 Test one one, okay, and so the shortest day came and the year ended Everywhere down the centuries of the snow white world came people Dancing singing to drive the dark away They lighted candles in the winter trees. They hung their homes with evergreen They burned beseeching fires all night long to keep the year alive When the new day sunshine blazed awake. They shouted Rejoicing through all across the centuries. You can hear them echoing behind us All the long echoes sing the same delight this shortest day and longest night as Promise awakens in the sleeping land We Carol we give thanks. We dearly love our friends And we hope for peace as it has been done throughout the centuries So do we hear now this year and every year Welcome to solstice. Welcome you all It truly is a joy to welcome you to our celebration of the winter solstice Thank you to you hearty and brave souls Who face the winter weather and arrived here? We gather on this night in the early blackness and the refreshing cold of winter To be together in the darkness To appreciate the restfulness and the peace that comes in the dark and to recognize that this is the point When the light is reborn Gathered here in darkness we draw a circle of community and Recognize that the darkness is where we hold seeds of hope and seeds of dreams to come Round and round the earth is turning Turning always round till morning morning round tonight in the northern hemisphere The Sun is peaking lower in the sky and setting sooner Each night grows longer as we await the longest night of the year The winter solstice celebrates the return of hope to our land as our earth Experiences the first slow turn toward greater daylight Soon we will welcome the return of the Sun and Believe it or not the coming of spring as We do so let us remember and embrace the positive enriching aspects of winners darkness To lure the Sun back to us. We light our candles We burn the eulog. We decorate our houses with light Many religions have a son child born this time of year a Child who lights the way back to spring back to life But it is not just children newly born who carry the light and give renewed hope for the world each and every one of us carries that light as We gather this evening hold in your heart this question How do you carry the light? How will you carry the flame of hope love and justice with you into the new year? How do you carry the light? Would please rise now embody our in spirit To join us in calling of the spirits. Please turn to the brightening east Spirit of the east home of the rising Sun. We welcome you into our circle this night We feel the embrace of spring winds stirring our minds We hear the soft rustle of air through leaves. We feel life renewing itself again and again Here knowledge is born on light swift wings We kindle this fire today in the east and invoke the spirit of air flow within us wind of life Let there be truth and knowledge Spirit of the air be with us tonight And if you will please turn to the blazing south Spirit of the south spirit of the noonday Sun We welcome you into our circle this night We feel the blast of summer wind igniting passion We hear the sharp crackle of dancing flames Here transformation reigns here cleansing fires temper and renew The Sun at the noon of his majesty illuminates the world and ignites the spark of life within us all We kindle this fire today in the south and invoke the spirit of fire Flow within us. Oh flame of life. Let there be passion and inspiration Spirit of fire be with us tonight Please turn to the watery west spirit of the West Spirit of failing light on the setting Sun We feel the caress of autumn wind awakening dreams We hear the ebbing and flowing of the sea here intuition reigns Here emotion flickers in the depths of the dark springs The well fills with the waters of the bosom of the earth The cup overflows with deep wisdom We kindle this fire today in the west and invoke the spirit of water Flow within us. Oh well of what of life Let there be wisdom and intuition Spirit of the water be with us tonight And please turn to the frozen north Spirit of the north spirit of the star strewn midnight sky We feel the bite of winter wind chilling heart and bone We hear the crunch of snow beneath our feet Here winter grasps the land Here darkness reigns Dreams are born and nurtured the seeds of peace are sown The visions of a new world are nourished We kindle this fire today in the north and invoke the spirit of earth Grow within us. Oh tree of life. Let there be strength and courage Spirits of the earth be with us tonight And now we will light our chalice Symbolizing our center Please join together in the words printed in your order of service in this Flame dwell the beacon light of lanterns guiding travelers home the warmth of hearth fires tended through the generations The transforming energy of furnaces and the power of life of our son May these blessings Warm and light and life-giving energy Be kindled in each of us And before we join together in song if you will take a moment and wish your neighbor warm solstice greetings Please be seated story this evening a story of light and darkness as Soon as the Sun rose every morning. They were up to welcome it Singing songs of celebration for the light and when the Sun went down each evening. They sang other songs sad songs Songs of missing the light of the Sun They loved the light so very much They did