Holiday Services
Cup of Joe, December 2, 2022

I always look forward to our December holiday services. As the nights get longer, I think we need connection even more — connection to other people and connection to the sacred.

We’re planning special services for both Winter Solstice and Christmas Eve.

Our Celebration of Winter Solstice will be Wednesday, December 21st at 7PM, and Albany UU will be joining us here in Saratoga for this celebration. This service celebrates the Winter Solstice mostly from an earth-centered, religious naturalist perspective, taking its cues from nature and science as well as other earth-based traditions. Rev. Sam Trumbore of Albany UU joins with me this year for a service that we will lead together. With song and story we will celebrate the mysteries of the longest night and cast our hopes into the fire to light the new year.

Our Christmas Eve Candlelight service will be Saturday, December 24th at 4:00PM. We’ll visit again favorite poems and carols and in the light of the story of the birth of Jesus, we’ll celebrate the re-birth of hope. The service will include readings from Christian and Muslim traditions and more. We’ll hear the prophetic words of Maya Angelou and Howard Thurman. And, of course, we will light candles and sing Silent Night.

On Sunday morning, Christmas Day, we will have a 10:00AM service, but it will be relaxed and informal. We sing some carols together, share some holiday stories, and maybe even unwrap a present or two. Come in your slippers!

Blessings!

Rev. Joe