Easter is almost here

It's been a very busy Lent; now living in the Triduum.  The Great Fifty Days of Easter are coming . . .

Lent is coming . . .

The season of Lent, that 40 day period (minus Sundays, of course) before Easter, is upon us.  Ash Wednesday occurs this week.  Lent is a word that means Spring.  The days are growing longer, and soon spring planting will take place.  My man and I have been perusing seed catalogs and planning our first garden in our new place.


A few weeks ago, I stopped at a Thrift store while on a trip out of town.  I had finished listening to a book on tape and hoped to find something else for my road trip home.  I found a wonderful CD with the music of a cadre of amazing Irish female singers. One of the songs has become a favorite; "Solid Ground" by Dolores Keane. The chorus or refrain says:


It's the land-it is our wisdom
It's the land-it shines us through
It's the land-it feeds our children
It's the land-you cannot own the land
The land owns you

The land . . . during this season of Lent, I aim to be out in the land--planting and praying.
  

The Brother and my man

We have been privileged to provide hospitality to a Franciscan brother this week.  My husband (who is more than Mr. Mom) was delighted to have company for a few days. It made me recall what our Mennonite friends taught us years ago--people "Mennonite" their way across the country.  Franciscans do the same. 


How wonderful to exercise this gift of Christian hospitality.  Our lives are enriched--and the brother given a place of rest and comfort to continue his journey.  We shall look for him again . . . and others.


Deep conversation with my man--set the notion in place that we might one day soon Franciscan our way in England!  I am already planning. :)


Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.  Hebrews 13:2

Companions in the New Year

It came as a suggestion on my post of December 28--to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas in a more spiritual way. Actually, it's the suggestion given for January 3, but I read ahead, and knew the first two days of the year were the perfect days for selecting my companions for 2012.  My spiritual teachers for this coming year are Hildegard of Bingen and Menno Simons.

Hildegard (1098-1179)was a German writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, a visionary and a Benedictine abbess.  She was a woman ahead of her time in her thought and theology.  I'll be listening to music composed by Hildegard in addition to reading more about her.  You can learn more about Hildegard here: http://hildegard.org/

The second companion/teacher this year will be Menno Simons; born in 1496, Simons is often credited for the branch of Anabaptists known as Mennonites.  He died a natural death in 1561.  Much of Simons writings may be found online.  Here is a link that you may find helpful: http://www.mennosimons.net/

If you know of interesting reading materials about Hildegard or Menno, please comment!

Who do you choose in this year of grace?  Happy traveling.

Happy New Year

Our deacon delighted us with a wonderful sermon this morning on this first day of 2012.  In the Episcopal Church, we commemorate today as Holy Name day.  In her sermon, our deacon read the text of a beautiful hymn from  The Hymnal 1982.  I share here with you the text of Hymn 250:

1.  Now greet the swiftly changing year with joy and penitence sincere;
     rejoice, rejoice, with thanks embrace another year of grace.

2.  For Jesus came to wage sin's war; this Name of names for us he bore;
     rejoice, rejoice, with thanks embrace another year of grace.

3.  His love abundant far exceeds the volumne of a whole year's needs;
     rejoice, rejoice, with thanks embrace another year of grace.

4.  With such a Lord to lead our way in hazard and prosperity,
      what need we fear in earth or space in this new year of grace?

5.  "All glory be to God on high and peace on earth" the angels cry;
     rejoice, rejoice, with thanks embracce another year of grace.*

May your year be filled with grace; happy new year, one and all.


* From The Hymnal 1982; words : Slovak, 17th century; tr. Jaroslav J. Vajda (b. 1919)
music: Sixth Night, Alfred V. Fedek 

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Making Christmas last . . .
http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Holy-Birthing-Practices-for-the-12-Days-of-Christmas-Christine-Paintner-12-20-2011.html

Thanks to Center for Ministry for posting.  Enjoy!
Blessed Christmastide.

Advent Reading

Brian McLaren wonderfully joined Anabaptist/Anglican in his book A Generous Orthodoxy.  It warmed my heart when I first read his book, and warms my heart still.  Perhaps, in part, this explains my reading material of late. 

My husband has always laughed at me about what he calls my “reading habits.”  I tend to read more than one book at a time (what priest doesn’t)—one book in the den by my chair, one in my prayer corner and one in the bathroom!  Mind you, he probably hasn’t read a book since 2001! J

Advent has found me absorbed in three books.  The first is by Shelley Shepard Gray; Christmas in Sugarcreek is pure escapism for me—sappy, sentimental, but something light and relaxing at the end of long days.  It helps that a few years ago, I visited Sugarcreek, Ohio. Life is often uncertain, so I sometimes truly enjoy happy endings!

The second  book—the bathroom one—is one a found at an estate sale several years ago, and packed away for future reading.  Blue Hills and Shoofly Pie was written by Ann Hart and published in 1952—a year before I was born.  Ann chronicles her life in Pennsylvania Dutch country; she even records her attendance at an Amish wedding.  The book is dated, quaint, but also a slice of history and perfect reading for its location.

 The reading material in my prayer corner is completely different—to be read in the quiet of the morning when my focus is prayer and meditation.  For this Advent, I have been immersed in Radiance: a spiritual memoir of Evelyn Underhill.  Compiled and edited by Bernard Bangley, I have been wondering why we do not hear more about Underhill in Episcopal circles.  An English mystic, Underhill  (1847-1941) is the author of more than thirty books.  Without formal theological or religious education, she possessed an understanding of Christian mysticism that is without parallel.  In one of her early works, Evelyn Underhill writes this, “The early Christians themselves called it not a belief, but a “way”—a significant fact, which the Church too quickly forgot; and the realist who wrote the Fourth Gospel called its Founder both the life and the way.” An advocate of religion, science and psychology, Underhill writes about her mystical experiences and those of others, some for whom she served as spiritual director.  I am only coming to understand the riches of this wonderful woman.  To learn more about her, this link may be of interest to you: http://evelynunderhill.org/

My hubby and I took another road trip to Amish country this week, where he was finally successful in obtaining fried pies!  We are counting the days to Christmas—combining our Anglican/Anabaptist celebration—I will celebrate the Eucharist at my beloved Episcopal Church, and give thanks for my relationship with the Amish and Mennonites in my life with the full knowledge the Incarnated one comes as a “way”.