Hi First Presbyterian,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up, and I want to begin by reminding you that this Sunday we go to our summer worship schedule of only one service at 9:30am. As has been the case recently at the 8:30am service, the balcony will be reserved as a masks-only sitting area during our 9:30am summer service. I hope to worship with you!

Yesterday was the first day of summer, which means it was the longest day of the year. Today, the daylight will be a little briefer than it was yesterday. Tomorrow it will be even briefer. I can’t help but think about the relationship of this solstice with the winter solstice. In recent years, we’ve been hosting “Blue Christmas” services on (or around) December 21, the winter solstice. The purpose of these services is to intentionally make space in our church life for people who may not be feeling like Christmastime is the “most wonderful time of the year,” because of grief they are experiencing. They may not experience Advent as filled with love, joy, peace, and hope – the characteristics we usually associate with the season – because they are feeling the pain of loss. This “Blue Christmas” service is alternatively called “The Longest Night” service, because of its associate with the winter solstice. The idea is that the night of the service is indeed the longest night of the year, and that all the nights that follow will be a little shorter. The night, like our grief, is real and very dark, but with each day that passes is the hope of more life on the other side of grief.

When it comes to the climate, the seasons occur on a cycle. Winter happens every year. Summer happens every year. By associating grief with the solstice cycle, are we suggesting that grief is also experienced in cycles – or is that stretching the connection too far? Does our grief “get better” and then “get worse” in the same way that winter turns to summer and then eventually back to winter? That may be stretching the analogy past its usefulness, but I do think it is true that we find ourselves in cycles of grief. Whether in connection to the same loss or multiple losses, we periodically find ourselves in seasons of grief and seasons of joy.

Yesterday was the shortest night of the year. Maybe your soul is experiencing a “summer solstice” right now. Be grateful for the season of joy you find yourself in, and hold onto to every moment that you have. Maybe your soul is experiencing a “winter solstice” right now. Take hope that it will get better.

No matter which season you’re experiencing today, the Lord of Life, who conquered death through his resurrection, is with you and offers to fill you with his love.

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron