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Neolithic cursus discovered on the Isle of Arran.

14 September 2023 at 18:17
The only complete Neolithic cursus to be found in the British Isles to date has been located in Isle of Arran in Northwest Scotland in the Firth of Clyde Continue reading Neolithic cursus discovered on the Isle of Arran. at The Wild Hunt.

Doors...

14 September 2023 at 18:03
My students in my small cabinet making class all have doors, so tomorrow we will finish assembly and plan on putting on hinges and hardware. The photo shows an example. Make, fix and create... assist others in learning likewise.

Reset

14 September 2023 at 05:00
When my daughter is really upset, a drink of cold water helps her calm her body and deal with complicated emotions. The coldness is like pushing a “reset” button. For others, this physical reset involves a cup of tea, or a bite of something crunchy. -Michael Tino (CLF) What helps you physically reset yourself?

Sunday, September 17 ~ The Gift of WELCOME ~ 10:30 a.m.

14 September 2023 at 14:06
Sunday, September 17, 10:30 a.m. The Gift of Welcome The Unitarian Church of Marlborough & Hudson invites you into a time of spiritual reflection with our Soul Matters Sharing Circle . Once a month, in lieu of a formal worship service, we will gather to create safe, sacred space together, in a sharing circle format, so   [ … ] The post Sunday, September 17 ~ The Gift of WELCOME ~ 10:30 a.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Wednesday, September 27 ~ Dinner Church! ~ 6:00-8:00 p.m.

14 September 2023 at 13:33
Nourish Your Body & Spirit at Dinner Church!  Join us for Dinner Church on  Wednesday, September 27 . All are welcome to this family-friendly opportunity to share food for the spirit as we enjoy time together in community. We’ll have build-your-own burrito bowls (suggested donation $15 to cover the cost of the meal, $20 to help   [ … ] The post Wednesday, September 27 ~ Dinner Church! ~ 6:00-8:00 p.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Welcoming the Ocean

14 September 2023 at 06:40
It was a beautiful December day in Harlingen, Texas. We left early in the morning for a day trip to the ocean. I had been dreaming of this day for months. I’d had a difficult year and this was my … Continue reading →

NOAH at FUUN

14 September 2023 at 09:48

Reflecting on my Gurus: Heard, Huxley, and Isherwood. A Small Appreciation.

14 September 2023 at 09:30
        The other day I came across a wonderful little essay “The Minimum Working Hypothesis,” It was Aldous Huxley’s attempt at providing a core to his belief in a perennial wisdom. It triggered a wave of thoughts for me. And in particular how much I owe to him and two of his […]

From a Raucous Ballad to a National Anthem

14 September 2023 at 03:00
  The Bombardment of Fort McHenry--the bombs bursting in air. On September 14, 1814 a young Baltimore attorney, Francis Scott Key, dashed off a long poem, The Defense of Fort McHenry after his release from a British warship on which he was detained during the bombardment of the fort in the War of 1812.   It was published to considerable acclaim in the Patriot on September 20.   Street broadsides were soon circulating with the instruction to sing the words to the tune of a popular drinking song, To Anacreon in Heaven .   In later decades all but the first verse would become largely forgotten and the song would become known as The Star Spangled Banner. Key had accompanied American Prisoner Exchange Agent Colonel John Stuart Skinner to ...

AFA plans for Stonehenge event vigorously repelled

13 September 2023 at 17:46
The Asatru Folk Assembly (AFA) announced and cancelled an event at Stonehenge after swift opposition by the Heathen and Pagan community. Continue reading AFA plans for Stonehenge event vigorously repelled at The Wild Hunt.

Holes in the Fabric

13 September 2023 at 05:00
Many holes in fabric can be repaired by people with sewing expertise. I am not one of those people. The repairs I make are obvious and usually a little crooked–they make plain that the fabric once had a hole. Sometimes, I think that repairs in the fabric of our lives are like that–there will always … Continue reading Holes in the Fabric

Body Autonomy Is the Path from Which All Others Diverge

13 September 2023 at 14:49
A Q&A with Amanda Montei | I’ll say that in both creative and academic circles, the subject of motherhood is often seen as niche and unserious, and personal struggles with caregiving and domestic work are as well. I’ve experienced some pretty outright sexism over the years, but also so many subtle dismissals of my work and my intellect as a mother writing about motherhood, or even just “women’s issues.” Alongside the very real struggle of securing affordable childcare.

