On Sunday, June 21 a service was held at the outdoor worship area at TLLC to mark the Summer Solstice – the time when the sun is most available to us for the greatest amount of time and to celebrate that light. The Outdoor Ministry Team used the knowledge and experience they acquired from the time spent at New Life Lutheran in Dripping Springs to create this special service and provide an opportunity for all of us to come together in the Light of the sun/Son.
The use of the outdoor space for this service was intended to draw our attention to the critical importance of the sun as it nourishes the earth bringing abundance, the light of God our Creator that lives in each of us, and the light of Christ that surrounds us with love. The invocation further reminded us of the sacredness of the “wild cathedral” in which we worshipped and the gratitude that this natural world deserves.
During the service, attention was drawn to all of nature that exists in that outdoor worship area and we were given time during Deacon Kelly’s homily to experience that nature with our senses – hearing, seeing, smelling, and feeling. We shared our experiences with each other and were reminded that God lives in all of the creation around us.
Light was the the theme that intertwined all aspects of the service: two gospel readings that reminded us that Jesus is the Light of the world and that he instructed us to carry that same Light throughout the world around us. We sang together about being the light of the world, letting this little light shine, and marching in the Light of God.
A prayer to the eight directions – east (air), south (fire), west (water), north (earth), above, below, within, and between us – drew the service to completion and we were sent on our way with a blessing and benediction.
The Outdoor Ministry Team is grateful to all that helped make the service special and everyone that joined in this Celebration of Light.