“I try to transition my energy into just having fun.”-Solange Knowles How might you have more fun today?

We need to be visible for the next generation of kids so that they know that there is a place for them in this world. For that small percentage of children who are destined to be queer, our visibility can be a shining beacon of hope that can make the difference between giving up and hanging on for another day. Continue reading Opinion: Pride and Prejudicial Ponderings at The Wild Hunt.

      “‘One day Ajahn Chah held up a beautiful Chinese tea cup, “To me this cup is already broken. Because I know its fate, I can enjoy it fully here and now. And when it’s gone, it’s gone.’”  When we understand the truth of uncertainty and relax, we become free.” Jack Kornfield in The […]

Colonial Militia under Col. John Stark repelled the first British assault against their hastily thrown up defenses on the left of Breed's Hill. The Battle of Bunker Hill is so famous that the most historically illiterate Americans—and there are a lot of them—have at least heard of it and can probably figure out that it was fought during the Revolutionary War.  Many may recall from High School or an old Peabody and Sherman cartoon that an order was issued—“Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes.”  Whatever that meant.  And most will assume it was a great American victory for George Washington.  Almost all of that would be wrong or misunderstood.  The real story is more complex and interesting. By mid-June 1775...

A short  “ thought for the day” offered to the Cambridge Unitarian Church as part of the Sunday Service of Mindful   Meditation. A pdf of the revised order of service in which this address was given, and about which it speaks, can be found at this link.   (Click on this link to hear a recorded version of the following piece)   —o0o— Let me start by telling two stories. The first concerns a comment I have received in various forms from about a dozen new visitors who have checked us out since we returned to face-to-face meetings in October 2021, using what we now call our Sunday Service of Mindful Meditation. This service was, remember, always a post-pandemic compromise, a hybrid construct, being, essentially, the old Evening ...

Please join us on Sunday (18 June 2023) at 11:00 AM for “Dad Jokes:  Humor as a Spiritual Tool in the Parenting Toolbox” with John Allen, Amanda Lawrence, and Susan Caldwell. Dad jokes, amiright?  The worse, the better.  You will more than likely hear a few of those this Sunday and also perhaps hear and … Continue reading "All Ages Worship (18 June 2023)"

2023 Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly Livestream Videos (21-25 June 2023 — Pittsburg PA — External Link) 2023 Pledge Drive — We Need Your Pledge Now

Please join us on Sunday (18 June 2023) for our adult religious education class at 9:00 AM. Our adult religious education class is now a dual-platform class — meeting in person in the church social hall and also on Zoom. This week, we will continue our discussion of Patrice Cullor’s An Abolitionist’s Handbook.  We will … Continue reading "Online and In-Person Adult Religious Education — 18 June 2023"

There will be no Zoom lunch this Tuesday (20 June 2023). Please join us on the following Tuesday (27 June 2023) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch. Our weekly Zoom lunch is going dual-platform — join us from home using Zoom or in person in the social hall. Bring your lunch and meet … Continue reading "No Zoom (and In-Person) Lunch on Tuesday (20 June 2023) — Zoom Lunch Resumes 27 June 2023"

Please join us on Saturday (17 June 2023) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes. This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching. Please note that this group is still meeting via Zoom.  You will need … Continue reading "Meditation with Larry Androes (17 June 2023)"

“The transition was difficult. It’s hard to stop something that you’ve enjoyed and that has been very rewarding.” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar How have you come through difficult transitions in your life?

Beacon Press joins others across America and the world in commemorating the life of the patriotic whistleblower and decades-long anti-war activist Daniel Ellsberg (1931–2023).

June is usually referred to as “Pride Month.” However, this June is different: It’s Pride Month as always, but also “National Immigrant Heritage Month.” Continue reading Opinion: The Life We Deserve at The Wild Hunt.

Junio generalmente se conoce como "Mes del Orgullo". Sin embargo, este junio es diferente: es el Mes del Orgullo como siempre, pero también el "Mes Nacional de la Herencia Inmigrante". Continue reading Opinión: La Vida que Merecemos at The Wild Hunt.

