Clergy are notorious for encouraging others to take care of the important things in their lives — but in practice we are really horrible about taking care of them in our own. We postpone the most basic of life’s tasks, always trying to somehow squeeze them in between Sundays, meetings, and pastoral appointments. So, I…
As the pandemic hit in early 2020, Emmanuel like many churches scrambled to adapt Sunday morning worship. Having not lived through an actual plague before and naively thinking it would be just a few weeks — or maybe at the most a few months — of disruption, I invented EEC@Home, a portable Morning Prayer service…
Read more Bye Bye EEC@Home, I Will Miss You! (But Not Too Much😊)
The first 45 (yes 45!) I ever bought was the Beatles’ “Love, love me do” when I was about seven years old. I bought it at Murphy’s Five & Dime for about a dollar. When I got it home I slipped it out of its sleeve and played it over and over. I wasn’t as…
Stress can bring out the best, worst, or most creative in us. At age 42, I thought I had myself figured out. I thought I already knew how I responded to stress. When it came to big school projects or tests, or now when I have important work deadlines, I tend to procrastinate to the…
This week I went to visit my mom at Goodwin House, Bailey’s Crossroads. My mother is 91 years old and very functional, both somatically and socially, but she has no short term memory. She has lived on the 3rd floor Assisted Living unit for the past five years. My mom has experienced decline, certainly, as she…
Last spring, I had a unique experience taking part in a “virtual” choir performance as a member of the Alexandria Choral Society. I must admit, the idea of weekly choir rehearsals via Zoom along with a virtual choral performance at the end of it (with 3 young kids running amuck in the background!) sounded daunting to…
Summertime is one of Janie Piemonte’s favorite songs. Before you read her lovely poem below, pause for a few minutes to dwell with George Gershwin’s beautiful tune. Close your eyes and listen to the lilting melody played on the piano and violin. Then with eyes open, listen again as you read Janie’s verse, her hopeful…
“Holed Up for a Year, I Hope…” Holy Week musical post from Emmanuel’s Handbell Choir Directed by Ryan Fitch, MM A most wonderful balm for pandemic weary souls has been the gift of music. Throughout this year of Sundays, Ryan Fitch, Emmanuel’s Music Director, has creatively orchestrated our weekly worship broadcasted from the nave. For…
The Merriam-Webster definition of “simplify” is “to reduce to basic essentials.” Lent is the time to spiritually simplify. On Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, preparing to fast, traditionally we clean out our cupboards and fridge of all that sugar and butter. (The reason for all of those pancake suppers!) Flowers give way to greens on the…
Christmas is a comin’ and Mary sings: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.His mercy is for…
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