Beltane/May Day (May 1)
The Festival of Ripeness and Fertility

Beltane/May Day Directions
Spirits of the East, spirits of air,
We delight in the caress of your warm breeze.
Teasing, flirting breath of life,
We feel your touch as an invitation to dance.
We welcome you. Blessed be.

Spirits of the South, spirits of fire,
We bask in the heat of an early summer sun.
Warm our limbs with your golden light
That we may forget what it means to be cold.
We welcome you. Blessed be.

Spirits of the West, spirits of water,
We know you in the pounding of our blood
And in the crisp pleasure of a cool drink.
Flow through our land, that we may never know dryness.
We welcome you. Blessed be.

Spirits of the North, spirits of earth,
We celebrate your boundless fertility
And eagerly await the summer’s rich and juicy fruits.
As burgeoning life bursts from your soil, let us also change and grow.
We welcome you. Blessed be.

Source of Being, Mother of all,
We come with joy and gratitude
To celebrate the power of your life-giving love.
Draw us gently into the rhythms of your dance
That we may know ourselves to all be your children.
We honor you. Blessed be.


Beltane/May Day Communion Elements

Call to Communion

Today is the celebration of ripeness and fertility, called Beltane or May Day. The sun approaches the peak of its power, and we feel the beginnings of summer heat on our faces and in our bones. Now is the time to celebrate the beauty of the earth and the joy of embodiment, through which we experience all the pleasures of God’s creation. We meet today to share a ritual of joy and generosity, in memory of Jesus Christ.

Words of Institution

Leader:The seasons turn and the fertile earth bursts with fresh greenery and new fruits, and we celebrate with bright colors and joyful noise, making merry as a sign of the overflowing bounty of the earth and of God’s love. We take this meal, and remember the promise of transformation:
All:We drink from Christ’s cup, forever overflowing!

Closing Prayer

Leader:The Mother of creation bids us dance for joy.
All:O Mother God, liberate our feet to dance for your pleasure!
Leader:The Father of creation bids us make a joyful noise.
All:O Father God, liberate our voices to cry out your glory!
Leader:The Creator of all that lives bids us spread our joy.
All:O Creator God, liberate our hearts and cast out sorrow!
Leader:O Holy One, your extravagant creation is full of love and pleasure.
Inspire us to love life, that we may better work for justice.
We come before you as your people of delight!
All:Alleluia! Amen.


Activities for Beltane/May Day

1. Provide several baskets of small fruits – grapes or berries are particularly well suited. Distribute these to the congregation and lead a meditation. Invite the members of the congregation to examine their fruit carefully, noting its color, texture, and scent. Encourage participants to contemplate the natural and human processes that have brought the fruit to them. At the end, invite them to eat their fruit, and allow themselves to be filled with gratitude for the pleasure and nourishment that is the gift of God’s earth.
2. Provide a number of rolls of brightly colored ribbon or thread. Give these to participants in the first row and ask them to unroll the ribbon, holding on to one end while passing it to those beside and behind them. Encourage an entangled, interwoven web of thread to form, with each person holding on to some part of it, while playing cheerful springtime music or singing an appropriate chant. Explain the interconnected threads as symbolizing the interconnected web of life, vibrant with the colors of May. Encourage participants to think of the web as a metaphor for both the human and the natural community.

Litha/Midsummer/Summer Solstice (Jun. 21-22)
The Festival of Sun & Rain/The Longest Day

Litha/Midsummer/Summer Solstice Directions
Spirit of the East, spirit of air,
we know you in the stillness of every new dawn,
in the crispness of breezes cooled by night,
in the first beams of the rising sun shining through.
Bless us now and always with your clarity. We welcome you.

Spirit of the South, spirit of fire,
we know you in the fury of the noonday sun,
in the wall of heat pushing from an open oven,
in the quiet light of candles upon our altar.
Bless us now and always with your intensity. We welcome you.

