Church holds its first winter solstice service

I enjoyed this article for its ecumenical flavor until the last 5 paragraphs where Wiccans supposedly worship Thor and the "powers of darkness."
A commentary on witchvox states my feelings much better than I can write them myself:
http://www.witchvox.com/wren/wn_detail.html...
Negative-Posittive Division? Dec 22nd. at 10:14:04 am EST
Lailoken (San Francisco, California)- Email Me
I do not perpetuate this concept of Negative/Positive energy as two energies at opposition with each other or this White/Black magic fallacy.
It is all a balance. Just because in the northern hemisphere we experience a time of less daylight does not mean there are 'negative energies' floating around. This is an over-simplification and very misleading. It further perpetuates the Good vs. Evil and thus God vs. Devil concept that always sides Wiccan’s with the forces of darkness - total B.S.
Since ancient times humans have tried to understand the frightening aspects of life and to control what we can not control, i.e. darkness, death, disease, famine, drought and unconscious/conscious fear. All of these things are more apparent during the winter times.
To commune with these things or try and appease the spirits supposedly associated with them does not make one a practioner of 'black' magic. A truly developed soul understands that all of these things along with light, birth, health, abundance, joy and happiness are simply a part of life and the human experience. It's just how it is. At this time of year as a Wiccan it is my responsibility to face these aspects and come to a place of acceptance of them. I will one-day face death, and I may even have to face disease. Will I be a guide to help those around me experience and get through it or will I cry out that it is the work of ‘dark-forces’ and run for cover?
No, it is a part of life not the end of it.
Blessed Be all.

very well put... Blessed be to you as well.

Madera wrote:

very well put... Blessed be to you as well.

I Completely agree with you.... Blessed be and Merry Yule!

From the article
" Naylor said that for Christians, the winter solstice is a sign that the days will be getting lighter and longer. The symbolism is combined with Christ's birth to "show the coming of light through Christ," he said. The event also was used as a stress reliever, he said."

Well, this is the first I have ever heard that WS had any meaning for Christians. No Christian group that I know of celebrate it or explains it that way. So this sorta floored me.

This article made me laugh so hard I almost squirted egg nog out of my nose! What next? Mabey the christians can celebrate chanukah and justify it by saying each day of celebration represents the "lights" jesus ignites in your soul. I won't even mention the errors in describing my religion, I feel others will inevidably do it for me and to a greater extent than I care to. These christians are the very deffination of IRONY! And the best part is that they don't see it. So to all the other pagans that read this article: don't get offended, just laugh long and hard at these fools. Remember that christianity is just a mish-mash of other peoples religions anyways. Why should this be any different?