Category Archives: Holidays and Holy Days

Replay: Blue Christmas Service

Books, Holidays and Holy Days, Sermons, Twinkle's Musings, Worship Services

“It is possible, practical and incumbent to hold these two truths:
– The holidays are wonderful, merry and bright.
– The holidays are hard, dark and dreary.
For some, it’s one or the other.
For most, it’s both.”

~ Rev. “Twinkle” Marie Manning

“For those who are hurting, lonely or sad this time of year, and for those who wish to support those who are, this service is for you. A time and place to hold grief sacred during the holiday season. Whether it is your Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa or Solstice and Yule, the holiday season, while filled with light, can create palpable darkness. Together may we offer comfort and solace.”

Order of Worship for the Service:

This service was recorded at the Universalist Church in Waterville, Maine on December 18th – where Twinkle is the contract minister serving the congregation in worship leadership twice a month until June 2023. Interfaith services such as this are Twinkle’s trademark in a landscape of religious and spiritual diversity. Check Twinkle’s Place Upcoming Events and Gatherings page for information about 2023 Services, Retreats, Workshops and more.

For many years Twinkle has hosted Blue Christmas gatherings during the holiday season. In 2020 she published a Blue Christmas Reflection Book.

For additional Reflection and Blessing books, visit: http://matrikapress.com/blessing-books/

Día de los Muertos calaveras

Art, Blog, Family, Holidays and Holy Days, Twinkle's Musings

This year we did not create our ofrendas and other altars for the dead. Instead during this season that houses two important family traditions, Samhain and Día de los Muertos, we kept our altar space intact as it is everyday with family portraits and pictures of our lost family members posed in celebration with us while they were still alive. We did not single any nor all out for altars dedicated to our deceased loved ones. Not this year. We wanted to keep everyone together, if only in pictures and our memories. Our recent loss is too deep to do otherwise, and impossible to articulate beyond that. There was trick-or-treating on Halloween, and the children did beautiful Day of the Dead arts and crafts. (the skulls below done by Orion and friend). We told stories. We danced. And we rested.

Contemplative Samhain Music

Holidays and Holy Days, Music for the Soul, Promotions for Friends and Colleagues

Samhain, Samhain, let the ritual begin,
We call upon our sacred ancestors to come in
Samhain, Samhain, we call upon our kin,
We call upon our dear departed loved ones to come in

The Veil between the worlds is thin
Our hearts reach cross the sea of time
To bring our loved ones in
Samhain, Samhain we honor all our kin
We honor those who’ve gone before
As the Great Wheel turns again

By Lisa Thiel

Reminder: Friday night is the 4th in our KIDS Halloween Dinner and a Movie Night Series

Blog, Family, Holidays and Holy Days, , , , ,

Reminder – Tomorrow is the 4th Dinner & a Movie Night in celebration of Halloween for kiddos in our community.  

halloween-kids-movie-oct-28

We will also have some Día de los Muertos coloring sheets and an Ofrenda (Day of the Dead altar) set up for the weekend to explore this sacred time blending Orion’s Mexican Heritage of Día de los Muertos with my tradition of Samhain.  We will light candles to bring light to this dark season and to light the way for our ancestors.

day-of-dead-skulls

  • Ofrenda means “offering” – should your child wish to bring something to place on the altar, please have them do so.