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A Winter Solstice Service and StoryUnitarian Universalist Church Urbana ChampaignService and Story written by Jeanette Ruyle, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Edited by Cindy Wakeland, Interim DRE at Unitarian Universalist Urbana ChampaignWelcomeService Leader # 1 ____________________Good Morning. We are telling a story today. You may have heard parts of this story before because parts of it have been around for a long time. But first we have a few announcements. If this is your first time visiting our church, we want to give you a special welcome. Please join us for coffee and refreshments after the service. You can find many announcements in your bulletin. Here are a few more. (Read other announcements) Take time now to greet your neighbor.(Leader takes a seat in the front pew)Centering ChimePrelude________________________________Kent ConradService Leaders sitting in front pewChalice LightingAxelWe gather here this morning, together, bringing our fears, doubts, and worries and through the warmth of community and the telling of our stories, finding the light of reason, truth, hope, and love. Please read the chalice lighting words written in your Order of Service.We know we need both light and dark, both the day and the night.When the dark is too long, cold and frightening,We long for the cheerful reassurance of warm light.When the day is to too bright and hot,We long for the cool, soft protection of the night.We need darknessIn order to know light; We need light In order to know the dark.Procession “Come, Come Whoever You Are”#188Sing three times(Children all process to the front with candles an not costumes, up the right aisle and back down the left aisle. They sit under the rood loft with parent volunteers and teachers. Candles are collected. Grandparent #1 and child # 1 go sit in front pew and receive mic from Beth) (Grandparent #1 [Dave Sharpe] and child #1 [Lumina Tami] come forward, and pretend to play and then sit by fireplace)Introduction- NarratorCindy WakelandOnce, not too long ago, and maybe right around now, there was a child and a grandparent. (Pause) It was getting to be wintertime. The trees were nearly bare of all their leaves; the grass was brown and stiff, and the ground was frosty hard. There had been a few flakes of snow, but not enough to stick. Mostly, it was cold and the days were getting shorter and shorter. The child and grandparent played outside in the pale winter sunlight, throwing and catching a ball or drawing chalk pictures on the driveway until their fingers got too cold and the sun dropped behind their evergreen hedge making it dark to see well. They went inside to their warm house and settled in front of the fireplace where there was a bright, crackling fire. The child gazed out the window at the early evening. The sky was deep purple. The streetlights had come on making the shadows of the hedge and bushes look even darker. The child said—1st Child:I don’t like the dark.Narrator:The grandparent looked out the window too and saw that it looked indeed dark—it was nighttime.1st Grandparent:You know, a long, long time ago; people were afraid at this time of year. They used to be scared that the sun would keep disappearing, that it would stay like night. They were afraid of the dark.1st Child:Sometimes I’m afraid of the dark.1st Grandparent:Sometimes I am too.Narrator:Afraid of the dark---well, it is that time of year. In a few days it will be the winter solstice, the shortest day and the longest night of the year. After that night, the days will start getting longer again and the sun will slowly get higher in the sky. It will still be cold, of course---winter has just started after all. It won’t be so dark for so long; it will get brighter and sunnier, despite the cold air. But the nights are cold indeed.1st Grandparent:It’s a good thing we have this fire in the fireplace. Do you know what people used to do a long time ago in Europe up in the north this time of year? They would go out and find a big log. Well, they probably had to cut down a big tree first. I hear they liked to used an Oak tree because they thought oak trees were special. And that big log was very, very, special, almost magical. Putting this log in their fireplace at home meant they would be safe from the whatever might be out there in the dark. They called it the Yule log—Yule rhymes with mule. Why did they call it a Yule log? I’ve heard that the word “Yule” might mean wheel, and in those days people thought of the whole year as being like a big wheel that turned through time. The winter solstice meant the beginning of a new year. Can you imagine going out into a cold dark day, into the dark forest and bringing back a big heavy log? In those days, they didn’t even have horses, mules or wagons. And they didn’t have polar fleece or Gortex jackets or gloves. Can you picture that? Let us join together and sing hymn # 72, Has Summer Come now Dawning.Hymn “Has Summer Come Now, Dawning”#721st Grandparent and 1st child return to front row seats. Grandparent #2 (Sally Babbit and child #2 (Celia Barbieri) come forward and receive mic from Beth and sit by fireplace) Narrator: As Kent plays some Yule music our 4-5-grade class share with us how our ancestors might have dressed to hunt Yule logs.2-3 GRADE CLASS Children dressed in animal skins carrying Yule logs process forward and place logs on fire. CLASS RECESSES BACK TO SEATS OR SITS IN FRONT AREA.Child #2:I still don’t like the dark.Grandparent #2:What don’t you like about the dark?Child #2:I start thinking of scary things.Narrator:Ah yes the dark night, the dark cave, the dark cellar, the dark