Once when I described myself as “lazy” someone said, “Whose word is that? Is that your word?” And I realized it wasn’t my word. My words would be rested, thoughtful, cozy, rejuvenated. -Marin Smith (CLF) What other good words can replace the negative language we sometimes use about ourselves when choosing to rest?

Today I'm finishing the installation of Brusso hinges in boxes made for an article in Popular Woodworking magazine. To cut the mortises for the hinges to fit I demonstrated my "flipping story stick" technique on the router table. It is gratifying when it comes out perfect, as shown in the photo. Yes, it takes practice. Do it a few times and you get better at it. The wood is ash. The hidden spline corners have contrasting walnut splines that are only visible when the box is opened. The splines, with grain running in the same direction as the grain in the sides provides a joint that can last centuries if the box is valued by its owners. Make, fix and create... Assist others in learning likewise.

A friend, Tim, brought a great book to my attention and sent me a youtube link to an interesting presentation by British author Raymond Tallis. His 2003 book, The Hands: A Philosophical Inquiry into Being Human was one I’d never read. The video is worth watching.  https://youtu.be/gsfP4Miwpfw A point that should be made about my book, the Wisdom of Our Hands , is how it differs from previous explorations in the same field.  Where books like Tallis’s (also Frank Wilson’s the Hand , and Sennett’s t he Craftsman) explore from a philosophical and scientific angle, mine explores from a foundation of personal experience and thereby attempts to illustrate the same points from a more personal (and hopefully accessible) perspective. It ...

I grew up when color televisions were the new thing. My father was a salesman, and one year he won a new color television set as a reward for his performance at work. He unpacked his prize with excitement. Here … Continue reading →

                                                                                Sankta Lucia  sung in Swedish at a Church observation in Gothenburg ( Göteborg). Another day, another Saint.  Today we consider how a Sicilian virgin martyr and a Neapolitan song, became central to a Scandinavian folk custom that looks suspiciously pagan. In point of fact, no one is exactly sure, but the Feast of St. Lucy—Santa Lucia—observed annually on December 13, is ancient on one hand and surprisingly recent in its Norse guise. Almost nothing is known about St. Lucy.  She was reported to be the daughter of a wealthy and/or noble family from Syracuse in Sicily in the early Fourth Century.  Syracuse...

On Mastodon, a number of people have been commenting on John Scalzi’s recent blog post calling for an “Artisanal Web.” Blogger Amod Lele also comments on Scalzi’s post. Let’s go back to hosting our own websites, says Scalzi, and interacting with other people’s websites. In other words, he’s calling for a return to blogging. (I … Continue reading "Blogging"

Look how fast holiday season crept up on us. Where did 2022 go? Well, now’s the time to hunt for gifts for the loved ones in your life. Save 30% on everything at beacon.org through December 31 using code SPARKJOY30! Scroll down and you’ll see some selections to give you ideas.

TWH – Today is the United Nations (U.N.) International Day of Neutrality 2022, was first adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in February 2017. The U.N. defines neutrality as, “…the status of a country in which it declares itself as a non-participant in war or conflict between belligerent states.” The theme for this year is to, “Promote peace and avoid violence: war is not the answer to any challenging situation.” The U.N. Continue reading Pagan Community Notes: Week of December 12, 2022 at The Wild Hunt.

Michael S. Hogue In place of resignation in the face of climate change, the path of spiritual resilience opens us to a fuller life.

I want you to know that you are loved beyond your wildest imaginings by the spirit of creation. Every bit of you is holy—even the embarrassing parts, even the thoughts you wouldn’t tell your best friend. God is in your every cell, calling you to live a loving, joyful, boisterous life. To go easier on yourself. To accept that you are a blessing. To spread the word that there is no original sin, that we are all glorious gifts to a world that desperately needs us. I want you to know that you are a strand in the web of […] The post You Are Loved appeared first on BeyondBelief.

“Even at rest, tucked within the One, little brown [bats] cannot sustain their usual inner life. Each bat must reset its normal–drastically. Together, hanging very still, they slow their resting hearts from four hundred beats per minute to twenty…” -Gayle Boss, from “Little Brown Bat,” in All Creation Waits How might you reset your normal … Continue reading Resetting

When working on several boxes, it makes sense to do a few things before the sides are mitered to form the corner joints. The photo shows material for several boxes  with grooves already cut for the bottoms to fit, a light chamfer along the inside bottom edge, and a Danish oil finish applied. Now the miters can be cut. We have 12 making days left before Christmas. If shopping for a loved one, think tools. They empower long after the holidays are over. Skills are transformational. Want to buy stuff instead? Here's my etsy site: https://dougstowe.etsy.com Make, fix and create... Assist others in learning lifewise.

