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Celebrate the Return of Light: Join Our Pre-Solstice Service
This Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at 7 PM

As the chill of winter envelopes the city, the community is warmly invited to gather for a special pre-solstice service this Wednesday at 7 PM. This event is more than just a gathering; it's a celebration of light, hope, and renewal as we approach the longest night of the year.

Dacha Avelin, in her insightful work "Embracing Your Inner Witch," beautifully captures the essence of this time: "After the longest night, tomorrow we sing up the dawn. There is a rejoicing that, even in the darkest time, the sun is not vanquished. As of tomorrow, the days begin to get longer as the light of day grows." This event is a reminder that even in the darkest times, light and warmth are on the horizon.

The winter solstice, as noted by acclaimed author Margaret Atwood in "Shapechangers in Winter," represents a significant threshold: "This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year's threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go of and becomes the future; the place of caught breath." Our gathering is a chance to experience this magical moment where we stand at the cusp of change and renewal.

Gary Zukav, reflecting on the deeper significance of this time, notes: "The winter solstice has always been special to me as a barren darkness that gives birth to a verdant future beyond imagination, a time of pain and withdrawal that produces something joyfully inconceivable, like a monarch butterfly masterfully extracting itself from the confines of its cocoon, bursting forth into unexpected glory." Our service aims to honor this transformative power of the solstice, welcoming the future's unimaginable joys.

Scott Awbrey reminds us that the solstice is not just an astronomical event but a deeply spiritual one: "The sun's rebirth at winter solstice signifies renewal for the earth as she embarks on another cycle of life. And, because we are children of the earth, we can take part in this sacred cycle, feeling the renewal of our own life." Together, we will embrace this opportunity for personal and communal renewal.

This Wednesday's service is a time to gather in unity, to reflect on the past year, and to look forward with hope and anticipation to the light that is to come. We invite everyone to join us in this celebration of light, community, and renewal. Let's come together to welcome the increasing light, bringing more light and compassion into our world.

Edward Viljoen



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