Introducing the Responsibility Covenant

12 September 2023 at 09:57
Introducing the Responsibility Covenant A Tool for Inclusive Organizations In 2021, the Canadian Unitarian Council–the national organization where we work–adopted a new guiding principle. This principle affirmed our commitment to “individual and communal action that accountably dismantles racism and systemic barriers to full inclusion in ourselves and our institutions.” We were already on a path […] The post Introducing the Responsibility Covenant first appeared on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada. The post Introducing the Responsibility Covenant appeared first on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada.

Midweek Message September 13, 2023

13 September 2023 at 10:49

Approaching Conflict Like a Poem

13 September 2023 at 06:35
Tania Márquez May we remember to slow down when we find ourselves having difficult conversations. Continue reading "Approaching Conflict Like a Poem"

Today at ESSA, doors

13 September 2023 at 07:45
Today in my making small cabinets  class at ESSA we are ready to begin making doors. I woke up early this morning to go through the process of making bridle joint doors, for both glass and raised panels, as my students will be making both. I am so lucky to have practiced such things over the years and to have skills to share and to have found a market for these skills.  My book on designing boxes is moving through the assembly process. A cover is being designed, marketing materials are being developed, the words and photos are going through the usual editorial processes, an illustrator has been chosen, and there again I'm lucky to have skills to share and a great team to help me share them. This will be my fourteenth how-to book, not i...

Are All Welcome Here?

13 September 2023 at 06:07
Many years ago, our congregation began a deep conversation around what it means to be a welcoming congregation and what it means to be “radically welcoming.” That phrase, radically welcoming, caused us some pause–as well it should have. To this … Continue reading →

AI in Spiritual Education: Caveat Emptor

13 September 2023 at 05:00
I encourage you to avoid AI-created spiritual education. It’s not hard to spot, but sometimes you have to do a little investigation. If you’re an author or teacher I encourage you to offer what AI can’t: your own experiences, own your thinking, and the lineages of which you’re a part.

My Labor Action Baptism Was a Teacher Strike—A Murfin Memoir of Niles West

13 September 2023 at 03:00
Niles West High School in the 1960s. I was a senior that fall at Niles Township West High School in 1966.   It was a good year for me.   I was finding myself.   After arriving from Cheyenne, where I was something of a pariah as a bookish kid, the year before, I had discovered that at least in some circles my interests were valued and shared.   I had friends.   I was active in drama and was cast in good parts.   I had my own allegedly humorous column The Wind from the West in the school newspaper and my short stories and poems had been published in the literary journal Apotheosis .   I competed in Forensics. Outside of school I was part of a circle of kids from all three schools in the district who were interested in things like ci...

Good Walls: Boundaries as Acts of Love

12 September 2023 at 23:28
Reading: From Prentis Hemphill, On Boundaries For me, there is a big love [that exists regardless of me]. [Which means,] there are people I have boundaries with that I’m like, “I don’t know if I love you but there’s a big … Continue reading →

Elder God Party in 2024

12 September 2023 at 22:22
Back in the 2008 and 2012 presidential election cycles, this blog encouraged people to vote for Cthulhu for president. According to an old MIT webpage : “Cthulhu is a large green being which resembles a human with the head of a squid, huge bat-wings, and long talons (true, that doesn’t really resemble a human, but … Continue reading "Elder God Party in 2024"

Natural dyes update

12 September 2023 at 20:23
Our experiments in early August to make natural dyes using pine cones or invasive plants weren’t very successful. Subsequently, Carol did a lot of research and experimenting. When we held Ecojustice Camp in mid-August, she was able to produce some pretty good colors using natural dyes. The most successful colors came from turmeric powder (bright … Continue reading "Natural dyes update"

The congregation is the curriculum

12 September 2023 at 15:15
I am so pleased with the plans we have for our scheduled sessions of religious education for children and youth this year. The children, youth, and their teachers will be using stories, art, service, and learning to help the children and youth develop their UU ... read more . The post The congregation is the curriculum appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Green Sanctuary – Actions to End Fossil Fuels!

12 September 2023 at 15:10
Green Sanctuary reports that a few bus tickets are still available from Schenectady to the Sunday, 9/17, NYC March to the UN Climate Ambition Summit. The bus will leave at 8:00AM on the 17th from the Union College parking lot at Seward and Nott St. ... read more . The post Green Sanctuary – Actions to End Fossil Fuels! appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

A rude interruption: Christian pastor crashes Pagan Pride

12 September 2023 at 18:51
A Christian pastor and his "men" promoted religious aggression with a megaphone at the Hamilton Pagan Pride Day. Our guest correspondent Yvonne Aburrow witnessed the events. Continue reading A rude interruption: Christian pastor crashes Pagan Pride at The Wild Hunt.

