December 2023 - Dialogue - lists.wedgeblade.net

Happy New Year from Cynthia Vance
by Cynthia Vance 02 Jan '24

02 Jan '24

Happy New Year to all my family, friends and colleagues. Jan 1, 2023 May you continue to be curious, to learn and to respond with clarity to the pressing challenges of our time. My Holiday Gift to you is a quote from Kurt Vonnegut which was given to me and one that I’ve embraced for myself: “Go into the arts. I'm not kidding...They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will receive an enormous reward. You will have created something.” Now, here's my annual report. CONTINUING ACTIVITIES: I still perform with Sarasota Earlye Musicke Consort on various recorders, performing courtly, baroque & jazz music. It's all so much fun! I also perform with The Venice Chorale, singing classical and pop music as a tenor. Our new Artistic Director is awesome; he makes us love music so much, encourages us to study it in depth, and creates delightful surprises for our audience. I'm still growing orchids and enjoy taking photos at our Venice Area Orchid Society -- plants which are awarded monthly by our membership. Of course, I must play with my Star and when she barks, we start fetch and catch. However, she won't return the rubber bone to me -- so onto the next one in my pocket. I hike with dear friends in Pineland Park several times a week and continue to kayak with my kayak girl friends -- around the mangrove isles in the Intercoastal Waterway. We take hundreds of photos of nesting birds -- Roseate Spoonbills, Pelicans, etc. When their juveniles exercise their wings I can make some delightful shots. My SonyRX10m4 camera with the 600 mm lens inside continues to delight, taking 24 shots per second. I can take surprising photos that the eye misses! Some are even artful and I post many on Facebook. NEW ACTIVITIES: I've been watching 2 brilliant directors at our Venice Theatre direct rehearsals of 3 plays including Jeff Daniels’ new play, ‘Pickleball’ which was a hoot. I'm also taking acting lessons (learning play analysis & character focus) and receiving positive encouragement (stay tuned for when I put what I've learned into practice). I did write an essay after viewing the profound drama, Black Pearl Sings, and my acting teacher said it was of such excellence that he sent it to the playwright! Sometimes, one's being is touched so much, it compells one to write. I plan to do this more often as I study this engaging artform. I'm now using my new (3rd) IPad 12.9 and ForScore software to download music and use PageFlip Firefly Bluetooth Pedal to turn pages with my foot during recorder performances. Do I tap on the beat - or in between- this does take some coordination! I've also been helping 2 friends with medical research and taking them to appointments and surgeries. Though I've been avoiding politics, I did ask people to sign petitions for the Florida Clean Water and the Women’s Healthcare Rights both which will be now on the ballot next November. They MUST Pass. For more exercise I now attend 2 cardiac classes per week on Zoom, led by a friend I admire who lives in NYC. I've also joined the Venice Isle Book Club and am reading the amazing novel, ‘A Land Remembered’ by Patrick Smith about the struggles and bravery of Florida’s early settlers. I'm sure glad I've always had air conditioning while living in Florida! So, there we are. I'm thankful that my health is good and that I have housing and food unlike so many in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and other places. I naively thought there would not be any more wars, and now we face the horror daily. Let's hope that peace will be restored soon and that the rebuilding will begin. In the meantime, we can support organizations which are helping such as World Central Kitchen (https://worldcentralkitchen.org) I hope you all have an interesting, challenging and delightful New Year. There's so much to learn and enjoy, so many ways to help others, and new thrills around the corner. My best, Cynthia Vance and Star (Check out some photos above)

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2023 actions, outputs, and colleagues
by Robertson Work 30 Dec '23

30 Dec '23

Dear OE/EI/ICA colleague, As we celebrate the holidays and prepare for the new year, you might enjoy reading, viewing, or listening to some of my and colleagues' actions and outputs of 2023. Colleagues involved include Tatwa Timsina, Isshu Suba, Jan Sanders, Blase Sands, Svitlana Salamatova, Tina Spencer, Ken Hamje, Joy Jinks, Jawad Haddadin, and Larry Ward. https://robertsonwork.substack.com/p/2023-actions-and-intentions-of-the [https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1200,h_600,c_fill,f_jpg,q_auto:good,f…]<https://robertsonwork.substack.com/p/2023-actions-and-intentions-of-the> 2023 Actions & Intentions of the Compassionate Civilization Collaborative (C3)<https://robertsonwork.substack.com/p/2023-actions-and-intentions-of-the> A Year of Mindfulness, Understanding, and Care robertsonwork.substack.com Blessings to you and yours, Rob Robertson Work Books and bio<https://www.amazon.com/Robertson-Work/e/B075612GBF> Blogsite<https://compassionatecivilization.blogspot.com/> Substack<https://robertsonwork.substack.com/> Videos and articles<https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/author/robertson-work/> Website<https://www.robertsonwork.com/>

