over the river and through the woods to peace

Slow down. Be outside virtually even if you feel - or are - quarantined inside. Peace to all of you - and thanks to KB for sharing it!

turn, turn, turn

To everything there is a season...

This time of year everything seems to be a liminal space, that sort of golden autumn in-between when there are still a few breaths of summer hanging on alongside reminders of winter to come.

Today was one of those days.

For supper we had little tomatoes from our garden, and Sister Claire Marie's frittata was made with our zucchini as well as the basil she grows in a pot on the windowsill. Summer tastes. I am amazed that the garden is still producing.

This morning I went down by the water to pray during my meditation time. It promised to be a lovely day, but in the pre-dawn chill I needed my down coat.

As the sun rose, the gulls woke up, discovering the jumping fish, the first I've seen in some time. They attracted the attention of nearby Double-crested Cormorants, and eventually even a couple of Great Blue Herons ventured into the zone of madly wheeling birds.  No Great Egret today, though... I haven't seen one in the past week, so the one that hangs about the cove may have gone south.

On the way back to the convent for the Eucharist, near one of our guesthouses, I spotted my first snowbirds - juncos returned for the winter. Signs of things to come.

So we wait and watch.

But also we take time just to be present. Here. Now. In this space. 

I am so thankful.

Peace be with you - with us all - with our world.

of sermons and herding kittens: a very brief snapshot

I'm still writing my sermon for tomorrow. 
This is an accurate enactment of the process and current state of affairs:



It appears that my sermon process has given up something for Lent. When it sits still, I'll let you know what that is.

Meanwhile, onward, by the grace of God!

Duxbury Interfaith Council 2018 Spring Holiday Basket Project

Last weekend there was a (tiny little) snowstorm. Noah didn't amount to much after all. Yesterday and today it has been spring. 

just after sunrise this morning

a beautiful start to a beautiful day

It's been over 60 here in Duxbury, and it was 73 in Cambridge yesterday afternoon when I was up to speak with the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Div. I was wishing I could add a few extra hours in the afternoon to wander around and look at birds. (That's not an unusual wish, however.)

happy long-tailed duck, already anticipating the loveliness

Tomorrow I hear it will snow again. 

"You did not just say that..."

Meanwhile, however, I have received a confirmation that spring is on the way, Punxutawney Phil notwithstanding. It's time to think about the DIC food drive for our holiday meal baskets. Care to participate? See below for possibilities. 

2018 SPRING HOLIDAY BASKET PROJECT

The Outreach Committee of the Duxbury Interfaith Council is planning the Spring Holiday food basket project to distribute holiday meals to our less fortunate neighbors.  This has become a major community endeavor, and we are asking for your help.  We thank you for your continued support, as do over 130 recipient families.

HOW TO HELP?

DONATIONS OF MONEY:  Please make check payable to the Duxbury Interfaith Council and mail to P.O. Box 1161, Duxbury, MA  02331. 

DONATIONS OF FOOD:  Please drop off all non-perishable items at Holy Family Church, 601 Tremont Street, by Saturday, March 24^th   

Non-perishable donations needed:

●      Canned Goods:  Yellow and Green vegetables, Cranberry Sauce, Canned Gravy

●      Juice:  Non-frozen concentrated juice mix

●      Packaged Dessert Mixes: Quick Bread, Muffins, Brownie, Cake & Frosting

●      Baked Goods: Cookies, Brownies, Squares, Cupcakes, Quick Breads, and Pies.

Baked Goods should be dropped off no later than 3:00 pm on Monday, March 26^th.

**No food donations in glass containers and within expiration dates, please.

There is always an enormous need for home-style baked goods for the Spring Baskets.  Please consider baking from scratch or purchasing from a local supermarket bakery.  These goods add a personal touch to the baskets.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

BASKET ASSEMBLY:  At Holy Family Church Parish Center, 601 Tremont St. 

Tuesday, March 27^th 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon and Wednesday March 28^th from 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

BASKET PICKUP/DELIVERY:  Most recipients pick up their baskets.  We need help loading the baskets into cars and delivering baskets on Wednesday, March 28^th.^d from 12:00 – 4:00 pm (strong adults only) 

Deliveries begin at 1:00 pm.

http://www.duxburyinterfaithcouncil.org/

https://www.facebook.com/duxburyinterfaithcouncil/

Everyone should have a nice dinner.

after celebration and storm

Well, Merry Christmas Epiphany!

The wreaths and ribbons and lights are all coming down now, which always makes me sad, especially when it is cold and grey.

The candles in my prayer corner remain, however; their warmth reminds me of that which really matters. 

Today was our sabbath - that is to say, our day of rest - on which I try to spend time outside and also do some walking, both of which lift my spirits considerably.

I thought I'd go look for a few ducks late this afternoon on my way to do errands. I knew things were pretty well frozen, but the black ducks had made an appearance on the shore near us earlier in the day (binoculars!). The river mouth and the Powder Point Bridge over the bay are often good gathering places for ducks, so I headed out in all optimism.

Not so much.

At the river mouth, there was some water between the bridge and the otherwise iced-up inlet, but nothing stirring. As I was preparing to leave again, an intrepid little bufflehead popped up.

She was determined to find something in the water flowing back with the incoming tide from under the ice.

I do hope she found something eventually. Nothing much seemed to be coming her way; nevertheless, she persisted.

