 When I say, oh, if you could come up, so today, I changed the word a little bit last night. So when we ask people, take a few notes, take a little pattern, and put those back on. Is this in the word? Yes. Oh, my mother. Yes. I'm going to say Karen Rose will play with candles. This one right here. Okay, one note. You can list your point to it. Yeah, but I actually wrote in here to say Karen Rose will play with candles. And then from there, if you would grab one of those moves, and just bring it down front here, and then I will talk about the ribbon leaving, and then I'll come down and join you so that people look to it. Now, are those? No, they're just leaning on the fabric. So whichever one you grab. Okay. We're only using one. Right, I just went for 90 for a little while. Oh, I see. I can't see the string. Yeah, that was my attempt to do fishing a little bit, and I couldn't even see what I was doing. And I thought people are going to have a hard time doing the ribbon. I see. One. And then when it's all done, when we went out to the people, we could just lean it right here. I'll come up and say those closing words, and make sure you stop right here. Okay. Closing invitation in one second. Wonderful. Oh, yeah, I just hope you share everything. Okay. I'm just going to go ahead. Do you know what this is? It says, do you know what this is? Oh, I like your sandwich. Sam? Oh, I just see you right here. There's the word just. Did you put it in the dishwasher? No. You just said it right here. Okay. Okay. So there's the most red. Okay. Okay. Okay. Oh, it was moving a little bit. I don't know. It's not going to work. Thanks to you. I thought it let's just sink in. Oops! Yeah. Now it's moving a little bit into the effort you teams are constantly making. Yeah. You guys. We really appreciate it. This is the first, and this is the south. It's going, I'm thinking. It's very, very, very cool. And we see those publishers. And they look great, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Please let's all join in a few moments of centering silence. Please remain seated as we sing our in-gathering hymn, which is number 1069 in the teal hymnal. And also the words are written in your order of service. On this beautiful day, which for me in the summer is excellent because it's cool and breezy, and I love it. Welcome to the First Unitarian Society of Madison. This is a community where curious seekers gather to explore spiritual, ethical, and social issues in an accepting and nurturing environment. Unitarian Universalism supports the freedom of conscience of each individual as together we seek to be a force for good in the world. My name is Karen Rose Gredler, and on behalf of the entire congregation, I would like to extend a special welcome to any visitors who are with us this morning. We are a welcoming congregation, so whomever you are and wherever you happen to be on your life journey, we celebrate your presence among us. Newcomers are encouraged to stay for our fellowship hour after the service and to visit the library, which is directly across from the center doors of this auditorium. Bring your beverages and your questions. Members of our staff and lay ministry will be on hand to welcome you. You may also look for persons holding teal stoneware coffee mugs. These are FUS members knowledgeable about our faith community who will be happy to speak with you and answer any questions you have. Experienced guides are generally available to give a building tour after each service, and I do believe someone signed up to do that today, so if you would like to learn more about this sustainably designed edition or our National Landmark Meeting House across the parking lot, please meet right up here, immediately after the service, near the large glass windows on your left. I'd now like to acknowledge those individuals who help our services run smoothly. This morning for the 9 o'clock service, we have Pete Daley on sound, Tom Boykoff, and John McGevna are our lay ministers. Dorot Bergen is our greeter, and Ostrom Dorot, again Pam McMullen, are our ushers, and Chip Quadet and Helena McGiven are, and I'm butchering their last name, I'm sorry about that, are doing coffee and lemonade for us back in the kitchen, and the tour guide will be John Powell. Please note the announcements in the red floors insert to your order of service. This is the insert, and it includes upcoming events at the society and provides more information about today's activities and other interesting things that will be going on soon, so please take a look at that. Again, welcome. We hope today's service will stimulate your mind, touch your heart, and stir your spirit. Thank you. We come together this morning to celebrate as seekers and companions. We enter into this celebration of the summer solstice, the longest day, joyfully allowing ourselves the beauty of this time together in which we may rest our cares and sorrows and allow our hearts and spirits to be uplifted. Summer solstice is one of the most ancient of human festivals. Each year it occurs on, or around June 21st, the midway point in the year when the sun is highest in the sky and the days are longer than the nights. In ancient times, people all over the northern hemisphere would celebrate with bonfires, games, and feasting. So I invite you to come into this time and this place, drink in the beauty and community that surrounds you, and become centered here and now. The solstice teaches us that darkness comes and darkness goes. The solstice teaches us that light comes and light goes. The solstice teaches us calmly, silently, to be calm, silent. The solstice teaches us that as we circle the sun, everything flies. The solstice teaches us to remember the dark, to remember the light, to remember time, the seasons, and love. May we always remember the power of love as we circle the sun. And if you will rise now in body or spirit, as we light our chalice and call in our directions. So if you will please turn to the brightening east. Spirit of the east, home of the rising sun, we welcome you this morning. 