To read a transcript of the sermon for this service please click on this link: The Promise of Joy.

A multitude of ancient observances – both sacred and secular – cluster around the winter solstice. Holidays and holy days are celebrated by young and old to mark a celestial turning point: the rebirth of the sun. For many of us, these days are full of meaning, memories, and mixed emotions. A recurring theme of the season is that even in the midst of our darkest days, we can find a new light. And even when we least expect it, our wintery hearts can be illuminated by joy.