Now get SEF stickers and bookmarks as well as Lammas Games shirts, exclusively at our new shop! All funds raised go toward upcoming SEF operation.
Elder Faiths Blog
Lammas Games – July 29, 2023
We are THRILLED to be bringing back the Lammas Games at the Split Rock Pavilion at Hopkinton State Park!
Please be advised: parking costs are $8 for MA residents/$30 for out of state residents. If you have a state park parking pass, you are all set. These fees will be collected upon entering the parking lot. If you have a handicapped license plate or placard, disabled veteran or Purple Heart Recipient plate, that fee should be waived. Also, please check with your local library as many are part of a program where MA residents can borrow a special DCR Library Pass (please display on dashboard): https://www.mass.gov/service-details/find-where-you-can-borrow-a-parkspass.
We will be accepting nonperishable food donations for Veterans Inc. in Worcester at check-in. Please note: this is not required for admission.
Our Lammas ritual will celebrate Harvest Home, and to go along with it, our Bakeoff theme this year will honor Johnny Barleycorn. We will have a contest for the Bakeoff – $1 to become a judge.
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We are also thrilled to be hosting these exciting metaphysical vendors.
- Divine Design
- Wild Owl Metaphysical Services
- The Dragon’s Keep
- Inkwood Healing
- Miriam’s Wellspring
- The Queen’s Grove
The schedule will run as follows:
- Open the site at noon.
- The Games (for all ages) will begin at 1pm.
- Ritual will begin around 3:30pm.
Carpooling IS recommended, if you are able, just to be able to cut down parking costs for everyone.
If you would like to renew or start a membership, we can help you with that.
We hope to see you there!
Beltane Need Fire Ritual – April 23, 2023
When: April 23, 2023
Time: Gather at 1 pm, ritual pre-talk and ritual begin at 1:30pm
Where: Grafton Barn (Community Harvest Project), 37 Wheeler Rd, Grafton, MA
Who: All ages welcome
Ritual: “Need Fire” Practiced until at least the mid-nineteenth century, from the Scottish Highlands to Russia, the Need Fire was considered a panacea in times of trouble and, more specifically, a remedy for disease in humans and livestock. While details vary greatly, the basic rite consisted of the extinguishing of all fires, the igniting of a new fire by friction, the building of one of two bonfires fed by specific woods, and the passing of participants/animals through the fires’ smoke.
The Society of Elder Faiths invites you to join us as we build a Need Fire to purify ourselves for the coming seasons.
Cost: Free
Bring: Your own picnic lunch and beverages (no alcohol)
Each participant will add wood to the fire and are encouraged to bring their own. (Please note: The piece of wood should be non-toxic, dry, no thicker than one inch, and no longer than one foot. Contact us if you have questions. We will be bringing extra wood.)
Teen and Tween Esbat – Feb 12, 2023
Lupercalia – Light: Society of Elder Faiths Teen and Tween Edition
Come join us for a PG rated Lupercalia Ritual at 2PM on February 12th, at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Hudson (80 Main Street)! We’re going to sacrifice some goat (cookies) and have a ritual to celebrate love in the form of friendship and love for ourselves. Think… a Valentine’s Day party like you used to have in elementary school, plus a ritual. Enter through the side door, because we’re upstairs in the Knight Room. I promise you’ll be home in time for the Super Bowl. Parents and Teens and Tweens alumni welcome to attend!
If you are able, please bring a donation to UCMH for the space.
Annual Meeting – February 25, 2023
We will be hosting our Annual Meeting in person once again at the Unitarian Church of Hudson and Marlborough in Union Hall downstairs.
The doors will open at 5 pm, and we will begin the meeting at 5:30.
At 7 pm, we are thrilled to announce the return of Conjure Cinema! We will have movie-style concessions for a small price.
As always, admission is free for this event. If you wish to renew your membership but haven’t yet, this meeting is the perfect opportunity to do so.
More information is forthcoming, so watch this space.
Teen and Tween Esbat – Nov 13, 2022
Long nights getting you down? Having a hard time staying motivated when you have to go to school before sunrise and it’s dark by the time you get home? We’ll be doing a simple spell to keep us motivated and help us turn our dreams into reality. This event is open to students between 6th and 12th grade. Parents are very welcome to attend and participate.
- Suggested donation -$5 (all proceeds go to UCMH)
- Location – UCMH
- Time – 2PM
The Annual Coffeehouse Returns! November 19, 2022
The Board is excited to announce the return of the Coffeehouse.
When: Nov. 19, 2022
Time: 6pm
Where: Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson, MA, 80 Main St, Hudson, MA 01749
Admission: $5 per person
What: Auction, music, food, fun!
Food tickets will also be on sale for dinner.
To help make this event a success, we have some needs to fill. Please keep reading for info.
Call for artists!
We are looking for stage acts for our November Coffeehouse. If you are interested and available for November 19, please let us know as soon as possible by responding to Evan at squirrelforge@gmail.com. Please list the nature of your performance as well as any technical needs we might be able to accommodate. Space for performers is limited.
Item donations
If you make jewelry or have another homemade item which you are willing to donate to the Coffeehouse silent auction, please let Barbara know at societyofelderfaithsma@gmail.com.
Include:
Your name:
Your item name:
Description:
Value:
If you could send a picture so that we can advertise, that would be great.
Teen & Tween Esbat Group – 09/18/2022
The Society of Elder Faiths is bringing back the Teens and Tweens group on 9/18 at the UCMH. We’re so excited!
Doors open at 2:30 PM, programming starts at 3. The Teen and Tween Group is open to all pagan kids in 6th to 12th grade. Parents are very welcome to stay, but are not required. If you’d like, you can bring your favorite school supply (Your best pen? Your TI-85?) because the theme of this ritual is a blessing for scholars.
$5 suggested donation. If you have any questions, please contact Heather W.
Samhain Ritual – October 22, 2022
Descent of Persephone
Persephone and Demeter are caught between the transition of adult and child, and winter to spring. Come hear the story and find comfort in change. There will be an opportunity to honor the Beloved Dead.
Cakes and Wine will be served but no meal.
This is an outdoor event.
Where: First Universalist Church of Franklin, 262 Chestnut St., Franklin, MA 02038.
When: October 22, 2022
Time: Gather between 6-6:30 pm.
Pre-ritual talk between 6:30 and 6:45pm
Ritual to begin at 7pm.
Bring:A flashlight and dress for the weather.
Cost: Members: $5, Non-Members: $10
Lammas Games – Saturday, July 30, 2022
This year we will be having the Lammas Games at Dunn State Park in Gardner, MA. It will be a smaller event than in past years, but we hope to have a wonderful time reconnecting with our members.
Please be advised: parking costs are $8 for MA residents/$30 for out of state residents. If you have a state park parking pass, you are all set. These fees will be collected upon entering the parking lot. If you have a handicapped license plate or placard, that fee should be waived.
The schedule will run as follows:
- Open the site at noon.
- The Games (for all ages) will begin at 1pm.
- Ritual will begin around 3:30pm.
We will not have vendors, but we will have a dollar table of items as well as a gift basket put together by the Board as a prize to go to one lucky attendee!
We were just advised that the water quality has been poor recently at Dunn, but if you want to fish or kayak while you are there, you are welcome to!
Carpooling IS recommended, if you are able, just to be able to cut down parking costs for everyone.
If you would like to renew or start a membership, we can help you with that.
And if you wish to do any grilling, there are grills available. We would just need to contact one of the park’s staff to unlock the one nearest the pavilion.
We hope to see you there!