Preserving Up with the Information

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One other loopy week! We definitely do stay in attention-grabbing instances. As Joe Biden steps out of the race and Kamala Harris steps in to take the reins of Democrats for the presidential marketing campaign our heads are spinning. These occasions weigh on all of us. Whether or not we see it nearly as good or unhealthy information, I do know that the approaching season of vitriolic assault from either side will likely be draining and pray for God’s peace and knowledge to relaxation on all those that are concerned.

For me this week has been overshadowed by my brother Nick’s declining well being. As a lot of he’s within the final phases of malignant melanoma. It’s exhausting to be half a world away at a time like this. I’m very grateful for Zoom and WhatsApp which assist maintain me in contact. I’m additionally very grateful for Tom’s supportiveness, for mates that pray and for my backyard which brings me peace each time I stroll round it. This week my Aeoniums are flowering on my again step. They make me smile each time I stroll previous.

I’m additionally grateful for the truth that that Goldie’s wound is therapeutic and she or he lastly has her hood off. Yesterday she ran round the home and yard like a mad factor clearly delighted to have her freedom from the dreaded cone of disgrace.

One of many delights of my week was attending the Maple Leaf ice cream social on Wednesday. I beloved assembly Beth Altman and listening to about her Little Free Bakery, which I talked about in my Meditation Monday: Freely You Have Obtained, Freely Give. She locations scrumptious desserts in her free bakery, a little bit just like the free libraries that dot our neighbourhood after which posts on instagram to let her patrons know what’s at present on provide. The generosity of individuals in our neighbourhood by no means ceases to amaze me. It restores my perception within the goodness God has positioned inside all of us. I could not turn into a part of the Little Free bakery motion, however I do prefer to share and my put up consists of 2 of my favorite recipes to make from backyard produce presently of 12 months.

Monday was Mary Magdalene’s Feast Day so I revisited my Godspace put up Standing With Mary Magdalene And All The Ladies of the World as a result of in some ways I really feel that the methods she has been maligned and misrepresented all through historical past is a lot what nonetheless occurs to girls at this time. Many individuals are extra keen to see girls as prostitutes somewhat than leaders.

Carol Dixon supplied a pleasant put up Singing the Psalms yesterday. As she says Psalms are an exquisite technique to worship God and there’s a psalm for each season. Lilly Lewin’s Freerange Friday: Jesus Loves Us Within the Interruptions can also be worthy of an excellent learn. Who of us isn’t suffering from interruptions? I like her query: What sort of REST do you want this week?

Final week we launched the twelfth episode of The Liturgical Rebels podcast with an enchanting interview with religious director, pastor, and writer Kathy Escobar. Don’t miss this essential episode and those who have gone earlier than it. The summer season is a superb time to compensate for your listening. I used to be going to checklist my favourites, however have loved interviewing all my friends a lot that it’s exhausting to decide on – from artists, like iconographer Kelly Latimore and block print creator Kreg Yingst, to theologian Brian McLaren and poet Drew Jackson, and worship curators Mark Pierson and Lilly Lewin, I believe all of the episodes are price listening to and a few of you I do know have listened greater than as soon as to chose friends.

Subsequent week Martin Poole, one other very artistic worship curator will likely be my visitor, adopted by Brian Edgar, Professor of Theological Research at Asbury and writer of an enchanting e book The God Who Performs. After that I’ll transfer right into a Celtic theme as a lead up for the start of Celtic Creation on November fifteenth. I have already got theologian John Phillip Newell and musician Jeff Johnson in addition to Christine Valters Paintner and am nonetheless pursuing a Celtic artist and a poet for this collection. I’m very enthusiastic about the place the podcast goes and hope that you’re having fun with the interviews. Please let me know if in case you have any suggestions that can assist us proceed to form the podcast.

My Celtic theme will likely be mirrored in different choices for August to December. I’m delighted with the progress I’m making with my e book Celtic Creation: Following an Unfamiliar Path. Every week is not going to solely spotlight a unique Celtic saint however can even have a unique theme. Right here is the tentative define:

Brendan and Holy Wanderings
Brigid and Kingdom Hospitality
Columba Welcoming Neighborhood
Hilda Embracing the Circle of Creation
Cuthbert Making a Skinny House

I like Scottish theologian Prof John Macquarrie’s  commentary that ‘the Celt was very a lot a God-intoxicated individual whose life was embraced on all sides by the divine Being.”  I lengthy for that very same intoxication and intimacy with God the place the attention of God is current in each second and each factor. There appears no higher season than Creation to discover this deeper intimacy and religious intoxication and it’s my hope that you simply too will turn into intoxicated with the presence of God as we learn collectively.

In addition to that I’m planning a few on-line retreats for the season September to Christmas. Save the Dates: Introduction to Celtic Christianity on September seventh;  Prepared for Celtic Creation on November sixteenth. It will likely be a really busy however enjoyable season, as these retreats are all the time very interactive not simply full of data but in addition artistic workouts and prayers. I’m actually wanting ahead to each creating and facilitating these. It’s my hope that the Creation e book will likely be accessible by the Celtic seminar in September.

A giant thanks to those that have turn into paid subscribers on Substack https://substack.com/@chrissine . As I discussed final week, this actually helps me broaden the array of sources we make accessible, a lot of that are free. It’s going to additionally give you a 20% low cost on the webinar value. At this stage the one common “subscriber solely” put up is the audio for my Meditation Monday. Nevertheless there will likely be extra such enter sooner or later.

The upheaval that we really feel around the globe for the time being is difficult for everybody. I pray that you’ll be able to discover locations of relaxation and peace within the midst of it. Maybe you want to pray this prayer with me.

Lord Jesus Christ,
Grant me endurance,
As you’re affected person.
Ready, hoping, anticipating,
By no means forcing.
Lord Jesus Christ
Grant me kindness,
As you’re type
Beneficiant, compassionate, light,
All the time overflowing with care.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Grant me love,
As you’re loving,
Trusting, enduring, sacrificing your self,
Ever delighting in reality.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Grant me life,
As you’d have me stay,
Journeying along with all peoples
Into wholeness,
And the surprise of your everlasting world.

Christine Sine

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