A few days ago, the Southern Baptist Convention voted to expel some local churches that had women as pastors. They kicked Rick Warren’s huge Saddleback Church, and they also kicked out a small church where as woman has been serving as pastor for three decades. If they’re suddenly kicking out a church where there’s been … Continue reading "What the Southern Baptist vote means"

I’ve been researching the race riot that happened at the high school in my hometown in 1978 (I hope to have a blog post about it on the 45th anniversary of the actual event). Part of my research led me to a 2002 oral history interview with Phil Benicasa, for many years an elementary school … Continue reading ""

      Michael Coren, a writer and late vocation priest in the Anglican Church of Canada whom I quite admire, recently offered an anecdote on social media. “I took a funeral recently where a woman told me at the reception that she was actually at the wrong ceremony. She didn’t know the deceased. I’d […]

This is an excerpt from a post I wrote in 2017. At first glance, it’s not the bright, sunshiny sort of thing one would expect under the theme of “delight” which we are focusing on in June 2023. Bear with … Continue reading →

The UUA affirms the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) because ICWA preserves Indigenous culture and sovereignty by protecting Native children from being removed during custody proceedings and placed with non-Native families. Continue reading "The UUA Applauds Supreme Court Ruling Upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act: Decision will help to maintain sovereignty of Indigenous communities"

The June 2023 issue of Popular Woodworking has an article of mine about making a coopered leg hall table, but what's more exciting is a review of our art and craft school, ESSA. In a 3 page spread, editor Logan Whitmer describes the wonders of our small school as well as the beauty of Eureka Springs. I'm pleased to have yet another article in a national magazine, and also pleased to see ESSA receive the attention it deserves. Make, fix and create. Enable others to do likewise.

  “A Unitarian Universalist can believe anything.” – Michelle Huneven interviewed by Scott Simon for NPR (April 23, 2022) When a dear and trusted friend of mine recently reached out to me and excitedly told me that I needed to read the book Search by Michelle Huneven, I winced at first and informed her that […]

14 years old in South Carolina in 1944 and accused of a double murder and rape, George Junius Stinney, Jr. had no chance of a fair trial. The slender 14 year old was led to the execution chamber at South Carolina’s Central Correctional Institution in Columbia on June 16, 1944.  He was so small that he did not fit well into the adult size electric chair.   The Bible he had carried with him to his doom was taken from him and used as an impromptu booster seat.  Officials struggled with the straps that held him down because they could not be properly tightened down to his scrawny arms and legs.  The face mask hung loosely.  With the first jolt of 2,400 Volts the mask was knocked off of his face revealing his wide open, tear filled ey...

A Prayer for Freedom - Week of June 19, 2023 Lover of Liberation, teach us to be suspicious of the long legacies of white supremacy and enslavement practices that adapt from season to season and era to era, to keep power available to a few and leave even those who...

I’m in Venice with my daughter, and Joy got her passport and arrives tonight. Munchkin asked what I want for my birthday, which is today, and what else could I possibly want? Another day like yesterday? I am beyond blessed to have life, my family, work that sustains me, and time to enjoy this beautiful […]

On this, my birthday, I am ever aware of the passage of time. I notice how much has changed in the last year, and I ponder how much might change in the next one. I cherish each gray hair left on my head, representing experience and resilience. I honor that nothing can stay the same. … Continue reading Birthdays

In her first installment, Liz Watkins chronicles her path to ministry and the challenges and joys of seminary training. Continue reading A Call to Ministry at The Wild Hunt.

This is another piece of spalted wood forming the lid of a box. I'll add a lift tab along the front edge before adding mite keys to strengthen the box corners.  I'm lucky to have a few pieces of interesting wood hanging around waiting for their best use. Make, fix and create... Assist others in living likewise.

Staff Writer As her time as UUA President winds down, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray shares a message of appreciation for the work we’ve done together and excitement for what’s to come.