This morning Susanna (my wife) and I took a stroll around Jesus Green and Midsummer Common in the snow. Along the way I took a few photographs and paste them here for your pleasure. The first thirteen were taken on Jesus Green; the last four on Midsummer Common. Enjoy! All taken with a Fuji X100V and are straight out of camera.  For the colour photos I used Øyvind Nordhagen’s “OWH Daylight” recipe and, for the black and white shot, Marcel Fraijs’s “Acros Dark” recipe. Just click on a photo to enlarge it.       

                                                                                Le Canta a la Virgen de Guadalupe  sung by Beatriz Adriana. Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe , Queen of Mexico and Empress of the Americas , Patroness of the Americas , and most recently Patroness of the Unborn .   An image of her preserved on cloth in a Mexico City Basilica is the object of almost universal adoration in Mexico and among the large Mexican diaspora in the United States.   She has been called the “rubber band which binds this disparate nation into a whole.”   Mexican literary icons have attested to her importance.   Carlos Fuentes said that “you cannot truly be considered a ...

“When I was a little baby down in Georgia,  Wondered how my life went round! Felt the sun shine down in Daddy’s Garden, Had my both feet right on the ground!”   …a song I wrote 35 years ago. I … Continue reading →

 As you may have seen in my last post, following this morning’s service of mindful meditation I had a quick wander around Christ’s Pieces, the park opposite the church, and took a few photos of the wintry scene. Then, just before going to bed it began to snow. So, I wrapped up very warmly, and went out again into the park to take a few more photos. I hope you enjoy them! All taken with a Fuji X100V and are straight out of camera.  As in the previous set, for the colour photos I used Øyvind Nordhagen’s “OWH Daylight” recipe and, for the black and white shot, Marcel Fraijs’s “Acros Dark” recipe. Just click on a photo to enlarge it.

Louis Armstrong with the Benny Carter Orchestra on Christmas Night in Harlem. Louis Armstrong was the acknowledged King of Jazz when he laid down the track Christmas Night in Harlem with Benny Carter and his Orchestra for the Verve label.  He had been practically present since the birth of jazz as a young cornet player in New Orleansand had come North to Chicago to play with the King Oliver Band at Al Capone speakeasies in the ‘20s then switched to trumpet to play with Fletcher Henderson. He fronted his own combos and even a Big Bandfor a while in the 30’s, became a radio star performing with pals like Bing Crosby and in the post-World War II era led the Esquire Jazz All-Stars at annual Carnegie Hall concerts.  In 1953 he was at th...

I feel like I’ve been dreaming a lot recently. Mind you, I’m not sure. Many years ago I would get up in the middle of the night if I had a really interesting dream, and I would write it down. Then one day I re-read one of my descriptions of one of these dreams. The … Continue reading "Thoughts and dreams"

In today's Spotlight on Traditions post, SianLuc Asha Merlyn Heart introduces readers to the totemic beliefs present in ancient Celtic paganism. Continue reading Spotlight: Totemism in the Celtic Tradition at The Wild Hunt.

Join us on Sunday, Dec. 11th, 2:30 – 4:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall for Gingerbread House Making! We need you to RSVP for this event so that we will have enough gingerbread house kits. Please fill out a short form (link below) for your party: you, your child(ren), and any other family or friends. …<p> All-Ages Gingerbread House Workshop Read More »

A sermon on what is permanent and what is transient preached at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston.

The shelter seeks to prevent homelessness and to provide our homeless community with access to viable pathways, shelter, and essential services towards meeting their personal goals. Chief Executive Officer, Christian Madrid-Estrada, will provide an update on the current status of the shelter and how we may be able to aid in their future success.

      WE ARE NOT IT. BUT IN TRUTH. IT IS US. IT IS YOU. IT IS ME. James Ishmael Ford A Facebook friend invited people to share their favorite brief quote from scriptures. Something that touches the heart deeply. While he is a Christian minister, he explicitly made sure the invitation extended to […]

Our theme for December is "The Path of Wonder." It's a state of being often relegated to childhood, especially at the holiday season. But wonder is not something fleeting or frivolous. Instead it is the one spiritual tool that helps us regain focus on the things that truly matter.

