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As the nights grow longer and the days shorter, share in an audio celebration of Seasons of Light, Harvard Divinity School's beloved annual multireligious service honoring the interplay of holy darkness and light in the world’s religious traditions. Performances include choral and instrumental music, readings by HDS students, the ritual kindling of many flames, and communal prayers and songs. Explore these offerings to the season in part or as a whole.
Seasons of Light is hosted by Harvard Divinity School's Office of Religious and Spiritual Life under the direction of Christopher Hossfeld, Director of Music and Ritual, and Kerry A. Maloney, Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life.
Prelude | “Three Stanzas of Plum Blossoms” (Meihua Sannong 梅花三弄) Huan Yi (桓伊)| Tianyi Yuan, MDiv III, guqin (古琴)
Meditation | Sound Meditation | Joyous Noise, HDS’ Chanting Community
Congregational Song | “Tov L’Hodot L’Hashem” Jewish Shabbos Song | HDS Choir and Seasons of Light Band
Excerpt from Walden by Henry David Thoreau | Owen Yager, MTS II
“The Eight Verses of Mind Training” (Lo jong Tsig gye ma) by Langri Tangpa Dorje Senge, Read in Tibetan and English| Tulku Tenzin Gyurmey, Dorjey Dolma, and Deung Myoung Sunim, Buddhist Ministry Initiative Resident Fellows
Meditation | “Solstice Carole” by Kim Baryluk | Nicole Newell, soloist and the HDS Choir
“Little Prayer” by Danez Smith | Charlotte McAdams, MDiv II
“Born Again” by Lynn Ungar | Rosemary Dodd, MDiv III
“The Peace of Wild Things” by Wendell Berry | Laurie Sedgwick, MDiv III
Meditation | “Winter—The Hearth” from Songs for the Seasons | Composed and performed by Ro Robinson, MDiv I
From the Writings of Caroline Fox and Isaac Penington | Patrick Downes, MDiv III
Isaiah 45: 7–8, the Bible and from the Writings of Victor Cadette | Ebony West, MDiv III
Congregational Song | “La Ténèbre” Jacques Berthier, Taizé Community | Stephanie Hollenberg, MDiv II, leader and cantor, Luke Concannon, guitar
“Stone Soup,” Adapted by Lizzy Lincoln from a European folktale | Lizzy Lincoln, MDiv I
Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.3.28 (pavamāna abhyāroha) | Bhavi Bhagat, MTS II
Satguru Nanak Pargateya | Read in Gurmukhi and English | Prabhroop Chawla, MTS II
Meditation | ساري الليل (Stargazing in the Solstice)| Written and performed by Eilaf Farajalla, MTS II
“Dark Things” Serbian poem translated by Charles Simic | Contributed by Emmeline Cordingley, MDiv I
“The Coming of Light” Mark Strand | Francesca Rubinson, MDiv II
The Qur’an, Surah Nur, Chapter 24, Verse 34–35 | Esedullah Uygur, MTS II
Meditation | “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” Dolly Parton | Sophia Doescher, MDiv III and Nicole Newell, MDiv III, voice
From The Doctrine and Covenants 88: 2, 5–15 | Jaxon Washburn, MTS II
“An afro is a halo.” For those who have never seen themselves depicted in celestial art | Written and offered by Suzannah Omonuk, MDiv III
Meditation | “Sweet Surrender” by Satigata | Chris Berlin, Counselor to Buddhist Students, vocals and guitar, Darren Becker, MDiv ’15, guitar, HDS Choir and Seasons of Light Band
Benediction | David N. Hempton | Dean of the Faculty of Divinity
Closing Song | “I Love the Lord” by Richard Smallwood | Aric Flemming, MDiv ’19, voice, Chris Hossfeld, Director of Music and Ritual, piano
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