Richard CLF member, incarcerated in NY Do you believe in heaven? Then there is no end. Do you believe in hell? Then there is no end. Do you believe in spirit? Then there is no end. Will man destroy what God has wrought? Maybe. You’d think we’d learn That we don’t really count in the […]

DONNA CLF member, incarcerated in CA My experience has taught me that many adults who seek a new spiritual connection have, like myself, been particularly sensitized to the suffering of the world. Maybe some people have been taught to be sensitive in this way. Either way, I would like to see us broaden our empathy […]

GARY CLF member, incarcerated in NC “Transition” has become a byword in the corrections field over recent years. It has come to encompass classes bearing such fanciful titles as “Thinking For A Change,” “Crossroads,” “Men In Transition” and “Ethical Choices.” Yet, despite these, recidivism rates in the U.S. run from 41–79%. How is this possible? […]

 Marking the third anniversary of the COVID lockdown, I'm using this blog to reflect on this time and to point towards the audio archive Doorstep Revolution, a project I was part of putting together as part of Gentle/Radical.The sixth episode contains stories of homeschooling. This was one of my favourite episodes as it contains some really funny, touching, and interesting accounts of this time

Every summer our community pool opens Memorial Day Weekend with a party. After that weekend it opens daily at 11:00 right after swim practice ends.  For over 5 years and counting a group of women, myself included, head to the … Continue reading →

The Book of Cernunnos, the new devotional anthology dedicated to the Lord of the Animals – and of many other things – is now available.

Most illustrations of the famous kite fly get it wrong--Ben out doors, the lightning actually striking the kite, his son William either absent or depicted as a small boy.  This one gets most of it right as Ben and his 19 year old son seek shelter from the rain in a shed.  The only err in this one is Franklin is holding the wet string above the key, not by the dry ribbon below it.  William holds the Lyden Jar which is charged by electrical discharges from the clouds, not by a direct lightning strike of the kite. Like a youthful George Washington chopping down the cherry tree, Benjamin Franklin flying the kite in the lightening storm is an image known to every school child.   Unlike the cherry tree myth, Franklin really did fly a kite ...

Or what if, worse, I don’t love them? Love is a many faceted thing. So is liking. Having connections with. Delighting in the presence of. All of these are many faceted. We have a cultural framework of parenthood that suggests it should be all beauty, all roses, that as parents we should be overflowing with …</p> The post What if I don’t like my child? first appeared on For Parents of Children w/Chronic Illness.

This is a new lift lid box. The lid is spalted maple and the body of the box is elm. Note the direction of the wood grain, and that the mitered corners are glued side grain to side grain, making it an easy box to make. Make, fix and create...

“A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you’re in and take advantage of it.” – Nikki Giovanni How have you learned to embrace change?

CUC Approves Motion to Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery — June 14, 2023 In its final report, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada called on “all religious denominations and faith groups who have not already done so to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous lands and peoples. . .” (Call to […] The post CUC Approves Motion to Repudiate Doctrine of Discovery first appeared on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada. The post CUC Approves Motion to Repudiate Doctrine of Discovery appeared first on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada.

A Statement on the CUC’s Goals & Strategic Priorities — June 14, 2023 Each year, the Board of Trustees reviews and updates the goals and strategic priorities of the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC). These are sent out in advance of each Annual General Meeting, and member congregations, through their delegates, discuss and vote on these goals […] The post A Statement on the CUC’s Goals & Strategic Priorities first appeared on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada. The post A Statement on the CUC’s Goals & Strategic Priorities appeared first on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada.

Editor-in-chief, Manny Moreno warns the increasing trend by Evangelicals to demonize alternative beliefs and practices that has the potential to fuel a reprisal of the Satanic Panic of the 80s. Continue reading Editorial: There is Plenty of Panic Fuel at The Wild Hunt.

                                          A Book of Verses underneath the Bough, A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread – and Thou Beside me singing in the Wilderness – Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow! It was today, the […]

By Leslie Feinberg | Capitalism is one of the most irrational economic systems imaginable: those who do the most, get the least, and those who do the least, get the most. How can such a system continue? It couldn’t if the vast, laboring majority got together to fight for a new, more equitable economy.

