Winter Solstice Celebration

Into the dark church came a round of sining from The Winter Solstice Choir as they entered the round Sanctuary singing in round. "Round and round the earth is turning. Turning always round till morning, And from morning round to night." The choir sings and the celebrants respond "We are a circle--within a circle we are--Moving together we are one. We are a circle--within a circle we are--Moving together we are one. I am spirit and I flow into you. You are a spirit you flow into me."

One the darkest day of the year UUI's sanctuary is filled with participants celebrating the return of the light. Solstice mean sun standing still. On the longest night of the year it can feel that we will be int he dark forever. We are revisited on the myth from Homer. Homer wrote of Demeter's daughter Persephone being the sunlight in the meadow. Persephone is captured by the underworld and winds up living part of the year in the darkness. We all live in the darkness at times waiting for th light to return. Demeter is overwrought by the loss of her daughter who was the light of her world. She pairs with Hecate to get her daughter back from Hades. Hecate becomes the guide who leads Persephone back to the light.

Every religion celebrates and enlightened Son or Sun that awakens the consciousness of the world. As they lit the canndles on from another they clebrated the light within each and evey one of us. Early church father planed to have their celebration coincide with long standing traditions because it was easier than trying to break the long establish rituals. It is hard to believe that on the longest night of the year the world is actually the closest to the sun. We know scientifically that the days will become longer from this day of the year. The Choir directed by Pam Blevins Hinkle sings "Light is returning, even though it is the darkest hour, No one can hold back the dawn." As the congregation lit the candles one from another they celebrated the light within each and every one of us. Slowly the dark sanctuary fills with light.

We are remind to let our light shine and to see the light in others. With the congregation join in t a traditional version of "This Little Light of Mine." We are told and African legend of faith and friendship when and arrangement by Rachael A. K. Hazen sings of Imani Faith. "Imani Faith, can come like a spirit, Spirit come like walking on air. Take step and trust in the path and Mother Imani meet you there."

The drumming leads many into dancing in place to the song and in the flicking light it seems the whole room is dancing with Liz Efroymson's cello and Mark Herder's synthesizer. As the rhythem build to a crescendo the Sanctuary is fill with the moving South African chant "We've got the Power, Alleluia." What started as a cold wet winders evening now feels like sunlight and sand and voices joyfully singing of sunshine. Truly the sun was present in that dark evening.

We end the ritual part of the celebration with and arrangement by Starhawk and Anne Hill as we return to round singing "When we are gone, they will remain, Wind and Rock, fire and rain, They will remain when we return, The wind will blow and the fire will burn." We know the circle is endless as the light with in each one of us is endless.

Other songs include Keep the Fire, Benedicta Es, solstice Chant, Through My Soul, Wings, Kore Evohe, and Let the Spirit Come to You. Spider Lady and her sister Arachne decide that if the Spirit didn't come to you you were really asleep, and Spirit may have to shake you.

Following the moving celebration we share a feast. Volunteers and tables full prepared for the sharing and Thanksgiving. The participants mingled in the crowed gathering room and celebrated the light given to us from the food that spring forth from the darkness to give us energy.

What a truly energizing even for a cold winter night. And the full moon will come tomorrow with the morning star to bring light for the New Year.

If you are interested in more information about future solar celebrations at UUI, visit www.uui.org or contact Coleen Kelly at 603-0026 or Wooglett@gmail.com.