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 with us, wind of life. Let there be truth and knowledge. Spirit of the air, be with us. Now please turn to the blazing south. Spirit of the south, spirit of the noonday sun, we welcome you into our circle today. We feel the blast of summer wind igniting passions. We hear the sharp crackle of dancing flames. Here transformation rains. Here cleansing fires temper and renew. The sun at the noon of this 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 with us, O flame of life. Let there be passion and inspiration. Spirit of fire be with us today. And if you will please turn to the watery west. Spirit of the west, spirit of failing light of the setting sun. We feel the caress of autumn wind awakening dreams. We hear the ebbing and flowing of the sea. Here intuition rains. Here emotion flickers in the depths of the dark springs. The well fills with the waters at 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 well of life. Let there be wisdom and intuition. Spirits of the water be with us. Please turn now to the frozen north. Spirit of the north, spring of the star, strewn among the midnight sky. We feel the bite of winter wind chilling hearts and bone. We hear the crunch of snow beneath our feet. Here winter grasps the land. Here darkness rains. 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 tree of life. Let there be strength and courage. Spirits of the earth be with us tonight. And now as we light our chalice symbolizing our center, please join together in the words printed in your order of service. In this small flamed well, 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 and life of our sun. May these blessings, warmth and light giving energy be kindled in each of us. And before we join together in song, if you will turn and greet those around you. Please be seated. If you woke this morning with a sorrow so heavy that you need the help of this community to carry it. Or if you woke with a joy so great that it simply must be shared, now is that time. The sharing of joys and sorrows is our time in the spirit of acceptance and support to share with one another some special event or circumstance that has affected your life or the life of a loved one in recent days or weeks. This is not a time for general announcements or political opinion. And as you share, please remember that our listeners are not limited to the people in this room as our service is broadcast. So for the next few minutes, anyone who wishes is invited to step to the front of the auditorium. Light a candle and using the microphone provided by Tom, our lay minister, briefly share with us your message. You may also come forward to wordlessly light a candle and return to your seat. And if you're unable to come forward for any reason, raise your hand and Tom will bring the microphone to you. Tom, I would like to begin if you would light one candle for Dawn and Scott Wavra. Scott is across the street at the Veterans Hospital with pneumonia and congestive heart failure. And so we're sending our love and our strength to that family this morning. I light this candle because of a special joy and that's that my dad is better and he's with us today. This candle is for my sister, not because anything in particular is going on for her, but just because I think she has felt the absence her whole life of people lighting candles for her. I'm Jim O'Brien, I'm lighting a candle of welcome to my high school classmates who are having their reunion in Madison. It's their 65th, it's our 65th reunion. Do the math. I just want you all to know what a great group of teens we have. I just spent a week with them at Camp Friendship and they were with developmentally disabled and physically disabled campers from age 13 to 72, I think. And the compassion and gentleness that our teens showed was really amazing and I was so proud to be associated with them. This candle is for my sister who is balancing her dialysis treatments with caring for her 91-year-old mother who has been in kind of a steep decline in these last few months. Tom, if you would light one last candle for all those joys and all those sorrows that live in the fullness and the tenderness of our hearts. And if you will rise in body or spirit for our next hymn, which is number 163. It's a day comes from the Cherokee tradition. When the earth was first made, it was very dark and the animals were very afraid. One day, Bear said, I have seen light on the other side of the world but the people will not share. Perhaps we could steal some for ourselves. The others thought this was a splendid idea and started to discuss who should go first. I'll go, said Fox. So Fox went and stole a piece of light in his mouth but it was so hot it burned his mouth and he dropped it and the Fox still has a black mouth to this day. Possum tried next. He wrapped the light in his tail and