closet, the dark places in our minds—all these have been frightening people of all ages. What do we do? But what is fear? The grandparent thought for a moment and then said: Grandparent #2:You’ve got me thinking in a very seasonal way…I’m thinking again about some people who lived a very long time ago and they used to celebrate at this time of year-they actually celebrated and had a great time! And this was way before Christmas time ever happened. Maybe it took their minds off how dark it had gotten. One thing they did was notice all the trees and plants that stayed green all the winter long. Green meant that something was still living—it made them think of how life continues in spite of the cold and the dark. The ancient Romans would go out and gather evergreen branches and bring them inside to decorate their homes. Scandinavians put holly branches around their doorways—they thought the sharp leaves would scare away dangers. People went out and cut pine, cedar, fir trees, rosemary, holly, and ivy and in some places, something called mistletoe.Child #2:Missile toe? Is that some kind of missile on your foot?K-1 CLASS PREPARES TO PROCESSGrandparent #2:Oh no…. it is a kind of plant that grows on trees, kind of like a vine but not really. It shows up in winter because it stays green. It has little white berries. I’ve only seen real mistletoe once in my life and it was in a store. It doesn’t grow around here. But it was thought to be so special, so powerful and healing, that we still remember mistletoe. Imagine going into the forest again, this time to gather mistletoe, holly and evergreen branches and hauling them back to take inside—actually, we still do that, don’t we, after all these years! That’s partly how we came to have Christmas trees and wreaths, you know. The smell of evergreen is something that helps me feel better, that’s for sure. It’s a joy. (Grandparent #2 and child #2 return to front pew to return mics to Beth and return to seats)Narrator: Kent will play some evergreen music as our K-1 class comes forward to decorate our table with evergreen garland and then our choir will sing the Holly and Ivy song.K-1 CLASS BEGINS TO PROCESS(Musical interlude with flute music while K-1 CLASS bring up branches of evergreens, holly, and a ball of mistletoe, and decorate a little tree and place on table. Turn on tree lights) (K-1 class returns to seats or front rows Grandparent #3 (Anne Sharpe and Child #3 (Rowan Trilling-Hansen) come to from pew to receive mic from Beth)Service Leader #2:Now is the time we recognize our joys and concerns by silently lighting a candle. Take a moment to think of those close to you whom you are concerned about, those who may be ill, sad, lonely, needing care or those who are celebrating joys. (PAUSE)If you have a joy or concern and you would like to light a candle for them please come forward and light a candle to recognize that joy or concern in your heart. (Narrator lights last candle)Service leader #2 take a seat in pewService Leader #3:Let us join together in a moment of silent meditation. PAUSEMay we be attentive to the world around us. PAUSEMay we be patient when we need to wait.PAUSEMay we act when we need to take action.PAUSELet us be caring and loving toward all those who have concernsFears, worries and stress. PAUSELet us give thanks for all the many joys we have in our lives. Service leader #3 take a seat. Grandparent #3 and child #3 take place by fireplace.Narrator:Being joyful and giving thanks, maybe that’s how we balance our fears. The grandparent and child thought about this.Child #3:You know what I like to think about, and I get really happy thinking about it? I think about getting presents. (smiles broadly)Pre-Schoolers –carrying their presents prepare to come forward.Grandparent #3:Well, naturally, yes! Of course, that’s the ticket! Christmas presents, Hanukkah presents, and who doesn’t like to get a present? It’ s a wonderful tradition. And you know it is an old, old tradition. The ancient Romans exchanged gifts this time of year. So did the ancient Chinese. And I bet a whole bunch of other people did. Think of the Wise men giving gifts to the baby Jesus. And St. Nicholas—About 600 years ago there lived a real man named Nicholas. He was rich and he left presents and candy for poor children in his village while they were sleeping. Seems like he must have been the ancestor of Santa Claus. Speaking of candy, people have made special food for each other and given food as a present. We still do! You get candy canes, the Chinese got rice balls, the Romans gave fruit—and think of the old times of plum pudding ….anyway, getting presents is a happy thing. Of course, giving presents makes you as happy if not more so, right? Getting gifts wouldn’t happen without someone giving gifts. It makes you feel all warm inside when you give to someone. Think about the last time you gave a present to someone…yes, gift giving and receiving-are certainly an important part of the season. Think for a moment about all the gifts that you have ever received and ever given—what stands out for you?Narrator:And the child and grandparent both pondered on this. What do you remember? Think about this as Kent plays some gift giving music and our pre schoolers come forward with gifts for under our tree.Bassoon music on organ starts and Pre-K class come forward with wrapped presents and places them under the Christmas tree. Bassoon plays “From You I Receive #402 through twice. Service leaders #4 and #5 come forward at this time. Pre-K goes back to seats or back downstairs.Offering and ReceivingService Leader #4Gifts to this church help sustain our place of community and our work in the world. One