At the spiritually eclectic Nature Church, which attracts followers of Earth-based and nature religions, congregants also remembered the divine mother -- mother goddesses first revered by ancient cultures for qualities of motherhood, fertility or creation.
"She is the oldest, most primal, most universal of deity concepts. It's no wonder that in cultures all over the world, the divine mother is recognized and honored," said Kaitryth Bastian, Nature Church's director of ministry.
With believers from Wiccan, Druid, Taoist and Christian paths, among others, not every Nature Church congregant has the same idea of the mother goddess.
In some traditions, she's known as Mother Earth -- Gaia in the Greek pantheon -- a nurturer and life-giver. Ancient Egyptians invoked the healer Isis. For Hindus, the goddess Durga is the warrior mother incarnate, protecting her children.
"Let us share a moment of silence to send blessings to all mothers of the community and to honor her, the divine mother, by whatever name or face you may know her by," Bastian said.
A dozen people lit candles, placed them on the altar and shared stories of their own mothers during the service: moms they love, moms they quarrel with, moms they nursed when sick, and moms they buried.
Congregants encircled the three mothers among them, and Bastian led them in reciting affirmations.
They told the mothers how much they appreciate their work, gentle touches and guidance: "We honor you, mothers, for what you create and for what you sacrifice in the process," they said. "Blessed be the mothers."
Then the mothers themselves affirmed their significance: "I am a mother. I am a woman. I am goddess incarnate, and I honor myself on this day," they said. "Blessed be the mothers."
Tina Adams, 26, sat among the three moms.
"That was awesome," she said after the service. "Even on Mother's Day, I usually tend to focus on my mother. But I'm a single mom raising two kids, and there's a self-affirmation in repeating those words -- that I 'deserve to be honored.' Being a mother is what I do. It's my day-to-day."
Tom Harbold,43, of Hampstead, Md., was thinking of and missing his mother, Betty, who passed away two years ago.
"I am very acutely aware of how blessed I was," he said. "We didn't always agree with each other, but I never had any doubt that she loved me."
mburke@ydr.com; 771-2024
IF YOU GO
What: A Faery Masquerade, including live music, games of chance, a gypsy fortune teller and silent auction
When: 8 to 11 p.m. June 27
Where: Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, 50 N. George St. in York
Cost: $30 per ticket or $50 per couple
Dress: Gowns, masks -- however a fairy would dress for a ball
For details: naturechurch@yahoo.com or www.naturechurch.net
NATURE CHURCH
The Nature Church, which is in its fifth year, is a fellowship of people who believe "nature is essential to our spiritual selves."
It meets at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at Renaissance Yoga Studio, 2507 S. Queen St. in York Township.
Members come from a variety of backgrounds, but most follow nature-based religious paths, such as Wicca, Taoism or Druidism. For details, visit www.naturechurch.net.
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