Introduction
This ritual gets its name from the Jewish festival of Shavuot, the Feast of the First Fruits. This is traditionally the time when the first harvests occur and are celebrated. While spring is a hopeful time of new life and new begnnings, it is also a more tempestuous time when late and/or unseasonal frosts still happen. By the time we get to late spring/early summer there is more certainty that what has grown is firmly established and even beginning to bear fruit. Coming six months before the Festival of the Ancestors, and being its mirror image, let this be a time to celebrate new members who have been born into the community during the previous year.
Personal
If a loved one has been born/adopted within the past year, use today to celebrate them. If no one close to you has had a birth, you can use today to honor the children in your life in general.
Communal
In addition to the basic communion ritual, ask participants to being their babies! Hopefully people have been bringing their children all along, as these rituals are meant to be intergenerational. But on this day in particular, bring your infants who have been born during the previous year, and other children who have joined the community within the past year. If for some reason that can’t be done, then encourage folks to bring a photo or momento. After the invocation of the ancestors but before the communion blessing, insert the following:
Today we celebrate those who have joined our community this past year.
Invite folks with infants to name their babes. Let participants be free to show their appreciation, as they feel comfortable, as each name is called. When finished, turn out towards the people and say: