By Echo Sherman
This winter, Eugene is about to witness something rare, radiant, and wonderfully unexpected: a Yule celebration that unites faiths, communities, and hearts in one shared evening of ritual, music, and care.
On December 21st, 2025, the First Christian Church will open its doors at 5:00 PM for a historic event: an interfaith solstice service where the Christian tradition of the Son meets the Pagan celebration of the returning light. For those who love the warmth of ceremony, the flicker of candles, and the poetry of ritual, this is a moment you won’t want to miss.
The evening begins with a Christian ceremony from 5:00–5:45 PM, honoring hope, renewal, and the light that persists even on the darkest day of the year. Then, at 5:45 PM, Thornkin Coven steps forward to guide the Pagan ritual, with a special foreword via Zoom from Oberon Zell Ravenheart, lending his historic perspective to what may well be a first-of-its-kind collaboration outside interfaith or Unitarian contexts. Fire, poetry, music, and candlelight will weave together a celebration that honors both the sacredness of Yule and the Christian observance of the Son—showing how different traditions can sing in harmony when approached with intention, respect, and joy.
But this night isn’t just about ritual—it’s about action, too. Following the ceremonies, the Yule Ball opens from 7:00 PM until midnight, a celebration of community, dance, and joy. More importantly, it’s a fundraiser supporting Sphinx and South, two brilliant, queer, neurodivergent seventeen-year-olds navigating life after foster care. Every ticket, every contribution, every shared dance step helps provide safe housing, support networks, and affirmation for young people often overlooked by the systems meant to protect them.
The Yule Ball is also the first living expression of Octopus INC, a Pagan-led grassroots organization I co-founded with Kevin Kopcso. Our mission is simple, but radical: create lasting support networks, foster belonging, and empower those who have been marginalized. This is community care made tangible, wrapped in music, ritual, and the kind of joy that reminds us why we gather in the first place.
Whether you identify as Pagan, Christian, interfaith-curious, or simply someone who believes in the power of ritual to spark real-world change, this evening offers a chance to witness history in motion, celebrate the return of light, and act with heart. In the flicker of candles, the beat of drums, and the warmth of shared laughter, the power of chosen family and collective care will be visible, tangible, and unforgettable.
Event Details:
Date: December 21st, 2025
Doors Open: 5:00 PM
Christian Ceremony: 5:00–5:45 PM
Pagan Ceremony (Oberon Zell via Zoom, led by Thornkin Coven): 5:45–6:30 PM
Yule Ball: 7:00 PM–Midnight
Location: First Christian Church, 1166 Oak St., Eugene, Oregon
Come for the ritual. Stay for the music. Dance for the community. Celebrate the return of the sun, the Son, and the spirit of care in one unforgettable evening.
Click below to see full flyer:
