Celebrating “The Interdependent Web of Existence”
The seventh UU principle is “respect for the interdependent web of existence, of which we are a part.” For Pagans, that principle resonates strongly. As Unitarian Universalists, we believe in all seven of the principles. We work with our fellow UUs for the respect and dignity of every person, a just, free, and peaceful world, democracy, a free search for truth, and the responsible search for truth and spiritual growth. As Pagans, we have found our “truth and meaning” in the UU principle of the interdependent web of existence. We look to nature for spiritual growth. We celebrate the natural cycles of the seasons, honoring the spiritual meaning of each one in turn.
To do this, we organize rituals and festivities for each of the eight seasonal festivals. All of these rituals are open to the public. It helps if reservations are made, and donations for our events are always accepted. Join us for any of our upcoming celebrations!
Lammas – The First Harvest
The trees are green and the fields are ripe. As the summer heats up, the land begins to offer its sweet fruits to the world. The crops must be cut, their lives given over so that we may live. The fires are lit and the harvest begins…
Join CUUPs to celebrate the beginning of the harvest season. At Lammas, we celebrate the abundance of the Earth and the sacrifice of its bounty for our lives. We give back to the land that gives so much to us. Then we will eat…a lot.
What: Lammas Ritual, celebrating the bounty of the land. We will weave corn dollies in honor of the crops and offer them back in honor of the Earth’s sacrifice for us. There will be fire and there will be food.
When: Saturday July 30. Arrive at 7:00 pm for a 7:30 ritual
Where: Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church. 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. We will be on the lawn outside the Gillan classrooms.
Bring: A chalice or cup and a potluck dish that celebrates the abundance of the harvest season. Grains, fruit, and vegetables are very appropriate, as is wine and beer, fruit juices, and desserts involving any combination of these things (Except maybe beer. Beer dessert…yuck). This is a celebration of nature’s bounty, so bring lots of food!
Wear: Fiery harvest colors, especially orange and red.
RSVP: To Christine Hernandez at kitchenwitch2
cs
com
Let the harvest begin!
The Summer Solstice Ritual is Back!
The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans is bringing back the beautiful Summer Solstice Ritual on Saturday June 18 at 7:30 pm.
Written by our own Rayna Hamre, with music led by Amy Tompkins, the Summer Solstice Ritual is a musical rite that celebrates the sun’s strongest day by also celebrating the Earth. We will hear inspiring poetry. We will sing the spiritual music and chants of Abbi Spinner McBride. We will be brought into a deeper connection with Mother Earth and inspired to do our part to help Her heal.
Come and enjoy great music and celebrate the longest day of the year!
Maypoles and Morris Dancers
CUUPs celebrated Beltane on a beautiful, warm spring day. We got into the playful energy of Beltane with a flirty scarf dance. Of course, after all that playfulness, we needed a King and Queen to lead our springtime revelry. This year’s May King and Queen were…
King Bill and Queen Christine
Bill Stoker and Christine Hernandez. All hail Bill and Christine!
Then we all participated in the traditional Maypole dance. Allan Block provided musical accompaniment as we wove the Maypole “up and down, in and out.”
A beautiful Maypole is even better with musical accompaniment
During our picnic we were treated to something special. Rising Phoenix Morris, a Morris dancing troupe out of Santa Monica, came and put on a show for us. They performed traditional May Day sword and scarf dances for us and really put an exclamation point on a wonderful Beltane.
Dancers from Rising Phoenix Morris added to the fun
After lunch, games ensued. Beltane isn’t complete without a game of “weenie in the bottle,” and Brenda won with this excellent move.
Brenda knows what to do with a good weenie
Thanks to Christine Hernandez for organizing, Brenda Titus for building the Maypole, Allan Block for the music, Rising Phoenix Morris for being awesome, and Debbie Siegfried for picnic games and prizes.
Our Midsummer ritual will be just as great. Rayna Hamre is bringing back her Summer Solstice Ritual. This celebration of the sun, music, and Earth, will be in the sanctuary on June 18. Join us then for an evening of earth-centered fun!
Beltane!