Repairing Practice

12 September 2023 at 05:00
Sometimes, amidst all that is swirling around us, our spiritual practices fall to the side of our lives. In those moments, we give ourselves the grace to come back to the things that have helped us connect with something larger than ourselves, without guilt or apology. When have you had to come back to a … Continue reading Repairing Practice

Co-ministers Colloquy – Sept. 12th

12 September 2023 at 16:45
This morning we had pancakes for breakfast, topped with almond yogurt, berries, nectarines, and maple syrup. Putting yogurt on pancakes came from one of Lynn’s daycare kids, and we are so glad that we were inspired to try it!  We have a shared morning poetry ... read more . The post Co-ministers Colloquy – Sept. 12th appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Aldous Huxley’s Outline of Perennialism: The Minimum Working Hypothesis

12 September 2023 at 16:33
        This essay by Aldous Huxley was first published as “The Minimum Working Hypothesis” in Vedanta for the Western World edited by Christopher Isherwood (George Allen & Unwin, London, 1948, pp 33-35. The book notes it also appears as part of Sebastian’s notebook in Huxley’s philosophical novel, Time Must Have a Stop. […]

Protected: How You Can Support Human Rights in Sudan—and Beyond

12 September 2023 at 13:47
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Life of Waiting

12 September 2023 at 06:01
I think about life and it seems like I am always waiting for something. Waiting is one thing that I do well. I’ve spent my whole life doing it. I should be good at it. It all started when I … Continue reading →

What I Write When I’m not Writing

12 September 2023 at 11:53
I want to write here. To you, and not just to myself. I’ve wanted to write. I’ve wanted and wanted…</p> The post What I Write When I’m not Writing appeared first on Taking Up Space.

Fiftieth anniversary

12 September 2023 at 02:59
It is exactly 50 years since September 11, 1973, when the United States government helped topple and kill the democratically elected president of Chile, Salvador Allende, in order to install a dictator more to its liking. In his 17-year rule, Augusto Pinochet had over 3,000 of his countryfolk murdered and tens of thousands more tortured, […]

The Fabulous Frenchman in the Boater Hat

12 September 2023 at 03:00
Maurice Chevalier , despite the aristocratic connotations of his last name, made in inauspicious bow in Paris on September 12, 1888, the son of a house painter, considered a low trade, and a Franco-Belgian beauty.   He grew up little more than a street urchin with little formal schooling. By 1901, at the age of 13 he was singing for tips in a café which eventually led to small parts in theatrical productions.   But through his teens he supported himself mostly with a parade of jobs—carpenter ’ s apprentice, electrician, printer, and doll painter. In the first a series of relationships with important women, the handsome young man attracted the attention of Fréhel, a leading star of the Paris stage in 1909.   Like him she had come...

Building small cabinets.

11 September 2023 at 18:29
Today we had day one of my class Building Small Cabinets. To make things interesting the students determined the sizses of the cabinets that would be most useful in their homes. All the students chose cherry as their wood of choice though some may add accents of white oak to offer contrast. This was also the first day in using our new Harvey Dust Collector. That was a resounding success. At low speed it handled the table saws and jointer, and at a decibel level that allowed conversation. With various tools running it was hard to tell by sound whether the dust collector was turned on or not. As an added bonus, it is low profile so we now have a clear view of the table saw from all sides. That allows for closer observation of student safet...

Pagan Community Notes: Week of September 11, 2023

11 September 2023 at 17:59
In this week's Pagan Community Notes, Everglades Moon Local Council releases a welcome and inclusion statement, Pagan Pride events well underway, community events and other announcements as well as the success story of the Takahē bird. Continue reading Pagan Community Notes: Week of September 11, 2023 at The Wild Hunt.

T-shirts (and other stuff) for trans lives

11 September 2023 at 13:20
At our neighborhood’s Fiesta on the Hill yesterday, I saw a man wearing this t-shirt, and I loved it. He didn’t remember where he got it, only that it benefited a Texas group working for trans rights, and sure enough, I found it easily online, where the profits benefit Equality Texas. I neither need another t-shirt nor […]

Knowing We’re Alive and Knowing We will Die: A Meditation on a Television Show

11 September 2023 at 10:30
              Jan & I have now seen two episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. We both have enjoyed them very much. We thought of it sort of as the original Star Trek, but done better. I’m pleased to note that at Rotten Tomatoes, the pros give it a […]

Welcome To My Home

11 September 2023 at 06:00
Welcome to my home, please ignore the mess, it is well lived in. I tell this to everyone that enters my home because, well, I’m embarrassed by the clutter that always seems to gather in the corners, then spill out … Continue reading →

America’s Poet of the Quite Places—Mary Oliver

11 September 2023 at 07:44
                                               Mary Oliver in 1964 . Mary Oliver , who was born this day on September 10, 1935 in Maple Heights , Ohio , a semi-rural suburb of Cleveland, was the rare contemporary American poet who was both widely read and critically acclaimed.   She was the bestselling American poet whose books are still bought and read by people who do not read poetry.   But she has also won the Pulitzer Prize , National Book Award , numerous other honors, and academic recognition despite never completing a bachelor ’ s degree. Her work celebrates and explores nature, often as an empowering force of the feminine.   She has mastered, if she did not invent, feminist neo-transcendentalism

It’s Time for Bike Club!

11 September 2023 at 04:00
Jim Beasley started volunteering with the Boys Scouts and a simple charge: “Get home with the same number you left with.” Not so different from volunteering with a bike club. Beasley helped start All Souls’ first Bike Club at McClain 7th Grade Academy in 2014—the same year Humble Sons Bike Company started a club at Emerson Elementary. The paths—or bike lanes—would continue to cross. All Souls continued sponsoring Bike Club at McLain until the school closed in 2019. Then the church began providing volunteers for clubs at Unity, Gilcrease (now John Hope Franklin) and Monroe Middle School as clubs started […] The post It’s Time for Bike Club! appeared first on BeyondBelief.

Work in progress: rose petals (oil pastels)

11 September 2023 at 01:56
Yes, I definitely enjoy this medium more than the acrylics I used for the first version. I’m not sure whether that’s because I prefer a stick of pigment to a brush, or oils to acrylics, or both, I’d have to try brush painting with oils to find out. I have oil paints, but it’s been […]

Email notifications

10 September 2023 at 17:49
Every once in a while, someone asks me if they can get notified by email when I post something on this blog. There are several solid email notification solutions for WordPress that charge a fee — but I can’t justify spending any more than I already do on this website. And all the email notification … Continue reading "Email notifications"

Editorial: Theft and woe at the British Museum should lead to change

10 September 2023 at 17:00
A scandal at the British Museum has led to a curator being fired for the theft of potentially thousands of objects and the resignation of the museum's director. Weekend Editor Eric O. Scott argues it should lead to rethinking the structure of large institutions like the British Museum. Continue reading Editorial: Theft and woe at the British Museum should lead to change at The Wild Hunt.

Lives of the Spirit

10 September 2023 at 14:54
The first sermon in the 11 part series, lives of the spirit. The post Lives of the Spirit appeared first on Colin Bossen.

Global Health — Why You Must Care

10 September 2023 at 13:45
The September 10 forum talk features Richard Skolnik, a Yale instructor in Global Health with decades of related worldwide experience. It will focus on the fact that "the health of anyone, anywhere is the health of everyone, everywhere.” Richard will pay particular attention to the health, social, economic, and ethical reasons why global health is so important, and use examples from COVID to highlight why we should care even more now about global health than before. He will also offer suggestions about the measures that concerned people can take to try to ensure that more people, in more countries, have a chance to be as healthy as possible.

Ingathering: The Church Is US

10 September 2023 at 12:30
Join us as we gather for the beginning of a new church year, as we pause to remember just what it is that makes this "church."

Weekly Bread #239

10 September 2023 at 11:52
It’s easy to get confused sometimes about our own relative importance. I mean we ARE the center of our individual lives – at least if we are not excessively codependent on someone else. And what we do matters, for ourselves and other people, both near and far. Like in wave theory, the ripples from our […]

A Small Meditation on the Collapse of Religions and What Might Come Next

10 September 2023 at 11:23
        The living way is like a well: You can constantly use it, and yet it never dries up.It is the eternal boundlessness;Birthing the infinite worlds. It is hidden from sight and yet always present.I have no idea who gave it birth.It is older than God. Tao Te Ching, Chapter 4 (my […]

Long Before the Bambino—The First Ever Major League Baseball Grand Slam

10 September 2023 at 08:43
                                Roger Connor of the Troy Trojans hits the first big league grand slam in 1880. In the early years of Major League Baseball home runs were hard to come by.   Ball parks were small, but the ball was dead—much softer with a less elastic core than modern balls.    Bats were heavy slowing down bat speed.   Pitchers had yet to perfect a 90 mile per hour fast ball.   It took a dead eye, prodigious strength, a bit of luck, and usually a tail wind to get a ball over the fences.   Instead of waiting for big innings where sluggers clear the bases, as in the modern game, it was small ball—singles, doubles, stolen bases, daring slides with sharpened spikes high, plus a lot of walks and hit ...