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Re: [Dialogue] [Oe List ...] 2023 actions, outputs, and colleagues/Earthling 2024 Dreams & Deeds
by Robertson Work 30 Dec '23

30 Dec '23

Thank you, Ann! You have encouraged me to share my piece on "Earthling 2024 dreams and deeds", which concludes with the Christ Word. https://robertsonwork.substack.com/p/earthling-2024-dreams-and-deeds [https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1200,h_600,c_fill,f_jpg,q_auto:good,f…]<https://robertsonwork.substack.com/p/earthling-2024-dreams-and-deeds> Earthling 2024 Dreams & Deeds<https://robertsonwork.substack.com/p/earthling-2024-dreams-and-deeds> As you read, and as we anticipate the coming year, I hope that you might find inspiration, challenge, and empowerment. We humans and all earthlings share the same present moment, 13.7 billion years in the making, on the same planet Earth, in the same Sun-star system, in the same Milky Way galaxy, but with a variety of mindsets, behaviors, cultures, and systems. The past is no longer, yet its influences continue. The future is not yet, but is ever emerging from our pregnant present. robertsonwork.substack.com Blessings to each of you, Rob Robertson Work Books and bio<https://www.amazon.com/Robertson-Work/e/B075612GBF> Blogsite<https://compassionatecivilization.blogspot.com/> Substack<https://robertsonwork.substack.com/> Videos and articles<https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/author/robertson-work/> Website<https://www.robertsonwork.com/> ________________________________ From: OE <oe-bounces(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> on behalf of Ann Ensinger Ensinger via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Sent: Friday, December 29, 2023 5:38 PM To: Robertson Work via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Cc: Ann Ensinger Ensinger <ann.ensinger(a)yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] 2023 actions, outputs, and colleagues Thank you, Rob! Ann On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 12:12:05 PM MST, Robertson Work via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: Dear OE/EI/ICA colleague, As we celebrate the holidays and prepare for the new year, you might enjoy reading, viewing, or listening to some of my and colleagues' actions and outputs of 2023. Colleagues involved include Tatwa Timsina, Isshu Suba, Jan Sanders, Blase Sands, Svitlana Salamatova, Tina Spencer, Ken Hamje, Joy Jinks, Jawad Haddadin, and Larry Ward. https://robertsonwork.substack.com/p/2023-actions-and-intentions-of-the [https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1200,h_600,c_fill,f_jpg,q_auto:good,f…]<https://robertsonwork.substack.com/p/2023-actions-and-intentions-of-the> 2023 Actions & Intentions of the Compassionate Civilization Collaborative (C3)<https://robertsonwork.substack.com/p/2023-actions-and-intentions-of-the> A Year of Mindfulness, Understanding, and Care robertsonwork.substack.com Blessings to you and yours, Rob Robertson Work Books and bio<https://www.amazon.com/Robertson-Work/e/B075612GBF> Blogsite<https://compassionatecivilization.blogspot.com/> Substack<https://robertsonwork.substack.com/> Videos and articles<https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/author/robertson-work/> Website<https://www.robertsonwork.com/> _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net<mailto:OE@lists.wedgeblade.net> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net

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[Oe List ...] FW: Santa poem, Gene Marshall?
by James Wiegel 26 Dec '23