half of our offering collected this morning will support our Partnership Offering. As we give, we receive. During our offertory, you will be receiving a gift of a sprig of evergreen, which is a symbol of life long giving as it is alive all year long. (Give baskets of rosemary to leaders 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 to pass out to congregation.) Also during this time we will be singing hymn #402 three times. You may remain seated for this. Hymn #402From You I Receive Sing three timesplayed on pianoGrandparent #3 and Child #3 come to front pew to return mic and return to seats. Grandparent #4 (Philip Duling and Child #4 (Adam Zilles ) go to front pew to receive mic and sit by fireplace during offertory.Child #4:But there is still so much darkness, all around us—out there.Narrator:And the child pointed to the darkness of night on the other side of the window. The grandparent sighed quietly.Grandparent #4:I can’t argue about that. You are right. I suppose that is why light is such an important thing around this time of year, and has been for as long as anyone can remember. People have lit big bonfires outside, and little fires in their stoves, and made candles and oil lamps, and they have used all of these in celebrations and rituals to help light up the darkness. Meanwhile, they kept a close eye on the sky and watched to see when the sun started coming up higher and shining longer. The lights of fire and flame gave them hope for the big light of the sun. People have done this in all different ways all over the world. There are the candles of the Hanukkah menorah, the candles of the Christian advent wreath, the candles of St. Lucia in Sweden, the oil lamps of Diwali in India, the bonfires in Japan and China.Narrator: As Kent plays some light music we watch as our 4-5 graders bring forth light to us here.Music is played as 4-5 GRADE CLASS comes forward and shares all their lights. With the help of Middle school youth light the candles. Sit by grandparent and child around fireplace. Grandparent shares mic with Sue for story.Narrator: We know the earth turns on its axis so that days are shorter and darkness sets in. We also know the light will return. We have many ways to celebrate the joy of light and happiness that it can bring. There are many folktales from many countries that also tell the story of light. They are ancient stories but the morals and values of the stories can still bring us wise messages. Please join me in singing Hymn O Thou Joyful Day, #236 while our children come back forward to hear an ancient tale told by Sue SearlngHymn“O Thou Joyful Day”#236Children all come forward and sit around fireplace. Leader #5 comes up to pulpit.Story“How the Cock Got His Crown”Sue(Sue gives mic back to grandparen )Leader #5:The sun was enchanted, the crow bowed, the sun would return. Look at the light, feel the light—the light that is the hope, faith and love that are here in this room. Please find the responsive reading in your orders of service and join me in reading.L:We once feared that the sun and light would not return.C:We needed hope while waiting for the light to come again.L:Now we know the sun never goes away, that our earth tiltsC:and we know that our earth will tilt again, and we will have light and long days again.L:But in these days now we have new fears. And we still need hope.C:We still need hope.L:May we have hope.C:May we have hope and faith.L:May we have hope, faith, and love. As light shines from the sun,ALL:so love can shine from within our hearts, lighting the world, spreading the light of hope to all who are in need.Child #4:Even with all the lights inside, it will still be dark outside for a long time. It won’t seem different for a while.Grandparent #4:All we can do is wait. The stars and the moon will give us some light at night. And the daytime will seem different a little bit each day-you’ll see if you watch closely.Narrator:So the child and the grandparent waited as must you and I, each giving the other their light of hope and love.Service Leader #5:Please join us in singing our recessional hymn of celebration, Deck the Halls, #235. As the children and youth depart for the fellowship hall to greet you after the service. (Leader #6 Go to back of sanctuary to say benediction and TAKE A HAND HELD MICBenedictionService Leader #6May we light candles this Christmas.Candles of joy despite all sadness,Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,Candles of courage for fears ever present,Candles of peace for tempest –tosses days,Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,Candles of love to inspire all out living,Candles that will burn all the yearlong.(Adapted from Howard Thurman)Extinguishing of the ChaliceClosing ChimePostludeKent _________________________________________________________________________________9:30 ServicePre-schoolers-Present carriers- dressed as presents carry presents to put under treeK-1-Evergreen carriers-dressed as Christmas trees carry holly ivy pine to put on little tree that will go on table.2-3 grade-Yule log carriers-dressed with animal skins carry decorated Yule logs place by fireplace4-5 grade-light carriers-dressed as Jewish, St. Lucia, Indian, Japan, Chinese, carry menorah, advent wreath, St. Lucia wreath, Indian Diwali oil lamp6-8 gradeService leadersAdults as grandparents with a child who likes to read (Felix, 11:15 ServiceYRUU Second service-child and grandparent, presents, animal skins, light carriers6-8 gradeService leadersK-2-Evergreen carriers-dressed as Christmas trees carry holly ivy pine to put on little tree that will go on table. ................
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