not love the darkness Once darkness fell every night. They would hurry to bed since they could only bear the darkness when they were asleep Even then total darkness was frightening to them And so they always kept a fire burning in every room The people's dearest wish was that the Sun would not set in the evening the darkness would never fall But every day the Sun set and they sang their sad songs and they endured the fearful sad strange darkness Until they could greet the Sun again the next day Now in this land were born two remarkable children They were twins one was a girl and she seemed to shine from within Whenever she entered a room everything seemed to get a little brighter and the people loved her very much The other was a boy and he seemed to bring darkness with him Wherever he entered a room everything seemed a little dimmer and the people did not like him They feared him because he reminded them of the great darkness of the night But although the people loved the girl and did not love the boy the twins loved each other very much and Because the girl loved her brother so very much The people mostly let him be even though they were afraid of him Now as they grew it became clear that these children were in fact Magical children the girl had the power to bring life back when it was harmed or lost When she was a very small child she could heal small cuts and bruises When she grew a little older she could heal broken bones and other larger hurts and By the time she was a teenager she could make the crops grow faster and larger and fuller She could bring plants and animals that had died back to life The people suspected she could even bring people back to life But they were a little afraid to ask and she did not offer The boy on the other hand had the power to calm and quiet anything When he was a very small child he could help his family go to sleep more quickly Thus saving them from the fear of the darkness When he was a little older he could calm animals when they were frightened and make them still Sometimes he would go first to an animal or a person who was hurt and Help them to be calm enough for his sister's healing magic to work and By the time he was a teenager he could calm storms and winds and rains He could bring anything to stillness The people's love for the light and fear of the darkness only grew with time Perhaps more strongly with the twins always before them to remind them and so one day They decided to ask the girl for a favor They asked her to see if her magic could hold the sun in the sky and stop the night from coming The girl was reluctant But after many many months of being asked she finally decided to try just to get the people to leave her alone One day just as the sun was at its highest point She went out onto the top of the highest hill in the land And she threw her arms up into the sky and she asked the sun to stop to stay right there at the top of the sky forever She wasn't immediately sure that anything had happened the sun usually moves so slowly But before very long it became clear that something had happened The sun had stopped in the sky The people were overjoyed there was a big celebration They sang all of their songs celebrating the sun They loved the girl even more at least at first for the first week or so Everyone was happy and content But soon they began to get tired Although they had always slept with a fire to ward off the darkness Sleeping in the full light of the sun was another thing altogether They tossed and turned and woke up constantly Some of them remembered that the boy could help with sleep and asked for his aid But his power of bringing sleep seemed to have disappeared along with the darkness After about a month the exhausted frustrated people began to see that this constant sunlight was a problem Though they still loved the light they began to wish that the sun would once again move in the sky Each person at first thought that they were the only one who thought this And given the people's love of the light and fear of the darkness Everyone was afraid at first to say anything about this growing longing for night time But slowly, softly as they began to confide in each other They discovered that everyone felt this way And they finally decided that something must be done They went back to the girl and asked her to get the sun to move again It was her magic that had stopped it and they figured her magic could make it move So she went back up onto the top of the highest hill Threw her arms up into the sky and asked the sun to move Nothing happened She tried again and a third time but the sun stayed still Sadly she turned to the people and told them there was nothing she could do There was a long moment of growing panic before the boy stepped forward Let me try, he said softly Everyone thought about it for a moment and then decided this was a good idea So he took his sister's place on top of the highest hill Threw his arms up in the air and asked the sun to move The sun began moving at once Rushing toward the western horizon Within ten minutes it had set And within fifteen it was full dark night The people were caught off guard They had all come out to the hill to see if the girl's magic would work They had no fires lit They hadn't needed them in weeks They had nothing with them to light their way They had never been outside at night before And they were terrified At first they tried rushing home