Church of the Earth of NC

What do we do at the Church Of The Earth? At the Church of the Earth we practice and guide others in Earth based religions. Our worship style is designed for the individual to learn what is out there so they can choose the beliefs that fit their true self. We follow a minimum of dogma, but strive to maintain the spirituality that is usually lost in organized religions. 

Each ritual at COTE contains the following:

Cleansing of the people and /or area. Call of the four (4) quarters / elements. Brief chant or song Guided meditation Holiday specific activity Discussion / presentation of alternative beliefs for specific holiday Sharing or transforming activity A time for socializing with each other

Current activities:

We have worship services each of the eight (8) holy days at our sanctuary in Gaia's Gardens (times and dates vary.) We have a covered dish social (PNO) the second Friday of each month (7:30pm)

Weddings and Handfastings

Steve Stone, the Pastor of the Church of the Earth Of NC, performs weddings and handfastings.  Click here for more details, or contact him by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Church celebrates 8 holy days each year.

Imbolc

This holy day, also called Candlemas is the midwinter celebration.  It is from the times when farmers would need a good celebration to show that they are half way through winter and the ground is beginning to get fertile once again.  The grape vines are cut back, the early seeds are planted, and the farmers celebrate the end of the most harsh parts of winter.  The ceremony gives thanks to the spirits or gods that the harsh times are ending and the times of plenty are approaching.  In Catholic religions, this is the time when candles are blessed for use during the coming year.

Eostara

This holy day, also called Easter is the rebirth of the land.  The symbols of the Egg, and the hare or rabbit represent the returning of fertility to the Earth.  It is a celebration of the conception and beginning of the growing season.  In Celtic Mythology, the sun god has gained victory over the dark god, and there are more hours of light than dark each day. 

Beltane

This holy day is also called May Day.  It is the celebration of the Earth being in full bloom.  It is also the celebration of the peak of human sexuality.  Beltane is the beginning of summer, and the peak of the farming season. It celebrates nature in its purest form.

Summer Solstice

Also called midsummer or Litha, this holy day comes on the longest day of the year.  It, like most of the holy days is based on a natural occurrance.  This is a night of magic and madness, as the creatures of forest mythology are very active this night. This is a time when the darkness begins its reign and the days begin to shorten.  It is a time for introspection into your soul, when you begin to look at yourself as an individual and work on changing yourself for the better.

Lammas

Also called First Harvest or Lughnassahd.  Lammas is the end of the summer season.  It is the day of both celebretion of the first harvest and sorrow over the 'death of the sun god Lugh' and the end of summer.  This holyday marks the cooling of the temperature and the beginning of preparation for winter.

Autumnal Equinox

Also called Mabon, this holyday is the end of The Corn King in Celtic beliefs, and the heart of the harvest season.  The celebrations of plenty abound on Mabon as the leaves turn and the Earth shows a new side of its beauty.

Halloween

Also called Samhain or All Hallow's eve.   Halloween is actually the Celtic New year. It is a time when the past and the future are linked by the transition of one year to the next.  Those that were alive in the past are accessable now, as the veil of time is so thin.  The future readings done at this time are also more accurate for the same reason.  The celebration for Samhain is one of looking back into the last year and forward into the next. 

Yule

Also called winter solstice.  Yule is the shortest day of the year. It is the end of the reign of the Holly King (the halls are decked in celebration with holly) and marks the time when the days will begin to once again get longer.  Yule is a celebration of light returning or being reborn to the Earth.   This holiday also ends the introspection that was begun at midsummer, and begins a new phase of community and social interaction.