Category Archives: announcements

Yule Circle December 19

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Saturday, December 19
Gathering begins at 7:00 PM
Ritual begins promptly at 7:30 PM

Please join the Denton Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans as we celebrate Yule. On this longest night, we turn our minds to the waning of the dark and the growing strength of the light. We will light the Yule log, tell the ancient story of Balder and the Mistletoe, and celebrate with a toast of Wassail.

Children 10 and older who can participate respectfully are welcome to attend with a parent/guardian. Childcare will be provided for younger children.

Please bring a dish to share for the potluck after the ceremony.  Donations of a dollar or three to defray costs are welcome but not required.

Yule altar 2013

CUUPS Officer Elections

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At our Fall Social Gathering and 2016 Planning Meeting last Sunday, Denton CUUPS elected officers for the 2015-16 chapter year which begins on November 1.

John Beckett was re-elected Coordinating Officer, Bonnie Davidson was re-elected Events Coordinator, and Cynthia Talbot was re-elected Treasurer.

Linda Masten was elected Membership Officer, resuming a position she held two years ago. Wren Kelly and Roq Hodge will share the Education Officer slot. In addition to coordinating CUUPS classes and monitoring community announcements for educational opportunities, Roq and Wren will look for ways to expand our community outreach and our social media presence.

We also approved our 2016 calendar – it’s available on our Circles and Service page.

Labyrinth Prep

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We build our spiral labyrinth with tea candles and baby food jars.  All but a few of the jars haven’t been used since the last labyrinth four years ago, and they’ve been sitting in old cardboard boxes in a not-too-secure storage shed all that time.  They were dirty.

Samhain 2015 prep 01So we brought them home, cleaned them out, and washed them.  They’re not clean enough to put food in, but they’ll be bright and clear with a new candle in them, and there are no dry leaves or dead bugs to catch on fire when we light them.

Samhain 2015 prep 04There was an unintended blood sacrifice.  The metal base of the old tea candles is sharp if you catch it at the right angle… and I did.

See you all at Samhain on Saturday, October 31!

Samhain 2015 prep 05

Preparing the Way of the Gods

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Later this month, polytheists from all over North America will gather in Olympia, Washington for Many Gods West, a celebration of ancient, continuous, and revived polytheist and animist traditions.

Denton CUUPS Coordinating Officer John Beckett will be presenting at this conference, but those of us in North Texas have a chance to hear his presentation first.  John will be presenting “Preparing the Way of the Gods” at the Denton UU Fellowship at 1:00 on Saturday, July 18 and everyone is invited.

Preparing the Way of the Gods

As Paganism and polytheism continue to grow, many of us feel the need for infrastructure and institutions.  We want temples, groves of oaks, paid clergy, and many of the things we see in the “big religions.”  On the other hand, some of us want nothing to do with anything that even resembles mainstream religion.

How do we make sure what we build serves our needs and the needs of those who come after us?  How do we prepare the Way of the Gods?

The presentation will run about an hour and there will be a discussion period afterward.

Everyone is welcome.  For more information, contact John Beckett at JohnFranc@aol.com

Neteru SS 2015

Egyptian Summer Solstice

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Saturday, June 20
gathering begins at 7:00 PM, ritual begins promptly at 7:30 PM
at the Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
1111 Cordell Street
Denton, TX 76201

Chaos rules the land,
disorder and strife have overtaken our lives,
and has for days and years and lifetimes.
— the Westcar Papyrus, 1700 BCE

As it was before, so it is again.  The ancient Egyptians had rituals to rebuild the temples and to re-establish the ways of Ma’at, the Goddess of Truth and Justice.  For our 12th annual Egyptian Summer Solstice, we will adapt these rituals to our place and time.

We will honor the Neteru, the Gods and Goddesses of ancient Egypt.  And we will commit ourselves to live in harmony with the land, with the blessed dead, and with the ways of Ma’at.

Please bring an item of food or drink to share after the ceremony. Donations of 2-3 dollars to help offset expenses will be appreciated but are not required.

For more information, please contact John Beckett at JohnFranc@aol.com or 972-948-9211.

Egyptian Summer Solstice 2015

Beltane – Saturday May 2

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Denton CUUPS Beltane Circle

Saturday, May 2
Gathering begins at 7:00 PM
Ritual begins promptly at 7:30 PM

In the ancient Celtic lands, Beltane marked the end of Winter and the beginning of Summer. Here in North Texas, it’s our celebration of Spring in all its lusty fullness.

Please join us as we celebrate the season and honor the Gods, ancestors, and spirits of the land. We’ll dance the Maypole to weave good fortune for the coming season, and we’ll dance the Spiral Dance to energize our intentions and work our Will, as we work to protect the Land from those who would exploit it.

This will be an outdoor, family-friendly circle.

Gathering begins at 7:00 PM and the ritual begins promptly at 7:30. We’ll be outdoors for the entire ritual unless it’s raining.

Please bring an item of food or drink to share after the ceremony. As always, a donation of a dollar or three to help defray costs are appreciated, but not required.

See you there!

Beltane flyer 2015

Imbolc

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Nine the gifts of Brighid Bright
Nine the fire of Brighid’s Night
Nine the forges and directions named
Nine the fires of blessings gained.

Saturday, January 31
Gathering begins at 7:00 PM
Ritual begins promptly at 7:30 PM

at the Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
1111 Cordell Street
Denton, TX  76201

The halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox has been known by many names, including Candlemas, Brighid’s Day and Groundhog Day.  We call it Imbolc, a time of rebirth and rejuvenation. It is a time to awaken from our Winter slumber, and like the burrowing animals, emerge from the darkness and sniff the air made fresh with snow.

Come join the Denton Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans as we honor Brighid and Lugh, and as we welcome the waxing light and the first signs of Spring.

This ritual is suitable for all ages.  Childcare for small children can be arranged if requested by January 24.

Please bring an item of food or drink to share after the ceremony.  Donations of a dollar or three to defray costs are welcome but not required.

For questions or information, please contact John Beckett at JohnFranc@aol.com or 972-948-9211.

Imbolc flyer 2015