Editorial: Coach Kennedy’s lies are business as usual at the U.S. Supreme Court

9 September 2023 at 18:02
Weekend Editor Eric O. Scott looks back at Kennedy vs. Bremerton, a U.S. Supreme Court case that eviscerated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and was proven this week to be based on a lie. Continue reading Editorial: Coach Kennedy’s lies are business as usual at the U.S. Supreme Court at The Wild Hunt.

New Program: Creating “Wholistic” Wellness

9 September 2023 at 16:26
NEW PROGRAM! Creating “Wholistic” Wellness Facilitator: Cynthia Menard (she/her), Director of Education Unitarian Church of Marlboro & Hudson Need an energy boost? Dealing with chronic symptoms that never quite resolve? Looking to tune up your overall level of wellness? Join me for this series of three 90-minute workshops designed to help you build a regular wellness   [ … ] The post New Program: Creating “Wholistic” Wellness appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

September 15 ~ Friday FUUN! ~1:00-3:00 p.m.

9 September 2023 at 16:07
Friday FUUN: New this year, Rev. Alice is introducing Friday FUUN — monthly community building activities for anyone looking for something to do on a weekday afternoon. Folks of all ages and genders are invited to join us for tea in the Knight Room on Friday, Sept. 15 from 1:00-3:00 pm. This kickoff event will feature   [ … ] The post September 15 ~ Friday FUUN! ~1:00-3:00 p.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Abba Poemen: The Bright Star of the Desert

9 September 2023 at 11:43
        Me, I’m endlessly fascinated by the monks and nuns we now call the Desert Fathers and Mothers. They represent a movement that began in the third century in what we think of today as Israel and Palestine, Syria, Arabia, and most of all in the Egyptian desert. They first captured my […]

Faith in ourselves, our neighbours, and ourselves as neighbours

9 September 2023 at 08:15
The Cambridge Unitarian Church, September 2023 A short  “ thought for the day” was 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— Last week I introduced you to the “Creed of Life” written by Imaoka Shin’ichirō, the Japanese advocate of free-religion or, if you prefer, a “creative, free spirituality.” I suggested that the congregation in Cambridge where I am the minister should seriously consider informally adopting it as its own highly diverse community’s centre of gravity to help it continue its journey towards the creation of a meaningful, contemporary, creative, free spirituality....

Commemorating That Dreaded Anniversary Again—Murfin Rants and Poetry

9 September 2023 at 03:00
Note —Re-posting an almost annual blog post. There is no escaping it.   A scab is pulled off a barely healed wound.   Opportunists and con men scramble to once again jump to wrong conclusions, scapegoat strawmen, and bend the occasion to serve their ambitions and blood lust. I dread it every year.   But it will not leave me or, I suspect, any of us alone. But as horrible as those images etched indelibly in my mind are, is it wrong to say that I miss the days just after?   Remember?   For a little while Americans loved each other, found comfort in each other’s arms.   Divisions melted.   We were united by grief, and yes, even some righteous anger.   Even the world mourned for us.   Some of us even dared hope that the sense of...

All Ages Worship (10 September 2023)

8 September 2023 at 22:50
Please join us on Sunday (10 September 2023) at 11:00 AM for “What We Carry ” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.  Members of the All Souls Choir will sing. This service will also include a “blessing of the backpacks.” Everyone — children, youth, and adults — are welcome to bring their backpacks, briefcases, musical instrument cases, … Continue reading "All Ages Worship (10 September 2023)"

Second Sunday Potluck with Live Music (10 September 2023)

8 September 2023 at 22:38
Please join us after the 11:00 AM worship this Sunday (10 September 2023) for our second Sunday potluck with live music featuring Bob Jordan, Gail Burt, and Jean Kelly. Bring a dish to pass — or just show up because we usually have plenty of food — join us for an afternoon of good food, … Continue reading "Second Sunday Potluck with Live Music (10 September 2023)"

