A Winter Solstice Experience
Dec 22, 2023
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
First Parish in Lexington
Friday, December 22, 2023 at 7 p.m.
First Parish in Lexington presented a Winter Solstice Experience at 7:30 pm. With music, ritual, candles, dancing and darkness, the audience experienced the quiet of the longest night, and welcomed the sun as they waited for her return. Led by Rev. Anne Mason, with Minister of Music, Rip Jackson, this event was a mystical experience exploring earth-centered imagery, with an invitation to cherish the darkness. All were invited to set aside their frenetic everyday concerns and take this hour for their own inward journey. The Solstice is honored by indigenous religions around the world and we will have music, dance and poetry which honor many traditions. A group of intergenerational dancers weaved movement and ritual to celebrate the peace of the darkest night of the year and the triumphant return of the sun’s nourishing light. The musicians included soprano soloists Liz Savir, Chelsea Cannon and Natalie Brierre, soprano sax player Katie Runde Sanchez, along with guitar, electric bass, piano, electronic synthesizer, drums, rain stick, gong, Tibetan singing bowl and other atmospheric musical instruments. They sang music from diverse genres including music by Paul Winter, Loreena McKennitt, Enya and original music by Rip Jackson.