Solar dedication at St. James Episcopal Church in Potomac, Maryland

Solar Dedications

When St. Alban’s parish dedicated their solar panels in the fall of 2009, the rector at the time described them as their “newest stained-glass windows,” proclaiming their story to the world.The power solar panels on a congregation can have for good is more than just the good done by generating clean energy; like stained-glass windows, they are a visible testimony to your congregation’s values and vision for our world.

Once your congregation has signed a contract for a solar energy project, there are often some weeks or months before the panels are installed and then turned on. Embrace this time as an opportunity for the panels to do the most good by planning a celebration or dedication that:

honors the staff, lay leaders, donors, and partners who worked to make the project possible

Incorporate a moment of gratitude or a specific blessing into your service for the staff, donors, lay leaders, partners, and contractors whose efforts resulted in the activation of the solar panels that you are celebrating. Taking time during your ceremony to recognize their stewardship serves as a reminder that everyone is able, in some small way, to be a caretaker of the Earth.

Blessings from Past Solar Dedications

Use any of the following blessings as inspiration for your own ceremony.

Solar Dedication for Churches – Find the full dedications here. 

The United Church of Christ, coming from the Christian faith tradition, has two resources for solar dedication ceremonies available on their website. The first resource is the “Litany and Prayer for Solar Dedication” which has a litany where the leader and congregation both commit to God and clean energy on a “Sun-day.” The second source is the “Order of Service for Solar Dedication” which contains a specific Dedication of Solar Panels adapted from St. Andrew’s Lutheran.  

Bernie Bloom’s Solar Dedication Ceremony – Find the full dedication here.

Rooted in the Jewish faith tradition, this ceremony written by Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin educates the audience on the religious significance of installing solar panels. The homeowner, Bernie Bloom, then exemplifies the importance of clean energy for all ages by having the young attendees activate the panels. 

St. Alban’s Liturgy – Find the full liturgy here.

The St. Alban’s solar panel blessing liturgy comes from the Episcopalian denomination within the Christian faith tradition. The liturgy provides space for both the clergy and attendees to be involved with the ceremony while also inviting speakers who are partners in the movement towards clean energy. 

Blessing for the Dedication of Solar Panels by Rabbi Nathan Martin – Find the full blessing here.

This blessing comes from Jewish Faith tradition and focuses on gratitude and the spiritual calling to bring about clean energy and sustainable principles to the world. 

The following quotes are from a variety of faith traditions and have been used by congregations during their ceremony, on bulletins, and on social media as a way of sharing the spiritual connection of the solar panel project. 

The Parable of the Lamp – Find the parable here. 

The Parable of the Lamp comes from the Christian faith tradition. In the parable, Jesus describes how lamps are put on tables so that their light will better shine. By installing solar panels, your congregation is following suit by elevating your commitment to stewardship of the Earth so that your faith and actions can shine for the rest of your community to see. 

Blessing of Solar Panels by Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb – Find the blessing here.

Rooted in the Jewish faith tradition, this blessing of solar panels references the Tanakh, honors G-d as the Creator, and has responsories for the audience. 

The Canticle of the Sun by St. Francis of Assisi – Find the canticle here.

Coming from the Catholic faith tradition, the Canticle of the Sun is a poem that venerates God through describing the glory of His Creation, such as discussions surrounding the sun being a reflection of His brilliance. 

Gayatri Mantra: A prayer to the Sun God – Find the prayer here. 

This prayer comes from the Hindu faith tradition and is intended to create a space where those present can dwell on the glory of the divine Light. 

The Sun Deity’s Prayer for Protection – Find the prayer here.

Coming from the Pali Canon in the Buddhist faith tradition, this prayer describes how Suriya, the sun deity, called upon the Buddha for assistance when held captive by Rahu, who then intervenes and forces the release of Suriya and demonstrates how one can overcome darkness. 

Isha Upanishad 15-16 – Find the verses here.

Sourced from the Hindu faith tradition, these verses describe how the sun is the offspring of the Creator. The text beseeches the sun to dim its light so that the Truth hidden behind it can be made clear. In the end, they realize that the individual’s true being is the same as the divine Truth obscured by the sun’s brilliance. 

Hebrew Bible, Deuteronomy 33:13-16 – Find the verses here.

Deuteronomy is shared by both the Jewish and Christian faith traditions and describes gratitude for the Lord’s creation of the cosmos, especially the sun and how it allows for precious gifts on Earth that sustain us. 

Celtic Hymn to the Sun – Find the hymn here. 

Even while rooted in Celtic tradition, this text could be used by any number of faith traditions and refers to the Sun as the eye of the divine being. It then gives glory to the Sun as the face of the God of life. 

Writings from St. Hildegard von Bingen – Find the writings here. 

St. Hildegard von Bingen is a Catholic saint who describes God as the Fiery Force behind all living beings, connecting all aspects of life together. The sun is given special attention, as its light is seen as one of many sources of vitality that stem from the Fiery Force itself. 

The following list contains songs, hymns, and verses from sacred texts that could be used in solar dedication ceremonies.

