Day of music

Today has been music-filled and continues to be. Our service at Guilford Church this morning was filled with spirited singing. The choir sang two anthems, and there were more than the usual hymns because Lise incorporated several additional hymns into her sermon, as a way of responding to the violence which had taken place in recent days . .. "if you can't pray, sing."  (Thomas Merton). The Annual Meeting of the church was held after the service, and the good news there was that the budget for 2016 of $100,000 income from pledges had already been met and more, which may be a first!  Then we went to the chant workshop for the afternoon session, and this time a very spirited and witty rabbi, Rabbi Moshe, led us in Hebrew chants. Now I'm at the Putney School, waiting for a rehearsal of the Carmina Burana. Ellen dropped me here and has done on to the movies to see Grandma. It is her birthday today, and she's giving herself a little birthday treat.

Yesterday, Ellen had a birthday party with several other women who share her birth date, plus a few who have November birthdays close to the 15th. It is a very nice group, and she had a good time.

Ellen at her women's birthday lunch

Robin Davis, also a Nov 15th birthday woman

Patrice, Robin and Mary Alice at the birthday lunch

While Ellen was at her party, John came over to the house and we had a chance to talk, keeping warm by the woodstove. It has turned chilly, and it was too cold for him to work on the Hermitage without getting very cold hands, so he had a free afternoon.

I am gradually transforming an archive of sermons on paper into an archive I can store on the computer. What a space-saver!  Here's one from about 7-8 years ago you might find interesting (be sure to click on it to get the full page). It should be readable:

 

"Honor Your Father and Mother" sermon

 

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