The congregation gathers at a site where the sunrise can be seen, the service is timed so that the sun rises during the silence (an almanac, or a call to the public library, can help determine the exact time of sunrise).

An order of service, printed on a half sheet of paper, gives an outline of the service and the words to the "Exhortation" and the "Song."

GATHERING
The congregation assembles at the appointed spot. The leader calls them together at the appropriate time.

Leader: And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun. (Mark 16:2)

AFFIRMATIONS

Egyptian: Thy dawning is beautiful in the horizon of the sky. O living Aton, Beginning of Life! When thou risest in the eastern horizon, Thou art beautiful, great, glittering, high above every land; Thy rays, they encompass the lands, even all that thou hast made. Bright is the earth when thou risest in the horizon. When thou shinest as Aton by day Thou drivest away the darkness. (Hymn to the Sun, Egypt 1375-1358 BCE)

Hebrew: And God said, let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for sign and for seasons, and for days, and years. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: God made the stars also. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:14-18)

Hindu: The dawn light is come, amid all lights and fairest; born is the brilliant far-extending brightness. Night hath yielded a birthplace for the morning. Rich dawn she sets afoot the coiled-up sleeper, one for enjoyment, one for wealth, or worship. All living creatures hath the dawn awakened. Let us arise, the breath, the life, again hath reached us; darkness hath passed away and light approacheth. Singing praises. (Rig Veda)

Buddhist: O wonderful! The sun arises, and all the world is lighted. So wake our minds to truth, and we, benighted in error, see its brightness and adore. (Avatamsaka Sutra)

African: The Giver of Life placed the sun in great space and said no hand shall be the length to reach it. Though clouds disappear and we become a mountain, mmovable and high, The Giver of Life placed the sun in the heavens and said no eyes shall have the cunning to see within. Though clouds disappear and we become a mountain, mmovable and high. (Dahmey - Song to the Envious)

Muslim: All that is in the heavens and in the earth glorifieth God (Allah) ... God causes the night to pass into the day, and causes the day to pass into the night, and is knower of all that is. (Koran 57.1,6)

Zoroastrian: When the sun rises up then the earth, made by God (Ahura) becomes clean; the running waters become clean, the waters of the well become clean, the waters of the sea become clean, the standing waters become clean; all the holy creatures, the creatures of the Good Spirit, become clean. (Zend-Avesta)

Japanese: Heaven and earth are one; there is no barrier between them. The High Heavenly Plain covers all the countries of the world. The Heaven-Shining Goddess rules the Heavenly Plain for all time to come. This Heaven-Shining Goddess is none other than the sun which today casts its gracious light over the world. She is without a peer in the whole universe, casting her light to the very ends of heaven and earth and for all time. There is not a single country in the world which does not receive her beneficent illuminations, and no country can exist even fora day or an hour bereft of her grace. This goddess is the splendor of all splendors. (Motoor: Norinaga 1801)

Pawnee Indian: Whoever is touched by the first rays of the sun in the morning receives new life from the power above. The sun comes from the creator of life its ray is the bearer of life Behold: Hither come the rays of the sun they pass over all the land they come to us, to touch us and give us strength.

St. Francis: Praised be my Lord with all thy creatures and especially our brother the sun who brings us the day and who brings us the light Fair is he, and shining with a very great splendor 0 Lord, to us he signifies Thee!

EXHORTATION
Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course lie all the verities
and realities of your existence:
The bliss of growth
The glory of action,
The splendor of beauty;
For yesterday is but a dream.
And tomorrow is only a vision;
But today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness.
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore to this day.
(Kalidasa)

SILENCE TO WATCH THE RISING OF THE SUN

SONG
Morning has broken
Like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird.
Praise for the singing;
Praise for the morning;
Praise for them springing
Fresh from the Word.

Mine is the sunlight;
Mine is the morning
Born of the one light
Eden saw play.
Praise with elation,
Praise every morning,
God's recreation
Of the new day.

BENEDICTION
This is the day
That God hath made
We will rejoice
And be glad in it.