26 Dec '23

Add this one to the poetry collection ON THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION" BY DENISE LEVERTOV It’s when we face for a moment the worst our kind can do, and shudder to know the taint in our own selves, that awe cracks the mind’s shell and enters the heart: not to a flower, not to a dolphin, to no innocent form but to this creature vainly sure it and no other is god-like, God (out of compassion for our ugly failure to evolve) entrusts, as guest, as brother, the Word. Denise Levertov December 21, 2021 Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“. The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver > On Dec 24, 2023, at 11:45 AM, jstanfieldica <jstanfieldica(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Thank you John. A very powerful Christmas poem. > > Merry Christmas. > > Jeanette Stanfield > > > > Sent from my Bell Samsung device over Canada's largest network. > > > -------- Original message -------- > From: Lynda C via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> > Date: 2023-12-24 12:19 p.m. (GMT-05:00) > To: "OE List (OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net)" <OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>, "Jim and Judy Wiegel (jfwiegel(a)yahoo.com)" <jfwiegel(a)yahoo.com>, Gene Marshall <gwesleymarshall(a)gmail.com> > Cc: Lynda C <lynda860(a)outlook.com>, "John II Cock (jpcock2(a)gmail.com)" <jpcock2(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [Oe List ...] FW: Santa poem, Gene Marshall? > > > > > > From: John Cock <jpc2025(a)triad.rr.com> > Date: Saturday, December 4, 2004 at 12:12 PM > To: llc860(a)triad.rr.com <llc860(a)triad.rr.com> > Subject: FW: Santa poem, Gene Marshall? > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Lynda Cock [mailto:llc860@triad.rr.com] > Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2000 11:38 AM > To: Cock, John I > Subject: FW: Santa poem, Gene Marshall? > Importance: High > > SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN > > YOU BETTER WATCH OUT > YOU BETTER NOT CRY > YOU BETTER NOT POUT > I'M TELLING YOU WHY > SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN > > HE'S MAKING A LIST > AND CHECKING IT TWICE > HE'S GOING TO FIND OUT > WHO'S NAUGHTY OR NICE > SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN > > > IT IS SAID OF OLD, THAT THE BAD BOYS AND GIRLS GOT NO GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS-- > ONLY A SWITCH TO LASH THEM WITH. BUT SO FAR AS ANYONE KNOWS, NO SWITCHES > HAVE EVER BEEN LEFT AT CHRISTMAS. SANTA CLAUS TAKES GOOD GIFTS TO EVERY > HOUSE, TO EVERY PERSON IN THE WHOLE WORLD. > > THIS IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION. THIS IS THE WAY THE STORY READS. EVERY > PERSON, EVERY HOUSE. IF A CHILD RECEIVES NO GIFT FROM SANTA CLAUS, THAT IS > A DEVASTATING BLOW. NO MATTER HOW MANY GIFTS ARE RECEIVED FROM MOM, DAD, > BROTHER, SISTER, THOSE GIFTS CANNOT REPLACE THE GIFT NOT RECEIVED FROM THE > ONE WHO TAKES GIFTS TO ALL. YOU SEE IN THIS STORY, ALL GIRLS ARE GOOD > GIRLS--FOR ALL RECEIVE GIFTS. AND ALL BOYS ARE GOOD BOYS--FOR ALL RECEIVE > GIFTS. > > NOW I ASK YOU: IS THIS A TRUE STORY? HAVE YOU EVER MET THAT WHICH GIVES > GOOD GIFTS TO ALL? INTO EVERY HOUSE? BY ANY CRITERIA YOU AND I HAVE > CREATED, WE ALL DESERVE SWITCHES. YET, IN SPITE OF HOW WE SEE OURSELVES, > THERE IS THAT EXPERIENCE IN OUR LIVES OF THE ONE WHO BRINGS GOOD GIFTS TO > ALL. > > ST. NICK, SANTA CLAUS, OR WHATEVER OTHER NAME IS USED, THEY ALL DEPEND UPON > OUR COMMON LIFE EXPERIENCES OF THE ONE WHO BRINGS GOOD GIFTS TO ALL, TO > EVERY HOUSE. THE STORY DOES NOT SAY HOW THIS IS DONE OR WHY. IT SIMPLY > SAYS THAT IT IS DONE. > > "YOU BETTER WATCH OUT. . . I'M TELLING YOU WHY! SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO > TOWN.!"

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A New Climate Vision
by Karen Snyder 24 Dec '23

24 Dec '23

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by our increasingly warming planet, you’re not alone. But there is good news: climate solutions are on the rise… and they’re really working. TED takes an hour to highlight manyTED talks that have shown how progress is being made. Although it appears that negative impacts are accelerating, it is harder to see how much positive impacts are simultaneously happening. After you watch the video, it would be interesting to hear your feedback. https://www.ted.com/talks/ted_countdown_ted_explores_a_new_climate_vision?u… TED Explores: A New Climate Vision ted.com

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Remembering Frank Knutson
by Karen Snyder 24 Dec '23