At the Powder Point Bridge, nothing but pigeons and a few gulls, high up. It only took a glance to see that my vision of eiders, loons, scoters, and buffleheads was not to be. The bay was completely frozen over; even the water I thought was open had ice not far underneath.

I only made it half way across before turning back, realizing that the return walk would not be at all fun in the stiff, cold wind.

What I saw, however, was lovely in its own stark way. The colors were stunning.

Not much of a birding expedition, but an experience of beauty for which I am grateful. Perhaps at some point I can paint it. (I did learn on retreat one year, however, that watercolors freeze very fast outdoors in January. My spiritual director was quite amused.)

May God grant you such beauty and serenity as well.

morning blessings

from this morning:

We're not that long out of silence, and already this day is full of blessings. Thought I'd share them with you.

My day opened with Morning Prayer, of course (after a nice, strong cup of coffee, which is its own blessing). Today we remember St. Simon & St. Jude, and the reading for the day from Ephesians particularly struck me as wonderful and appropriate for prayer. Imagine if we were all to pray with this daily.

Ephesians 2:13-22

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

(You can see the rest of the daily office readings here and the Eucharistic lessons here.)

As I returned from setting up the oratory for the Eucharist, I was greeted with a stunning view out the hall window as the reds of dawn began to lighten the sky and reflect off the bay. I wish I had a picture to share.  I did, however, take my folding chair down to the end of the road for a time of contemplation before the Eucharist, and I took a few photos.

Another gift of this morning was celebrating the Eucharist. I have always loved communion services, and now being able to preside gives me an extra joy on those days I am assigned. And we sang a favorite hymn of mind reminding me of the greatest gift we've been given: Jesus Christ, our sure foundation and sign of God's love, embodied.

Who knows what the rest of the day will bring? We are hosting two church groups, and I hope their time with us will be a gift and blessing to them. Perhaps their day will be as good as mine has begun to be. I'll pray that this be so - and that yours be a good one as well.

considering the lilies

The reading for Evening Prayer tonight is one of my favorites, one I've gone back to over the years.

Someday I'll have to tell the story of its impact on me during my junior year abroad; it's too long for today. Suffice to say that I had been coming upon that passage with its "do not be anxious" (RSV translation) to the point that I was asking God, "Are you trying to tell me something?" Apparently so, and when I suddenly needed it, it was there. And right. So when I came upon it while praying Morning Prayer today, I just kept on reading into the Evening Prayer passage in advance.

It's our sabbath day - which is to say, our day of rest, our day "off," so to speak, so I will go out soon to consider the lilies and the birds of the air. Quite literally. Walking outside can be really good prayer time for me, and just being among green living things renews my spirit. I am profoundly grateful to be able to do so and to have a lovely afternoon in which to do it. I'll come back to this passage tonight, giving thanks and asking to hear it even more deeply. 

May the Lord help me - and all of us - to grow in trust and thanksgiving for that promise of steadfast presence, no matter what.

Matthew 6:25-34

 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

(Thanks to http://bible.oremus.org/ for the text!)

a Bach love song to coffee

Ah! How sweet coffee tastes,
more delicious than a thousand kisses,
milder than muscatel wine.
  Coffee, I have to have coffee,
  and, if someone wants to pamper me,
  ah, then bring me coffee as a gift!

http://www.emmanuelmusic.org/notes_translations/translations_cantata/t_bwv211.htm



Who knew Bach wrote a cantata/comic opera about coffee?

Via Wikipedia, an outline:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schweigt_stille,_plaudert_nicht,_BWV_211 

Better yet, however, are the lyrics to the previous song, which the father berates his coffee-addicted daughter, and she responds:

3. Recitative B S

Schlendrian (which apparently translates "stick in the mud")

     You naughty child, you wild girl,

     ah! When will I achieve my goal:

     get rid of the coffee for my sake!

Liesgen

     Father sir, but do not be so harsh!

     If I couldn't, three times a day,

     be allowed to drink my little cup of coffee,

     in my anguish I will turn into

     a shriveled-up roast goat.

http://www.emmanuelmusic.org/notes_translations/translations_cantata/t_bwv211.htm - Lyrics via Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Boston, I kid you not (no pun intended). However, most sadly, this particular cantata is not on their performance list this year. 

Fortunately for Liesgen, Happy Goat Coffee is a thing.

http://www.happygoatcoffee.com/

https://twitter.com/happygoatcoffee

NPR: How can you tell if your goat is happy? (original photo source)

You're welcome.

Advent close of day at the wildlife sanctuary

Jesus, Redeemer of the world,

Word of the Father throned on high,

light from the light invisible,

and watchful guardian over all

Hymn 38 v.1 

The Hymnal 1982

Now, ere day fadeth quite, we see the evening light,

our wonted hymn outpouring;

Father of might unknown, thee, his incarnate Son,

and Holy Spirit adoring.

"O gladsome Light"

Hymn 36 v.2 

The Hymnal 1982

I am about to do a new thing;

   now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

   and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43.19

 I am like an owl of the wilderness,

   like a little owl of the waste places.

But you, O Lord, are enthroned for ever;

   your name endures to all generations. 

You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,

   for it is time to favour it;

   the appointed time has come. 

Psalm 102:6, 12, 13

Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in thee.

Hymn 66 v.1 

The Hymnal 1982