Socially Isolated but Spiritually Connected Before Dear Mayfield, I was talking with a younger colleague the other day. She is in her 30’s. She and her husband are both working at home now with their four school-aged children, the oldest of whom is 13. She told me that she has overheard each of her children […]
Socially Isolated but Spiritually Connected Prayers Near and Far Dear Mayfield, The lakefront where I would normally be walking once or twice a day has been closed since late March. And so I have taken to a number of different one-way residential streets where I can easily walk in the street against traffic, at a […]
Dear Mayfield, Here is the link for the 5.3.20 service. 5.3.20 Easter 4 This is a communion service, so you may want to set up bread/crackers and wine/juice/or water before you begin your worship time. Please note the information at the bottom of the bulletin regarding our Mother’s and Father’s Day offerings. Thank you for your thoughtful […]
Socially Isolated but Spiritually Connected On Beauty Dear Mayfield, I enjoyed these branches on a magnolia tree down the street earlier in April. They made me think of Vincent Van Gogh’s painting titled Almond Blossom. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam tells us that branches against a blue sky with large blossoms were a favorite […]
Socially Isolated but Spiritually Connected Never Walking Alone The desire to connect, a keen longing for the direct touch we have lost in pandemic time, reassurance around the bonds that animate our life together are present with us. Dear Mayfield, I was raised on theater, often musicals, performed by local and community theater groups, at […]
Dear Mayfield, Here is the link for tomorrow’s bulletin and service. 4.26.20 Easter 3 Let me know if you have any difficulties with either audio or text links. Thank you to Jen for her music. Please keep our Muslim neighbors in your prayers in these early days of their sacred month of Ramadan. Also, this past […]
Socially Isolated but Spiritually Connected Thinking About Little Things The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. (Ernest Hemingway) Dear Mayfield, On NPR this morning I heard an African American Woman, a Christian leader in Cambridge, MA, cite this quote as a steady source of solace and inspiration for her […]
Earth Day On this 11th Day of the Great Fifty Days of Easter, I share this brief quote from the Daily Compass: “Life—Easter improbably asserts—can come from death. This might seem like an absurd claim, if nature didn’t tell us exactly the same thing.” Encircling Prayer with Earth AUDIO LINK Earth within me, Earth before me, […]
Dear Mayfield, Here is the link for tomorrow’s bulletin and service. 4.19.20 Easter 2 Let me know if you have any difficulties with either audio or text links. Thank you for the offerings and contributions you are sending to church. Stay safe and well in the week ahead. Peace, Martha
Goodness Connected Let the good in me connect with the good in others, until all the world is transformed through the compelling power of love. — Nachman of Breslov Dear Mayfield, Since late 2003 I have faithfully listened to StoryCorps on National Public Radio (NPR). First in St. Louis, then in Princeton, IL, Ann Arbor, […]