Spirit of the West, spirit of water,
we know you in the cooling power of rain,
in the tinkle of ice in a glass of lemonade,
in the refreshing plunge of bare feet into a cold river.
Bless us now and always with your calm. We welcome you.

Spirit of the North, spirit of earth,
we know you in the shadows cast by the setting sun,
in the joyous taste of ripe summer fruits,
in the comfort of a cool, grassy seat under a night sky.
Bless us now and always with your nurturing. We welcome you.

Spirit at the Center, Mother of all,
Cleanse us with your burning sun and cooling water.
As the summer grows long, and we turn our faces once again towards fall,
Give us the strength to live each day in harmony with your creation.
We honor you. Blessed be.
Litha/Midsummer/Summer Solstice Communion Elements

Call to Communion

Today is the celebration of the longest day, called Litha or Midsummer. The sun beats down on us at the peak of its power, and we honor its life-giving light, as well as the cooling relief of rain and water. Now is the time to celebrate sun and rain, the gifts of the heavens by which all plants grow, and all that which gives energy and comfort in our lives. We meet today to share a ritual of light and healing, in memory of Jesus Christ.

Words of Institution

Leader:The seasons turn and the sun shines vibrantly down, marking the midpoint of the summer. Balancing the intensity of the sun with the gentleness of water, we honor the light which will soon begin to wane with the turning of the year. We take this meal, and remember the promise of transformation:
All:That which waxes, must also wane; but that which wanes shall wax again!

Closing Prayer

Leader:In the sun’s shining disk, God’s face is revealed.
All:O Father, we shield our eyes from your glory!
Leader:In the ocean’s quiet depths, God’s face is revealed.
All:O Mother, we are overwhelmed by your vastness!
Leader:In all things that are, God’s face is revealed.
All:O Creator, our minds spin with your variety!
Leader:O Holy One, shine on us, quench our thirst, fill us with your love.
May we reflect your glory in our struggle for justice.
We come before you as your people of the light!
All:Alleluia! Amen.


Activities for Litha/Midsummer/Summer Solstice

1. Using a copier, make small pieces of yellow paper marked with suns. Invite the congregation to write a word or phrase describing a great source of light, strength, and warmth in their lives. Attach these to a central piece of appropriately decorated poster board for others to read, or participants may keep them private. Optionally, blue pieces of paper with raindrops drawn on them might also be offered, to be inscribed with words describing what participants find calming, soothing, and comforting in their lives.
2. Invite the congregation to come forward one or two at a time to be purified by sun and water. With a bowl of water and using the fingers or a sprig of green herb, asperge (sprinkle lightly) each participant as they stand in a patch of sunlight. Say: “By the light of the sun and the coolness of water, all that you need to leave behind is burned and washed away,” or other appropriate words.

Lammas (Aug. 1)The Festival of SacrificeLammas Directions
O Energies of the East,
source of thought and of reason,
all of our clarity and judgment we owe to you.
Honor our sacrifices this day
And fill us again with the Spirit of Air.
We welcome you. Blessed be.

O Energies of the South,
source of passion and of will,
all of our determination and focus we owe to you.
Honor our sacrifices this day
And fill us again with the Spirit of Fire.
We welcome you. Blessed be.

O Energies of the West,
source of love and compassion,
all of our mercy and gentleness we owe to you.
Honor our sacrifices this day
And fill us again with the Spirit of Water.
We welcome you. Blessed be.

O Energies of the North,
source of stability and strength,
all of our endurance and vitality we owe to you.
Honor our sacrifices this day
And fill us again with the Spirit of Earth.
We welcome you. Blessed be.

O Energy at the Center,
source of the mystery of life,
all that we do and are springs out of you.
Honor our sacrifices this day
And make us conscious again of the presence of the sacred.
We cherish you always. Blessed be.


Lammas Communion Elements

Call to Communion

Today is the celebration of the sacrifice of the earth, called Lammas. The days begin to grow shorter, though summer’s greatest heat may still be ahead. Now is the time to celebrate the earth’s continuing surrender for our well-being, as well as to reflect on what we might give back to God’s creation. We meet today to share a ritual of self-emptying sacrifice, in memory of Jesus Christ.

