Grove New Member Welcoming

Based off the Welcoming done by Grove of the Midnight Sun, rewritten by Crystal, Senior Druid of CedarLight Grove, ADF.

I rewrote this to welcome new members to CedarLight during high rites.  During their fourth high rite attendance, they are a full-fledged member and able to vote in elections.  To symbolize this we bring them forth into ritual to do the following:

Prepare book of CedarLight and pen on stand and have a goblet of wine ready beforehand.

Senior Druid pours wine in goblet and sets aside.

Senior Druid stands before the altar.

On this day, we have one [replace with another if multiple] in our gathering who wishes to pledge themselves to CedarLight Grove, as today marks their fourth (or later) sacred ritual with CedarLight Grove. Will ____________________ (person) please step forward?

Person steps toward the altar.

By what name shall you be known in CedarLight Grove?

Person answers with either given name or magical name.

Hail ye Gods, Nature Spirits, Ancestors, folk of CedarLight Grove and guests. Here stands before you __________________ soon to stand as an oak within CedarLight Grove.

Hand book to new member to sign.

____________________ as you scribe your name in the Book of CedarLight, you symbolize your bond and dedication to CedarLight Grove, ADF, and we ask you to join us in this pledge before the mighty Kindred (Repeat after me):

Before the Shining Ones,
I pledge my service to CedarLight Grove.

Before the folk and the nature spirits,
I pledge my service to CedarLight Grove.

Before my ancestors
and those that walked the land before me,
I pledge my service to CedarLight Grove.

This I declare to be for the next year before the Well, the Tree, and the Fire.

Fellow members of CedarLight Grove, you have witnessed an oath in service to the folk and to the Kindred. You have watched as [member name] has grown as part of our community and be acknowledged by the Kindred. Do you welcome [member name] among you, to serve with you as part of the folk of CedarLight Grove? If so, then please respond with “We do”.

Hand member their button.

[member name], be welcome among us. Hail the folk!

Gathering responds with “Hail the Folk!”

Hail CedarLight Grove!

Gathering responds with “Hail CedarLight Grove!”

Senior Druid picks up goblet of sweet wine.

Let us share this drink in your honor.
Welcome to CedarLight Grove.

Hands drink to new member. New member drinks and hands back to Senior Druid who drinks.

(omit if the circle is too big to handle passing the goblet of mead)

Senior Druid hands drink to next person. That person says: Welcome to CedarLight Grove and drinks. Senior Druid hands to next person who says and does the same.

Grove Yearly Reaffirmation

We also use this as sort of a reaffirmation every Yule to all members of CedarLight Grove.  The following is for a group reaffirmation to those that wish to declare their service to the Grove during yearly pledges. I’ve learned from past experiences in our Grove, that it is probably best to call forth the actual members of the Grove for this, otherwise everyone will attempt to participate, which was not the purpose of this oath.

Just before the return of the sun each year, the folk of Cedarlight gather together to reaffirm their pledge and commitment CedarLight Grove. This is our way of declaring our continued devotion to the folk, the sanctuary, and the vision of our Grove throughout the new-year. Would the following people please come forward.

(list the names of those actual members of the Grove)

I ask that those members of the Grove who are truly dedicated to come forth before the kindred, and gather ’round to re-oath themselves to CedarLight Grove by way of this troth ring.  For those new members who have not yet reached their third sacred high rite, you are also welcome to commit this pledge to CedarLight.  Rest assured I will still bring you up for your solitary oath when the time comes.

Await as the folk gather around the troth ring.  If not everyone can reach the troth ring, have them place their hands on their neighbor so all are connected.  The best method is to create a circle and hold out the ring towards the center for everyone to touch.

Hail ye Gods, Nature Spirits, Ancestors, folk of CedarLight and honored guests.  We stand before you now as many branches intertwined from the same tree of life.  Witness now our oath to CedarLight Grove and our service to the Gods.

(repeat after me)

Before the Gods & Goddesses,
I pledge my service to CedarLight Grove.

Before the folk and the nature spirits,
I pledge my service to CedarLight Grove.

Before my ancestors
and those that walked the land before me,
I pledge my service to CedarLight Grove.

I will continue to be pious in all activity,
I will offer hospitality to my neighbor,
I will be courageous in my actions,
I will hold fast to my integrity,
I will seek out the wisdom to know the truth,
I will nurture the fertility of life and the land,
I will foster the vision of CedarLight Grove,
I will live moderately, but always in excellence,
I will persevere in my devotion to the folk and to the kindred,

This I declare before the Well, the Tree, and the Fire.

HAIL CEDARLIGHT GROVE!

All share a drink of wine from a goblet.