My "locals" + Gathering for prayer + Taize
Ah. Luna! I was awakened from a little nap by a delivery - a friend brought a cup of Luna coffee. That makes for a very good day. The manager at Luna has been sending FB messages telling me that she misses me and various other folks tell me that notice my absence. It feels good to be missed and to be wanted, although I am a little embarrassed at being so much fixture there. Well, it could be worse - a cafe is fairly innocent. I am not a regular at a notorious bar. The worst and that isn't bad at all - is regular suppers at the Keweenaw, usually with Fr Tim. The Kewenaw is a pub a few doors up from Luna. Good beer, good food, a place where one is likely to run into parishioners and college students. Despite the good brews, my drink of choice is a diet soda.
My hope is to post more regularly. My computer problems have been resolved by the purchase of a new laptop. I also had to get a new printer. My old printer - which was having some minor problems - was not compatible with the new computer. So I have a working computer and can enter text freely without the hassles and frustrations I'd been enduring for several months. That also means I have no excuse for not tackling the work I've been putting off for some time.
We had a healthy snowfall...not as heavy as predicted, but good one. Today it is bright and sunny and feels like s perfect winter day. I am always amazed at what a positive effect a sunny day as on me, especially after a few gray days.
This morning I looked around the oratory. In addition to our resident community there the two Spanish nuns from a cloistered convent and Fr Jozef from Hungary and Frater Alex from Brazil, as well as Fr Andrew from Daylesford Abbey near Philadelphia. The two sisters and Josef and Alex will be living with us for the semester. Andrew is here teaching a J-term class in the MTS program. Once the students are back on campus the body count for the daily Office will be up - normally four students come regularly to Lauds and anywhere from four to eight come for Vespers. One of the things I love is that folks join the community for prayer.
Circulating on Facebook is a video about the upcoming Taize "Pilgrimage of Trust" gathering in Chicago. The short film is worth watching (I'd add it in here but don't have a clue how to do that) but I am excited about the event. I'd love to go to Chicago for it..not sure I can do that. Taize is one of those places that I admire and value. I recall first finding there music in the mid 1960s, before they were well known in this country. The community and its ministry is a wonderful act of the Spirit in the Churches. We have Taize Prayer t the Abbey each month and also from time to time t the college. I find people are drawn to it in part because it is simple, beautiful and does not have anyone "preaching". As a priest I can appreciate good preaching of course. Sometimes I;m not too bad at it myself, but I think there is something attractive about minimizing "words" and simply focusing on God.
New books in line for reading: "Insurrection" by Peter Rollins; "Trauma and Grace" Theology in a Ruptured World" by Serene Jones. "Glory to God for all things!"
John
My hope is to post more regularly. My computer problems have been resolved by the purchase of a new laptop. I also had to get a new printer. My old printer - which was having some minor problems - was not compatible with the new computer. So I have a working computer and can enter text freely without the hassles and frustrations I'd been enduring for several months. That also means I have no excuse for not tackling the work I've been putting off for some time.
We had a healthy snowfall...not as heavy as predicted, but good one. Today it is bright and sunny and feels like s perfect winter day. I am always amazed at what a positive effect a sunny day as on me, especially after a few gray days.
This morning I looked around the oratory. In addition to our resident community there the two Spanish nuns from a cloistered convent and Fr Jozef from Hungary and Frater Alex from Brazil, as well as Fr Andrew from Daylesford Abbey near Philadelphia. The two sisters and Josef and Alex will be living with us for the semester. Andrew is here teaching a J-term class in the MTS program. Once the students are back on campus the body count for the daily Office will be up - normally four students come regularly to Lauds and anywhere from four to eight come for Vespers. One of the things I love is that folks join the community for prayer.
Circulating on Facebook is a video about the upcoming Taize "Pilgrimage of Trust" gathering in Chicago. The short film is worth watching (I'd add it in here but don't have a clue how to do that) but I am excited about the event. I'd love to go to Chicago for it..not sure I can do that. Taize is one of those places that I admire and value. I recall first finding there music in the mid 1960s, before they were well known in this country. The community and its ministry is a wonderful act of the Spirit in the Churches. We have Taize Prayer t the Abbey each month and also from time to time t the college. I find people are drawn to it in part because it is simple, beautiful and does not have anyone "preaching". As a priest I can appreciate good preaching of course. Sometimes I;m not too bad at it myself, but I think there is something attractive about minimizing "words" and simply focusing on God.
New books in line for reading: "Insurrection" by Peter Rollins; "Trauma and Grace" Theology in a Ruptured World" by Serene Jones. "Glory to God for all things!"
John