I grew up in the Lehigh Valley ofPennsylvania, first settled by Moravians, German speaking Protestants fromEastern Europe suffering persecution in the 17th and 18thcenturies. They chose biblical names fortheir communities. My hometown was Emmaus, for example. And it was a short distance from there toBethlehem, known as “The Christmas City.” The Moravians have many beautiful traditions and hymns for theholidays. One of my favorite Christmascarols is “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” One verse goes,..
Twenty years ago, Fairhaven Community, the senior living community I currently serve, began a program with Disney designed to highlight teamwork and service. As part of..
The Sink The view from the window over my kitchen sink sometimes seems to set the boundaries for my days. I begin there, running water for coffee, feeding the kitties,..
Increasing Awareness Developing specific health and hygiene protocols, such as increased hand sanitizing, social distancing and wearing masks, has increased my awareness..
I have often found that prayers are hidden in the sights and sounds which are all around us —especially in the first Bible that is God's creation. They often evoke an..
There is a spiritual practice that helps us concentrate on what we have: the current moment. You can find references to this is in many different traditions. In the..
One of the difficult results the coronavirus has caused our residents at Pilgrim Manor is the disruption of our sense of community and our connections in the world. Our..
One of my high school teachers loved to quote Henry David Thoreau, the great 19th century sage who spent two years on Walden Pond. My teacher’s favorite quote was:
Today's blog post is written by guest blogger, Rev. Nayiri Karjian, General Minister, Living Water Association, Ohio NorthEast UCC. It was originally featured in Living..
2020 marks the first time in over 49 years that our family has not gathered on the shores of Lake Erie in New York State. My father began directing a family camp at..
