“The Soul of the Dark Night”

A Winter Soulstice Service honoring the fullfilment of the Dark through musings, music and movement. Service Leader: Daniel Kasnitz 

The Soulstice Sisters: Karen Tyler, Elizabeth Lewis, Eden Gorst

Greeter: Lois Reynolds

We anticipate that this service will be both in-person and on Zoom. Click right here Sunday shortly before 10:00 a.m. to join via Zoom. Click here to read our protocols

 

“The Soul of the Dark Night”

A Winter Soulstice Service
Honoring the Fulfillment of the Dark
through
Myth, Music and Movement

Service Leader: Daniel Kasnitz
The Soulstice Sisters: Karen Tyler, Elizabeth Lewis, Eden Gorst
Greeter: Lois Reynolds

Order of Service
Sunday, December 17, 2023

Board Welcome & Announcements                                                Carla Fogg

Prelude     Peace    Horace Silver
Eva Greene, piano

Extinguishing the Chalices                                                      Elizabeth Lewis
We extinguish these chalices so we may see the Dark more clearly. To fill the corners of our hall with wider, deeper shade. To find the spaces of our souls sometimes hidden or obscured by the light. To blend our individuated shadows with the whole world.
                    
Choice of Terms                                                                          Daniel Kasnitz

Anthem:  Deck the Hall, music Welsh “Nos Galan” (New Year’s Eve),
words by Thomas Oliphant (a variant).
All Souls Church Choir, Tom Baehr, Director

Musings                                                                                       Daniel Kasnitz

Hymn 1: In the Deep Midwinter
led by Eden Gorst (see insert), Daniel Kasnitz, piano

Winter Solstice Reflection, written by Elizabeth Lewis                            

Hymn 2:  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (#225)
Eva Greene, piano  

Offering shared with Groundworks Collaborative                        Karen Tyler

Offertory   It Is well with my soul     Philip Bliss
    Eva Greene, piano

Blessing Our Candles of Joys and Concerns                              Karen Tyler    
Story for All Ages: Season of Grace
written by Daniel Kasnitz
Karen Tyler: Narrator
Eden Gorst: Movement
Daniel Kasnitz: Piano

Poem: The Soul of the Dark Night                                             Daniel Kasnitz

Lighting the Chalice                                                             
We light this chalice to summon and honor contrast, as a nod to the illusions of separation, and a thanks for the moments of individuation we experience together.

Lighting Our Children’s Chalice
We light this chalice to thank Light for being so patient while we celebrate the Dark.

*Closing Circle “Carry the flame of peace and love”
until we meet again.”    (sung 2X)                             

Coffee Hour and Conversation

 

Sunday Inserts

grace | ɡrās |

noun

1 simple elegance or refinement of movement: she moved through the water with effortless grace.

2 courteous goodwill: at least he has the grace to admit his debt to her.

  • (graces) an attractively polite manner of behaving: she has all the social graces.

3 (in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

  • a divinely given talent or blessing: the graces of the Holy Spirit.
  • the condition or fact of being favored by someone: he fell from grace because of drug use at the Olympics.

4 (also grace period) a period officially allowed for payment of a sum due or for compliance with a law or condition, especially an extended period granted as a special favor: another three days’ grace.

5 a short prayer of thanks said before or after a meal: before dinner the Reverend Newman said grace.

6 (His, Her, or Your Grace) used as forms of description or address for a duke, duchess, or archbishop: His Grace, the Duke of Atholl.

verb [with object and adverbial]

do honor or credit to (someone or something) by one’s presence: she bowed out from the sport she has graced for two decades.

 ; adorn: Ms. Pasco has graced the front pages of magazines like Elle and Vogue.

ORIGIN

Middle English: via Old French from Latin gratia, from gratus ‘pleasing, thankful’; related to grateful.

 

In the Deep Midwinter

In the deep midwinter

Frosty wind made moan

Earth stood hard as iron

Water like a stone

Snow had fallen

Snow on snow on snow

In the deep midwinter

Long, long ago

Darkness Brings a mystery

Through this solstice time

Echoing through history

Peaceful and sublime

Years are layered years on years

Years on years

Earth and sun keep dancing

Wintertime is here

In the deep midwinter

Silent skies of black

Slowly filled with crystals

Covering our tracks

Snow had fallen

Snow on snow on snow

In the deep midwinter

Long, long ago