The summer solstice - the longest day in the year - is one week away. The Sun moves from Gemini into Cancer, signaling the point of solstice, of highest solar energy for this year. This was the ancient time of celebration, of outward joy in the fullness of life, the richness of our worldly blessings. In preparation for this celebration and the upcoming warm days of summer, this is a good time to consider what the sun means to us.
Call to Worship
Deuteronomy 6:4
Opening Hymn
Click on the title below to hear the music. Read the lyrics and sing along if you wish.
Opening Prayer
Our Father and Mother in Heaven,
As we come together this Sabbath to worship You
and celebrate this season of light.
We are reminded that You are the Light of this world
You are one who sent the prophets and then, Yeshua to illuminate our hearts
Now we humbly ask You to
give us a new light and understanding today.
and guide us further down the path of the Way.
Amen
Scripture Reading
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
Psalm 19: 1-6
12 But you, O God, are my king from of old;
you bring salvation upon the earth.
15 It was you who opened up springs and streams;
you dried up the ever flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.
17 It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
you made both summer and winter.
Psalm 74:12, 15-17
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
Message
Today marks the beginning of the week before summer solstice. The Solstice and Equinox dates are the points in earth's orbit around the sun that we use to define our seasons. The two equinox are the days when the sun crosses the equator so both night and day are an even 12 hours. The vernal equinox is around March 20th and marks the beginning of Spring. The autumnal equinox is around September 20th and marks the beginning of Fall. The two solstices mark the beginning of summer and winter. The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs about June 21, when the sun is in the zenith at the tropic of Cancer; the winter solstice occurs about December 21, when the sun is over the tropic of Capricorn. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and the winter solstice is the shortest.
The word solstice is derived from two Latin words - sol meaning sun, and stitium which means " to stop". The name describes what appears to happen to the sun on the solstice. As the summer solstice approaches, the noonday sun rises higher and higher in the sky on each successive day. On the day of the solstice, it rises a barely perceptible amount compared to the day before. It appears to stop its rise that day and the next day it starts its descent towards winter.
Now you probably thinking right now that this is very informative but what does it have to do with spirituality and our walk as Essenes? Well, traditionally the Essenes were very careful to maintain a correct calender and their calender was different than all other Jewish sects of their time. All other sects used the lunar calender of the Pharisees. The Essenes maintained a solar calendar. They believed that the Solar Calendar was "the certain Law from the Mouth of God" and to be obeyed. The year began with the Spring equinox. The Essenes celebrated each equinox and solstice on the first day of those months (the first, fourth, seventh and tenth months.) According to the Book of Jubilees and the Book of Enoch, these Holidays were Ordained by Noah. "They are Written and Inscribed for an Eternal Witness.
1st Day, 1st month (Spring equinox): Noah was told to make the Ark. Also on this Day, Noah opened the doors of the Ark and saw the land. The Essene Celebration at the Spring Equinox was not a commemoration of a "pagan holiday" as some believe. It was a celebration of new life after the destruction of the flood.
1st Day, 4th month (Summer solstice): "the mouths of the deeps of the abysses which were beneath were shut." The rains of the flood stopped just as the spring rains have stopped by the time of summer solstice.
1st Day, 7th month (Fall Equinox): "all the mouths of the depths of the earth were opened, and the water began to go down into them." This is the shut down of life on earth during the flood. In the same manner each autumn is the end of the growth of summer.
1st day, 10th month: "the heads of the mountains appeared, and Noah rejoiced." The mountains were a promise of new life. Just as the winter solstice is the end of the shortened winter days and start of the journey towards spring. The 1st day of the 10th month corresponds to the Winter Holiday Season around December 25th. According to the Book of Jubilees therefore, it is not some "pagan holiday" as some "Biblical Feast Keepers" and other denominations wrongly assert, but a yearly celebration ordained by Noah.
So celebrating the seasons has always been a part of the Essene heritage. Other societies and religions of that time also affixed some significance to the movement of the sun. If we look to ancient cultures from the beginning of time, the sun and its movement were always important. Man was always aware of his dependence on the Sun. The sun was our constant reminder of our dependence on the God that created it and kept it and our planet in its course. Without the Divine Providence that prevents another great catastrophe such as the flood or and ice age or the loss of the sun's light, life would cease to exist. There would be no movement, no form, no existence.
