We need your help, and we're inviting you to be part of a bold new emergence of Pagan religious practice in our state. The Society of Elder Faiths has reached a pivotal moment in its history. Having been fully recognized as a church at both the state and federal levels, we must now acknowledge and fulfill the responsibility to the Pagan community that this brings with it.

As the Pagan population has matured, many of us increasingly recognize the need for the form of localized, close-knit community that other churches provide to their members. The mutual support, friendship and fellowship that characterizes most religious communities can be difficult to find in the Pagan world, and many people remain solitary or, indeed, never find their path due to a lack of connection with others. The terror inflicted upon our nation in September made this lack all the more deeply felt, as others came together in their churches and synagogues to provide mutual comfort.

We have come through that difficult time with a determination that this need must be addressed, and that we carry the responsibility to do so.

At our recent Annual Meeting, a draft operating plan for the years 2002-2004 was presented. This plan calls for the SEF to reach out to the Massachusetts Pagan population by establishing more venues for ritual, classes and fellowship. It also calls for much greater visibility for our organization, insuring that every Pagan who wishes to find their community in Massachusetts can do so. Perhaps most exciting of all, it calls for the construction of a stone circle on land which may be donated to the SEF in western Mass. The site is a beautiful parcel of about 20 acres at the top of a rise in a wooded area and could, in time, be the location of a memorial garden and camping facilities as well as the circle.

The fulfillment of this vision would establish a spiritual and symbolic center for our activities. The operating plan sets a lofty goal for membership, increasing in annual steps from our current 46 members to 75, then 200, then 350. To accomplish this, we know that membership must carry with it the social connections and networks enjoyed by members of other churches. Our plan for more local venues is critical toward this end.

Although many current and new volunteers will be necessary to carry out this plan, we know that volunteers alone will not be sufficient. The level and complexity of activity calls for professional coordination and the focused attention that only a paid staff person can provide. Because of this, we have planned for and have already hired a part-time staff position, and plan to gradually increase this to a full-time equivalent position.

The purpose of this staff position is emphatically not to offload all the work from the members and board. In fact, it is our hope and intent that she will be helping us all to be more efficient and effective in our service to SEF and to the Pagan community.

Of course, all of these initiatives carry a financial cost as well. Our 2002 budget calls for a total income of over $85,000, drawn from a combination of membership contributions, donations to a newly established Annual Fund, major gifts to the organization and event income.

What we ask of you is that you join with us in making this plan a reality. Your time, money, and effort, joined together with that of your fellow SEF members, can make this happen. Be assured that the SEF board will be contributing all three of these things in great measure as well, reflecting our commitment to SEF's future.

The SEF Operating Plan, when finalized, will be available for download from the SEF website member section or by mail upon request.

- Board of Directors, Society of Elder Faiths

Spring Equinox or Ostara
By Arachne

Oestara, Ostara, Eostre - is the name of a Teutonic Fertility Goddess who was especially associated with the Vernal Full Moon, and thus Springtime and all the season stands for. While Her actual name is no longer a familiar word, the name of the Christian Springtime holiday - Easter - is thought to derive from Oestara, as do many of the folk customs associated with Easter. Chicks, rabbits, early flowers, budding branches, seeds and especially eggs are ancient symbols of the new life that the Spring Equinox heralds. For modern Pagans and Wiccans, Oestara is a time to put winter behind us, and prepare for the upcoming season of growth. We begin our preparations by undergoing ritual purification at the previous holiday on the Wheel of the Year, Candlemas (traditionally February 2). The Spring Equinox signifies the end of this annual period of inner purification, and the beginning of the season of outward action. While many of us do this very literally - by planting seeds, pruning trees, and preparing garden soil for planting - all of us do it metaphorically by preparing our inner selves for the life changes that Spring will bring.

Eostre © 1990 Joanne Powell Colbert
By permission JPC 2002

Annual Report
By Roger Powell, President

In 2001, the Society of Elder Faiths held our usual four major events: the Annual Meeting in Grafton, MA; the Spring Retreat in Deerfield, MA; the Lammas Games in East Bridgewater, MA; and the Fall Retreat in Middlefield, MA. The Fall Retreat was devoted to shaping our vision for the SEF in the coming years. The consensus that emerged from that meeting was that the SEF should grow to serve the needs of a broad-based community of Pagans, to extend opportunities for fellowship, worship, religious instruction, and the kinds of social support which a church should provide. This vision calls for rapid growth of our membership, an increase in the level of activity of the Society, and the establishment of a more professional support infrastructure.

For 2002, we held our Annual Meeting, which was held in Westborough, MA, and will hold the Spring Retreat in Deerfield, MA (the first weekend in June), the Lammas Games, and the Fall Retreat.

Ongoing worship services were held in two locations in 2001: Open sabbats in Bridgewater, MA; and Open sabbats in Worcester, MA. For 2002, open sabbats will continue to be held in these locations, and we will also hold open sabbats in Boston, MA.