he tried to drag it back but it was too hot and he dropped it and that is why no Possum has fur on his tail. Crow said, let me try and he went off to steal the light but when he got close it singed all of his beautiful feathers and he turned black. He was so afraid he ran away. Finally, grandmother Spider said, I'll go. When she reached the light she was surprised by how hot it was. She thought of a plan and began to spin and spin with her silky web. Soon she had enough for a bag. She approached the light and quick as a flash tucked the light into her bag. When she got back the animals were triumphant. Hooray for grandmother Spider, they all shouted. Grandmother Spider was happy to give them the light. We should hang the light in the sky so all can be warmed by it, she said. The other animals thought that this was a good idea but how could they get the light into the sky? I will go, said Vulture. He took the bag of light and put it on his head. It was hot but he could stand it. He flew higher and higher as the bag got hotter and hotter. He climbed higher and his feathers turned black. Still higher and the feathers on his head turned right off. Still higher and his head turned red. At the last possible second he threw the light into the sky as hard as he could and that sun hung bright and beautiful, warming all the land as it does to this day. So each year at our winter solstice service we have the drum battle of the Holly King and the Oak King. And every year at winter solstice, as it has been, the Oak King wins the crown. And last year after the solstice, one of the kids who always plays either Holly or Oak, said to me, how come we don't ever give the Holly King a chance to win it back? And today's service was born. So we've got to give the Holly King a fighting chance today. So 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. Oh, I am. For both are said to have existed since the dawn of time. In frosty darkness I am 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, he of the... 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 and again. I rule over spring and summer, the times of planting, of growth, of learning, and of renewal. I am the Oak King. 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. Why should I share? I'm the king. Sometimes they even fight. Fight? He kills me every summer to steal my crown. He's planning 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. Millennia. Don't correct me. For millennia cannot be reconciled. You wish. It begins with learning to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Ha! His only worth lies in the crown he gives me each summer. And man, it's so easy to take it from him. Dignity. He's about as dignified as a chimpanzee screeching for a banana. Take that back. It begins with learning to respect even those you disagree with. I respect him. And by respect, I mean loathe with the passion of a thousand 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. We have ways. Yeah, really effective ways. My favorite begins with a trudge and ends with a thud. Ways that do not involve violence. Oh. We're going to try one of those nonviolent ways today. We are. Do I have to? Do you want to turn it where in the crown? He's just going to try to hurt me to get it. Well, it is my turn. He's not going to hurt you. He's not. I'm not. No, you're not. You're going to have a little contest. Like a duel? Or a nuclear arms race? No. You may notice behind you. There's a drum. I'm really good at drums. I like drums. You wish. Your Majesties. Okay. Please pick up your drum. Why does he get to pick his first? Because he's the incumbent. Not for long. Holly King, please pick up your 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 would like to ask all of you. Help me, please. Pick a team. Team Oak or team Holly. You can participate by clapping, stomping, cheering along with your chosen King. Oak King, you are the current ruler of the known universe. So your side gets to go first. We so got this. Anybody on team Oak? Now, Holly King, if you please. Follow me, my good and loyal Holly things. I think Holly has a little bit of an advantage there. So let's speed it up a little bit. Take turns. Must admit defeat. Hand over that crown, tree boy. All right. You get the crown, but only on one condition. Mortal. Yep. What condition in six months at the winter solstice. You will give your brother a chance to win it back and you will not try to hurt him to get it. Another drum battle. I couldn't go for that. Good. Now give him the crown. All right. All right. All hail the Holly King. Give the man a round of applause. Many thanks to Rob and Sam for being such good sports this morning and wearing faux greenery on their heads. Thank you. And if you will rise and body your spirit to join in our next him, which is in the teal hymnal number 1070. Please be seated. There is an ancient Slavic tale that reminds us of the power of renewal each day symbolized in the rising of the sun. The sun brings new life to those who are weary and worn and helps us to find the inner light and power within to face a new day. The story says that once a man came to the end of the world and looked around. He was very tired because he had walked from the beginning of the world and his food had run out long ago. There before him he saw a red house with curtains at the windows and smoke making a lazy trail in the sky. With hope in his heart he knocked at the door. After a moment an old woman in black