Sermons

READING  ~ taken from the writings of Lyn Cox ,of UUA

We pause as the path of the sun reverses, seemingly holding its place for a moment of turning. Let us delve into the gifts of darkness at the winter solstice. We follow curiosity and contemplation down into the cold earth, taking a journey to the world below the surface.  Here we find acorns, cached by squirrels and chipmunks, perhaps to be food laid in store, or perhaps to become trees in the fullness of time. we find the burrows of hibernating animals, those who sleep and repair.  We find seeds, including some that will not sprout unless they first wait through frost and ice. Life finds rest and renewal in the darkness.

READING - A Winter’s Cloak by Joyce Rupp

This year, I do not want the dark to leave me.
I need its wrap of silent stillness,
its cloak of long lasting embrace.
Too much light has pulled me away
from the chamber of gestation.

Let the dawns come late,
let the sunsets arrive early,
let the evenings extend themselves
while I lean into the abyss of my being.

Let me lie in the cave of my soul,
for too much light blinds me
steals the source of revelation.

Let me seek solace in the empty places of winter’s passage,
those vast dark nights that never fail to shelter me.

SERMON:

This year, here where we live, the winter solstice will occur on Thursday, December 21 at 10:27PM. It is at that moment in  the northern hemisphere when the earth’s axis is tilted the furthest from the sun. Northern locations furthest from the equator will have a day with the least amount of sunlight. We will experience the beginning of winter while people in the southern hemisphere will celebrate the Summer Solstice and the the beginning of summer.

Pre-christian peoples celebrated the turning of the wheel of the year with festivals of firelight and feasting, honoring the the death of increasing darkness and rebirth or return of the light.  Today those who follow an earth-centered spirituality, mark the changing of the seasons by dividing the wheel of the year into eight sections, beginning and ending with the winter solstice.

Feminine spirituality celebrates the birth of the goddess at the winter solstice and follows her growth through the seasons:

February:  childhood, innocence and wonder,

May:  adolescence, the blooming of fertility

June: motherhood, the ripening of food and ideas

August: the harvest when we gather what was planted

November:  her old age and passing through the veil

to be reborn again at Yule.

Each season has meaning for each of us as we can see in ourselves the stages of our development in the spirals of our lives. Maiden, Mother, Crone - Death and rebirth. A chance at the turning of the wheel to start again and work towards the fulfillment of our potential and promises made.

As people living in the north, the winter solstice challenges us to slow down, breathe and reflect amidst the buzz of preparing for the winter holidays filled with gifts, feasts, festive celebrations, and family gatherings. We may have to deal with harsh weather or schedules and obligations that seem to ask too much of us. At a time where nature is whispering slow down, rest, go deep to find peace, our human lives may feel there is not enough time, energy or resources to do what must be done.

What can we do to navigate the push and pull of nature vs. our daily lives?  We can be aware of our inner yearnings and desires.  We can look for the simple blessings of candlelight, cozy blankets and an a chance to read by the fire during the long, quiet evenings. We can take evening walks to look at the stars and feel the wonder of eternity stretching above us. We can reach out to offer or accept a hug or a smile which assure us that at this moment we are ok, safe and balanced and whole. Breathing in and saying, “Now is the only moment…..”

And, we can open our hearts to the laughter and the joy of the season which come not in expensive presents but in gifts of loving kindness for ourselves and others. We can look for smiles and the satisfaction that come when we tickle our fancy or open our imaginations to the gifts of our spirits.  Instead of one big event, our holidays can be a collection of simple pleasures and moments of quiet joy.

As I was preparing for this service, I received an email that made me smile and feel warmed with delight.  I would like to share it with you.

Twas the Night Before Yuletide by C.C.Williford

Twas the night before Yuletide and all through the glen
Not a creature was stirring, not a fox, not a hen.
A mantle of snow shone brightly that night
As it lay on the ground, reflecting moonlight.
The faeries were nestled all snug in their trees,
Unmindful of flurries and a chilly north breeze.
The elves and the gnomes were down in their burrows,
Sleeping like babes in their soft earthen furrows.
When low! The earth moved with a thunderous quake,
Causing chairs to fall over and dishes to break.
The Little Folk scrambled to get on their feet
Then raced to the river where they usually meet.
“What happened?” they wondered, they questioned, they probed,
As they shivered in night clothes, some bare-armed, some robed.
“What caused the earth’s shudder? What caused her to shiver?”
They all spoke at once as they stood by the river.
Then what to their wondering eyes should appear
But a shining gold light in the shape of a sphere.
It blinked and it twinkled, it winked like an eye,
Then it flew straight up and was lost in the sky.
Before they could murmur, before they could bustle,
There emerged from the crowd, with a swish and a rustle,
A stately old crone with her hand on a cane,
Resplendent in green with a flowing white mane.
As she passed by them the old crone’s perfume,
Smelling of meadows and flowers abloom,
Made each of the fey folk think of the spring
When the earth wakes from slumber and the birds start to sing.
“My name is Gaia,” the old crone proclaimed
in a voice that at once was both wild and tamed,
“I’ve come to remind you, for you seem to forget,
that Yule is the time of re-birth, and yet…”
“I see no hearth fires, hear no music, no bells,
The air isn’t filled with rich fragrant smells
Of baking and roasting, and simmering stews,
Of cider that’s mulled or other hot brews.”
“There aren’t any children at play in the snow,
Or houses lit up by candles’ glow.
Have you forgotten, my children, the fun
Of celebrating the rebirth of the sun?”
She looked at the fey folk, her eyes going round,
As they shuffled their feet and stared at the ground.
Then she smiled the smile that brings light to the day,
“Come, my children,” she said, “Let’s play.”
They gathered the mistletoe, gathered the holly,
Threw off the drab and drew on the jolly.
They lit a big bonfire, and they danced and they sang.
They brought out the bells and clapped when they rang.
They strung lights on the trees, and bows, oh so merry,
In colors of cranberry, bayberry, cherry.
They built giant snowmen and adorned them with hats,
Then surrounded them with snow birds, and snow cats and bats.
Then just before dawn, at the end of their fest,
Before they went homeward to seek out their rest,
The fey folk they gathered ‘round their favorite oak tree
And welcomed the sun ‘neath the tree’s finery.
They were just reaching home when it suddenly came,
The gold light returned like an arrow-shot flame.
It lit on the tree top where they could see from afar
The golden-like sphere turned into a star.
The old crone just smiled at the beautiful sight,
“Happy Yuletide, my children,” she whispered. “Good night.”

May you find joy in the simplest of things: the lighting of a candle, a cup of tea and a cookie, a good book, an evening walk, holding the hand of a loved one, or a kind and compassionate word of encouragement.

May the spirits of peace and togetherness bless your lives during this holiday season.

And may know that you are not alone, for all those here are family and we love you.