A Liturgy for Someone's Birthday
Understanding the power of liturgy when words might fail us...
Much is new for me these days. I’m in a new church, making new friends and walking into a brand new—yet, very old denomination. In the Anglican tradition, for me— the Episcopal church, we say together, a liturgy in our services. A liturgy is a customary repertoire of ideas, thoughts and beliefs put into words and these words are spoken out loud and said together. It’s a way of collectively working through a theme trusting that what has been written will be a sort of map into finding meaning, significance and purpose in our lives of faith and fear. A liturgy is a simple ritual that is spoken that underlines and underscores that something important is happening.
In the church world I came from, we were informal, spontaneous, and people disliked anyone with written prayers being offered. Written down prayers were frowned upon. You just didn’t do it. Prayers were to be spontaneous acts of combustion in someone’s heart—not written down, as if they were all heart and no head! Such prayers were often long; boring and hard to follow—at least for me.
I’ve changed the way I think about prayer and these days. I much prefer a thoughtful expression of a few tied together sentences that puts the rumblings of my heart into mere words—words that I can say and participate in with others as we say them. In doing it this way, I am anchored in a sort of ritual that unites me with those who have come before me and those who might come after me. We are together in this—together in saying some words together. It’s an act of gratitude, solidarity and worship and as this world grows more dark and more fragile, I think we all should find ways to have meaning, order and transcendence in our lives. We need help I think. And this is a form of help for the people of God, which we all are! All of us are—no exceptions.
I know better now. There is a comfort in a liturgy. There is an assurance in a liturgy. There is deep respect that thought, insight and wisdom has cobbled together in words that somehow come alive—or at least that is the hope, I presume.
I wrote a liturgy for Gwen’s 70th Birthday. I invited some mountain friends to our home where we lit candles, ate pizza and chocolate ganache iced cake to celebrate the light of Gwen’s life being given to us. I put my pen to paper to scribble out some thoughts because I wanted to honor Gwen—to honor anyone who has a birthday and to offer a simple, perhaps profound way to tell the Birthday girl or boy what they mean to us. Gwen’s been such a remarkable and distinguished light for me. I would have remained in darkness were it not for her great and loving light.
This liturgy invites everyone present to participate—tell a bit of their own story along with honoring the one being celebrated. Read it and you’ll see how I tried to do this and how we actually did this at Gwen’s party last night.
The poet, William Blake wrote, “And we are put on Earth a little space, that we may learn to bear the beams of love.” And for anyone having a birthday, it really is the time to honor their specific beam of love that we receive through their life. This liturgy is about a 10 minute moment to bring gratitude, light and honor into the room for the celebration. Try it out, when the time is right and let me know what you think. I may write more as I get into the flow of Episcopal rivers and streams.
Here’s my liturgy. I’ve made it so, you can use it or pass it along and try it out for yourself. All you’ll need are a few candles—one for each person present, the liturgy printed for each person and a table to sit around—and of course, a cake with candles, of course!
I’m passing this one on to everyone on my Substack.
Every blessing,
Steve
Here’s a beautiful book containing simple and beautiful liturgies that I love and use often. See this book on Amazon.
A Liturgy to Celebrate the Light of Someone’s Birthday Leader: In the beginning, there was darkness. People: Then, the Light came and everything changed. Every one of us was given Light. We all have light. We all have dignity. We are all bearers of the Great Light. Leader: We gather to celebrate the Light of __________ (name of the one being celebrated.) This special and unique Light was first born in ___________ (name the place, city, country where the person having the birthday was born.) People: My light was born in _____________________ (each person present at the celebration names the place of your birth. Each person goes around the table or room to simply say their birthplace. No elaboration. As each person says their name and place, light a candle symbolizing their birth and their presence in the world.). Leader: We have come from many places. Tonight, our lights burn bright in community. We are brighter together. Thank you for your presence in this world and in this very place tonight. Pause for Reflection Leader: Together, we have more Light than we are alone. People: Then let us celebrate the Light. Leader: There is One who told us about this Light—the One who said he was Light of the World. Jesus, thank you for being the Light. People: This Great and Incomparable Light is in us; is in the one we have come to celebrate tonight. We have great Light together. Let us pause and give thanks in silence. Pause for Reflection. Leader: The story of our lives is the story of how our light has grown; has brightened through the years because of the Lights of people who have shared their Light with us. People: Tonight, we celebrate our stories of Light—of people—of parents; brothers and sisters, partners and spouses; teachers and mangers, mentors and mentees; children and our friends who have lived both brief and long spans of time in the Light. These individuals have given us great Light, great Love and great Understanding. Leader: Pause now and name one or two specific people—the names of people whose light was given to you—their Light helped your Light shine forth. People: _________ and __________ (Each person shares one or two people’s names—without elaboration or comment) are the people who have shed their light on my path and heart. I am a better person because of their Light. Together: Thank you of Light of the Universe for giving us these great and loving and important Lights. Now, we live in Light and not in darkness. Pause for Reflection Leader: There are specific places, rivers, oceans, parks, trees, countries, cities, museums, music, and art where we felt different because of the Light we received when we were in that space—in that place. The One who is the Great Light has given every living thing life. This Light has been and still is shining all around us. People: Let us now reflect on the place or space where you came to understand the Light in a way that significantly impacted your life and give thanks! Pause for Reflection Individually:____________________________ (Each person simply say, one place, space, etc where you encountered Great Light: Example, name a country, city, geographical space that was “thin” where you saw the Light. Just speak the name without elaboration or in sentences.) Pause for Reflection Leader: Tonight, we have gathered to celebrate the unique, specific and wonderful ways the Light of __________________ (the person’s name who you are celebrating) has shown into our own hearts. People: _________________ (Name of the person being celebrated) you have brought great Light to me; to us. Our Light is brighter because of your Light. We thank you for your Light; the beautiful Light of your heart; the Light of your __________________ _____________________________(name some specific roles the person being celebrated has offered their light: examples, mothering, sisterhood, professionally, in the community, etc.) Leader: All of us have great Light. But, at times, it can seem as though the Light might be dimming. Let us shine our own Light—what we have—not what we do not have into this world and trust that together, our Light might shine forth—helping those whose own light is dim; assisting those whose light is flickering; offering what we have in be the Light. People: One day, each of us will pass into the Light—pass into the arms of Light and Love that await us. Till that day, let us shine. Let us live with our Lights “on” not “off” and may the great Light hold us; protect our flame and nurture our inner wicks to burn with Light and Love. Together: “And we are put on earth a little space, that we may learn to bear the beams of love.” --William Blake We give thanks for the beams of light and love we both bear and offer to others. ____________________________________________________________________________ Stephen W. Smith, Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved.
Happy Birthday, Gwen! You are the perfect person for this beautiful literary of light, love, and life!
So much light indeed! Gwen, your life is a steady lamp. Thank you for that. Bless you this week in celebration. You are loved.