I Got the Sun in the Morning and the Moon at Night

i’ve got the sun in the morning…

Spring brought the rains…our backyard flourished.

This blog is a long time coming…while I have much to share the rhythm of life pushed me in many directions.

and the moon at night

God’s time is always near. He set the North Star in the heavens; He gave me the strength in my limbs; He meant I should be free.”  -Harriet Tubman

June Ninetenth

Ah, my day is open. My heart is full.

Can one imagine the taste of freedom felt by the enslaved people in our country after years of oppression, fear, hatred, and separation of family?

Harriet Tubman wrote, “When I found I had crossed that line, I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. There was such a glory over everything; the sun came like gold through trees, and over the fields, and I felt like I was in Heaven”

The Many Faces of  Love & Solidarity 

In early April I visited the Harriet Tubman house in Cape May. Our guide played the part of Harriet.  She skillfully invited all of us to participate. My pocketbook become one Harriet’s props on her journey to free more slaves. Our group was so moved by the performance that we stayed longer.   Our guide, prompted by a visitor, joined her in a stirring gospel song.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Days of Awakening 

I know what it felt like to March on Washington for Gay Rights in 1979 with 100,000 people.  My young friend Rick had recently come out. The joy on his face!

Next step Rick made was a trip to tell his mom. We both went together to Chicago.

I know how I changed over the years in the pursuit of  Marriage Equality in Massachusetts and in congregations. We celebrated with a big Italian/Chinese wedding on June 12, 2004.

I discovered  politics is not just a dirty word. It is one way to get things done.

Forty five years ago we marched for gay rights …. In 2024 We are learning the hard way: our freedoms are not something we can take for granted. Our earth itself along with our democracy is increasingly fragile.

Two weeks ago, I preached on the Mark’s gospel reading.  Jesus was under siege: mocked and challenged by the religious authorities who called him Satan. Jesus’ responded: if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  We live in a house divided as in the period of the Civil War and its aftermath.

If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when? – Rabbi Hillel.

Writing Together

 

 

 

 

 

 

Judy and I went to Cape May in April. Visited our friend Susan at her magical place and herb garden. We attended a writing retreat facilitated by Judy Chow of Fable Retreats https://fabledretreats.com/ who offered us a rich experience to write and share in a gorgeous Victorian bed & breakfast.

 

 

 

 

 

New York, New York…A Wonderful Town…

Dinner with two of our Mes Amies friends that we met in France in 2019 on a Road Scholar trip, Kathe Kollwitz’s drawings at MOMA,  the inspiring musical play “Suffs” enacting the Suffragist’s movement, and a rare treat – cabaret dedicated to the memory of Chita Rivera at 54 Below.

 

 

 

 

Back Home in June

 

 

                                                 

Annual Retreat  – New England Women in Ministry, founded 1938.

Last week nine of us gathered at St. Margaret’s Retreat Center in Duxbury. I woke early the first morning and captured this sunrise. Rev. Anne Weirich led us on a “Pilgrimage.”  She shared her many years of bringing groups to Israel and Palestine.  Through prayer, learning, rest and good food we were informed and renewed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                            Candle lighting – St. Columba 

Be thou a bright flame before me,

Be thou a guiding star above me,

Be thou a smooth path below me,

Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me,

Today, tonight and forever