The tree mimicked the shape of the cloud, both of which were hiding the sun. It was a dark day after some rain and before the next storm. The trees and clouds were amazing though, even, maybe especially, when they blocked the sun. “Enjoy the journey”, I tell myself that often, and mostly it works. […]

Following this morning’s service of mindful meditation I had a quick wander around Christ’s Pieces, the park opposite the church, and took a few photos of the wintry scene.  All taken with a Fuji X100V and are straight out of camera.  For the colour photos I used Øyvind Nordhagen’s “OWH Daylight” recipe and, for the black and white shot, Marcel Fraijs’s “Acros Dark” recipe. Just click on a photo to enlarge it.

When was the last time you slowed down to listen?  Did you know you can hear the chattering of grasshoppers at dusk? Have you ever felt the hum of cicadas fill your ears until it drowned out all other sounds? When you take a bite of your favorite food, can you feel the texture of … Continue reading Slowing Down

An interesting alternative for the Swedish Sloyd knife can be found in the Japanese Kiridashi knife. Not only does it allow the woodshop culture to grow beyond its European roots, it has a single side grind that will present teachers less challenge in keeping the knives sharp. In fact older students could be taught to do it themselves. One of the problems with many knives is that being ground on both sides requires them to be sharpened equally from both sides of the blade to maintain symmetry. The Kiridashi knife is ground only on one edge, and that edge alone requires sharpening attention.  With the grind only on one side, the surface of the grind is broader presents a more stable face to the sharpening stone. Kiridashi knives are also...

It’s getting close to the fine old tradition of making New Year’s resolutions – followed by the equally old tradition of breaking New Year’s resolutions. Here are five of the most common reasons people break New Year’s resolutions – and what we can do instead.

                                                                      People Look East by the  Boy Choristers of Ely Cathedral Choir in England. Today is the Third Sunday in Advent and time to share another true Advent Carol.  As you might recall churches that honor the liturgical calendar traditionally did not sing Christmas hymns and carols until Christmas Eve and continued singing them until the Feast of the Epiphany.  The Advent season had its own songs, the best known of which is O Come O Come Emanuel .  In practice many American churches blur the distinction these days. Each Christian denomination has its own selection of Advent carols in their hymnals, some widely shared with others, s...

Please join us this Sunday (11 December 2022) at 11:00 AM for Waiting in the Growing Light — An Advent Service for Unitarian Universalists On the Christian liturgical calendar, this is the season of Advent (from the Latin adventus “to arrive” or “come to”). It is a time of quiet, of waiting — at a … Continue reading "All-Ages Worship (11 December 2022)"

The Mitten Tree for Maggie Lee’s Closet returns. The tree will be up in the sanctuary this Sunday — so bring new mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, and coats for children to decorate the tree. They will later go to Maggie Lee’s Closet at Highland Center Ministries — a children’s clothing closet that is free to … Continue reading "Mitten Tree for Maggie Lee’s Closet"

This Sunday (11 December 2022) — “Understanding the Bible” Adapted for this age group from a curriculum based on the book by John Buehrens (Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals). This week — Session 3 — The Birth Stories of Jesus If our discussion of the Binding of Isaac is … Continue reading "Middle and High School Youth Religious Education (11 December 2022)"

This Sunday (11 December 2022) — Moses and the 10 Commandments This week, the class will hear the story of Moses and the 10 Commandments. They will talk about the Commandments as a covenant and work on a “translation” of the commandments that works for their classroom.

Please join us on Sunday (11 December 2022) as we continue our adult religious education class at 9:00 AM and discern where want to go as a group in the next several weeks.  Our adult religious education class is still meeting via Zoom. Earlier this week, we sent out the reading from the Introduction in … Continue reading "Online Adult Religious Education — 11 December 2022"

Please join us next Tuesday (13 December 2022) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch. Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

I watch Mhara Starling explore Ikea with a hilarious and exuberant wonder. The Witch of Southern Light jokes about the “cursed candy” accusation from Christians. It’s delightful and unserious. “I hope some of these people get comedy writing jobs." Continue reading My Week on WitchTok at The Wild Hunt.

