November 14, 2020 I’m normally a stickler for waiting until after Thanksgiving to put out Christmas Decorations. But this year, our outdoor lights have been twinkling since the first of November thanks to my daughter who delighted in putting them out one warm afternoon. The Christmas lights are up at Kenilworth Union, too, much [...]
November 13, 2020The 70 degree weather we had earlier in the week brought many outdoors to enjoy the fleeting fall sun. There was both a sense of joy for this gift of warmth so late in the season and an urgency to soak it all up before winter comes. Rev. Ruth Sorenson-Prokosch recently shared this during [...]
November 12, 2020 Endurance When you sign up for a marathon you know you will reach the finish line at mile marker 26.2. Though it is an incredibly long distance, it can be accomplished through proper training. When the race is at its most grueling, runners look toward the finish line, and find the [...]
November 11, 2020 “The dream of God is a social and political vision of a world of justice and peace in which human beings do not hurt or destroy, oppress or exploit one another.” Marcus Borg In the sanctuary of Kenilworth Union Church, two rose windows, one representing peace and the other justice, face [...]
November 10, 2020 by Christine V. Hides Learning that curiosity is an emotion was a “light bulb” moment for me. This illumination came during one of my long pandemic walks spent listening to the lecture “Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice” by Brené Brown. Curiosity is a way to approach other more unpleasant emotions [...]
November 9, 2020 Sometimes in the face of sorrow, stress, or everyday life there is no better way to be assured of God’s presence and grace than to sing, “It Is Well with My Soul.” Whether you prefer the traditional version or Lauren Daigle’s upbeat modern take, let your words be a prayer. Turn [...]
November 7, 2020 by Dana Connell Nov 7 By Dana Connell Periodically, in our kitchen, one of us will call out “Hey Alexa, play ‘Lean On Me’ by Bill Withers!” That song, of course, goes from stating the obvious — “Sometimes in our life, we all have pain, we all have sorrow” — to [...]
November 6, 2020 Martha Hoza learned this as a Girl Scout Make new friends But keep the old. One is silver, And the other gold. For her, there has been goodness in this tragedy that started last March as it provided her the opportunity to reach out to others. At first, she sent emails [...]
November 5, 2020 Self care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others. Anytime we can listen to our true self and give it the care it requires, we do so not only for ourselves but [...]
November 4, 2020 “Toxic positivity” is the excessive and ineffective overgeneralization of a happy, optimistic state across all situations. Such blindedness denies the truth of any situation and invalidates the emotions of anguish, grief, or frustration another may feel or even yourself. Toxic positivity cannot bring about improvements because it has no foundation in [...]