Artist Sunday Coming Soon — 17 September 2023

8 September 2023 at 22:33
Artist Sunday is our annual celebration of the arts — songs, instrumental music, poem, prose, dance, and more. This service is a celebration of the great diversity of creative expression among our All Souls members and friends. Artist Sunday will also include a visual art show and sale in the Religious Education wing. To learn … Continue reading "Artist Sunday Coming Soon — 17 September 2023"

Pre-K thru Grade 5 Children’s Religious Education (10 September 2023)

8 September 2023 at 22:16
For this Sunday (10 September 2023), our children (Pre-K thru Grade 5) will be using a program adapted from Moral Tales (a Tapestry of Faith curriculum by Alice Anacheka Nasemann and Elisa Davy Pearmain). The children will use stories as a way of learning to make choices in accordance with their Unitarian Universalist beliefs and … Continue reading "Pre-K thru Grade 5 Children’s Religious Education (10 September 2023)"

Middle and High School Youth Religious Education (10 September 2023)

8 September 2023 at 21:21
For this Sunday (10 September 2023), our middle and high school youth will experience our 8 principles through artistic expression. of their choosing — photography, other visual art media, or creative writing. Their works will be featured in an exhibition at the end of the curriculum. The All8 curriculum is the creation of Jil Novenski … Continue reading "Middle and High School Youth Religious Education (10 September 2023)"

Online and In-Person Adult Religious Education — 10 September 2023

8 September 2023 at 21:11
Please join us on Sunday (10 September 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. On this Sunday we begin reading the UUA Common Read for 2023 — On Repentance … Continue reading "Online and In-Person Adult Religious Education — 10 September 2023"

Building and Grounds Work Day (Saturday, 9 September 2023)

8 September 2023 at 20:58
We will have our monthly building and ground work day on Saturday (9 September 2023) from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We will have tasks for all ages and abilities — indoor and outside.

Zoom (and In-Person) Lunch on Wednesday (13 September 2023)

8 September 2023 at 20:55
Please join us next Wednesday (13 September 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.

Meditation with Larry Androes (9 September 2023)

8 September 2023 at 20:22
Please join us on Saturday (9 September 2023) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes. This group will be meeting via Zoom and not in person. This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching. The group … Continue reading "Meditation with Larry Androes (9 September 2023)"

Florida approves a college entrance exam favored by some Evangelical Christians

8 September 2023 at 19:55
The State of Florida adopts the use of the Classic Learning Test, a preferred exam of conservative politicians used predominantly by Christian institutions, for admissions to public colleges and universities Continue reading Florida approves a college entrance exam favored by some Evangelical Christians at The Wild Hunt.

Body Repair

8 September 2023 at 05:00
Our bodies, all different and with different abilities, sometimes need attention and repair. Medical attention, body and energy therapies, mental health work, devices that make things more accessible, and spiritual practices can all help us attend to the necessary repair of our bodies. How can you attend to the repair of your body today?

Beacon Behind the Books: Meet Salvatore Ambrosino, Digital and Social Media Intern

8 September 2023 at 14:44
Publishing has been my opportunity to participate in a cause which best puts to use the skills I acquired throughout college.

Dear Ms. Pelosi

8 September 2023 at 13:19
Having opened my mail to a headline that made me literally cry out, “Oh, god, no!,” I just sent this to my Congresswoman. Dear Ms. Pelosi, I am extremely distressed that you are running for re-election. We have effectively been deprived of one of our senators for several years; Kentucky is now in the same […]

“Social Movements and Congregational Responses”

8 September 2023 at 12:49
The Congregational Consulting Group blog has a new post by David Brubaker titled “Social Movements and Congregational Responses”: “Congregations [in the U.S.] often experience conflict in response to social movements in the world around them. Since World War II, movements regarding civil rights, the war in Vietnam, the ordination of women, and human sexuality—each vitally … Continue reading "“Social Movements and Congregational Responses”"

The Power of Welcome

8 September 2023 at 06:08
One of the benefits of being an editor for these reflections is that I get to see what everyone is writing before they are published. Earlier this week, Jenn Yi wrote something that really struck deeply within me. In Jenn’s … Continue reading →

On Board Last Cruise of the Lady Elgin

8 September 2023 at 07:43
The Lady Elgin at dock. When folks think of shipwrecks and maritime disasters, their thoughts turn to the Titanic and other famous sinkings on the briny deep.  But in fact, the disasters with the most loss of life have occurred on our inland water ways.  By far the heaviest loss of life was on the riverboat Sultana overloaded with former Yankee prisoners recently liberated from Rebel prisons.  The ship’s boilers exploded in April 1865 near Helena, Arkansas killing over 1,800. Even ships at dock have not been safe.  In 1915 the Eastland , a passenger steamer out of Chicago, rolled over at her moorage when passengers, Western Electric employees on a day excursion, rushed to the dock side to wave goodbye to family and friends.  844 w...