Spring is in full bloom. The birds are calling, the flowers are opening, and the bees are….well, pollinating. Come and pollinate your year with us at our Beltane celebration on Sunday May 1, 1:00 pm. We’ll be right across the street from the church at Victoria Vista Park.
Beltane is the springtime celebration of fertility, love, life, and sexuality. Come and chase a girl, or a boy, and dance the Maypole with us.
Bring your own lunch and maybe something to sit on, and CUUPS will provide dessert. Wear bright, festive colors. Eat cupcakes.
Maybe you will be crowned the King or Queen of May!
The Bird that Calls: Ostara 2011
Despite some very unpredictable, stormy weather, our Ostara ritual was a wonderful celebration of the return of spring.
After moving the ritual back into one of the classrooms at OCUUC, we celebrated spring with calling the birds, learning what they had to say to us, and participating in “an old fashioned Ostara-egg hunt.”
Some of us found that we were warblers, carrying the need to express ourselves. Others were hummingbirds, imploring us to find the sweetness in life. A few of us even learned of the bluebird song in our hearts. Too bad there wasn’t a bird that told us about adapting to new circumstances, but then we had already done that!
Thanks to everyone who came to our little classroom despite the weather- especially to the Young Adults who joined us. You brought a lot of fun and energy to our celebration.
Beltane will be celebrated at Victoria Vista Park, across from the church, on May 1. See you there!
Spring is Coming!
The beginning of Spring is going to bring an exciting new beginning to OC CUUPs. Tim and Brenda Titus will be leading their first public ritual – and what better time of year to begin new things? Join us across the street from church on Sunday March 20 for a colorful ritual that celebrates the birds, eggs, seeds, and the colorful beauty of spring.
When: Sunday March 20.
Time: Arrive at 1:00 pm for a 1:15 start
Bring: Your lunch and a dessert to share, a chalice or cup, and a blanket or chair to sit on during the ritual.
Wear: Bright spring colors or anything with birds on it
Candlemas 2011
Soon, we will celebrate the first hints of Spring as the light begins to return to the world. Candlemas is the celebration of the coming Spring in the deepest of Winter. Despite the continuing darkness and cold (well, cold in most parts of the country anyway), the days are noticeably longer and the world seems pregnant with the anticipation of the coming Spring. The sun is beginning to nurture the Earth out of its long Winter sleep.
As 2011 begins, join us to bring in a new turn of the Wheel. This year’s Candlemas ritual will be inspired by the Chinese New Year and the Eastern healing Bodhisattva Kuan Yin.
The Winter Solstice Singing Ritual
On December 18 and 19, CUUPs celebrated the rebirth of the sun with its fourth annual Winter Solstice Singing Ritual. With music led by Beth Syverson and narration by Christine Hernandez and Tim Titus, along with a whole group wonderful readers, we honored the darkest night and let our lights shine through myth, music, and candelight.
This is always our most popular ritual, and this year seemed to be the most well-received yet. For the first time ever, the “audience” called the singers back into the sanctuary for a well-deserved curtain call. The new light may have been born right then and there!
Special thanks to Beth and the Solstice Singers for all their hard work to prepare for a wonderful service. Enjoy the video of Debbie Siegfried, Sam Siegfried, Beth Syverson, Amy Tompkins, and Susan Shaw performing “Kore Evohe!”
The Wheel turns, and Imbolc is just around the corner. Check back for the details of how we will celebrate the first hints of spring.
Winter Solstice Service
Please join us for an evening of music and ritual, in celebration of the Winter Solstice.
A candlelight performance will be held on Saturday, December 18 at 7pm. Refreshments will be served immediately following the ritual.
Or you can come to the Sunday service on Sunday, December 19.
Hope to see you there!
A Blessed Samhain
Our Samhain celebration this year was a perfect combination of honoring those who have passed and welcoming a new turning of the Wheel.
Viola, the King kept goblets full.
Our friends from the Circle of the Silver Grove joined us again this year and led a beautiful ritual in the sanctuary. After a somber time of reflection and communication with our beloved who have departed this life, we set our sights on enjoying a delicious feast and delighting in the blessings of life.
A King and Queen of Misrule were crowned. Their job: to drive away the sadness of death and make sure everyone had great time. It worked.
enjoys the misrule
Orange Coast UU CUUPS
