Lammas/Lughnasad/New Moon
First Harvest
Housewarming
INVOCATION
One: We come from the South and the West and the
North and the East
All: To celebrate the First Fruits of the Summer
One: We bring Sun and Rain and Soil and Wind
All: To celebrate the First Fruits of the Summer
One: We bring bounty from garden, vine, farm, and
spirit
All: To celebrate the First Fruits of the Summer
Chant: Gathered here in the mystery of this hour
Gathered here in one strong body,
Gathered here in the struggle and the Power
Spirit draw near
READINGS
Psalm 85:8-13
Proverbs 9:1-6
Luke 15:8-9
MEDITATION
Now is the time of the New Moon – if it weren’t for
the trees, we would be able to see the crescent this evening, hanging
low in the West as the Sun sets. The New Moon is always a time of
birth and new growth and hope for the future. And it is also the
time of the first harvest: our tomatoes are ripe, the zucchini is fat,
the corn is sweet and moist, the peaches are just ready for pies, the
green beans ready for canning.
In the pre-Christian Celtic world, this was the time
for celebrating – if the harvest had been successful – and hope for the
second harvest later in the season. When the Christians converted
the Islands and Northern Europe, this festival became known as Lammas,
or Loaf Mass – and bread made f rom the first grain harvest was used in
Communion in the churches.
The readings I chose for today celebrate the wisdom
of hearth and home, of hospitality and leadership. I invite all
of us to consider what it is that each one of us has harvested at this
time in our own lives. Everyone here today has something in their
lives that is a first harvest for this year, whether spiritual or
physical. Some joy, some accomplishment, some movement, something
that is different now than it was a few months ago when we first had
the thought or the idea.
I certainly can say that for me, the first fruits of
this most extraordinary spring and summer are the move to this house
and community. Would anyone like to share a first fruit in your
life? A new grandchild? A change for the better? A
realization?
[wait 20 seconds]
In a moment, we will all have an opportunity to
convey our blessing, our good-will, our celebration and thanksgiving
for the first fruits of our lives on this house. I have a box of
Tibetan Cedar joss sticks, and I invite each person to light one and
carry it outside and march around the house. If you are more
comfortable staying inside, you can walk around the various rooms while
some of us are walking around outside. While we are walking and
blessing, we can chant.
PROCESSION AND BLESSING CHANT
[All process around the outside of the house
carrying lit cedar joss sticks. Some may choose to stay inside
the house, and may walk from room-to-room carrying their incense]
Come Earth and Air, Come Fire, Come Water (3x)
Come Bring us the Blessing we Need
BLESSING OF THE KINDLING (Carmina
Gadelica p. 93)
[All bring the remains of their joss sticks and
place them on the old logs from previous fires in the fireplace.
The first fire will actually be lit at Samhain]
One: I will kindle my fire in the morning
In presence of the holy angels of
heaven,
In presence of Ariel of the
loveliest form,
In presence of Uriel of the
myriad charms,
Without malice, without jealousy,
without envy,
Without fear, without terror of
anyone under the sun,
But the Holy Son of God to shield
me.
All: Without malice, without jealousy, without envy,
Without fear, without terror of
anyone under the sun
But the Holy Son of God to shield
me.
One: God, kindle Thou in my heart within
A flame of love to my neighbour,
To my foe, to my friend, to my
kindred all,
To the brave, to the knave, to
the thrall,
O Son of the loveliest Mary,
From the lowliest thing that
liveth
To the Name that is highest of
all.
All: O Son of the loveliest Mary,
From the lowliest thing that
liveth
To the Name that is highest of
all.
BLESSING OF THE HOUSE (Carmina
Gadelica p. 63)
All: God bless the house,
Men: From site to stay,
Women: From beam to wall,
Children: From end to end
Men: From ridge to basement,
Women: From balk to roof-tree,
Children: From found to summit,
All: Found and Summit!
COMMUNION/FEAST
One: The Eucharist is about the universe loving us
unconditionally still one more time and giving itself to us in the most
intimate way (as food and drink). Interconnectivity is the heart
of the Eucharistic experience: God and humanity coming together, God
and flesh, the flesh of wheat, wine, sunshine, soil, water, human
ingenuity, stars, supernovas, galaxies, storms, fireballs -- every
Eucharist has a 15-billion-year sacred story that renders it holy.
All: The Eucharist is heart food from the cosmos –
the “mystical body of Christ” and the Cosmic Christ or Buddha
nature found in all beings in the universe – to us. Christ is the
light of the world, which we now know is made only of light.
Flesh is light and light is flesh. We eat, drink, sleep, breathe,
and love that light. The Eucharist is also our hearts expanding
and responding generously: “Yes, we will.” We will carry on the
heart-work called compassion, the work of the cosmos itself.
Matthew Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh
[Share bread and wine around the circle]
DISMISSAL:
L: For you shall go out in joy, and be led
forth in peace
W: The mountains and the hills before you shall
break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap
their hands
M: Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle.
All: And it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for
an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off. (Isaiah 55:12-13)