December 20 – 7:30 p.m.
Winter Solstice:
Embracing Darkness & Calling in the Light
During this evening service we will honor the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year with song, word, candlelight, and darkness. Experience a new tradition at BuxMont as we honor this holiday, move into darkness, and celebrate the returning light.
Special note: during this service there will be several minutes of almost complete darkness in the sanctuary.
December 21 – 7:00 p.m.
Yul Celebration
Join Gaia’s Rainbow in our annual Yul Winter Solstice ritual and optional Yankee trader gift exchange on Saturday December 21 At 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. Please bring food and/or beverage item to share; for optional gift exchange bring wrapped unmarked gift value $25 or less.
For more information contact Tammy at gaiasrainbow@buxmontuu.org.
December 22 – 10:30 a.m.
BuxMont’s Annual Christmas Pageant
During this special annual Christmas Pageant we will be telling the story of Jesus’s birth, but with a fun new twist. Come prepared to be a part of this fun show where we will be mixing the traditional story with some modern elements. No need to show up early this year to get a costume. The show will be full of curiosity, laughter, Christmas carols and a flying pig!
December 24 – 7:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve: A Night of Mystery, Awe, and Hope
Join us for our annual Christmas Eve service celebrating the season, gathering our community together, and honoring our BuxMont traditions. We will share carols, candlelight, and explore the themes of this holiday made new each year.
December 28 – 11:00 a.m.
Come to a Kwanzaa Celebration here at BuxMont
Three passionate keepers of the culture will facilitate the audience through drum, song, stories, and dance to ignite people to feel black culture in a way that reshapes community. It is an unforgettable experience that will anchor you into a paradigm of rooted connections and spiritual inspiration that invokes everyone to want to live life fuller. The event is FREE but please register here so we know how many folks to expect: https://buxmontuu.org/kwanzaa-celebration/
December 29 – 10:30 a.m.
Hanukkah: Miracles and Struggles
We are drawn to miracles. We create stories and beautiful rituals to represent the miracles, almost as if we were re-enacting them. They give us hope, often when we need it the most. But miracles come about because of the struggles. Every year we tell the story of the miracle of the oil and re-enact it when we light the menorah/chanukiah. But let us not forget the struggle, for that is where the true lesson is found.
Terry Waslow grew up in a secular Jewish home, encouraged to learn how others live their lives. She earned her undergraduate degree in Counseling/Human Services and went on to earn her MBA, focusing on non-profits. She spent over 30 years working with families who have members with learning and/or physical challenges. She is currently working to create a library for a group of early childhood centers. She has served on the Board of the Cultural and Secular Jewish Organization and is currently their Executive Director. Terry is finishing her course work with the International Institute of Secular Humanistic Judaism to receive her certification as a Secular Officiant.
January 1 – 7:00 a.m. at BuxMont UU Fellowship
Buddhist First Light Service
Begin the new year with a Buddhist First Light Meditation at the Fellowship. We will begin with Buddhist prayers for peace and healing followed by a period of silent meditation as we watch the sunrise over the creek. Afterwards we will have a time for reflection and sharing.
Please feel free to bring a poem or prayer to share during our time for sharing and reflection.
January 5, 2024 – 10:30 a.m.
Fire Ceremony: Igniting Our Purpose
Carl Jung wrote “As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.” As a new year begins, we will start by letting go of that which no longer serves us in our second annual Fire Ceremony. Everyone present will be able to write something down that they want to release from the past year and be invited to set it ablaze at the beginning of the service. You will also be invited to claim a word for your upcoming year. This could be a word you choose and write down or you may let chance guide your year and choose a word from a bowl of many words.