Words of Institution

Leader:The seasons turn and the sun begins to wane, and we honor the sacrifice of God’s body the earth, calling us to greater generosity. We take this meal, and remember the promise of transformation:
All:That which is given away is not lost, but flows forth as love!

Closing Prayer

Leader:Mother God, you offer us your body to nourish our bellies.
All:Every bite we eat is holy.
Leader:Father God, you offer us forgiveness to liberate our souls.
All:Every breath we take is holy.
Leader:Creator God, you offer us empowerment to struggle for justice.
All:Every gift freely given is holy.
Leader:O Holy One, your gifts to us are extravagant beyond measure.
Grant us strength that we may give deeply, yet never grow weak.
We come before you as your people of generosity!
All:Alleluia! Amen.


Activities for Lammas

1. This activity works particularly well on a communion Sunday, but may be performed at any time. Bake a loaf of bread in the form of a human being (it may be delicate; you may need to leave it on a tray until it is ready to be served). Invite the congregation to contemplate the bread both as Jesus’ sacrifice for the liberation of souls and as the sacrifice of the earth’s bounty for the nourishment of the body. Break the bread and distribute it to the congregation.
2. Pass out slips of paper marked with a picture of the earth or other appropriate drawing. Lead the congregation in a meditation on the continuing sacrifice of the earth’s body that nourishes humanity. Invite them to consider where each food item in their morning breakfast came from, and what kind of plants, animals, and human beings were involved in its making. When the meditation is complete, invite the congregation to write down one thing that they can give back to the earth as a symbol of gratitude for its sacrifice (some examples might include recycling, using cloth napkins, starting a compost pile, volunteering for an environmental organization, etc.) Encourage them to take the paper home and put it in a prominent place. This activity also works well for Earth Day in April.

Mabon/Autumn Equinox (Sept. 21-22)
The Festival of the Harvest

Mabon/Autumn Equinox Directions*

(Let us face the East.)
O God, give us grateful hearts,
For the air that we breathe is your breath,
And the wind that rustles the leaves, your laughter.
For these things and more, we thank you.

(Let us face the South.)
O God, give us grateful hearts,
For the fire that warms us is the warmth of your love,
And the sun above is the light of your truth.
For these things and more, we thank you.

(Let us face the West.)
O God, give us grateful hearts,
For the water we drink is your lifeblood,
And the rains that fall are your tears.
For these things and more, we thank you.

(Let us face the North.)
O God, give us grateful hearts,
For the earth where we stand is your body,
And the creatures that live upon it, your children.
For these things and more, we thank you.

(Let us face the Center.)
O God, our hearts are grateful
For the world that is your flesh, your spirit made real.
And as we give thanks, let us also listen:
God's love is infinite, boundless, and free.
Listen, and hear: "You're welcome."

* Congregations may also find this invocation appropriate for Thanksgiving.



Mabon/Autumn Equinox Communion Elements

Call to Communion

Today is the celebration of the harvest, called Mabon or the Autumn Equinox. Day and night are equal, though the sun continues to wane as the earth moves into fall; leaves will soon droop and brown as the first cool winds begin to blow. Now is the time to celebrate the rich harvest of God’s earth, as well as our own harvests in our lives, the things we have accomplished over the past year. We meet today to share a ritual of thanksgiving and community, in memory of Jesus Christ.

Words of Institution

Leader:The seasons turn and the days grow shorter, and we celebrate the harvest, symbol of all the fruits of our efforts and of God’s continuing generosity. We take this meal, and remember the promise of transformation:
All:Those who hunger for justice will be fed!