The Biden Administration’s efforts to secure the border have only caused more hardship for people seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Jeff Milchen U.S. Supreme Court Threatens Dangerous Exceptions to Public Accommodations Laws.

June 2023

The months of May and June often bring transitions related to academic promotions, graduations, and other milestones related to the culmination of years of dedication and hard work. At this time of year, we often celebrate loved ones as they move from one phase of life into another. We wrap up another year in the […]

This box is unusual in that the grain runs vertically rather than around the box. Gluing edge grain to edge grain eliminates the need of other joinery techniques.  In the meantime, as I'm working in my shop there are others whose purpose is more profound. The makers of Ukraine... https://makezine.com/article/maker-news/makers-in-defense-of-ukraine/  Make, fix and create...

Marking the third anniversary of the COVID lockdown, I'm using this blog to reflect on this time and to point towards the audio archive Doorstep Revolution, a project I was part of putting together as part of Gentle/Radical.The fifth episode features stories of family life, parenting, and raising children in a time of pandemic. This was a tough time for children and families, and those caring for

We are in Venice! Minus Joy, because she is still waiting for her passport. Public service announcement: If you need a new passport, imagine how long each stage would normally take and double it. This part of the State Department is so understaffed, or whatever, that it’s not even possible to get an appointment in […]

Our Rev. Jan is retiring. Our congregation had a retirement party for her. It was a sad and joyous celebration. Sad because she is leaving. Joyous for the time she was with us and for the beginning of a wonderful … Continue reading →

Seven questions and answers about the Gods and our experiences of Them, Pagan books, spiritual practices, and the concept of grace.

  Note:   We’ve been here before but slightly updated to account In case you hadn’t noticed today is officially Flag Day , a demi-holiday easily overlooked.  It is celebrated by displaying the American Flag.  Veterans groups often organize solemn flag disposal ceremonies .   No other country on Earth makes quite the fetish of its flag as does the United States.  The word idolatry comes to mind.  At its worst it elevates the symbol—the Flag—over the substance—the democratic values espoused in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the Constitution.  It is an absolute truism that those who wrap themselves most in the Flag—and these days that is not just a figurative term—are the most disingenuous and dangero...

I have spent most of the last twenty years working in sexuality education, in one way or another. It’s been good for me. I hope I’ve been able to inspire many teachers and facilitators with the materials I’ve created to work with young people directly. I hope I’ve been able to provide many of the …</p> The post Shifting Focus first appeared on For Parents of Children w/Chronic Illness.

                                            When the rain beats down on the pear blossoms, a butterfly flies up. A Zen koan by way of Dahui Zonggao   Butterflies: Reflections, Tales and Verse by Hermann Hesse Selected by Volker […]

Ouroboros, the ancient symbol of a snake devouring its own tail, is a powerful representation of the interconnectedness of all nature as well  the lifecycle stages of birth, growth, death, and re-birth. Our earlier selves continually feed our later selves as we mature, creating a continual cycle of death and re-birth of self. -Lori Stone … Continue reading Cycle of Becoming

Taken with a Fuji X100V using Anders Lindborg and John Sevigny’s Kodak T-Max P3200 recipe Just click on the photo to enlarge it  

TWH speaks with Robert Schreiwer, founder of the Heathen tradition of Urglaawe, and the livestreamed ritual remembering the desecration of Pagan shrines. Continue reading Remembrance and honoring the deities of desecrated Pagan shrines at The Wild Hunt.

