“Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile”

The growing season is winding down, and we stand between the two final harvest holidays of the Wheel of the Year.  It is a beautiful time to deepen our spirituality, release that which no longer serves and set new intentions for the coming season.

October Earth Centered Spirituality Service
Sunday, October 16th, 10:30 am

Our Earth-centered Spirituality Group meets on the 3rd Sunday of each month in the Chapel at 10:30 am. This time provides an opportunity to focus on the Sixth Source of Unitarian Universalism: “Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.” Join us for our October meeting (led by Irene). We will honor the Blood Moon (the name of the full moon in October, which happens to fall on the 16th) with a Releasing ceremony and set intentions for our Winter Work.  Link to Facebook event.

October Full Moon Labyrinth Walk
Sunday, October 16th, 7 – 9 pm

Come enjoy the beauty and peace of the Labyrinth by the light of the full moon! The labyrinth will be illuminated from 7 pm till 9 pm. Everyone is welcome. Weather permitting, this will be an outdoor, drumming walk (most likely the last outdoor walk of the year). The first hour will be a quiet walk, the second hour drumming, so feel free to bring hand drums and other percussion instruments. If you haven’t walked a Labyrinth before, there is no ceremony or ritual. We put out the little flickering LED tealights and keep the space open. For an in-depth article on Labyrinths and what to expect at one of our open walks, visit this link.  Link to Facebook event.

Frederick CUUPS Samhain Ritual
Sunday, October 30th, 7 pm
The Samhain Ritual is one of our more elaborate offerings.  If you are interested in helping, please email Irene.

Join Frederick CUUPS for an open, family-friendly Samhain Ritual! Samhain falls at the time of year the light noticeably fades. Pagans reflect on and review the past year and welcome the Celtic New Year. In this season, Pagans also honor death as a part of the sacred circle of life and remember those who have died. We will share a Samhain celebration (led by Irene). Parents, please remember that grief is a part of Samhain and decide whether your child will be comfortable exploring those emotions.

Please feel free to bring an item or items for the Ancestral/Remembrance Altar.  This year, we will have spaces for Ancestors, Beloved Friends, Ancestors of the Order (ascended masters, trailblazing witches – the Mighty Dead of Witchcraft), and Animal Companions.  You are also welcome to bring your preferred method of divination (tarot cards, runes, what have you) for the Potluck and socializing afterward. Samhain is a wonderful time for divination. And no worries if you don’t do any divining–I’m sure there’ll be plenty of readers who would be happy to practice on you 🙂

Traditional dress for Samhain is harvest colors or dark colors (mourning dress).

Potluck to follow the ritual, please clearly LABEL any offerings with the ingredients included. Link to Facebook event.