Ostara/Spring Equinox (Mar. 21-22)
The Festival of Rebirth

Ostara/Spring Equinox/Easter Directions

Spirit of the East, spirit of Air,
Blow over us and make us clean.
On your fresh breezes we taste resurrection,*
On your powerful gusts, endless possibilities.
Under your open sky we celebrate freedom.
We welcome you into our circle. Blessed be.

Spirit of the South, spirit of Fire,
You burn the past away to make room for the future.
We have worn ashes, for the old that has died;
Teach us now to use them to nourish the new.
In your holy light we celebrate rebirth.
We welcome you into our circle. Blessed be.

Spirit of the West, spirit of Water,
Your rain soaks the earth and prepares it for growth.
As you soften the soil, grown hard in winter,
Soften too our hearts, that compassion might bloom.
In your lush morning dew we celebrate renewal.
We welcome you into our circle. Blessed be.

Spirit of the North, spirit of Earth,
The first buds of spring burst up beneath our feet.
As the air fills with the sweet scent of green,
Plant in our souls a new seed of hope.
In your delicate flowers we celebrate life.
We welcome you into our circle. Blessed be.

Spirit at the Center, Creator of Being,
We shudder with the possibilities of new beginnings.
Renew our thirst for justice, free us from despair,
That as the earth is reborn, so might the world be transformed.
In your eternal dance we celebrate change.**
We welcome you into our circle, where you have always been. Blessed be.

Alternate lines for Easter Sunday:

* On your fresh breezes we breathe in change,

** We shudder with the promise of the opened tomb.
Renew our thirst for justice, free us from despair,
That as Christ is risen, so might the world be transformed.
On this Easter morning we celebrate resurrection.
Ostara/Spring Equinox Communion Elements

Call to Communion

Today is the celebration of rebirth, called Ostara or the Spring Equinox. Day and night are equal, and the earth shakes winter loose to push forth life. Now is the time to water the fresh buds of renewal and to nurture that which, though now only an egg, will hatch into bright possibilities for the coming year. We meet today to share a ritual of resurrection and new life, in memory of Jesus Christ.

Words of Institution

Leader:The seasons turn and the earth warms with the sun, and we celebrate with the fresh new flowers of spring, growing as a sign of the renewal and resurrection of the earth and of our lives. We take this meal, and remember the promise of transformation:
All:That which has died rises again! Alleluia!

Closing Prayer

Leader:God who is the Mother of all births us into new life!
All:O God, plant in our hearts a seed of hope.
Leader:God who is the Father of all opens doors of possibility!
All:O God, plant in our hearts a seed of vision.
Leader:God who is the Creator of all moves us to action!
All:O God, plant in our hearts a seed of justice.
Leader:O Holy One, today your earth is resurrected.
Fill us with the joy of renewal, that we may know how death leads into life.
We come before you as your people of transformation!
All:Alleluia! Amen.




Activities for Ostara/Spring Equinox/Easter

1. This works particularly well if the equinox falls very close to Easter. Acquire a wire frame cross and ask the congregation to bring flowers to the service. Set aside a time in the service for participants to come up and place their flowers in the cross. The result will be quite beautiful.
2. The Unitarian Universalist church has a tradition of a ‘flower communion,’ where the congregation brings flowers to deposit in a central basket, and takes a different flower away as a sign of community and rebirth.

For both these activities, the church may want to provide extra flowers for those who did not bring one.