St. Brigid of Kildare

From ancient times, people all over the world and our Celtic ancestors, have recognised the importance of this time of the year and celebrated the “return” of the sun in a variety of different ways. It was at this season that the Christian community choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus with the feast of Christmas.

It is here, between the darkness,
and the light,
that we wait, uncertain,
seeking the moment
that challenges us to believe,
in a freshly minted miracle>
born every Christmas day.

John Matthews

In times of darkness, we are invited to turn towards the Light, to seek the Light, to welcome the Light.

O Light Invisible, we praise Thee
Too bright for mortal vision
O great Light we praise Thee for the less:
The eastern light our spires touch at morning
The light that slants on our western doors at evening,
The twilight over stagnant pools at batflight,
Moon light and starlight, owl and moth light,
Glow-worm glow light on a grassblade,
O light invisible, we worship thee.

T.S. Eliot “Four Quartets

Circle dancing is an ancient tradition common to many cultures. It formed part of special occasions and rituals.

Sacred dance helps bring about harmony between body, mind and spirit and creates a real sense of belonging and a feeling of togetherness. Dancing in a circle to beautiful music helps to develop a sense of community and offers moments of stillness, peace and healing for ourselves, our families, and our planet.

“We can’t choose the music that life gives us, but we can choose how to dance to it.” — Unknown

The invitation is “To dance the dance of God’s own blessed Bríd” Liam Lawton

When great trees fall,
rocks on distant hills shudder,
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,
and elephants
lumber after safety.

 When great trees fall 
in forests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.
Maya Angelou-When Great Trees Fall

We grieve when we lose loved ones. As we remember those who have died this November lets us also, with compassion, acknowledge our personal and collective grief.

Join us for a meditative reflection on how grief can be a bridge between our human inheritance and our legacy.

(Human inheritance-the gifts we have inherited from our ancestors. Legacy- the gifts we offer to our descendants.)

And when great souls die,
after a period, peace blooms,
Slowly and always
irregularly. ………
Our senses restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
Maya Angelou (Final verse of poem- When Great Trees Fall)

We grieve when we lose loved ones. As we remember those who have died this November lets us also, with compassion, acknowledge our personal and collective grief.

Join us for a meditative reflection on how grief can be a bridge between our human inheritance and our legacy.

(Human inheritance-the gifts we have inherited from our ancestors. Legacy- the gifts we offer to our descendants.)

Join Terry and Betty for an enriching experience of circle dance. They will lead you in simple dance steps to beautiful music. It is a type of dance where anyone can join in. It is inclusive, enjoyable, and FUN.

Circle dancing is an ancient tradition common to many cultures. It formed part of special occasions and rituals.

Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

Samhain is traditionally the beginning of the Celtic year- marking the end of the old and the beginning of a whole new cycle. Samhain was that time of year when our ancestors believed that the Ceil Ait or the thin veil between time and eternity could easily become transparent. In was at this season that the Christian Community chose to celebrate the feast of All Saints and All Souls

Celtic Christians believed that the saints were with them as they went about their daily tasks.

Esther de Waal in The Celtic Way of Prayer, says “Celtic Saints are approachable, close at hand, woven quite naturally into life …..”

Samhain is a time for deepening our inner journey.

At our Samhain celebration we will revere the memory of all those who have walked the journey of life before us and contemplate the end of the old and the beginning of the new through: