Wednesday, February 21, 2007

sunshine 70

Tomorrow, we go on a cruise around the western Caribbean. There will be sun, and warmth, and reading for pleasure, and no work for either of us. Joy!

In celebration of the sun, here is some Hafiz (Ladinsky, translator):

"One day the sun admitted, I am just a shadow. I wish I could show you the infinite Incandescence that has cast my brilliant image! I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the Astonishing Light of your own Being!"

Saturday, February 17, 2007

eternal sunset

It is always sundown, at the Eternal Sunset website, thanks to 225 west-facing webcams in 45 countries.

via Randy Cassingham's free subscription service, This Is True featuring funny/perplexing news stories, "bonzer" web sites, and honorary unsubscriptions...

Friday, February 16, 2007

57 to 100 months

I witnessed two congregants sentenced to 57-to-100-months jail time this morning. I will of course be visiting them, and ministering to their families & children, and I'm also working on how to pastor to the eight congregants who showed up to support the now-jailed parties, who heard a brutal litany of abuse from their white-collar victims and the judge. Oof.

Then I visited a person in hospice, and met the new in-law (the wedding date was moved up, to allow the ailing parent to see it occur).

Then I took a tour of the old State Mental Hospital, crumbling now but once gorgeous, built on the idea that beauty is healing. It did help heal me, today.

Friday, February 09, 2007

god's valentine

A poem by Mirabai :

I tried controlling myself but it did no good.
My senses are
aflame.

I heard You singing.
That started all my blessed madness.

I openly made love with everything in sight last night
and this morning

the constable showed up and wrote out twenty citations.

I guess I should not have jumped naked
on him in front
of his
wife.

The hypocrite, he wouldn't have complained
at all

if we were
alone.

(translation: Daniel Ladinsky, from his "Love Poems from God"--Penguin Compass, 2002)

Monday, February 05, 2007

balloons


With balloons and bubbles, and great music, and some words here and there, we had some pretty good worship yesterday (if I do say so myself).

Sunday, February 04, 2007

move me brightly

worship set list for today:

welcome & announcements
bell
chalice lighting
prelude "Playin' In The Band"
opening words: "Comes a time...only love can fill"
opening hymn #1052 "Oneness of Everything"
story "Because Bryan Hugged His Mother"
congregational vision
offering (offertory: "Sunrise" by D. Godchaux)
musical text "Terrapin Station"

intermission

entr'acte "The Wheel"
joys & concerns
pastoral prayer
musical response "Broke-down Palace"
drumz (body percussion & movement)
homily *
closing hymn #311 "Let It Be A Dance"
benediction: "...Let the words be yours, I am done with mine"
chalice
bell
encore "Turn On Your Lovelight"

* guest quote: Howard Thurman--"What the world needs is people who have come alive."

Friday, February 02, 2007

the song remains the same

Two sentences (or less) about God, from a number of Heartland District ministers:

As Dennis reminds us, “Whatever God is, my job remains the same.”

God is that which knits creation with creativity; which calls all to be part of its greater whole

All this is God, right here in my pea green house (Anne Sexton)

“God” carries too much baggage to me (and to many of those with whom I minister) for me to drag along into the pulpit or into my solitude. I am filled with mystery, which is light and lovely.

God is in the process—that which makes it possible to move from what is, to what should be (after Rabbi Michael Lerner)

God is the living metaphor that links “is” and “is not”, “like” and “not like” in descriptive paradox. God is the conversation that joins now with the past and future in hope and love

God is a metaphor for the manifestation and evolution of Spirit—the nondual process of form and emptiness.

Unconditional Love

“God is more than your sacred holy thing; it is not, but can be, more than your home can be”—Bill Breeden’s 4-year-old grandson

Fix thou our steps, o source
that we stagger not with the uneven motions of the world,
but go steadily on our way
neither ceasing the journey by the weather we meet
nor turn aside for everything that helps us

God is the possibility of right relations

Finally, a poem by David Carl Olson:
morning, rising sun through
pine branches
and Mrs. Golden’s old curtains
prayer closet, poetry closet
“monuments to moments”
size(!) sighs
whys wise
I believe in poetry
I believe in prayer
I believe in practice