Dear Friends, With Advent, Solstice, Hannukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, this time of year has been called the Season of Light. Light, of course, is only half the story. In our neck of the woods, this is also the season of darkness and cold, a season that calls us inside to places of warmth and rest. … Continue reading December 21, 2022 Minister’s Message
“Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work, which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.”- Mary Oliver As we lean into the darkest days of the year (and frigid weather, brrr!), our children’s programming takes a bit of a pause, and I hope you find time to pause, … Continue reading CFD Director’s Message 12.21.22
Dear Friends, The days are darkening further, a time to turn inward to reflection and quiet, a time of active waiting for the gifts of the darkness and the gifts of the coming light. Yule is next week, the shortest day of the year on the Northern Hemisphere. And every day, the sun rises and … Continue reading December 14, 2022
“we have lost the miraculous gaze we only give it to the newborn but everyone is utterly unique amongst the entire galaxy” -adrienne maree brown What is one ordinary moment or thing in your life that feels wondrous to you? For me, it is waking up to my baby daily. After having Aedan airlifted without … Continue reading CFD Director’s Message 12.14.22
December 21, 2022 Congregants Sue Chambers, Teresa Neufelder, Rebecca Larrabee, and Diane Dobitz are planning an outdoor fire with drumming and ceremony to begin at 4:30pm on Wednesday, December 21. Follow the luminaria! Bring a chair or a blanket as you need. The event will last about a half hour, giving you plenty of time … Continue reading Outdoor Solstice Service
“Joy is the gift of love. Grief is the price of love. Anger protects that which is loved. And when we think we have reached our limit, wonder is the act that returns us to love.” Valerie Kaur While I do not have much to share for a reflection today, the quote above is both … Continue reading CFD Director’s Message 12.7.22
Dear Friends, I am grateful today for these words of wonder from Thich Nhat Hanh in his The Art of Living: “Spirituality is not religion. It is a path for us to generate happiness, understanding, and love, so we can live deeply each moment of our life. Having a spiritual dimension in our lives does not … Continue reading December 7, 2022
Dear Friends, It’s our last day with the Soul Matters theme of “Change.” And the concept of change will linger on, both a description of our lives—especially after a death or a diagnosis or birth or a marriage or engagement—an inevitable condition of it. “Seasons change and so did I.” Change will come, as that … Continue reading November 30, 2022
I recently subscribed to an email list called First Light Meditations, thanks to Rev. Rita, and this message came through recently. I loved how it so perfectly aligned with our themes: “Each new day is a path of wonder, a different invitation. Days are where our lives gradually become visible. Often it seems that we … Continue reading CFD Director’s Message 11.30.22
This week, I share a story called Everything Changes and That’s Okay, and it has me considering the truth of that title – so little is guaranteed. For some, recognizing that fact may produce difficult feelings or perhaps some anxious thoughts. For others, it might bring more of a sense of peace or neutrality. I believe … Continue reading CFD Director’s Message 11.23.22