From an early age, my Dad would wake us kids up by singing a bugle call. Even while on vacation, Dad always had a project going. He rarely took time for himself or his family as he was consumed with fixing, raking, shoveling, inventing. Rest was considered a sign of weakness. Intellectually, I understand and … Continue reading Guilt

                                                            Baby It's Cold Outside --Johnny Mercer and Margaret Whiting.  It’s the perfect time to consider another of those pop songs that really have nothing to do with Christmasbut have become staples of holiday play lists.  Among the most enduring of these winter songs is the playful duet Baby it’s Cold Outside.  But lately the perineal favorite has been caught up in controversy. The song had its origin in 1944 when Frank Loesser, a Hollywood lyricist turned composer wrote it as a novelty to sing at cocktail parties with his wife Lynn Garland.  At the time Loesser was in the Army Airforce based in California where he penned songs for war effor...

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— An important, secondary theme in my piece of two weeks ago was that the visible characters of the Advent stories — namely, Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah, the Angel Gabriel, the shepherds, the Magians or Zoroastrian priests, and King Herod — obscure from our view the narratives’ two invisible, unborn characters, namely, John and Jesus. But, once I finished that piece — in which I primarily explored what lessons those two (and, indeed, all other) unborn children might be saying to us — I quickly realised th...

Sometimes I wish we could get over the big emphasis on Christmas as being the darkest time of the year. First of all, the latitude of the land of Judea where Jesus was born is about 32 degrees north. (That’s about the same latitude as San Diego, California.) At 32 degrees, the length of night … Continue reading "Rethinking Christmas as the darkest time of the year"

Please join us on Saturday (10 December 2022) from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM for our monthly building and grounds work day. There are tons of leaves and lots of other tasks — indoors and out — for all ages and abilities. Other than basic cleaning and lawn maintenance, all the tasks that maintain our … Continue reading "Building and Grounds Work Day (10 December 2022)"

Please join us on Saturday (10 December 2022) 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 (10 December 2022)"

If Dionysos could show up uninvited and distinctive in my life, and Darcy Lewis could become a defining characteristic of a fandom where she hardly existed in the main text, why did I only consider one of those a person? I could not find a satisfactory answer, so I turned to the greatest mind I knew. I called Sherlock Holmes. Continue reading Column: Postmark 221B, Baker Street at The Wild Hunt.

                                                      That Spirit of Christmas by Ray Charles.                                           That Spirit of Christmas has flown under my radar despite being a wonderful seasonal song by one of the most influential artists cut of the second half of the 20th Century.   And I am not the only one—it is seldom played on those 24/7 Christmas radio stations or included in holiday compilation album.   A big tip-o’-the-hat to my old friend Sam Jones for posting it on her Facebook timeline. Ray Charles was one of the most iconic and influential singers in historyand was often referred to by contemporaries as the Genius. Among friends and fell...

I have two articles in this month's Fine Woodworking, #301, that arrived here today. I was surprised to find my own hands on the cover, so that was a special bonus. The two articles will be useful to readers trying to hone their box making skills. My thanks to Fine Woodworking for featuring my work (and hands) in their great magazine. Make, fix and create... Assist others in learning likewise.

In 2012, Minnesota become the first state in the nation to defeat an anti-gay marriage bill – a massive campaign and a watershed victory, won in large part by progressive religious folks having one-to-one conversations about their values with tens of thousands of people across the state. When Karen and I moved to Minneapolis in 2014, however, the new availability of marriage to queer folks meant that if we didn’t choose to get legally married, I (and our soon-to-be-born second child) couldn’t access health coverage through my partner’s job, along with many other legal protections and benefits available only through state-sanctioned marriage.   Photo of the author, Rev. Ashley Horan (left) with Justice of the Peace (center) and ...