to get away from the darkness But they soon discovered that rushing when you can't see where you are going is a bad idea They slowed down but still peered at the ground trying to get home as soon as they could But then one of them looked up Oh! she exclaimed Look! Everyone looked up And then they all saw the stars for the very first time They had never been outside at night before And had no idea of the incredible beauty of a sky full of stars They all stopped hurrying toward their homes And stood and stared in wonder And then they realized how very tired they were And so slowly now and with more reverence They started home again and slept for a very long time The people rested and were glad And appreciated the darkness for the first time in their lives Eventually the sun rose again As it did the people got out of their beds and sang their songs to celebrate the coming of the light But at the end of the day as the sun began to sink toward the horizon They did not feel like singing their sad songs Instead one of the musicians began singing a new song A slow quiet song of Thanksgiving for the night And soon the others joined in And it became their new sunset song And the boy and the girl grew and grew And both of them were now much beloved by the people Looking at them still the best of friends as well as siblings The people remembered that light and darkness are best in balance I invite you to enter with us into a time of myth and legend To hear the tale of two immortal brothers Twins as alike and as different as day and night No one knows which of the two is older I am, no I am For both are said to have existed since the dawn of time In frosty darkness I was born and in frosty darkness I die Only to be reborn again and again I rule over autumn and winter, the times of harvest, of aging, of wisdom and of rest I am the Holly King And I am the Oak King In warm luminescence I am born and in warm luminescence I die Only to be reborn again and again I rule over spring and summer, the times of planting, of growth, of learning and of renewal I am the Oak King, he of the You already said that Like many brothers, the Oak King and the Holly King sometimes don't get along He calls me names He steals my stuff Sometimes they don't know how to share How should I share? I'm the King Sometimes they even fight Fight? He kills me every summer to steal my crown He's plotting to off me right now Only because you kill me every winter and steal my crown Fortunately, even the most stubborn person can learn to get along with others I'm not stubborn, it's not my fault, he's a twit I'll be nice, but only if he apologizes Fortunately, even families that have been estranged for years Centuries Don't correct me For millennia can be reconciled It begins with learning to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of everyone His only worth lies in the crown, he gives me each winter and man it is so easy to take it from him Dignity? He's about as dignified as a chimpanzee screeching for a banana You take that back It begins with learning to respect even those you disagree with I respect him, and by respect I mean I loathe him with the fiery passion of a thousand burning sons That was uncalled for And once you learn to affirm each other's worth and respect one another You can work on ways to overcome your differences No, we have ways Yeah, really effective ways, my favorite begins with a trudge and ends with a thud Ways that do not involve violence We're going to try one of those non-violent ways today We are? Do I have to? Do you want to churn it where in the crown? He's just going to try and hurt me to take it Well, it's my turn He's not going to hurt you No, you are not You're going to have a little contest Like a duel? Or a nuclear arms race No Arn Okay, you may notice that you each have a drum I like drums I'm really good at drums Well, I'm better You wish Okay, your Majesty's, thank you Holly King, please choose a drum Why does he get to pick first? Because he is the incumbent Not for long Oh, King, please select a drum All right, let's do this Not so fast Ours is an interdependent world And those of us living in it should have a say in how our world is run So I want to ask all of you to pick a team Team Oak or Team Holly You want Team Oak? Pick me You can participate by clapping, stomping, cheering along with your chosen King Holly King, you are the current ruler of the known universe So your side gets to go first We've so got this So everyone who's with Team Holly Clap, stomp, cheer, whatever you'd like Follow me, my good and loyal Oaklings But remember, please take turns Commit defeat Nope, do it again Drum again Hand over that crown, tree boy On condition Condition? Yep Bah, fine, what condition In six months, you will give your brother a chance to win it back And you will not hurt him to get it Another drum battle? I can agree to that Good, now give him the crown Here you go, all hail the Oak King Give the man a round of applause All hail the Oak King Thank you all Thank you to our Holly and Oak Kings Thank you to both of you for being such good sports Thank you to all of you for keeping the wheel of the year Turning, ushering in this new season In honor of the peaceful reign of the Holly King Thank you, Holly King We're going to sing one more song in his honor So if you will rise in body or spirit We're going to sing number 235, Deck the Halls Dory is written