June is many things, including Pride month. This year, we are especially grateful for our many GLBTQ+ ancestors and kin who have worked, danced, played, struggled, lived and loved before us and alongside us. Some of us have been activists for a very long time, ... read more . The post Co-Ministers’ Colloquy – June 13th appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Children and youth will be attending the multigenerational service in the Great Hall with their families this Sunday. Come to the Welcome Table to pick up an Activity Bag for your child so they can follow along with the service. Childcare for children 5 and under ... read more . The post Religious Education programming Sunday June 18th appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

We’re planning a more robust Religious Education (RE) program for 2023-24, with plans for each grade level. We’d like to offer RE for each age every Sunday that’s not a multigenerational Sunday. We’d like to lighten the load for RE teachers by having teams of 4. That ... read more . The post Plans for Our RE Program Next Year: This Could Be Your Time to Volunteer! appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

As part curricula for the faith development of children and youth next year, we are working to offer the year-long Our Whole Lives (OWL) program at the 8th /9th grade level, and the 9 week programs of K/1 and 5th /6th grade OWL in the ... read more . The post Our Whole Lives: Lifespan Sexuality Education for Children, Youth and Adults appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Chris Chepel , David Stewart UUA Co-Financial Advisors, Chris Chepel and David Stewart, provide a statement about actions following the UUA’s 2014 Climate Divestment Resolution. Continue reading "Co-Financial Advisors’ Statement on Actions Following the UUA’s 2014 Climate Divestment Resolution"

Marking the third anniversary of the COVID lockdown, I'm using this blog to reflect on this time and to point towards the audio archive Doorstep Revolution, a project I was part of putting together as part of Gentle/Radical.The fourth episode features stories of pregnancy and birth. These are stories of two families, living round the corner from each other in Riverside, who reflect on what it was

The Juneteenth—Freedom Day Festival on historic Woodstock Square on Saturday, June 17 from 3 to 5:30 pm has announced a full program for the celebration of the date for the remaining 250,000 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas first heard news of Emancipation.   The commemoration of that event has spread from Texas and now is observed nationally as a day of Jubilee and freedom.   The event in Woodstock represents the first ever such celebration in McHenry County.                                                                       Kenneth Davis, Chicago bluesman of the Ken Davis Group, has been added to the Festival line up. The program will include an invocation and a benediction by the Rev...

2023 June The Path of Delight – Playday – Lydia Patrick Like most dogs Millie loves to look out the window. If a car passes she sees it. If an animal runs through the yard she lets us know. If … Continue reading →

According to a recent news article, Vermont, Maine, and Maryland have removed time limits for law suits about sex crimes. Massachusetts, Michigan, and Rhode Island are currently considering such legislation. What this means is that if you were abused by someone as a child in these three states, you have the rest of your life … Continue reading "An interesting development"

People talk about “artificial intelligence.” They get corrected by people who say, It’s not intelligence, it’s “machine learning.” But actually machines don’t learn either. All this false terminology isn’t serving us well. It obscures the fact that the humans who design the machines are the intelligences at work here, and by calling the machines “AI” … Continue reading "Let us name it … ASS"

“I hope we will take one good look at the passingness of things, the precious fragility of everything. A single blade of grass, a much loved coffee mug, a fading photograph, a quick kiss; all speak of the wonder and transitoriness of life-and-death within the interdependent web. There is beauty and wonder in this existence. … Continue reading Fleeting Moments

In this week's Pagan Community Notes: thor's Oak Kindred joins Race Against Hate, Bible banned in SLC, OKC apparently OK with publicly funded religious schools, Elon Musk looking for Witchcraft VP

Elaine McArdle A quick guide to the speakers, events, and business of this year’s Unitarian Universalist Association annual meeting.

Statement from the UUA Board About Proposed Revisions to Article II of the UUA Bylaws Continue reading "Statement from the UUA Board About Proposed Revisions to Article II"

Some of the Tree of Life Woodstock Pride Parade contingent before the rain intensified.  Bottom Row Sam. Ted Funn, Leah Mikkelson, Rev. Jen Gracen.  Top Row Judy Stettner, Jesse Bowen, Julie Huddle, Sandy Ekhert, Judy Beyer, Ron Relic, and Nick Madaus on the tractor.  Well, it was cold—hovering around 50° —with   light rain or drizzle all day yesterday for the annual Woodstock Pride parade and event, but it did not discourage a large and enthusiastic crowd until the last hour.   Judy and Marc Stettner; Julie Huddle; Leah Mickkelson; Ryan, Wendle, and Blossom Broussard; Rev. Gracen, Virgina, and daughter Adie, Carol Ciccotosto, and the Old Man were among those who shivered and shared good news about the   Tree of Life Unitarian...

