Dearest Friends,

I write this on the Solstice, a day upon which many churches hold “Longest Night Services,” during which folks ponder the seasons and cycles of life, the love and loss, joy and sorrow, darkness and light, that make us human and make our lives complete.

I write this with a sense of all of those things, but particularly with a sense of love for you all, and a sense of loss for all the ways in which I have not been able to be with you in the most recent seasons of your lives.  I write this thinking of you all, and hoping you have felt my presence near.

December 30th marks the half-way point of my Internship, and I write this in joy for the Muncie church which I have grown to love, and those here who have embraced me so fully.  Here, they are much like you – wise, funny, generous and thoughtful, and like you, they are teaching me much.  I write this with joy for my experience here, and sorrow for all that I have missed with you.  It will be hard to leave, come May, and good to get home.

And on this longest night of the year, I write this rejoicing in the fact that in the midst of tonight’s long darkness, I can know that ever-growing light will begin tomorrow, to lead us into the rebirth and renewal of an assuring and glorious spring.

Blessed be, and with greatest affection,

Dear Friends,

I was so moved by your outpouring of love and best wishes Sunday the 12th of July, and your wonderful gift.  The chalice is truly beautiful and so very unique!  I will treasure it for years to come, as I will the kind and supportive remarks you wrote in my card.  And of course, as I will, and do, each of you.

Several of you asked for my Muncie address, and I will email that to you when I get it.  I also will stay at least in occasional touch.

With great affection,

This sermon was delivered by Beth Lefever to Berrien UU Fellowship on July 12, 2009.

In place of a second reading this morning, I’m using a song which I know some of you have heard before.  It’s called “Pizza Deliverance” by the Chenille Sisters.

Upon first hearing, this song might be perceived as disrespectful of some religions, or of religion in general.  I certainly can perceive it in that way, if I’m of a mind to. But if we look beyond any perceived offense, there is a message here that I want to discuss in this morning’s sermon.

So listen to the words, and then I’ll tell you what they mean to me.

Song – “Pizza Deliverance” [watch the YouTube video]

Connie Huber, a member of the Chenille Sisters, wrote this song, and although it is couched in humor and fun-making, the last line of the song carries an important message: “There is a little for everyone, and remember god is in us all.”

It is Summer Solstice as I sit down to write this column, the longest day of the year, to be followed immediately by the beginning of the gradual diminishment of daylight hours into increasing darkness. (Just call me Suzy Sunshine!)

I love the lengthening of days that begins in December, thrive in the greater light of spring and summer, and begin to feel slightly depressed as we approach Summer Solstice and its denotation, at the very beginning of summer, of summer’s end and the fleeting nature of time.  I thrive in the light, and in being able to step outside into mild temperatures and gentle breezes that caress skin bared of long sleeves and over-garments.  I love summer, and toward its end will begin trying to clutch its dying remnants in my grasp, to slow its inevitable demise.  Fortunately, the grief of summer’s loss is tempered by the beauty of autumn which I love nearly as much as summer, save for its movement into winter cold and darkness.