philandpatricia

old age

I had a delightful conversation with Julia Brabenec, from Northport, yesterday. She is a member of Trinity. We had tea, fresh bread, and poetry. Julia read me a number of her poems, including this one. She gave me her permission to post it here for you to read: Old Age How does it happen? WeContinue reading “old age”

This whole time

First Congregational Church of Northport was formally organized in February of 1863. Their first church was built on this location in 1869. The structure you see is a renovation of the original building that was built by a forebear of several current members and friends of Trinity Church of the UCC. Northport Methodist Church was organizedContinue reading “This whole time”

November in Northport, MI, 2015

Patricia and I are now in Northport, Mi. This image is from a sunset on Lake Michigan as observed on November 6, 2015. We will be updating new information on our blog weekly from our new location. Phil is now serving as pastor at Trinity Church of the UCC in Northport . . . andContinue reading “November in Northport, MI, 2015”

Light and Shadows

Back in early August, I had the privilege of walking the Table Rock Wilderness Trail near Mollala, Oregon, with my grandson, Moses. On the trail I was captured by the play of light and shadow along the trail. Among the images I photographed that day was this one of a monarch butterfly on the path amongContinue reading “Light and Shadows”

what prayers persist

In our Thursday AM study group at St. Andrew we are reading Jan Richardson’s wonderful book, In the Sanctuary of Women. Tomorrow we at 10:00 am we will be discussing chapter one. It is about Eve. Jan ponders lots of questions about Eve. Among them is one something like this: What prayers persist beneathContinue reading “what prayers persist”

Blessing that holds . . .

While in Portland, I saw this Jan Richardson blessing on the cupboard by the Brownell sink . . . the seed contains . . . the nest and branches will hold . . . oh yes!

transformation

What a transforming time has been the season of Lent and Easter for St. Andrew. Donna Papenhausen’s art (& her words) have enabled us to see familiar texts differently. Jim Cox’s gift of music has empowered us hear the notes of those familiar texts with fresh ears. During my lenten trip to Portland, Oregon forContinue reading “transformation”

four thoughts on a text

The gospel text for Sunday, March 3, 2013, the third one of Lent 2013 is: Luke 13:1-9 New Century Version (NCV) Change Your Hearts 13 At that time some people were there who told Jesus that Pilate[a] had killed some people from Galilee while they were worshiping. He mixed their blood with the blood of the animalsContinue reading “four thoughts on a text”

We see the moon, and the moon sees us . . .

Remember that childhood story/poem? Tonight the moon rose full in Sarasota. I remembered. And, I read tomorrow’s meditation from Mark Nepo’s The Book of Awakening:

The Lord’s Prayer translated from Aramaic

This past week, Donna Papenhausen introduced me to Neil Douglas-Klotz’s translation of the Lord’s Prayer from Aramaic. I appreciated it. Maybe you will too. We will pray it tomorrow at St. Andrew: Lords Prayer  Translation by Neil Douglas-Klotz in Prayers of the Cosmos O Birther! Father- Mother of the Cosmos Focus your light withinContinue reading “The Lord’s Prayer translated from Aramaic”