opened the door. Please said the man I have walked from the beginning of the world. Please may I come inside and rest. The old woman looked at him for a moment and then invited him in. Taking his arm and guiding him to sit down before a simple wooden table. My daughter will be home soon she said and then we will eat. Moments later a girl in a bright scarlet dress entered the room. Her face shone with light and her smile lit up the whole house. When the man looked at her he suddenly felt renewed as though he were young again. My dear said the old woman we have a guest. This wanderer has walked from the beginning of the world. What a lot you must have seen said the girl. Her voice sounded like honey dropping from a spoon. After dinner in the warmth of the house with a full stomach the man began to grow sleepy. Seeing this the old woman showed him to a bed in the corner and as he was drifting off to sleep he saw the girl remove her scarlet dress and lie down in another part of the room. Her mother took the dress which shined with a light of its own and hung it beside the fireplace. Then she covered it with a large black cloth. At once the room grew dark and the man fell into a deep sleep. Just before dawn he woke to hear the old woman singing a quiet song to the girl saying come my little son the night is growing old get up and go about your work. At once the girl rose and put on her dress suddenly the room was flooded with light and the girl was gone ever after the man spoke of the girl who lives in the red house at the end of the world and sometimes he would look up at the shakai seeing the sun riding high across the heavens and he would smile and he would wave as though he was waving to an old friend. Summer solstice is a time to think of new beginnings to delight in the rising of each new days and opportunity for new life, new ideas. It is also a time to clean out the cobwebs to get rid of things we no longer need to get rid of those stories and the thoughts that we tell ourselves that hold us back. In order to move forward it's helpful to make room for new ideas by letting go of the old. So let us take a few moments to think of those patterns or habits in our own lives that hold us back from reaching our goals those patterns or habits that we no longer want in our lives. Today we're symbolically putting an end to those habits or those stories or those thoughts that live within us making room for more positive ones to grow Karen Rose is going to light this candle to let the fire burn away the old and now we can create new intentions for moving forward. So hopefully you picked up a ribbon on your way into the service. If you didn't we have two baskets up here of ribbons. So what we'd like you to do is to think about what you would like to bring into your life and we're going to let these ribbons hold all of our wishes our intentions for this season. This is also a time to look around and notice our connections with one another. Look around at these people who hold us in our hearts during difficult times who celebrate our joys who support our own journeys. Let us realize how blessed with abundance that we truly are. Hold your ribbon in your hands pull in that wonderful summertime energy feel that brilliant sun's light shining down illuminating you warming you and your spirit as this powerful light shines down think of the wishes you have for this summer maybe you're swimming in the ocean maybe you're visiting with family or friends maybe you're starting a new project maybe you're hanging out in a backyard hammock whatever you wish take a few moments now and think about all that you want to create for your summer what are your hopes for yourself for your family for our community for the world let the light of the sun shine on our hopes let those hopes be held in the weave of these ribbons so I encourage you to come forward and weave your ribbon into our web creating a visual representation of both our hopes and our dreams and our connections in life and in community I'll be hanging these outside somewhere figure that out on Tuesday and throughout the summer the sun will shed light on our intentions while the earth will embrace and hold our wishes helping them manifest for a beautiful summer earth bring your fire and compassion of the sun into our beings so that like the sun we may shine lend us earth and water air and fire fill us with these elements these powers of creation that we may tend them because they are your garden and we may be happy and at one with you so may it be and I now invite you into the giving and receiving of today's offering in the summer months our offering goes to the continued work of the society and we thank you for your generosity and I invite you to rise embody your spirit for our closing hymn number 1067 may we be grateful this day for the spirits who joined us in our circle the earth the water the fire and the air thank you for blessing us and being with us as the wheel turns and as we have rejoiced in the strength of the light the circle is open but never broken Mary meet Mary part and Mary meet again as we leave this place may you know fully and deeply the blessings of each of your heart seasons the inward turning of winter springtime's lush renewal the effortless steady growth of summer and autumn's rich harvest may your passage from season to season be blessed eased by hands to hold and by the light of love to guide you on blessed be go in peace and please be seated for the postlude