    Harriet Martineau, British novelist, lecturer, abolitionist and theological thinker was born on this day, the 12th of June, in 1802. She’s always been a favorite of mine. The family were active English Unitarians of Huguenot descent, her father a deacon at the famed Octagon Chapel in Norwich. The family was comfortably middle class. […]

I saw how through these fixed identities and supporting structures, we the people are separated one from another. I suffered then and now because of the identities which separate me from others. Our Covenant brings us back to one another. The post Queering Our Covenants appeared first on BeyondBelief.

  When we understand the role the hands play in human development, in the growth of character, intelligence and creativity, we also begin to grasp the importance of the arts in education and the necessity of bringing an increasing number of artists into schools and applying their hands (and minds) in the education of our children. Understanding the role of the hands in education also provides a clear rationale for woodworking education. Woodworking in schools is still important despite the concerted effort of many school administrators to do away with it. An interesting point is made by American amateur woodworkers, when they call what they do in their woodshops “sawdust therapy.” We humbly note the beneficial psychological effects ...

They show up in my social media from time to time: lions, chickens, lizards, owls, goats, bears, donkeys, kangaroos, deer, cows, ducks, cats, parrots, koalas, pigs, even fish and of course, dogs, so many dogs–all engaged in whatever acrobatics needed … Continue reading →

Medeola virginiana, sometimes called Cucumber Root or Indian Cucumber-root, is in bloom in the woodlands around Cohasset right now. As the name implies, the small root is crunchy and white and tastes like cucumber — but you kill the plant when you dig it up for the root, so I stopped foraging for it many … Continue reading "Tiny flower"

“The tangled things will always be here, in this moment I am living through, right now, whatever comes after.” -from “Tangled,” by Dawn Star Sarahs-Borchelt What are the tangled things you are living through right now?

There is controversy over the reputed destruction of 39 standing stones, or menhir, in the French village of Carnac. But the accounts of what happened are disputed between the Carnac government and a local archeologist. Continue reading Anger and confusion over destruction of menhirs in France at The Wild Hunt.

Reflections on the 100th anniversary of the flower communion, and the ritual's connection to anti-fascism. The post 100 Years of the Flower Communion appeared first on Colin Bossen.

A sermon about joy and the Unitarian Universalist tradition. The post Joy appeared first on Colin Bossen.

A service to kick off PRIDE week in Los Alamos. Guest Speakers: Luke Eigelbach and Melissa Goldman.

We saw a bobcat this week while hiking. I have seen them before, but other times it was a quick glimpse from a distance. This kitty walked right by us on the trail and seemed more tired than we were. I hope it is OK; it was walking pretty slowly. Bobcats aren’t scary, not like […]

You are cordially invited to join us for a Zen retreat Wednesday Jun 21 – Sunday Jun 25, 2023 A multi-day Zen meditation retreat (Sesshin) hosted by the University Unitarian Church, in Seattle, Washington. We will meet in person and on Zoom. The meditation retreat will be facilitated by the Bright Cloud Zen practice group […]

Despite a shaky claim that the Duryea brothers built the "World's First Real Automobile", an honor usually ascribed to Gotlieb Dahlmer, this post card commemorates the brother's first factory in Springfield, Massachusetts.   Ask an American school child “who invented the automobile?” and the kid will probably say Henry Ford .   Which, of course, is flat-out wrong.   The automobile had many fathers.   Ford was relatively late to the game.   What he did do was revolutionize the manufacture of the machines by replacing the hand-built methods of the carriage makers and bicycle builders who dominated the early industry with the modern assembly line which so greatly reduced costs that cars went from the realm of playthings for the we...