          Our winter holidays are a mishmash of many religions and historical events and thought of in general as celebrations of peace and love. Fancy that, given it’s often a time of anything but.           Start with love—as in Barbara Love, a young denizen of Greenwich Village who morphed into a lifelong advocate for lesbians […]

      My friends look at how the Buddhist practice of mindfulness is being packaged and sold as a nostrum for much of what ills. Others are deeply concerned how Hinduism’s yoga has been taken over by gyms. There are too many examples of how the word Zen is coopted to sell products to […]

Join us Saturday, December 24 at 7pm – in person in our beautiful sanctuary – for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with special musical guest, acclaimed harpist, Felice Pomeranz.  Celebrate the spirit of Christmas in a family worship service that honors the life and teachings of Jesus. Sing your favorite Christ mas carols, enjoy beautiful   [ … ] The post Saturday, December 24 ~ Christmas Eve Candlelight Service ~ 7:00 p.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Sunday, December 18 at 7:00 p.m. Location:  UCMH Knight Room Take a break from the fast pace of the season and join us for a peaceful and contemplative evening enjoying the beauty of candlelight. With meditations and poetry we will celebrate darkness and the return of the light. All faiths are welcome, including atheists. Free to   [ … ] The post Sunday, December 18 ~ Solstice By Candlelight ~ 7:00 p.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Current events will be posted above this entry. Feel free to browse our past events!  [ … ] The post PAST EVENTS appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Facilitated by:  Rev. Alice Anacheka-Nasemann Date/Time:  Wednesday, December 14, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Location:  UCMH Knight Room (tentative) Cost:  Free, donations welcome The holidays are often a time when we most feel the loss of a loved one. Join us for an evening of readings, music, and sharing memories within a community of love and mutual support. You   [ … ] The post SGCC: Wednesday, December 14 ~ Holiday Grief Circle ~ 7:00 p.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Facilitated by:  Nan Rogers, Jody Zolli, Kim Roche Date/Time:  Sunday Dec. 11, 1:30-6:00pm Cost:  $10 suggested donation Location:  UCMH Union Hall The Red Tent movement, inspired by Anita Diamant’s fictional story “The Red Tent,” supports women in reclaiming the gifts of community as we gather together to co-create compassionate, woman-centered, restorative, confidential Safe Space. We practice   [ … ] The post SGCC: Sunday, December 11 ~ Women’s Red Tent: Exploring Self Care! ~ 1:30-6:00 p.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Several years ago I published books and articles featuring an easy way to hinge a wooden box using barbed or kerf hinges. I used a Bosch trim saw blade mounted in the router table to make the slots needed for the hinges to fit. Then the Bosch trim saw blade went out of production and I had to re-engineer my approach using a machine I made myself. This put the use of the hinges out of range of most casual woodworkers. Yesterday I discovered a substitute for the Bosch trim saw blade that's shown in the photo. The use of barbed or kerf hinges is one area of box making that has been of great interest to my students so it is good to once again offer a simple approach that will be accessible to more woodworkers and at a lower cost. The hinges ...

When did taking a nap become decadent? Something that we sheepishly admit we did, apologetically, or don’t admit at all. Anyone who cares for a young child knows how important naps are. Sometimes, oftentimes, it is important for adults too. -Jody Malloy (CLF) When did you last take a nap? How did it recharge you?

The past year has shown the resilience of the human rights movement in the face of setbacks.

On World Genocide Day, the Burmese military is still committing atrocities against the Rohingya ethnic minority

During the first winter of the pandemic, I participated in a Yule gifting activity where individuals sent personally crafted gifts to the name of the person they drew.  I painted this picture of a lone candle burning in the dark … Continue reading →

Prayer for the Week of December 12 - Prayer for Forbearance Gracious Love, grant us forbearance so we may offer ourselves and each other spaciousness to turn again in awareness and responsibility and to make amends. May we make space for ourselves when we’re irritable and stressed, space to rest,...

Our guest contributor, Elyse Welles, covers the first Samhain Athens Fire Festival by the Greek-Irish Society and Inis. Continue reading Greek-Irish Society and Inis hold first Athens Samhain Fire Festival at The Wild Hunt.

          Thanksgiving nears, an iconic time for family and all such traditions supposedly held dear. It was the occasion of another Big Lie many years ago which manifested three quarters of a century later as a demon of our generation—the demon of tobacco, which any thinking person at that time knew to be a killer. […]

I will talk about the main thing that I’m wondering about today and for the next three weeks. This happens every four years. Who will win the World Cup?  I’m sitting here writing this and watching a game at the … Continue reading →

It turns out there’s currently a shortage of children’s over-the-counter (OTC) medications in the U.S., including common medications like children’s Motrin, Tylenol, etc. Why? Because of the large number of children coming down with flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID. Yet another reason to wear a mask in public places. Yes, probably kids are … Continue reading "OTC medicine shortage"

Rest is productive. Full stop. The time I spend healing and renewing myself is just as productive as the time I spend working. We need to re-train our minds to understand that. -Michael Tino (CLF) When have you redefined an important concept in order to be more healthy?