24 Dec '23

Paul Noah asked that the following be posted from him and the letter Frank Knutson wrote him about his hopes for the July Archives Sojourn 2023: I knew Frank "Most Holy One” Knutson. We worked with others on collecting and presenting the archives of the ICA. While “tongue in cheek" was an operating principle of his constant humility he was very clear about the emerging task of the archive team. Here is an email from Frank May 24, 2023: Some reflections on our conversation yesterday about the Archives. As we talked about where the weight of the archives needed to be—the story of How it All Came About. If I were to put weight on our story, it would look like this; 50% Christian Faith and Life Community (CF&LC <>), 25% Order Ecumenical (O:E), 12.5% each, Ecumenical Institute (EI) & Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA). CF&LC began with the audacious objective to Renew the Church of Jesus Christ as Mission to the World. (Period). If they had stopped there and set out they would of failed. So the task was broken down to three stratagies—Contextual Re-Education, Structural Re-Formulation and Spiritual Re-Motivation. Genius. Now the task was doable—create structures, programs and methods to accomplish renewal. From these three strategies came; RS!, Imaginal Education, crucial methods, gridding, story/song/symbol, basis for the Academy, start of the Order—the basis for all that followed. The list goes on. We reached far back into history to the ancient church and religious orders gleaning strengths and weaknesses, adapting and updating to 20th century understandings those elements that provided historical contnuity. Brought down from the 'heavens' the primary symbols of the church—God, Jesus, Holy Sprit, humanizing and grounding them in everyday life. Probably our greatest gift. We are experiencing the last throws of the old time religion grounded in the second story universe—Mega churches, C.I.N.O. (Christians In Name Only), Evangelical movements, etc. The creation of our Commonness; rituals, songs, symbols, methods, structures, Religious Houses, is the basis for our successes This is the story to be told. The creation of HDPs, TMs, Social Process, NRMs, etc. are all secondary to the story of what it takes to create the programs necessary to the times. The two weeks this July would be well spent in writing the compelling story of How it All Came About. Frank

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Some poems for this Christmas . . . I seem to remember but cannot find a poem from the Ecumenical Institute that included the line "there is no santa clause . . "
by James Wiegel 24 Dec '23

24 Dec '23

Journey of the Magi - T. S. Eliot | | | | | | | | | | | Journey of the Magi - T. S. Eliot 'A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey: The ways de... | | | Poetry Foundation | | | | | | | | | | | Poetry Foundation Poems, readings, poetry news and the entire 110-year archive of POETRY magazine. | | | Remembering that it happened, by Wendell Berry | | | | | | | | | | | Remembering that it happened, by Wendell Berry | | | On the rage side, view this from Julius Ceasar https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx_tFOTckzyJs6xAdEeYixWlllgoM-Fr8n?si=mm-VsWKvB1… Jim Wiegel Theunknown is what is. And to be frightened of it is what sends everybodyscurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, hate, allthat. Unknown is what is. Accept that it's unknown, and it's plainsailing. John Lennon 401 North Beverly Way, Tolleson, Arizona 85353 623-363-3277 jfwiegel(a)yahoo.com www.partnersinparticipation.com

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A good group working on the israeli palestinian conflict
by James Wiegel 22 Dec '23

22 Dec '23

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Blue Skies
by Sharon Fisher 18 Dec '23

18 Dec '23

Friends, I thought many of you would be interested in seeing this video clip of Al Jolson singing "Blue Skies" in "The Jazz Singer," one of the first talkie movies. This is a video clip showing him singing a few versions of "Blue Skies." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djd1XfwDAQs I love this song! It works well in lots of settings. Grace and peace, Sharon -- saf1220(a)gmail.com c: 503.807.7385

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Re: [Dialogue] [Earthrise] the significance of our individual choices.
by Nancy Trask 18 Dec '23

18 Dec '23

I was also blown away by the lovely letter & gift from Jim & Karen. Many thanks! I’ve been playing Jim’s Indian flute music to relax for the night. Peace, Nancy Trask On Sat, Dec 16, 2023 at 5:07 PM George via Earthrise < earthrise(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: > I often wonder whether our individual lives bear much of any > significance. I do try to live my life as if it did and I suppose the > question is really what does one consider as significant. > > Elise and I just received the Troxel's holiday greeting. I was deeply > impacted and deeply appreciative of the news of Jim Troxel's investment > and engagement of his last year or two in the Native American flute. > > Not only did the news surprise me I might have expected some new > programmatic venture or some courageous partnership with some exotic > experiment in human community; but instead, as a final act of a living > ventures he decides to get a stick with little holes and go make a > beautiful noise to all the earth. > > What a great witness to life and using all one's creativity in investing > one's own significance in a human venture that honors the life they have > and continue to live. > > Thank you Jim for your particular choice and for your significant gift > to the world. > > ++++++++++++++++++++++ > The name of the group, "earthrise," refers to the photo taken on December > 24, 1968, showing the Earth rising over the horizon of the moon. The image > has become a powerful symbol of mystery, awe, and responsibility. For more > information about the grop, contact earthrise.community(a)gmail.com. > >

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