Ritual

Regeneration & Loss: Honoring Our Reproductive Lives

Created by Rev. Darcy Baxter & Colleagues. Used with permission.

NOTE: This ritual was created for in-person participation in pre-pandemic times. Depending on how your congregation is worshiping now, you may want to modify or adapt this ritual to meet your specific needs and to provide maximal accessibility and opportunity for safe participation.

Singing

STLT # 360, Here We Have Gathered 

Welcome 

Chalice Lighting 

“With the kindling of this flame, we reaffirm our commitment to accept Life’s gifts with grace and gratitude and to use them to bless the world in the spirit of Love.”

Singing 

STJ #1007, There’s A River Flowin’ in my Soul 

Reflection and Introduction to Testimonies 

Learning A Song 

“All This Joy” by John Denver 

All this joy, all this sorrow 

All this promise, all this pain 

Such is life, such is being 

Such is spirit, such is love 

[Congregation sings together several times]

Testimonies

[Select members of the congregation have prepared in advance to share short stories (3-5 minutes each) of their own reproductive lives. Stories can be on a wide range of topics: abortion, infertility, pregnancy/childbirth, reproductive loss, reproductive illness, etc. Speakers can represent a variety of identities and experiences.

Song Leader invites congregation to keep singing as Ritual Leader walks from pulpit/podium/chancel to where Speaker 1 is sitting among the congregation, holding a length of blue fabric. Congregation continues to sing as Ritual Leader and Speaker 1 together stretch out and add the fabric to the “river” on the sanctuary floor, and then walk forward together to the pulpit/podium/chancel, where Speaker 1 gives their testimony (congregation is quiet). When Speaker 1 has finished, they sit in one of the chairs at the front. Congregation begins singing again, and Ritual Leader carries next piece of fabric to where Speaker 2 is sitting among the congregation, etc]. 

Ritual: Honoring Our Reproductive Lives 

[When each Speaker has given their testimony, and the “river” makes a connected loop around the sanctuary, Ritual Leader says: 

“We invite all those who would like to honor a reproductive decision and/or a reproductive loss to come forward and walk along the river. If you would like, please very briefly name what you are honoring.”

Those who would like to speak rise and move into the aisles onto the “river.” Speakers serve as guides/ushers during this section, helping people move in a clockwise direction. As people arrive at the front, they are invited to share a short word about what they are honoring before continuing in a clockwise direction until they get back to their own seat. 

[In-person adaptation for movement inclusivity: Instead of coming forward to walk the river, invite all who would like to briefly share to raise their hands and someone will bring the microphone to them. Choose 2-4 people to serve as microphone bearers and move around with the mic. After all have shared, microphone bearers pick up blue silks/fabric like those creating the “river” and walk in a clockwise direction around the sanctuary as the worship leader offers a short prayer of gratitude and blessing for all the testimonies that have been shared.]

[Adaptation for virtual use: Worship leader creates a river-themed altar in their own space, ready with multiple candles and extra pieces of fabric to add to the altar as people continue to share. Invite participants to share a sentence or two about their own reproductive story in the chat, or to raise their hand to share briefly on camera. After each person shares, leader lights a candle honoring their story, and invites all participants to unmute and say together, “ When sharing is over, ritual leader invites everyone into a moment of prayer and blessing for all the testimonies that have been shared.]

Closing Words 

Singing

# 311 Let It Be A Dance 

Benediction