Buddhism

  1. Suriya Paritta 
  2. Suriya Sutta
  3. The Dhammapada Verse 387 
  4. Lotus Sutra Chapter 21: “As the light of the sun and moon can vanish all obscurity and gloom, so this person as he passes through the world can wipe out the darkness of living beings, causing immeasurable numbers of bodhisattvas in the end to dwell in the single vehicle.” 
  5. Suvarņabhāsottama Sutra

Christianity 

  1. Sun of My Soul by John Keble 
  2. Awake, My Soul, and With the Sun by Thomas Ken 
  3. There is Sunshine in My Soul Today by Eliza E. Hewitt 
  4. Shine, Jesus, Shine by Graham Kendrick 
  5. From the Sun’s Rising by Graham Kendrick
  6. Canticle of the Sun by St. Francis of Assisi 
  7. Heavenly Sunlight by George Cook 
  8. Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun by Isaac Watts 
  9. Bright as the Sun by Hillsong Worship 
  10. Sun of Righteousness 
  11. Light of the World by Lauren Daigle 
  12. Let There Be Light by Bryan and Katie Torwalt 

Hinduism 

  1. Aditya Hrudayam 
  2. Surya Ashtakam 
  3. Surya Beeja Mantras 
  4. The Gayatri Mantra 
  5. The Surya Sukta 
  6. Aditya Hridayam Stotram (from the Ramayana) 
  7. Surya Upanishad 
  8. Surya Kavacham 
  9. Aadi Deva Namastubhyam 

Islam

  1. The Quran: 78:12-13
  2. The Quran: Surah Ash-Shams (91:1-4)
  3. Du’a an-Nur: found in Sahih Muslim
  4. Surat Al-Haj (22:18)

Judaism 

  1. L’Olam B’ikvot HaShemesh by Sari 
  2. El Adon 
  3. Barchi Nafshi 
  4. Yotzer Or
  5. Psalm 150/Hallel
  6. Shemesh by Hanan Ben Ari 
  7. Pitchu Li 
  8. Or Zarua 
  9. Adamah V’Shamayim 

No Specific Religious Affiliation 

  1. Sun by Emma-Jean Thackray
  2. Who Loves the Sun by The Velvet Underground 
  3. Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles 
  4. Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun by Pink Floyd 
  5. Worship the Sun by Allah-Las
  6. Hymn to the Sun by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
  7. Good Day Sunshine by The Beetles
  8. Soak Up the Sun by Sheryl Crow 

Unitarian Universalist 

  1. Morning Has Come (Hym #1000 in Singing the Journey)
  2. Morning Has Broken (Hymn #38 in Singing the Living Tradition 
  3. When the Summer Sun is Shining (Hymn #66 in Singing the Living Tradition)

Congregations across our region have found beautiful, fun, and joyful ways of blessing their solar projects and including the entire community. Here’s what you can do for your own congregation: 

  • Invite the youngest members of your community to blow bubbles while the solar panels are ceremonially turned on. Alternatives to the bubbles are incense or sage. 
  • Make custom light switch stickers that serve as daily reminders to turn off the lights. Other congregations have created them to look like this. 
  • Craft solar panel hats using squares of cardboard and covering them in foil.
  • Pass out sunshine stickers that serve as a reminder of your ceremony and the importance of solar energy. 
  • Theme your ceremony. Orange, yellow, and sunflower themes are very popular. 
  • Consider having members of your congregation sponsor a panel. Both the Islamic Society of Baltimore and Beth Sholom in Frederick, MD have funded their projects in this way which makes the solar installation more personal to their community.

By having a solar dedication ceremony, you are not only celebrating the activation of the panels, you are also leading by example. Your building becomes a visible reminder of your stewardship of the Earth and its resources. This milestone is the perfect moment to invite those in your community to follow suit and implement clean energy initiatives in their personal lives, such as at home or at work. 

  • Provide community members with a bulletin during the ceremony that outlines resources for going green at home. IPL is more than happy to work with congregations to create custom bulletins to best suit your individual needs. 
  • Refer members to community solar initiatives, such as Neighborhood Sun, which allows members to subscribe to solar energy without having panels on their roof.
  • Encourage your members to help other communities with their clean energy initiatives that they could not afford without help. Solar philanthropies that help connect congregations with communities in need are Solar Sister and Grid Alternatives.

A solar dedication ceremony is a powerful way to elevate your congregation’s mission before local officials and your extended community. Because these ceremonies are public and highly visible online, they offer a natural opportunity to invite neighbors and civic leaders into your sacred space. Welcoming them onto your grounds allows you to demonstrate the tangible benefits of clean energy while sharing the deeper message of your congregation’s values. 

Is your congregation going solar in DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia?

Email solar@ipldmv.org to let us know! IPL-DMV would love to add your congregation to our solar congregations map and support your community in planning a meaningful celebration including professional photography and invitations to your members to shift to clean energy at home. 

Photo from the St. Alban’s Episcopal Church’s solar dedication ceremony in Washington D.C.

Congregation's Solar Dedications

See how local congregations have celebrated the installation of their solar panels by checking out this playlist on the IPL-DMV Youtube channel!