Sermon: 

Many years ago I learned one of my favorite ways 

  of preparing and delivering a sermon. 

The preacher who taught this method said, 

  First, tell them what you're going to tell them. 

    Second, tell them. 

      Third, tell them what you told them. 

I don't follow that pattern perfectly 

  simply because it doesn't always work 

    exactly the way one would expect. 

On the other hand, 

  if you pay attention, you will find

    that I do follow the pattern fairly closely

      in many of my sermons. 

Today I expect to follow it quite closely. 

So, here we go: 

I'll be sharing three major points in today's sermon: 

  First, I'll talk about the Solstice. 

    Second, I'll talk about fathering. (on Father’s Day!)

      Third and finally, I'll talk about reopening. 

The Solstices are among the highest 

  of high holy days 

    among those of us who treasure 

      earth (creation) based spirituality. 

For me, there is no other spirituality in truth 

  than that which is based on earth (Creation), 

    since spirituality is concerned first and foremost 

      with breath. 

Our breath is part of our own creation 

  and our relationship with the earth. 

A Solstice reminds us of our connection 

  to the created order of which we are a part. 

Both Solstices, Winter and Summer, 

  are more of a Season than a single day. 

In both cases the Solstice Season 

  appears to last about a month, 

    since for about two weeks 

      before and two weeks after the Solstice, 

        the length of days seems to change very little. 

The very term, Solstice, means, 

  "Sun stands still." 

As we understand, the sun, the earth, 

  and all heavenly bodies 

    are in constant motion at all times, 

      but from the point of view of the Earth, 

        the sun appears to trace a pattern in the sky. 

As the Solstice approaches, 

  the sun appears to slow down.

At the time of the Solstice itself, 

  today at 8:31 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, 

    the sun appears to stand still 

      before it changes direction in its journey 

        across and around the sky. 

Because of a variety of factors, 

  the Summer Solstice this year can mark for us

    some new opportunities to address issues 

      that will be important for us all in times to come. 

I'm speaking first and foremost of climate change. 

The sun is the source of heat and light 

  upon which we all depend 

    for life on our small planet. 

We have been blessed with an abundance of energy, 

  both of and from here and now 

    with the sun’s energy every day, 

      and of and from ancient times 

      in the form of energy in fossil fuels. 

We have not always been good stewards 

  of either form of energy, 

    but it is not too late for us to learn. 

Like a good father, 

  the sun can be a teacher for us, 

    reminding us of endings and new beginnings, 

      and helping us commit ourselves 

        to a new kind of stewardship of his gifts. 

Obviously, speaking of the sun as father 

  is a metaphor 

    for the providence of so many gifts 

      we receive from the sun, our day star. 

As the summer season begins, 

  it also begins to end. 

[Here or as a hymn / special music]

Solstice hymn: 

Summer sun, summer sun, 

We watch as you set, 

Sending your long arms of light from the West. 

Summer sun, summer sun, 

You shine so bright, 

As you begin your return to the night. 

Like many of life's gifts 

  and like many a good parent, 

    the sun reminds us 

      of the brevity and preciousness of our lives. 

Like a good father, 

  the sun is thus a good teacher. 

If we are paying attention, 

  we can learn good stewardship 

    of our planet and its resources. 

A good father is a great example of 

  of nurturing in the process of parenting. 

A good mother is likewise, of course, 

  and because today is Father's Day, 

    our thoughts and emphasis 

      are on the nurturing fathers among us. 

To nurture a child from infancy 

  through near adulthood 

    is to ensure the hope 

      that we all may thrive 

        into the future of our world. 

I want to share a reading about fathering 

  that seems most appropriate to me. 

I Believe in Fathering

By Evin Carvill Ziemer

I believe in fathering

I believe in the radical idea that men have the full human capacity to nurture

Hair bows and baseballs

Cooking and creativity

Tools and tiaras

Camping and dancing

Snuggles and shrieks of delight

Too many fathers don’t believe in their own fathering

Too many are scarred by their own fathers to hear their heart say otherwise

Too many have known fathers who, faced with a quivering lip and tears, could only say “man up."

Too many have known fathers who knew only yelling and hitting

Too many have known fathers who lost sight of their sacred role of protector and became tormentor

But I believe in fathering.

When a human being gestates and gives birth their brain changes permanently.

A father’s brain changes permanently too—changes as he rocks his baby to sleep, delights in baby games, and soothes bumps and bruises. A father earns his new neurobiology.

In a world where too many mothers hand their co-parent directions more specific than those given to the babysitter;

Where a father out with his kids is asked, “Are you babysitting?” and “Where’s mom?”;

Where fathers are the punch line,

I believe in fathering. I believe in the radical idea that men have the full human capacity to nurture.

Whether their children come through birth, adoption, or fostering; through scouts, sports, Sunday school, or youth group

I’ve known too many gay dads, too many single fathers, too many men raising children others couldn’t to believe otherwise.

I believe we all—especially our children—deserve to know that the human capacity to nurture belongs to every one of us.

I believe in fathering.

I also believe in fathering, 

  and... 

Now, finally, we get to think about one more thing 

  especially for today. 

It's fitting somehow that this day coincides with 

  the holy day of the Summer Solstice. 

We are able to nurture each other 

  into a hope filled future 

    as many of us gather in person 

      for our worship celebration today. 

I'm speaking of the experience 

  we are all sharing at present 

    in the opportunity (finally) 

      for reopening 

        as the pandemic begins to recede. 

Our own congregation, 

  the beloved community of the NIUU, 

    is experiencing the joy of gathering in person 

      for the first time in more than a year. 

At first, even waiting until the end of a season, 

  not even to speak of the whole year, 

    was daunting for most of us. 

As the pandemic progressed, 

  we were forced to recognize the importance 

    of protecting each other 

      by staying apart, far longer than we expected. 

One of the greatest ironies I have observed 

  was the reality that a church gathering 

    was among the most dangerous kinds 

      of opportunities for the disease to spread. 

Contagion is a dreadful thing 

  unless we are catching good things 

    like hope and love from each other. 

It has been such a blessing for us 

  that we could continue to gather virtually, online, 

    while we could not gather in person. 

It is my fond hope that many of us 

  who have been participating in our worship times 

    via Zoom are with us now by the same method. 

The reopening of our in person gatherings 

  brings with it our desire to stay open 

    to each other by providing for each other's needs 

      according to the best of our abilities. 

We want to be careful of each other's safety 

  as levels of risk from disease contagion 

    vary so widely from one person to another. 

We also want to consider each other's feelings 

  so that those who are more comfortable 

    with such experiences as hugs 

      and being together without masks 

        do not become opportunities for contention. 

Now I want to tell you all what I just told you. 

I spoke of the Solstice 

  and the ways our day star, the sun, 

    reminds us of the importance 

      of caring for our world 

        as we move through time upon it. 

Then I spoke of fathering, 

  how a man can be a nurturing parent, 

    a loving father, 

      fully as well as a woman, 

        a loving mother. 

Finally, I spoke of the wonder and joy 

  of reopening as we are able (finally) 

    to be together in person 

      even as we continue to share our online presence 

        with those who are best able to join with us 

          in that way. 

Amen. 

So let it be. 

Blessed be.