Group Worship

If the group is less than ten members, it may be best to use the Family Worship ceremony. We consider a group to be more than ten and the design of the ceremony is for twenty to fifty worshipers.

The group should choose a speaker and two Leather Bearers. The speaker will lead the ceremony. The Leather Bearers will be responsible for carrying the leather offering to the place of gifting.

It is difficult to get a large group into a quiet place in nature. For this reason, it is the practice for the group to meet in a park or in their usual meeting area. The intent of the ceremony is more important than the actual implementation.

Before the ceremony starts, prepare a clean place, such as an altar, where the leather will rest during the proceedings. The Leather Bearers should know who they are and what their parts will be. They must know where they will take the leather to make the offering.

The speaker should also be prepared. The speaker should know the words to the ceremony and the proper ordering. The speaker should also feel impassioned about the idea of leading the ceremony or the group members may not get the feel of things.

To start the ceremony, the speaker and Leather Bearers move to the altar and ensure that the leather is in place. All three turn to face the group and the speaker raises his or her arms. The group should form into a circular pattern facing the altar. All should be quiet.

In the softest voice that can still be heard by all the group members, the speaker says:

Hail Vidar the Silent!
Hail Vidar the Wolf Ripper!
Hail Vidar Far Seer!
Hail Vidar, Son of Odin!
Tonight (or today if appropriate) we gather to celebrate the presence of Vidar in our lives.

The group whispers:

Hail Vidar!

The speaker continues:

The Gods created the Children of Ash and Elm as allies in the ancient battle between order and chaos, between fire and ice. The Gods and their allies are in the middle of these forces and we all battle to keep them in balance. Neither can be allowed to win. In the past, this has been done. We focus on the battles to come!

The group whispers:

Ragnarok!

The speaker continues:

When that battle is done, the Children of Ash and Elm will persevere. If not us, our children, and they will rebuild stronger than we. Their lord will be Vidar!

The group whispers:

Hail Vidar!

The speaker continues:

That does not mean that we do not have our part. No, we must lay groundwork for that distant victory. We must build our strengths so that our children will survive and prosper. This is our task as we move through life!

The group whispers:

Build strengths!

The speaker continues:

This is our task and we must work hard, but we are not alone. We do not perform these tasks without guidance. We have an ally.

The group whispers:

Hail Vidar!

The speaker continues:

Hail Vidar! It is that same Vidar who will rule after the great battle who helps prepare us now. In His silence, He looks forward to distant times. He knows what we need to do. He knows what He wants us to do. We can count on His vision and guidance. Hail Vidar!

The group whispers:

Hail Vidar!

The speaker continues:

Hail Vidar! He who sees! He who knows! It is He who will guide us. He is silent, but his wisdom comes in the silence. We need only listen. When we listen to the spaces between the noise, we hear the ancient silence and that is where you find His wisdom and His words. It is in the silence that we learn what we must do.

The group whispers:

Hail Vidar the Silent!

The speaker continues:

Let us take a moment now to seek out that silence. Let us seek out the wisdom of Vidar. All of us, let us close our eyes and still our minds to listen to that which cannot be heard. Let us do that now.

The group, the speaker, and the Leather Bearers all close their eyes and meditate on the silence for several minutes.

When the speaker feels that the meditation has lasted long enough, he or she begins again:

We must be thankful for the wisdom of Vidar. We show that we are His ally in this ancient war that will last till the great battle.
Since ancient times, it was known that Vidar must fight the terrible wolf in the last battle. To aid in this struggle, we, Vidar's allies, make an offering to strengthen His boot and to show our allegiance in this fight. Tonight, we make such an offering.
In accordance with ancient practice, we offer this piece of leather to add to His boot. We make this offering to strengthen the bond between our people and Vidar Wolf Ripper.

The group whispers:

Hail Vidar Wolf Ripper!

The speaker picks up the leather and continues:

We entrust this sacred task to these Leather Bearers. They will deliver the offering to Vidar on our behalf so that so large a group does not disturb the silence. Please lend them your strength as they undertake this task that they may do so in safety.

The speaker turns to the Leather Bearers and hands them the leather. Then he or she says:

Take this offering to the Quiet Place and deliver it to the Silent One. Let him know we are his allies and that we take our responsibilities seriously. Let him know that we are thankful for his guidance and wisdom. Go with our strengths and love.

The group whispers:

Hail Vidar! Hail Vidar! Hail Vidar!

The Leather Bearers bow slightly to the group and then turn away to take the leather to the Quiet Place.

Once the Leather Bearers are gone, the speaker turns back to the group and continues:

The Leather Bearers take our offering to Vidar. With this solemn act, we acknowledge our responsibility to keep a hopeful eye to the future that we make stronger and better with our every breath. We also know that the wisdom of Vidar can be found in us all when we quiet our hearts and minds and we listen.
Go now in peace and build for the future.

This ends the group's part of the ceremony. It is the responsibility of the speaker to make sure that the Leather Bearers return safely after their task.

When the Leather Bearers leave the group, they quickly and safely go to the designated place of offering. In silence, they hold the leather up to be clearly seen. Once it can be seen, they place the leather on a natural surface. After a couple of moments of quiet meditation, they return in silence to the group.

The group should feast after the ceremony and talk with each other. They should bask in each other's company. When the Leather Bearers return, the group should greet them with great enthusiasm as though they have returned from a sacred task… which they have.