    STAR OF THE EAST A dharma talk Edward Sanshin Oberholtzer High above the Pacific Ocean on an Hawaiian volcano, on a ridge where the California coastal range merges with the Sierras, on a plateau just below a peak in the Andes, at a point in space, far out in the void, in all […]

Merry Christmas Darling  by The Carpenters was one of the greatest Christmas love songs ever recorded. We turn today to the sub-genre of Christmasromance songs.  These days they are ubiquitous and probably make up the bulk of new pop and country songs bidding to become lucrative radio perennials.  A slew of new work by artists like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton, the Jonas Brothers, and others cracked the 2020 Billboard Holiday Radio chart with seasonal love songs.  And, of course, Mariah Carey’s megahit All I Want for Christmas is You , which inspired a stamped of amorous Yuletide tunes was #1 yet again. But it wasn’t always so.  Traditional carols focused on the Biblical Nativity or general merry making.  As t...

A sampling of some of the many and varied events taking place this year across the United Kingdom. Continue reading Winter Solstice Events 2022 – United Kingdom at The Wild Hunt.

Jeff Milchen In Moore v. Harper, the U.S. Supreme Court will make crucial choices regarding limits to partisan manipulation of our elections.

Elaine McArdle UUs support Build Back Fossil Free, Citizens' Climate Lobby

Megan Lloyd Joiner Advent encourages us to be present in each moment of waiting. Continue reading "The Waiting Time"

Sofía Betancourt Beloveds, we are called to communal care like never before. Continue reading "UUA Presidential Candidate Statement: Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt"

Today in the woodshop at the Clear Spring School, students made small boxes to hold the Froebel gift number 4 blocks they made last week. Readers of Fine Woodworking should check their mail to see if the latest issue has arrived. It contains articles I wrote about box making. Make, fix and create... Assist others in learning likewise.

I wrote this song in 1986 when Bob and I were serving a small Methodist church in Alabama. Even then I was questioning the divine ‘ness’ of this Christian holiday. All over the world there are religions and philosophies that … Continue reading →

When I was a kid, every fall my parents would engage in a perennial argument. Dad managed the grain elevator, and during the harvest season, the farmers relied on him to be open late to take their loads for the day.  He would then stay even later to get the grain into the bins where … Continue reading Richest Guy in the Graveyard

“Yeah, and that book was literally just the first Harry Potter, you idiot,” chimed Melanie from somewhere under the pile. “The world only ended ten seconds ago, we all know what you’re talking about.”

On Monday I made two beer bottle openers, a meat turner, and a practice piece of hardware for a rustic box. The pull for the lid of a box will take some additional refinement. It was easy to make under the guidance of an experienced blacksmith, and now that I've made one, I can make more. And as I practice, they'll get better and easier to make. There's some speculation these days that the United States will return to the glory days of American manufacturing. The thing that leaders had failed to note in the past is that making beautiful and useful things, builds character in the maker as well as value in the product. Make, fix and create. Assist others in learning lifewise.

I'll Be Home for Christmas , Bing Crosby's war time hit, was re-released on the LP version of his classic holiday album in 1949. Eighty-one years ago today the Japanese launched their devastating surprise attack on Pearl Harbor thrusting the United States into a bloody worldwide conflagration and forever altering the lives and destinies of millions.  It also cast a somber pall over Christmas festivities getting underway statesidejust as the last vestiges of the Great Depression were being shaken off and folks had money to spend for a change. The  USS Arizona  going down after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1949. With a long war ahead with families and sweethearts wrenched by separation and fear, people turned to musi...

Taken with a Fujifilm X100V   Just click on the photo to enlarge it   Straight out of camera (though cropped to 4:3) I took this photo of a gravestone in the Ascension Parish Burial Ground off the Huntingdon Road in Cambridge in June 2022. Its base, where I presume I’d find a name, some dates and perhaps a line or two of text, is now so overgrown that it’s no longer possible to see over whose body it is raised. I’m certain I could find out but I have not yet done so and, I suspect, I never will but, every time I pass it, I wish the person well and often find myself recalling the following words I nearly always use when conducting funerals: When a wo/man’s life is over, it remains true that he/she has lived; it remains true that...

