Christmas
Reflections
Adapted from Main Line
Unitarian Church, Devon, PA, December 2003
Note: See the Circle
Ministry Session Sequence for process guidelines.
Gathering, Welcoming
(2 minutes)
Opening Words & Chalice Lighting:
Above the deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in the dark streets shineth
The everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the
years
Are met in thee
tonight.
–
Philip Brooks
Check In/Sharing (3-4
minutes@ - 30-40 minutes)
(The facilitator should briefly
remind the group of confidentiality/anonymity, that this is not the time for
cross conversation, etc.)
Discussion (60
minutes)
[See Circle Ministry Session Sequence as a reminder of the
structure of this segment.]
First response
Cross-conversation
Concluding statements
Focus Reading:
There is much in the
Christmas season that speaks to deep human needs. The northern European countries needed the
light giving, warmth giving aspects of the Yuletide. So the symbols of light
have become an integral part of the season.
Though much has been written deploring the commercialization of
Christmas, the giving of gifts is still an offering of love. Evergreens,
symbolizing the ongoingness of life, pervade the celebration.
Light, love, life – these are some
of the universal needs symbolized in the Christmas season. But no less universal are their opposites –
darkness, death, hate. It is usually a
mixture, if not a conflict, of these contrasting symbols that has come to
characterize the season. It has given
rise to the “Christmas Syndrome” of Christmas depression – love/hate,
elation/depression, togetherness/loneliness.
A
way of not becoming entrapped in the Christmas syndrome is to refuse to go
along with whatever it is that works to spoil the season for you. What really counts at Christmas are
aspirations of hope and peace, feelings of goodwill and joy, and personal
relationships – the sharing of warmth and love.
-Eugene
Pickett
How do you celebrate the Holidays? What are the specific traditions that have
meaning for you? What are the difficult
aspects of the Holidays for you?
What choices do you have about the ways that you and your
family celebrate?
What things can you let go of?
What things do you want to change or add?
Imagine a winter holiday season that brings you joy.
Checkout/Likes and Wishes
(This is the time for facilitators to ask
participants what they liked about this meeting and what they might wish for
future meetings. This is also the time
for any discussion of logistics.)
Closing Words & Extinguishing Chalice:
The light shines in the darkness
and the darkness has not overcome it.
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