The Musings of Reverend Catherine Harrington
August 2008
Hasn’t it been a lovely summer? My only complaint is that it’s just too short! Summer is the time to be outside and enjoy our exquisite surroundings. Don’t forget, there is an early worship service, 8:30 a.m., through August 31. After August, we will evaluate the service and make a decision about continuing into the fall.
Our August schedule offers a wide variety of food for the spirit!
My dear friend, Jacqueline Luck, will be visiting in early August and preaching at People’s Church! I hope you will make the effort to welcome her to Ludington and come and hear her message. She is a delight! I have tried and tried to convince her that the north is a wonderful place to live when nearby UU churches have been in search, but Jacqueline won’t budge. She told me a long time ago that she will not live anywhere above the Mason-Dixon line. Jacqueline was a minister in Jackson Mississippi when Hurricane Katrina struck, and she became somewhat of a legend in our UU denomination for her incredible work with victims of the storm.
My family is coming for a visit in early August and that includes my favorite 11 year-old, my granddaughter, Abby. I’ll be taking a few days off that week, but will be available for emergencies and return to duty on August 13. Dr. Lou will be in the pulpit on August 10 and our friend and author, Lev Raphael, will be returning for the third time on August 31!
Sunday, August 17, we will honor our graduates as they prepare to leave for college.
AND, there is a special “nurture the spirit” weekend, August 22, 23, & 24. My friend and colleague, Rev. Joe Elenbaas, has accepted an invitation to share his amazing experiences from his recent travels to India, Nepal and possibly Papua New Guinea. The Friday evening photo presentation will serve as a springboard to develop the theme of "holy travel," the quest for wholeness in a Saturday workshop. Joe will be working with various questions and thoughts about the inherent risks of "spiritual travel, personal change, paradigm shifts, personal constructs of reality and truth, as well as creating one's own rituals, ceremonies, etc. Since music is such an important part of both of our lives, we’re thinking of having an informal music jam on Saturday night. Drumming, guitars, group singing, and more. On Sunday morning, Joe will join me in the pulpit. A nourishing weekend!
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Water Communion/Ingathering service on September 7! And, remember to save a vial of water from your travels to bring for our annual communion ritual.
Summer fades quickly, but this fall our church life will be full and rich! Dr. Lou will be continuing his Monday night Philosophy classes and, in addition to the ongoing Wednesday afternoon Living the Questions class, we will begin a new curriculum called “Spirit of Life.” More about that in September’s newsletter.
In faith and love,
Cathy
