Winter Solstice Observation

The EcoVoice Project rounds out the 2023 calendar with a celebration of the Winter Solstice. Join us as we celebrate the longest night of the year alongside cultures around the globe, across time and space. Enjoy candlelight, music, poetry, and reflections on our connection with nature, as we await the peak of the solstice at 9:27 PM. Guests from Climate Action Evanston will be on hand to inspire renewed care of our shared planet. Drink wassail and make traditional pomanders, too!

FREE ADMISSION

Thursday, December 21, 2023
9:00-10:00 PM CST

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
939 Hinman Ave
Evanston, IL 60202

2023 Winter Solstice Celebration

Program

Welcome: Kirsten Hedegaard
The EcoVoice Project
Reflections from Climate Action Evanston
Joel Freeman, Climate Action Evanston

Winter Improvisation
Reading - An Hymn to the Morning, Phyllis Wheatley
Martha Meyer, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Solstice Carole, Kim Baryluk
Thomas Aláan, AJ Buegel, Kirsten Hedegaard

Winter Improvisation
Reading - An Invocation for the Winter Solstice, Tess Ward
Kelly Hof, The EcoVoice Project
Community Song: Solstice Carol

Solstice Traditions I
Kendall McMullen, The EcoVoice Project
Winter Solstice Observation: Silence

Winter Improvisation
Reading - God’s Grandeur, Gerard Manley Hopkins
Allison Ashley, Interfaith Action Evanston
Song for a Winter’s Night, Sarah McLachlan
Thomas Aláan

Winter Improvisation
Reading - Arctic Night, Linda Hogan
AJ Buegel, The EcoVoice Project
Community Song: Easy on the Earth

Solstice Traditions II
Kendall McMullen, The EcoVoice Project
Winter Solstice Observation: Peace

Winter Improvisation
Reading - The World, Jennifer Chang
Andrew Lewis, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
A Short Song for the Longest Night, Alfredo Santa Ana
Zach Guo, Kirsten Hedegaard, Emma Hopelshorn, Ian Maksin

Closing: A Winter Solstice Blessing, Molly Reamer
Thomas Aláan, The EcoVoice Project

Community Song Texts

Solstice Carol (refrain)

Longest of nights,
Shortest of days,
Coldest of seasons,
Dimmest sun’s rays.
Amidst the dark
In winter night,
Hoping for spring that will
Bring us new light.

Easy on the Earth (refrain)

Easy on the earth,
Lightly on the water,
Remember this place is for
Your sons and daughters.
Easy on the earth,
Lightly on the water,
Remember who this place is for.

Participating Organization

The EcoVoice Project
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Climate Action Evanston
Interfaith Action of Evanston
Evanston Public Library: Blueberry Award

Guest Musicians

Thomas Aláan, voice
AJ Buegel, soprano
Zach Guo, piano
Kirsten Hedegaard, soprano
Emma Hospelhorn, flute
Ian Maksin, cello

Winter Solstice Collaborators

Join us to mark the longest night of the year with candlelight, music, poetry, and reflections on our connection with nature!

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

Ian Maksin

Emma Hospelhorn

Climate Action Evanston