Spiritual and mystical experiences happen in their own time – they cannot be programmed or commanded. But there are things we can do to facilitate these experiences: to put ourselves in a position where they can happen and are more likely to happen.

God is everywhere - The Great Whatever-The-Fuck-Keeps-Us-Going Doesn’t care what you call it.

By Edward McClelland | The heat wave begins on the Great Plains, in the Dust Bowl, that dead, dry land whose barren fields have transformed it into a furnace. The summer of 1936 is the hottest anyone can remember. After killing the meager yield of crops in the farm states, the dome of heat spreads north and east, smothering the Great Lakes. In the second week of July, every afternoon, workers preparing for second shift at the General Motors plants in Flint, Michigan, look out the kitchen windows of their company-built Cape Cods and slope-roofed bungalows, at the thermometers bolted to the walls.

This month our theme is Risking Joy. How can joy be risky? Well, if we believe that we aren’t worthy of joy, and/or if we have experienced huge losses, it can feel like a huge risk to allow our hearts to be happy. Is joy ... read more . The post Co-Ministers’ Colloquy – Dec. 6th appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

There will be holiday crafts workshops for all the children and youth. Pre-k through 6th grade will be in the pre-k-3rd grade room in the main building 7th – high school will be in the dining room. And the Nursery will be open Many hearty thanks those who have ... read more . The post This Week in Religious Education (Sun. Dec. 11th) appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

The Music Team is hosting a Holiday Sing-Along on December 18th after the service. There will be singing ‘round the piano at the back of the Great Hall, and cookies, mulled cider and punch in the dining room. Stay after the service to join the festivities! ... read more . The post Holiday Sing-Along & Snacks on December 18th! appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

This past Sunday we explored grief, loss, and depression during the holidays. Here are some resources to learn more for yourself, a loved one, a neighbor…</p> National Institute of Mental Health www.seizetheawkward.org friend support www.adaa.org Anxiety & Depression Assoc. of ... read more . The post Emotional and Mental Well-being Resources appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

New discoveries of more mummies with golden tongue amulets; and a new theory regarding the purpose of mummification explained in a new exhibit at the Manchester Museum. Continue reading Golden tongue amulets found in mummies at The Wild Hunt.

Come sing! Rev. Erika Hewitt and Paul Vasile, Executive Director of Music That Makes Community, invite you to come play and learn with us on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 for a live webinar beginning at 1:00 p.m. Eastern (noon Central; 11 a.m. Mountain; 10 a.m. Pacific). In this Zoom event, we'll... Continue reading "Special Event: Singing for Liberation"

Sunday, December 11, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon Sharing Circle sUUndays! (This circle will be held monthly in lieu of or following our traditional worship services; please join us in our beautiful sanctuary the rest of the month for regularly-scheduled worship!) Sunday Dec. 11, 2022 10:30am – Noon Unitarian Church of Marlborough & Hudson 80 Main   [ … ] The post Sunday, December 11 ~ Sharing Circle sUUnday ~10:30 a.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Looking at these gives me the same feeling in my gut as the feeling I’m trying to express. That tells me I’m going in the direction I want to go.

Yesterday in the iron studio at ESSA I had the privilege of making two beer bottle openers and a meat turner for the grill, all while learning basic blacksmithing skills. Dale Custer was our guide, and the important thing to learn was to strike while the iron is hot. Make, fix and create. Assist others in learning likewise.

A person needs to be rested to be at peace with themselves and with the world around them.  Rest helps a person think more clearly.  Someone may feel a need to be busy all the time to be “productive” but a rested mind is a clearer mind. -Judy DiCristofaro (CLF) Take a moment today to … Continue reading At Peace

One year after the historic election of Honduras’ first female president, there are signs of progress. But grave human rights challenges persist.

                                                                                   Jolly Old St. Nicholas  by the Ames Brothers. This is St. Nicholas Day, a day when childrenin the Netherlands and across much of Northern Europe awake to find their stockings or shoes filled with candy, nuts, oranges, and small toys left behind in the night by the sanctifiedBishop.  It is also still observed in some American families, though the practice seems to be fading.  Our three daughters always found their stockings filled until they were adults.  It is also a good day to trot out Jolly Old St. Nicholas , America’s oldest secular Christmas song—if you discount Jingle Bells which was not inten...