CALL TO THE 4 DIRECTIONS

One:    Old wise Ones, Spirits and powers of the East: of Air and Light!
All:    We hear you coming!  Be here now!
One:    Old wise Ones, Spirits and powers of the South: of Fire and Passion!
All:    We hear you coming!  Be here now!
One:    Old wise Ones, Spirits and powers of the West: of Water and Dreams!
All:    We hear you coming!  Be here now!
One:    Old wise Ones, Spirits and powers of the North: of Earth and Wisdom!
All:    We hear you coming!  Be here now!

START FIRE [Use Cedar, Add Sage, Sweetgrass, and Tobacco]

Chant:

Fire flow free,
Fire flow through me

MAKE THE WREATH

Weave roses and other summer flowers into a grapevine wreath. 

FEAST/COMMUNION:

Unison Invitation

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.

The gratitude from which the Eucharist derives its very name (eucharistein means "to give thanks" in Greek) is not just our gratitude toward the Source of all things; it is also the universe's gratitude for our presence and for our efforts at contributing, however imperfectly.

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."

Menu: Summer Salads: Fruits, veggies, etc.; Rose hip sun tea (iced);Mead; White wine; Bread; Honey cake

WREATH RITUAL

Song: Be Thou My Vision

[Add cedar to the Fire; Everyone looks through the wreath at the Fire Between the Worlds, then put the wreath in the Altar Space]  We are Between the Worlds of greatest light and the threshold of darkness. What is now flowering, blossoming, needing cultivation? What are we willing to sacrifice so that the blossom will develop into the first fruits of Lammas?

Look back through time or deep within
The Portal blurs the boundaries
The veil between the Worlds is thin
Look well - perceive the Mysteries

Invocation: Psalm 29

L. Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor.

P. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

L. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.

P. The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

L. The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say "Glory!"

ALL: The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!

Song: Simple Gifts

Reading: Isaiah 6

SILENT MEDITATION: Watch the earth turn away from the sun

Readings: John 3:1-17; Romans 8:12-17

Song: We Cannot Own the Sun-lit Sky

All: With Isaiah we pledge to listen, to understand, to turn and be healed. We hear the Spirit blowing in the wilderness. On the threshold of darkness we claim the promise of abundant life.

BURN THE WREATH WITH CEDAR

DISMISSAL