Religious instruction was held in East Bridgewater with an Intro to Wicca class in 2001. This will continue in 2002, with the addition of an ongoing About the Sabbats class in Worcester.

Other projects that we've been working on include preparing a proposal for the use of a possible gift of hilltop land in Middlefield, MA. We envision building a stone circle as a gathering site for outdoor worship, and using part of the land to establish a memorial ground and cemetery. We also started publishing a newsletter for the SEF, and updated the SEF web site. The Seminary project was on hold last year, but work will resume on the curriculum this year.

In furtherance of our vision for the Society, we established a new Supporting membership class to make membership in the SEF easier and more accessible. Membership has risen from 20 at the beginning of 2001 to 36 at the beginning of 2002. We have also contracted a professional administrator, initially on a part-time basis, to make sure event arrangements and communications with the membership are handled in a timely manner.

This is an exciting time in the history of our Society. If we are to pursue our vision of building an active, vibrant, legally-recognized Pagan community, we must think big, dream big, and plan big.

As reality collides with our plans, we may have to scale back our aspirations at times, but it is important to aim high and make the effort to achieve this worthy goal.

Persephone's Return
By Morwynna

The re-awakening of the Earth at Springtide is represented by the return of Persephone to Her mother, Demeter (the Olympian Goddess of the Grain), after spending the winter as Queen of the Underworld. Persephone's annual descent and Her eternal return reinforce our faith in the never-ending cycles of life, and lead us to ponder the Mysteries of the Maiden and Mother aspects of the Goddess.

Demeter and Persephone
© 1962 Ingrid and Edgar D'Aulaire

Raven: Messenger of the Gods

In many traditions, the raven has had great significance as an Otherworld Messenger. In Norse mythology, Odin's two ravens, Thought and Memory, flew around the world every day to learn of the day's news and report to him. In Tibetan legend the raven is the messenger of the Supreme Being, and the Irish felt the bird to be omniscient, using phrases like "raven's knowledge" to mean seeing all and knowing all. There are stories collected from Germany, India, Siberia, Iceland, Scandinavia, and elsewhere wherein people are advantaged and guided by speaking with these birds, or hearing the conversations of ravens. The raven appeared in similar myths in early North American cultures, especially the Pacific Northwest nations. Ceremonies depicting the raven were an integral part of some of these societies. Raven is of the shadows, yet desires to protect and save.

Art: Raven J. Brown, by permission

Counseling Available

Lynda (Lyn) Warwick, Ph.D., an SEF member and Licensed Psychologist, is pleased to announce that she has opened a private practice at the Angels' Loft in East Bridgewater, MA. Lyn works primarily with adults and is qualified to help with problems related to anxiety, depression, trauma, sexuality, spirituality, relationships, grief, and other kinds of painful problems. Her focus is on increasing the awareness of thoughts and feelings that are often learned in childhood, and which influence emotions and behavior today. She supports people in making the changes they decide to make, and teaches people strategies for change.

Lyn can accept some types of insurance and she can make flexible payment arrangements. She may be reached for appointments or more information by calling (978) 794-9996 x159, or by e-mailing lwarwick@juno.com.

Reminder: Spring Retreat at Woolman Hill

Our annual Spring retreat has been scheduled for Friday night, May 31 through the afternoon of Sunday, June 2. Our traditional location, the Woolman Hill retreat center near Deerfield, MA (known for its lovely apple trees) has been reserved, and the SEF board has decided to open the retreat to non-members this year. Registration forms will be mailed in the coming weeks.

We're also looking for workshops and rituals to be offered; please consider topics you might like to present.

Rites of Passage

Coven Synchronos is pleased to announce the elevation to the Third Degree of Morag, now known as Thymele, aka Jen. In attendance were most of the SEF Board and all of Synchronos. Thymele will continue as HP of the coven, and we express our gratitude for the unfailing support we have received from the community.



Persephone's Midden is pleased to announce that, after a far-too-long courtship, Gwyddion has joined our group.

The following clergy are available through the Society of Elder Faiths:

A licensed Wiccan Elder, with ministerial credentials from the Covenant of the Goddess and the Society of Elder Faiths (SEF), authorized to perform legal weddings and handfastings. Also available for other religious services and Rites of Passage. Debbie Fields-Berry P.O. Box 335, B.U. Station Boston MA 02215 dberry@bu.edu 508 839-3457

I hold legal credentials through the Covenant of the Goddess and am ordained though the Society of Elder Faiths. I am willing to travel within New England and will work with people of any Neo-Pagan tradition or non-Pagans with an earth centered focus. I require an initial face to face meeting with a couple at least 2 months before a wedding. I have also performed Wiccanings and am available for other rites of passage. Peg P.O. Box 485 Upton, MA 01568-0485 meagan@control.com 508 839-3457

SEF Messenger: The Community Newsletter of the Society of Elder Faiths
Spring 2002
Editor : Jennifer
Staff: Morwynna
© 2002 Society of Elder Faiths
SEF Members may submit news to:
news@elderfaiths.org
or
PO Box 30, Marlboro, MA 01752
or
508 839-3457

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