When did sketching start to feel like a spiritual exercise? How did sketching start to feel like a prayer? I really can not say. My History of Sketching Most of us, myself included, remember drawing as a kid. I think most kids do. And as I grew up I gave it up, as most kids, […]
Continue readingAuthor: Rev. Joel
On the 2nd Sunday After Epiphany
A long time ago … I used to subscribe to a mailing. Yes. It came in the mail. I looked forward to it, as it came from the late Walter Wink. It consisted of a bunch of little tid-bits of information. He once mentioned that he would sit in the bathtub with a newspaper or […]
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Why You Should Dock with a Spring Line
Boats are great and mysterious things. Even small boats are hard to move upon land. Once in the water, however, even a toddler can give the largest one a push that will move her. But how do we stop them when we want to dock? The spring line is the answer. A friend of mine […]
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Light a Candle, Say a Prayer
Today’s events in the capital of the United States are disturbing on multiple levels. As today is Epiphany, I find myself reflecting upon the greater text, the larger context, of the Epiphany passage in Matthew. It’s time to light a candle, to say a prayer, to join God, who is already at work in the […]
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Enjoy a Ritual for an Epiphany Boat Blessing
Today we celebrate Epiphany, the day the magi show up at the house in Bethlehem to adore the newborn King (see Matthew 2:1-12). I thought I’d give a Boat (or house blessing for those of you on land) that you can use with your family. I was first exposed to this at the Monastery of […]
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Collection of Art Supplies at the Start of 2021
Here is a sketch of my current art supplies as I start the new year (complete with a miss-spelling 😊). If you are starting out with an art hobby this year, may this give you some ideas of where to start. What art supplies are you starting the year with? Global Hand Book Sketchbook – […]
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Happy New Year
I’m still trying to figure out the best way to use this blog, and to share some art work with you. I’m going to try just adding some into the blog feed, rather than the project feed. As this is a new year, it’s also time for a new sketchbook! Happy New Year. Blessed […]
Continue readingA Pentecost Reflection
It is the day prior to Pentecost and I find myself needing to respond, and yet struggling to find words. Tomorrow we celebrate the birth of the Church, the birth of the Spirit entering into all of humanity. We are given the gift of understanding across cultures and languages. We are given the gift of […]
Continue readingA Blessing For Opening Day
Opening Day for many of us would normally be this coming Saturday. However, with many areas of the country and world closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I’m not sure how many gatherings are going to happen. As such, I thought I would share what I have used before as my “pastoral” portion of the […]
Continue readingAn Easter Poem
The following is a poem from Ronald Rolheiser* about Mary Magdala meeting Jesus in the garden on Easter Morning (see John’s account). Somehow, this year I find this very moving. We are at a different time when gathering are not possible. There is something about how Mary touches on the things that we are experiencing […]
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