for your gifts of growth and nurturing.
We ask for your blessing on this Solstice night.
Spirit of the North, Hail and Farewell.
WEST
Spirit of the West, Power of Water,
We thank you for your gifts of cleansing and healing.
We ask for your blessing on this Solstice night.
Spirit of the West, Hail and Farewell.
SOUTH
Spirit of the South, Power of Fire,
We thank you for your gifts of passion and transformation.
We ask for your blessing on this Solstice night.
Spirit of the South, Hail and Farewell.
EAST
Spirit of the East, Power of Air,
We thank you for your gifts of clarity and inspiration.
We ask for your blessing on this Solstice night.
Spirit of the East, Hail and Farewell.
Parting Words
The circle is open, but not broken.
May the Peace of the Goddess go in your hearts.
And May the Light of the Sun shine upon you in your lives.
Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again. Blessed be.