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<div>Hi Folks,</div>
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<div>In the midst of being impacted by all that is going on now globally, nationally, ecologically, politically, economically, culturally, and personally, I hope you also being sustained and nurtured by the deep wells of wellness and wholeness during this Christmas season.</div>
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<div>Below is a birthday witness, not a song, despite the title, provoked by the end-of-life sessions faciliated by Dick Alton and similar sessions during our church Sunday Forums.</div>
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<div>Grace and peace as we enter the new possibilities of 2023.</div>
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<div>Ellie Stock</div>
<div>elliestock@aol.com</div>
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<div>~~~~~~~</div>
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<div><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-weight: bold;"><font size="3">A BIRTHDAY WITNESS:</font></span><br>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">ONE
LAST SONG<o:p></o:p></font></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> </font></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><b style="font-size: medium; background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></b><span style="font-size: medium; background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">One last song as light recedes to light</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> One last song still falling in love
with Life<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> One last song in gratitude for birth<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> One last song in gratitude for Earth<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> for Creation’s mirth and
expanding girth<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">One
last song for Spirit’s rising Cry<b> <o:p></o:p></b></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><font size="3"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> for
heart’s ecstasy and ebbing sigh<o:p></o:p></span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> </font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">So, THANKS BE for Awe-filled
misting mountain sunrise skies<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For big tree
forests and butterflies<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For sandy sea shorelines
scattered with shells,<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> sparkling and gurgling in surging
tide’s swells<span style="color:#C00000"><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For kittens and birdsong
and tiny green tree froggies<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> piercing my being with wide red-eyed
gogglies <o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For brilliant fall
leaves and snow-blanketed cities<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For wind and rain
and weather proclivities<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For morning walks,
sensing Nature’s delights<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For evening
ponderings of things out of sight<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For awakening aroma
of blossoming orange grove and peonies<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For yummy ice cream
and healing fresh fruits and veggies <o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For dark night
desert skies and bold winking stars<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For crescent moon
and Venus kissing from afar<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">So . . .<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
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</font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> Ref<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> </font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">So, THANKS BE for
homes and hearths and hearts of hope and humor and welcoming the </font></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: medium;">guest</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For close family
bonds and covenant love, passionate embraces and babes at breast<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For beloved friends,
colleagues, and the communion of saints who gave more than their best<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> living their care and dying their
dare, ashes to ashes, dust to dust<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For smiles and
laughter, celebrations and commemorations giving life zest<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For humbling
struggles and empowering quest<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For meetings and
movement marches embodying a vision<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">of resilient, Earth-integrity
communities of diversity, justice, and communion<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For the arts that
enliven and encourage the soul<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For wisdom that
enlightens and transforms our goals<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For silence and
stillness that melts us into deeper and broader dimensions of self and love<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For pilgrimages
that honor countries and cultures with renewing compassion<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For Beings of the
Way that live with passion—that sing and dance and partner in solidarity<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> with Those Who Care, with those who are
suffering<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For the unconditional
Word about Life that frees us to Know, Do and Be courageously:<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> Life is Good; I am Beloved; the Past
is Forgiven; and the Future is Possibility<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For the Atomic and Cosmic
Song and Dance, Grace from particularity
to eternity<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For the wonder of Earth,
our Common Home, our Common Origin and Destiny<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">For the joy and
grief of Life’s journey’s Calling from 13.8 billion years ago<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">Through rise and
collapse to the seventh generation, may it be so… in<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> Hope beyond hoping<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> Peace passing understanding<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> Joy and thanksgiving unceasing and<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> Love unconditioning<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">So . . .<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> </font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> Ref<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> ejhs<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3"> </font></span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><font size="3">10/22/2022</font><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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