“For all who left a relationship in order to save your heart, may your own heartbeat be your blessing. Its rhythm, its particular kinships, its unique rhythm. May you know your own heart as God’s blessing. “For all who had to set boundaries in order to keep your mind intact, may your own mind be … Continue reading Separation

Luke Babb celebrates a revision to the bylaws of the Troth that will allow for members to conduct rituals in honor of all beings connected to the ancient Germanic polytheistic tradition. Continue reading Hail Fenrir: Celebrating the Troth’s New Position Statement at The Wild Hunt.

One of my many falling-apart maps  A short  “ thought for the day” offered to the Cambridge Unitarian Church as part of the Sunday Service of Mindful   Meditation. (Click on this link to hear a recorded version of the following piece)     —o0o— This piece begins and ends with a reading of a poem by the American poet and pacifist, William Stafford (1914–1993), called “ Course in Creative Writing .” Course in Creative Writing by William Stafford They want a wilderness with a map— but how about errors that give a new start?— or leaves that are edging into the light?— or the many places a road can’t find? Maybe there’s a land where you have to sing to explain anything: you blow a little whistle just right and th...

We’ve had two weeks of very cool rainy weather, and that counter-clockwise low pressure weather system has kept away the wildfire smoke from Canada, while folks to our south are facing orange skies and unsafe air. Still, we’ve paid attention, following the news, and thinking about what might happen if it does come our way. […]

I propose the location for The new Donald J. Trump Presidential Library to be  935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. It is fittingly designed in the "Brutalist" architectural  style, resembling many of the buildings Trump has had built on his own behalf. As the  J. Edgar Hoover building it currently serves as headquarters for the FBI. It well fits a 4 year presidency marked by an unprecedented degree of graft, lying and corruption. Larger than most presidential libraries, it's eleven stories will be needed for the vast amount of evidence that must be preserved. I'm relaxing today after 5 days of class in which I was blessed with great students who helped each other and took great joy in learning. Three of my students wanted...

A Korean map of the Hermit Kingdom.  The Han is the second major river from the south pictured on the map, the water  way to the capital Hanyang (modern Seoul.) A fat book could be made of forgotten and neglected American foreign wars or interventions. Take the war in Korea, for instance.   No, not the one when Harry Truman sent American forces to try to repel an invasion of the South by the Communist North in 1950, although I know veterans of that conflict have taken to calling it a forgotten war.   No, I have in mind an action nearly 80 years earlier.   Never heard of it?   Well pull up a stool and I will tell you all about it. In American military and naval annals, it is listed, mostly as a footnote, as the United States expedit...

Please join us on Sunday (11 June 2023) at 11:00 AM for “Focusing on the Obvious” by Rev. Joy Walker. Most of us get so caught up with information fed to us by our eyes, nose, ears, mouth and hands that we sometimes miss a very promising blessing. Joy suggests that we stop focusing on … Continue reading "All Ages Worship (11 June 2023)"

June 2023 Building and Grounds Work Day — 10 June 2023 2023 Pledge Drive — We Need Your Pledge Now

Please join us on the first of our fun religious education Summer activities for children and youth — Tie-Dye Sunday. The Sunday before Father’s Day is our annual “Tie-Dye for Dads and Other Special People” in the religious education wing. Children and youth should bring a 100% cotton garment to tie dye. More than one … Continue reading "Tie-Dye Sunday (11 June 2023)"

Please join us on Sunday (11 June 2023) for our adult religious education class at 9:00 AM. Our adult religious education class is now a dual-platform class — meeting in person in the church social hall and also on Zoom. This week, we will continue our discussion of Patrice Cullor’s An Abolitionist’s Handbook.  We will … Continue reading "Online and In-Person Adult Religious Education — 11 June 2023"

Please join us next Tuesday (13 June 2023) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch. Our weekly Zoom lunch is going dual-platform — join us from home using Zoom or in person in the social hall. Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Transitions are difficult for my autistic grandson. His mind, already on sensory overload, finds comfort in a predictable routine. I sometimes have to gently and lovingly convince him that he might enjoy the unexpected, even if it involves a different plan for the day. -Beth Murray (CLF) How might you make an unpredictable transition easier … Continue reading Predictable