Prayer for Refuge with Ourselves

8 September 2023 at 06:00
A Prayer for Refuge with Ourselves Beloved, when we are anxious, frightened, weary, angry, confused, and alienated from our sense of being whole, of belonging, or of being enough, may we pause and breathe, creating spaciousness with you. May we create spaciousness that can be a refuge, a place to...

Hot weather

6 September 2023 at 18:17
After a summer that’s been cool and rainy, it’s going to be hot all week here in Massachusetts. Records are going to get broken. Some local school districts are worried, because of course schools aren’t air conditioned in Massachusetts. We never used to need air conditioning in September. In other news, clean up continues in … Continue reading "Hot weather"

Roses, acrylic version

7 September 2023 at 17:20
I have finished this painting, or rather, I’ve stopped working on it. It’s not totally unsatisfying, but I couldn’t get the precision either of line or of color with acrylic paint. Joy and I went to the Kehinde Wiley exhibit at the De Young today, and aside from the beauty and gut-punching power of his […]

Findhorn Foundation closes educational programmes

7 September 2023 at 17:00
After 50 years of serving the community, the Findhorn Foundation announces it will cease educational operations by the end of September 2023. Continue reading Findhorn Foundation closes educational programmes at The Wild Hunt.

Doing, Doing, Doing

7 September 2023 at 05:00
My dad was practically addicted to home repair.  Squeaky door? Done — fixed!  Special table built into the wall by the phone? Built and installed!  I so admired this about my dad; and it also meant that he was in a constant state of doing, doing, doing. Having conversations with my dad were difficult, as … Continue reading Doing, Doing, Doing

Faith Formation

7 September 2023 at 13:09
I recently asked some of our families what brought them to the fellowship. Some of their answers were, “I was looking for a community that held my values,” “We were looking for a progressive religious community in which our daughter, Kristi, could find community, values, acceptance, tradition, knowledge of traditions,” “I wanted my kids to […]

Welcome–Open Arms

7 September 2023 at 06:07
Bob and I share this amazing gift…  We are stackers! You show us a flat surface and we will fill it. Our stacks at home include the following:  What are our UU stacks? What piles of faith do we protect? … Continue reading →

Everett Dirksen—A Touch of Nostalgia for When Republicans Were Not All Crooks and Madmen

7 September 2023 at 08:18
  The maxim says, “a dead fish rots from the head down.”   Case in point, the Orange Menace and former Resident of the United States, his cabinet and other appointees, the GOP in Congress—most noticeably Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell—and a slew of Red State governors .   Corruption, venality, bigotry leavened with incompetence and willful ignorance.   As many have noted it’s not your father’s Republican Party.   But…</span> Those of us of a certain age remember when Republicans were stodgy and conservative but generally not crooks, or madmen.   I never thought I would say that I miss those guys. A good way to see just how far the modern Republican Party has gone off the rails is to review the career of Illino...

New dust collector

7 September 2023 at 07:02
Yesterday we installed a new dust collector at ESSA with the intention of improving the noise level and teaching environment. It's made by Harvey and has a low profile, fitting neatly between table saws, and at a height low enough that materials can pass over.  I'm preparing for a class at ESSA on building small cabinets, that begins on Monday. Make, fix and create... Assist others in learning likewise.

let there be legs

7 September 2023 at 06:54
I've made a few walnut legs to fit to boxes. They are easy to make and assemble, and can be shaped using the band saw, scroll saw and sanding to a variety of interesting shapes. My book, Designing Boxes is now in the editing stage, and an illustrator has been assigned to take my drawings to a more refined state. On editing, I'm grateful to be working with Peter Chapman, former director of Taunton Books, and with whom I've worked before. To make the legs, I simply cut a miter down one side of a piece of walnut, then cut it into lengths. I tape the mitered edges together with glue and then after the glue dries, I had a reinforcement piece that also serves as a place upon which the box rests as the legs are attached. Today I'll assist with ...

Margate in colour . . .

6 September 2023 at 19:00
Taken with a Fuji X100V using Øyvind Nordhagen’s Kodak Ektar 100 Recipe   Just click on any photo to enlarge it.