Closing Prayer

Leader:O God our Mother, we give thanks for our daily bread.
All:With our efforts, feed all who are hungry.
Leader:O God our Father, we give thanks for strength of our hearts.
All:With our efforts, empower all who need courage.
Leader:O God our Creator, we give thanks for creation’s rich beauty.
All:With our efforts, stir the souls of all who see only ugliness.
Leader:O Holy One, you have poured your gifts out upon us.
Give us grateful hearts, that we may reach out to those in need.
We come before you as your people of plenty!
All:Alleluia! Amen.


Activities for Mabon/Autumn Equinox

1. This activity works best in a small congregation. Place a number of sheaves of wheat on the altar and invite participants to come forward, pick up a stalk of wheat, and tell the congregation briefly (perhaps in a single sentence) what their harvest has been this year – in other words, what they have accomplished. All attendees should be offered stalks of wheat at the end of the service as reminders of what they have accomplished in their lives over the past year. This sharing time of the service should be followed with a short prayer of gratitude. Seeds may also be used to represent the harvest of the old year and hope for the next. This activity would also work well as part of an after-church potluck feast.
2. Using seeds, beans, or other appropriate symbols of the harvest, provide the materials to make simple rattles, or ask participants to bring their own, as well as other percussive instruments. Celebrate God’s bounty with drumming, rattling, clapping, and stomping. This is a particularly appropriate activity for a small, adventurous congregation, or for children, who might make rattles while in Sunday School and then join the congregation to help lead the drumming.

Samhain/Day of the Dead (Oct. 31-Nov 2.)
The Festival of Remembrance


Samhain/Day of the Dead Directions

Bless us, O Air, as we remember our dead.
We who feel you rush into our lungs
Recall the thoughts and words of those who came before.
Inspire now our minds, as you also inspired our loved ones’.
We welcome you. Blessed be.

Bless us, O Fire, as we remember our dead.
We who light flames of memory on our altar today
Recall the passion and intensity of those who came before.
Kindle now our spirits, as you also kindled our loved ones’.
We welcome you. Blessed be.

Bless us, O Water, as we remember our dead.
We who feel blood pulse in our veins
Recall the love and caring of those who came before.
Soften now our hearts, as you also softened our loved ones’.
We welcome you. Blessed be.

Bless us, O Earth, as we remember our dead.
We who work and play on your stable ground
Recall the strength and endurance of those who came before.
Nourish now our bodies, as you also nourished our loved ones’.
We welcome you. Blessed be.

Bless us, O Creator, as we remember our dead.
We who embody your love and power today
Know that in remembering, the dead live again.
Fill us now with the spirit of Christ, as you also filled our loved ones.
We cherish you, as you cherish us. Blessed be.
Samhain/Day of the Dead Communion Elements

Call to Communion

Today is the celebration of those that have gone on before, called Samhain or the Day of the Dead. The days grow visibly short, and the taste of the coming winter is on the wind; plants and trees wither under the cooling gusts, and our minds turn to our lost loved ones. Now is the time to remember our dead and to celebrate their lives and the love for them that we bear. We meet today to share a ritual of remembrance, in memory of Jesus Christ.

Words of Institution

Leader:The seasons turn and the earth moves into a time of rest, and we remember those people and things which die and yet shall live, just as Christ died but lives in us. We take this meal, and remember the promise of transformation:
All:In remembering, the dead live again.

Closing Prayer

Leader:Mother of all, comfort us in our mourning.
All:In the depth of our loss, we feel our power to love.
Leader:Father of all, strengthen us in our nurturing.
All:In our caring for others, we feel our power to love.
Leader:Creator of all, empower us in our justice-making.
All:As we transform the world, we feel our power to love.
Leader:O Holy One, we are fearful of death;
Take our fear and transmute it into awe.
We come before you as your people of memory!
All:Alleluia! Amen.





Activities for Samhain/Day of the Dead

1. Invite the congregation to bring mementos of deceased loved ones to place on the altar during the service. Decorate with bright flowers and candles. Set aside a time in the service for participants to come forward and light candles in memory of their loved ones, speaking their names aloud if they wish. In a smaller congregation, short anecdotes may be related as well.