by Marion Dane Bauer The longest night And I hope I have friends to help The snow lies deep The night is long The stars are ice The moon is frost And all the world is still Bears sleep As do the velvet mice A moon shadow lies by every tree Thin as a hungry wolf Wines the wind The bitter wind Caused the crow, the night dark crow So long the sun's been gone I saw it slink I saw it sneak I saw it creep behind a cloud And go to sleep But I'm the one I know how to bring back the sun I'll fly with my strong wings To reach the clouds I'll poke it with my sharp beak And wake the sun Not you, sighs the wind Not you Gone, cries the moose The mighty moose I know the sun is gone I saw it slip I saw it slide I saw it plunge from the bowl of the sky And disappear behind the hill But I'm the one I know how to bring back the sun I have legs long enough to reach that hill To climb that hill I have antlers strong enough to scoop up the sun And bring it home Not you, sighs the wind Not you Barks the fox The clever fox The sun is too long gone Someone must search Someone must seek Someone must find the hole The sun crawled into I'm the one I know how to bring the sun back I have a nose keen enough To sniff out the sun's hiding place Pause quick enough to dig it up Teeth sharp enough to grab the sun And toss it back into the sky Not you, sighs the wind Not you, says the chickadee The sun is gone and gone For if not crow or moose or fox Then who? Who can bring back the sun? You, says the wind Only you, cries the chickadee Crow, cry crow and moose and fox Answers the wind Chickadee hears Only you The little bird knows she can't fly all the way to the sun Her beak can't isn't strong enough to poke it awake She can't climb or scoop She can't sniff or dig or toss the sun into the sky So she does instead what chickadees do best She sings a song She sings What kind of a song is that? Cries crow Just D and D and D The sun won't listen to such nonsense, bellows the moose What can it possibly mean, barks fox Just D, says the chickadee Only that answers the wind A star melts away Then another The frosty moon pauses Snagged in the branches of a tree The world holds its breath Waiting, says the chickadee And again Slowly, slowly The sun opens his eyes He stretches He tilts his head Listening Who sings in the cold and dark, he asks Who indeed, whispers the wind Says the chickadee And the sun smiles Fingers of light Peel back the black blanket of darkness Fingers of light grasp the edge of the world And slowly, slowly The sun lifts himself into the sky Sing the animals Echoes the world And with the song of one small bird And the sun's answering smile The journey of the world continues Like the sun Let us too look down and smile On the work of this congregation 100% of the offering today goes to our Eviction Prevention Fund Please be generous We have come together To join in this celebration of darkness and light We have come together out of the cold To fill this place with stories and songs And the warmth of people willing To share of themselves during this glorious season Let us now join together in filling this sacred Space with light Using our own energy, our power, our hope And our goodwill To encourage the sun to return to us again Here in the darkness Let us feel the warmth of community Knowing we are not alone For in the quiet shadow Is the glow of life within all Let us know in the darkness The gift each candle bears A small flame Yet the wondrous gift To see another's glow Let us be in awe at this moment As we each light a flame And the light envelops this room As hope for peace and goodwill Fills this night So may it be We invite you now to come forward Lighting your candle Placing it in a bowl of sand Helping us fill this room with light Winter rest Help us to enjoy your peace Remind us to pause during this season Grant us awareness Keep our gratitude fresh each day May the songs in our hearts Be blessings and insights to us And to others And may compassion always shine forth From the depths of our hearts If you will rise now and body your spirit For our closing hymn number 57 Please be seated May we be grateful this night For the spirits who joined us in our circle The earth, the water, the fire, and the air Thank you for blessing us tonight And being with us as the wheel turns And as we have rejoiced in the darkness And brought back the light In the coming days and weeks May we remember We all experience wintry times Times when things seem harsh And frozen Or muffled by layers of snow It is helpful to remember In the days that dawn bleakly And in the nights that wrap their cold Cloaks around our hearts That the light is returning We are moving closer to a time Of warm and vibrant sun It is perhaps helpful to consider That turning toward the light Remembering the light Is an active thing The earth which seems so stable In fact flies quickly through space On its path that tilts us Ever toward the source of life Of love, of all So too each time we choose to forgive Each time we choose to hope Each time we act out of compassion And mercy Each time we find a moment of gratitude Tilts us ever toward our own renewal On this winter's night We wish you a season of listening A season of love and light May you hear the dreams, the hopes The shout within you Waiting to be reborn Our circle is open But never broken Merry meet, merry part Merry meet again Blessed be and go in peace