Our Celtic Roots
Thursday, 15 July 2010 19:23
“I will kindle my fire in the morn of the day, in the presence of holy angels. Without malice or jealousy, envy or fear, without terror of anyone under the sun, but the Holy Beloved to shield me…”
from Carmina Gadelica
In the circle under the green canopy in Kleberg the gathered community stands to sing these words of the Opening Song that were sung for centuries each morning in the farmhouse kitchens in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. As the mother knelt at the hearth to stir the fire to life again, she welcomed the day with her intention as well: “O Holy One, kindle Thou here in my heart, a flame of pure love…” As each of us takes a lighted candle and brings it to the table-altar in the center, we are also being intentional in deepening the love in our own hearts, joining with others to bring light and warmth into the world in daily, ordinary ways.
For many years now we have been celebrating a Celtic Season during some portion of Ordinary Time. Hadiya (Diane) Arendt designed the liturgy, Susan LeVieux the sacred space, and Mary Ermey composed the music. I was delighted to see "I will kindle my fire" included in the worship for the last two General Conventions! It was published in Voices Found, a collection of songs by, for, and about women (Church Publishing, Inc., 2003), and has been sung at Washington Cathedral and was also recorded by Elizabeth von Trapp.
At the Offertory we circle the table in procession and then gather close to sing "Mass in a Celtic Manner", also composed by Mary. All of our Eucharists are created using a framework and text approved by General Convention—informally referred to as Rite 3—that allow more creativity. The season offers an opportunity to learn more of the Celtic teachings that revere matter as well as spirit. Celtic monks founded the monastery in the Rhine Valley where Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was taken as a child, so her writings also come out of this Celtic strand of the Christian tradition.
Blessings,
Judith