Every culture on earth has the sun's symbol embedded in their heritage. It is the symbol of continuity of life. In the daily cycle of the sun, the concept of the three stages of life are represented. God's wisdom of a three-in-one cycle of completion is revealed in the pattern of dawn, noon, and evening. In many ancient cultures, the Babylonians, Egyptians, Hindus and Persians, there was a three fold from of Supreme Intelligence seen in these daily manifestations of the sun. This orb, being the symbol of all light, has 3 distinct phases, rising, midday and setting. The philosophers, therefore, divided the life of all things into the same distinct parts- growth, maturity and decay.
The same analogy can be used to understand the triune concept of God's manifestation to mankind. Between the twilight of dawn and the twilight of evening is a high noon of magnificent glory. God the Father, and Creator of law and order in the Universe. revealed Himself at the dawn of humanity as a needed element in the evolution of humanity from barbarian to civilized human. Yeshua, the enlightened one, the Illuminator, was sent to bear witness of His Father and Mother to all mankind. He ushered in the noonday of the law of Love. He was the Lion of Judah, the maned golden-haired one. He brought in a new awareness that guided the civilizations of this age to their maturity. Mother Shekinnah, the Holy Spirit, came as the sunset phase. She is the light at the horizon before this age vanishes into the darkness of night. She is our comfort in the evening hours....only to have the Light rise, again.
We now are in the night of this age...an age in which our Mother and Father raised a family of immature, sometime rowdy and disobedient children. A new day is just about to dawn. That age will be the time of the Kingdom of God on earth. All things must pass away so that all things can become new. It will not be easy. In fact, it will be quite difficult. Yeshua warns us there will be a time of Tribulation. In fact, "as the days of Noah were" so the last days before the new era will be. Perhaps that is why the Essenes were told to celebrate the 4 feasts of Noah- the Solstices and Equinox. In those celebrations we are constantly reminded that the days of Noah will return. Things will become corrupt and ugly and increasingly difficult. There will be famines, and wars, and earthquakes in diverse places. This is necessary. It is the birthing pains of a new world. Then this world and many in it MUST pass away so that a new world can be born. It is the cycle of nature...God's law...like the cycle of the sun in the sky or the seasons of the year. There is always winter...a time of darkness and no life... before spring and rebirth.
But now, at this time of year - the summer solstice - we are celebrating life and light and warmth. We are in the golden days. This is the zenith of our year. This is the era of the Son. As coming of Yeshua represented the noon of this age. Summer represents the high point of the year. So while we experience the warm, full power of the Solstice sun next week, we are called to make true on earth the words of Master Yeshua, "I and the Father are One." Create within you a oneness with your Father and Mother this week. Recognize the Spirit of God within you and choose to truly act as a child of God. To understand this is to recognize the divinity in everyone we meet. Use this week of preparation for Solstice to see Father God and Mother Spirit in each face that you greet. Remember the Hawaiian concept of "Aloha" which means literally " the Divine breath in me recognizes and respects the Divine breathe within you" Look at someone right now and say "Aloha" and really mean it. If you are alone right now I challenge you to say Aloha to the next person you see
Celebratory Hymn
Click on site below. As you listen to the music, watch the Sun in all its awesome glory. Think of the joy of living in the sunshine of God's light. Commit yourself to sharing the light of God's love with others.
Discussion of the Message
Those of you who are participating with us on line, can take this time to quietly reflect on the message. If you have comments or questions that come to your mind, you are welcome to write them in the comments section below.
Closing Prayer
Our Father and Mother in Heaven, around us and within us
Thank You for the beautiful pattern of nature that You reveal to us through the seasons.
Thank You this season of light and warm.
Let us find Your joy in it.
Thank You for Your light.
The light of the past that brought us to this day,
the light of the present age,
and the light to come.
As Your children, we celebrate them all
and seek to shine Your light to others
As Yeshua shared Your light with us,
Amen
Closing Meditation
Closing Hymn
We leave with the warm sun shining down on upon us and the light of God shining within us and among us. Feel the blessing of this season of sunshine. Feel the blessing and joy of light in your life today.
Comments
Shine on, sweet sun, shine on!! Looking forward to the solstice
Posted by: Tatiana | June 13, 2009 02:23 PM