“Be the change that we desperately need” – Fighting for Freedom at Parliament

6 September 2023 at 17:15
Pagan leaders from various traditions gathered on the shores of Lake Michigan during Parliament for a ritual to empower the fight for freedom. Continue reading “Be the change that we desperately need” – Fighting for Freedom at Parliament at The Wild Hunt.

Essential Guiding Principles for When the Light Goes On

6 September 2023 at 16:23
By Mike Rose | Educational opportunity depends on more than what happens within the schoolhouse. Employment, housing, food security, healthcare, safe streets—these are the social and economic issues that significantly affect how children do in school. They are the core problems in the community where I grew up, and in the many communities in our country that bear resemblance to South Central Los Angeles.

Future Generations

6 September 2023 at 09:22
There is an old wisdom story about an elderly person who plants fruit tree saplings. When asked why they are planting trees that they will never see bear fruit, they reply that they are doing it for the next generation, who will be able to reap the fruit and have enough to eat. What are … Continue reading Future Generations

The Culture Shift Tool

6 September 2023 at 14:24
The Culture Shift Tool A new blog post by Erin Horvath and Amber Bellemare Coming Thursday, September 21 The post The Culture Shift Tool first appeared on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada. The post The Culture Shift Tool appeared first on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada.

The History and Purpose of the Responsibility Covenant

6 September 2023 at 14:14
The History and Purpose of the Responsibility Covenant A new blog post by Erin Horvath and Amber Bellemare Coming Thursday, September 14 The post The History and Purpose of the Responsibility Covenant first appeared on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada. The post The History and Purpose of the Responsibility Covenant appeared first on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada.

Unitarian Universalists Kick Off the New Congregational Year with Ingathering: Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt offers words of inspiration, support, and shared values for the new year in her first Ingathering video

6 September 2023 at 10:59
Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, the newly-elected president of the Unitarian Universalist Association offered words of inspiration, support, and shared values to congregations throughout the country as UUs celebrate Ingathering this month. Continue reading "Unitarian Universalists Kick Off the New Congregational Year with Ingathering: Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt offers words of inspiration, support, and shared values for the new year in her first Ingathering video"

Welcome as Sacred Exchange

6 September 2023 at 06:05
There is a small group of individuals who take up a most important task each week on Sunday mornings at UUCG. They are our Greeters. We have outside greeters who are in the parking lot. We have inside greeters just … Continue reading →

Enoughness

6 September 2023 at 06:33
DanaLee Simon Self-compassion was one of the best gifts I gave myself. Continue reading "Enoughness"

Visiting Eastern Europe’s Grassroots Frontline Responders: Listening to Impacted Communities

6 September 2023 at 09:25
Part one in a series examining the work and impact of UUSC’s partners in Eastern Europe.

Yearning For Wildness

6 September 2023 at 05:00
I’m one of the most order-obsessed people I know, but I’m yearning for wildness. Because the roots of the wild are still very much in us, and the wolf and the dog both howl at the moon.

The Bloody Bow of Intercollegiate Football

6 September 2023 at 03:00
A Rutgers student later painted this imagined view of the first official college football game. According to historians of American sports the first official college football season got underway on November 6, 1869 when teams from Rutgers College, now Rutgers University, and the College of New Jersey , now Princeton University, got together on the Rutgers campus for a rough and tumble game of football which was sanctioned and approved by both colleges.   It was a short season.   The next game was played by the same teams at Princeton one week later.   Season over.   Just two teams and two games. The Queensmen of Rutgers won the first game by a score of 6-4 but the New Jersey Tigers came back in the re-match to win 8-0.   The anal re...

Wednesday Photo(s): Margate in black and white

5 September 2023 at 19:00
 Taken with a Fuji X100V using Anders Lindborg and John Sevigny’s Kodak T-Max P3200 recipe Just click on any photo to enlarge it

September Theme: Sources of Inspiration

5 September 2023 at 17:18
As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm that inspiration can come from the laughter of a child, the beauty of a forest, some of life’s challenges, meaningful conversations, an experience of the Holy, traditions in our family, music, and/or in the lines of a poem. What inspires ... read more . The post September Theme: Sources of Inspiration appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Co-Ministers’ Colloquy – Sept. 5th

5 September 2023 at 17:10
Fall doesn’t technically come for a couple of weeks yet but the trees are already starting to change color in our neighborhood. The light is also beginning to change as the sun rises a little later and sets a little earlier and a little lower. ... read more . The post Co-Ministers’ Colloquy – Sept. 5th appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.
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