7 November quick takes
What I've been up to lately: places, people, books, podcasts, music, links & more.
(1) Brian's current sermon series
Brian's begun a series of sermons considering five values that God is calling Church of the Apostles to embrace. These five values are Rest, Rhythm, Relationship, Restoration, and Reach.
You can read Brian's encouragement on the value of Rest in his weekly note to the parish here.
You can hear his sermon on Rest (from 10/29/17) here.
Also, I thought some of you might enjoy this playlist I've been making for years filled with songs that help me meditate on the meaning of holy rest: Rest (on Spotify)
p.s. Somehow Bob Dylan made it into this playlist and I'm keeping him there.
(2) postscript links from previous weeks
P.S. to Heading home [sharing at Art House America this week]: A few years ago, I thought to myself, "If I could get published anywhere in the world, I'd want it to be at the Art House America Blog !" That's how much I appreciate the content and community that gathers there. I'm honored to have been able to publish there a couple of times now, and am enjoying the unveiling of the blog's new look! If you enjoy reading the essays they publish, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. Your generous support makes it possible for them to pay their writers (like me!), the editors, and their site fees. Thank you!
P.S. to 7 quick & cozy takes, 1 new album I'm listening to on repeat (It's that good!): Work Songs: The Porter's Gate Worship Project Vol. 1 Here's the Porter's Gate Songbook for each song on the album. So, so, so good.
(3) podcast episodes I've enjoyed lately
How Living in A Library Gave One Man 'The Thirst for Learning' - Can you imagine how wonderful?!? Someone needs to turn this into a book series ASAP. "Decades ago, custodians who worked in the New York Public Library often lived in the buildings with their families. Clark's father, Raymond, was one of those custodians, and he and his family lived on the top floor of the Washington Heights branch in upper Manhattan." | via StoryCorps podcast
Episode 103 - Does Meek Mean Weak? // Carolyn Arends - I found this talk on the Sermon on the Mount (with emphasis on "Blessed are the meek...") refreshing and thought-provoking. | via Renovaré podcast
Robert Mueller Indicts Manafort and Gates and We Talk with Gretchen Carlson - This is a new podcast for me, but I think it's going to quickly become one of my favorite political podcasts, and this episode was especially excellent. "Sarah from the left. Beth from the right. No shouting. No insults. Plenty of nuance." | via Pantsuit Politics
(4) photos of our super fun afternoon at the Hootenanny!
On Saturday afternoon I saw a photo of a PIEROGI TRUCK roll through my Instagram feed. I hollered downstairs to Brian, "There's a PIEROGI TRUCK in Black Rock today!" He hollered back, "I just need to throw on a sweatshirt and we can go!"
And, so we did. And it was so much fun. And that big oak tree seemed to dress up just for the day. And we ran into friends at the Source Coffee Truck. And we ate PIEROGIS. And it was very good.
(5) blog posts from the archives
2014 - Balancing vigilance and providence in the face of Ebola [sharing at Think Christian today] ("Is it possible we are not trusting reason at all? What about a providential God?")
2014 - Sewing hope with Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe [sharing at Think Christian] ("We need to know that people like Sister Rosemary live and flourish in the middle of unspeakable human suffering.")
2011 - My One Parenting Strategy That Actually Worked (Thanks, Alex, for letting me steal an excerpt from your college application essay.)
2010 - Tuesday's Top 10 guest post: Let's Hear it for New York ("Top 10 Things that I Love about New York City" by Brian Murphy - and probably still the same list now!)
2008 - I Have No Talent for Politics (If only I'd known then what I know now, I'd have been a whole lot less perplexed!)
8 years ago
Mako Fujimura exhibit at the Dillon Gallery - NYC
(6) photos from in and around Fairfield County
On Fridays Brian writes sermons and I write, well, other stuff. Sometimes we do this from home and sometimes we go somewhere else for a change of scenery. Last week it was Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan, under the watchful gaze of Gertrude Stein.
On a walk through Black Rock. Stunning.
On the way to the Pequot Library in Southport. That's Trinity Episcopal Church.
A church a couple blocks from our house on our walking route to the Bridgeport train station.
View from the porch at the Pequot Library, Southport. Heavenly.
(7) recent favorite Cities,Towns, & Neighborhoods links
Follow my Liturgy for Life board on Pinterest
Saving Silence by Nathaniel Peters- Unlearning the sin of curiosity. ("Noise thus becomes “a whirlwind that avoids facing itself” and a kind of tranquilizer that keeps many from confronting wonder, God, and the demands of their own emptiness.") | via Plough
The Art of Dying by Rob Moll - How should the Christian community respond when a member is told he or she has a terminal illness? | via Jesus Creed by Scot McKnight
I pardoned a convict who killed again. Here’s why I still believe in mercy. by Mark Singel - "Having so often petitioned a gracious God for the blessing of mercy, how could i deny it to others?" | via America Magazine
20 Years Later - Listen to this related, stunning story from the perspective of the vicitm's daughter who interviews Mr. Singel as part of her grieving process. | via This American Life
The Stranger is to be Welcomed as Christ Himself: Benedictine Wisdom on Welcoming and Pastoring Strangers, Visitors, and Newcomers by Fr. Lee Nelson- "Hospitality for strangers, visitors, and newcomers, is paramount task in the ministry of a parish church. The rituals of hospitality serve as “threshold events” into the divine life. We observe these rituals either poorly or well, and according to Saint Benedict, the key is to welcome every guest like Christ." | via Anglican Pastor
Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of My Diving Accident by Joni Eareckson Tada - This is one of the first memoirs I ever read, the story of Joni's diving accident, and subsequent trusting Christ to meet every single need. I respect her and her work so much, and just listen to this audacious statement (from the article), "I really would rather be in this wheelchair knowing Jesus as I do than be on my feet without him." | via The Gospel Coalition
Praying the Jesus Prayer Showed Me Christ by Allison Backous Troy - I've never met her, but I can honestly say that I love Allison. "But the prayer was much more than a centering exercise. As I prayed, I became attuned to the people surrounding me in hospital corridors and clinic waiting rooms, patients and their families, all carrying their own burdens of pain." | via Faith & Leadership
May your weekend include something true, something good, and something beautiful.
p.s. This post may contain affiliate links because I'm trying to be a good steward, and when you buy something through one of these links you don't pay more money, but in some magical twist of capitalism we get a little pocket change. Thanks!
