Connections
Home CLF Home
Church of the Larger FellowshipNew Connections |
|
| Easter sunrise worship service for CLF families
A worship service from the CLF archives: The following worship service appeared in a late 1960's CLF publication titled "Easter." It seemed like such a good idea I decided to update it and publish it once again. Let me know if your family tries this worship service! -- Dan Easter sunrise worship service for CLF families The sunrise services which are held in many communities on Easter Sunday have their roots in the distant past. Many indigenous peoples have ceremonies relating to the rise of the sun. European pagans watched for the first sign of the sun at the vernal equinox. During the Middle Ages in Christian Europe, special celebrations were held in the early hours of Easter Sunday, and the appearance of the sun on the horizon was greeted by the firing of guns, the ringing of church bells, the playing of bands, and the singing of Easter hymns. Families who would like Easter to mean more than candy and egg hunts might find that a sunrise service of their own presents an opportunity to consider together the miracle of life's ongoing renewal. If the weather and situation permit it is inspiring to actually rise before dawn and go out of doors to a spot where you can witness the sun's appearance above the horizon. whether instinctive or atavistic, there is an awe and reverence at such a moment that is worship in its purest aspect. The return home through the unfamiliar wakening of familiar streets, and the communion of a family breakfast at a still, early hour -- these are the materials from which a sunrise service creates itself. Weather is not entirely predictable, however, a long drive or climb in the chilly darkness may not promote the reverent spirit that you seek. For that reason an indoor, pre-breakfast service may prove more practical -- in any case, you should have a sunrise service available as a back-up plan. In the weeks leading up to Easter, you could use one of the lesson plans on Easter from the CLF web site. Here are the links: http://www.uua.org/clf/betweensundays/earlychildhood/Jesus1.html http://www.uua.org/clf/betweensundays/middlechildhood/Easter2.html If you do one or both of these lessons ahead of time, then your children will have enough knowledge so that your sunrise service can be a time of beauty and worship instead of questioning, explanation, or (worst of all) plain bewilderment. When possible, each member of the family should have some part in the service, but there should be no formality and certainly no rehearsal. It's fine to be spontaneous, and to value the joy that comes with spontaneity. Music sets the mood, and choosing recordings for the service and seeing that they are played at the right time, or learning to play a selection on a musical instrument, can be a rewarding responsibility for a young person. In the fortunate family which comprises its own musical group the making of music together is always a pleasure. Any choice that echoes the feeling of sunrise and renewal, or promotes a feelings of reverent meditation, will be suitable. The only guide should be your family's musical taste. The service should not be long, or dull; the important thing is that you are taking time to be aware of the season and the time of day together. Like all such family moments, it may become a treasured tradition. Suggestions for a service: Suggested order of service: Light a candle or a chalice Music Readings relating to Easter, renewal, and transformation Meditation/prayer, followed by a short time of silence Sharing of breakfast together Extinguish flame Music: For recorded music, the following Bach chorales are suitable for Easter (and are available as sheet music arranged for two to four instruments): "Now Let Every Tongue Adore Thee" "Awake, Thou Wintry Earth" "Sleepers, Wake, a Voice Is Calling" Several of the individual movements from Duke Ellington's "Concert of Sacred Music" (especially if you can find his own 1965 recording of this work) are suitable for Easter, including the familiar "Come Sunday" (sheet music in the current UUA hymnal) and "David Danced." The following hymns from the current UUA hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition, are especially suited to Easter, although your family may have other favorites: #21, "For the Beauty of the Earth" #355, "We Lift Our Hearts in Thanks today" #25, "God of the Earth, the Sky, the Sea" #12, "O Life that Maketh All Things New" #42, "Morning So Fair To See" #40, "The Morning Hangs a Signal" (See also the section of Easter hymns, nos. 266-270.) Readings: You may have your own favorite readings which you will wish to use in your service, but here are some starting places: For Unitarian Universalists, the two most important sources for Easter readings are Celebrating Easter and Spring: An Anthology of Unitarian Universalist Readings compiled and edited by Carl Seaburg and Mark Harris (available through the UUA Bookstore, and through CLF's Loan Library), and the current UU hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition. You can find a UU version of the Easter story on the CLF Web site at: http://www.uua.org/clf/connections/Spring/storiesofeaster.html The Bible story of Easter will be found in Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; and Luke 24:1-24. The translation known as the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) is preferred by many religious liberals, and is available in many libraries. For those families who wish to relate Easter to neo-paganism, try "Kore Chant: Spring and Fall Equinox" in Starhawk's The Spiral Dance (available through the CLF Loan Library), pages 114-115. This chant covers the theme of change, renewal, and transformation that is central to Christian notions of Easter. Any poetry anthology will have other readings which can add beauty and meaning to your service. Meditation/Prayer: At the close of the service, it may be appropriate to ask each member of the group to express her appreciation of the moment, his emotion as aroused by the service, or thanks for the recurring renewal of life that is the center of an Easter service. If you wish to do a formal prayer, that's fine, but a simple sharing is entirely appropriate. The following words may be used to either begin or end a time of prayer and meditation: "The Morning Calls to Us" From deep in the glory of morning skies A voice calls out to us, "Arise! "Out of eternity -- behold a day! "A gift for you to spend some way." From deep in the glory of setting sun A voice will call, "And what was done "With the day that was given to you? "Was love reborn? Were your efforts true?" May we wisely use this day, Born with the sun, wet with the dew. Miracles are waiting for us -- And beauty, which we create anew -- May we wisely use this day. -- adapted from a poem by Sophia Fahs  CLF Home Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF), 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2823 Phone: (617) 742-2100, ext. 166 · Fax: (617) 523-4123 · Email: clf@uua.org Address of this page: http://www.uua.org/clf/connections/2003spring/worship.html | |