Singing Along the Journey

Liturgy

Sing Alleluia…

I will begin by admitting that, at this moment, I do not really feel like singing Alleluia (okay, perhaps I feel like it more than I did a few days ago when I began this post).  And I will also admit that, the Alleluia sung in our service at Calvary is generally not my favorite portion of the service -- it is generally very hard to sing and somewhat uncomfortable vocally.  This is not news to those I sing with -- if they've heard me say it once, they've heard it hundreds of times. But, having read the book I was working on (Joan Chittister's The Liturgical Year) through the current…
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Dear God…

I have made reference to my years at a Unity School of Religious Science congregation before.  There was, as with any human institution, both good and bad about those years, but probably my fondest memories are about the New Year's Eve services. Yes, that is correct -- New Year's Eve services. The long-standing New Year's eve tradition in Unity, dating back to the days of the founders (Charles and Myrtle Fillmore) was called the burning bowl service.  Obviously, Unity was not an organization with a set liturgy, however, some traditions did survive long-term.  The format and the setting were adapted and changed by each community, but the essence was simple:  take…
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There are years, and then there are years….

I am, frankly, always looking for a better framework to guide me through the days of my life.  Because everything I do is freelance at this point, I don't have the regular boundaries of an office and a work schedule, and, well, sometimes that is a problem for me--particularly when the days are cold and and the darkness comes early.  And, I'm certain that this lack of framework would come as a suprise for some who know me, because, well, when the task is clear and something needs to be completed, there are few as motivated and disciplined as I am. But that is why I'm always on the look…
Read More

Sing Alleluia…

I will begin by admitting that, at this moment, I do not really feel like singing Alleluia (okay, perhaps I feel like it more than I did a few days ago when I began this post).  And I will also admit that, the Alleluia sung in our service at Calvary is generally not my favorite portion of the service -- it is generally very hard to sing and somewhat uncomfortable vocally.  This is not news to those I sing with -- if they've heard me say it once, they've heard it hundreds of times. But, having read the book I was working on (Joan Chittister's The Liturgical Year) through the current…
Read More

Dear God…

I have made reference to my years at a Unity School of Religious Science congregation before.  There was, as with any human institution, both good and bad about those years, but probably my fondest memories are about the New Year's Eve services. Yes, that is correct -- New Year's Eve services. The long-standing New Year's eve tradition in Unity, dating back to the days of the founders (Charles and Myrtle Fillmore) was called the burning bowl service.  Obviously, Unity was not an organization with a set liturgy, however, some traditions did survive long-term.  The format and the setting were adapted and changed by each community, but the essence was simple:  take…
Read More

There are years, and then there are years….

I am, frankly, always looking for a better framework to guide me through the days of my life.  Because everything I do is freelance at this point, I don't have the regular boundaries of an office and a work schedule, and, well, sometimes that is a problem for me--particularly when the days are cold and and the darkness comes early.  And, I'm certain that this lack of framework would come as a suprise for some who know me, because, well, when the task is clear and something needs to be completed, there are few as motivated and disciplined as I am. But that is why I'm always on the look…
Read More

Sing Alleluia…

I will begin by admitting that, at this moment, I do not really feel like singing Alleluia (okay, perhaps I feel like it more than I did a few days ago when I began this post).  And I will also admit that, the Alleluia sung in our service at Calvary is generally not my favorite portion of the service -- it is generally very hard to sing and somewhat uncomfortable vocally.  This is not news to those I sing with -- if they've heard me say it once, they've heard it hundreds of times. But, having read the book I was working on (Joan Chittister's The Liturgical Year) through the current…
Read More

Dear God…

I have made reference to my years at a Unity School of Religious Science congregation before.  There was, as with any human institution, both good and bad about those years, but probably my fondest memories are about the New Year's Eve services. Yes, that is correct -- New Year's Eve services. The long-standing New Year's eve tradition in Unity, dating back to the days of the founders (Charles and Myrtle Fillmore) was called the burning bowl service.  Obviously, Unity was not an organization with a set liturgy, however, some traditions did survive long-term.  The format and the setting were adapted and changed by each community, but the essence was simple:  take…
Read More

There are years, and then there are years….

I am, frankly, always looking for a better framework to guide me through the days of my life.  Because everything I do is freelance at this point, I don't have the regular boundaries of an office and a work schedule, and, well, sometimes that is a problem for me--particularly when the days are cold and and the darkness comes early.  And, I'm certain that this lack of framework would come as a suprise for some who know me, because, well, when the task is clear and something needs to be completed, there are few as motivated and disciplined as I am. But that is why I'm always on the look…
Read More