June 2026 - OE - lists.wedgeblade.net

Another colleague transitions
by Judi White 17 Jun '26

17 Jun '26

Robert Allen White (Bob), April 10, 1943-June 15, 2026 died peacefully at home in his lounge chair. He leaves his wife Wendy and three sons, Rob, Russ, and Ran dy and four grandchildren, Brandyn, Wilder, Chris, And Madison to continue as the legacy of the gifts of his life on Earth.

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Fwd: The Week needs you: Let’s Spark 20,000 New Conversations!
by James Wiegel 17 Jun '26

17 Jun '26

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Re: [Oe List ...] Another colleague transitions
by Isobel and Jim 16 Jun '26

16 Jun '26

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Youtube: CATHOLICS ARE IN SHOCK
by Cynthia Vance 15 Jun '26

15 Jun '26

Pope Leo XIV silently erases 7 Traditions: Catholics are in Shock Y'all should view this. Totally amazing! Cynthia Vance

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Celebrating the life and death of Deirdre Dowsett
by Dharmalingam Vinasithamby 15 Jun '26

15 Jun '26

Dear Colleagues, This is to let you know that our dear colleague, Deirdre Dowsett, who served with many of us in theMaharashtra Human Development Project in India in the 1970s and 80s passed awayat the Benetas Oaks Aged Care Home in Gisborne, Victoria, Australia, on 13thJune morning. She and Philip Dowsett spent many years inMaliwada village, Maharashtra, where the Human Development Training School for projectvolunteers was based. Philip, who received the news from her partner ElaineFragar, said in an email to me yesterday: “In recent years Deirdre battled acomplex of medical issues, and now her trials and tribulations are over. Assoon as I have details of the funeral arrangements, which I understand will belive streamed, I will forward them to people.” Kind regards,V.Dharmalingam

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Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Town Hall Meetings – resources for America’s Semiquincentennial
by Paula Philbrook 14 Jun '26

14 Jun '26

Rory, Karen & team, I went to a family reunion in South Louisiana last month. The final stretch of the road was 12 miles on a county road lined with trees and an occasional house. Little things set out on the curb for sale and a few boats and some vegetable booths. It reminded me so much of the county coverage in the town meeting bi-centennial program. No matter what state I was in Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Louisiana those county roads were all the same. I was somewhat surprised to see 50 years later those country roads remain a steadfast symbol of how across our country there is so much in common. Thank you so much for the recreation of the town meeting process in such a beautiful manner. Let’s hope as we celebrate the 250 it can be help lead us to the other side of division and chaos an we can now begin to heal and become a bridge across the turbulence. Thank you, thank you thank you once again for the creativity and the heart that went into this rendition. Connection remains the key to the human experiment across our whole planet. Paula Personal Mission Statement: *I nurture love, peace & harmony in every situation for my caring family, disempowered communities, and our precious planet.* On Thu, Jun 11, 2026 at 2:29 PM Rory Gilchrist via Dialogue < dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: > This year in the United States, we are celebrating 250 years since the > signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is an opportunity to > celebrate and reflect on who we are, as a people, in our local communities. > For the ICA it brings back memories from 1976 when Town Meetings were held > in every county in every state of the union to celebrate America's 200th > birthday. Two Archives Town Meeting pages are available here: ICA Global > Archive – Town Meetings > <https://icaglobalarchives.org/collections/awakening-local-communities/town-…>. > We have been pondering what today’s efforts at grassroots reflection could > look like in 2026. > > One step the ICA staff and Global Archives volunteers have taken is to > design a “do-it-yourself” Facilitation Guide to allow people interested > in having a significant Vision and Action Planning event happen in their > community in two-hours. The Facilitation Guide is very flexible to allow > individuals to modify for their needs. Here is the Guide: > > - > > Guide for reading on screens: Word Doc > <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jSVr41SV85vmUfdcYoPlvMREadJqTdTT/edit> > | Adobe PDF > <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XtNrLrcwbbAq1eC8dE1eY8lnV5jYNLvD/view> > (continuous pagination) > - > > Guide for printing: Adobe PDF > <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZIF1Yz8Bwi4rsaxqhipjH7bBj89x2vdJ/view?usp=…> > (booklet pagination; use “short edge” double-sided printing) > > Since every state has an America 250 Commission, ICA took another step—to > contact the Illinois 250 America Commission, and to offer this Facilitation > Guide, as well as Facilitator Training for community leaders to use the > Guide. A colleague of the ICA, who is a commissioner on the Illinois 250 > Commission, has been working with the Chicago 43rd Ward Alderperson to > create a resolution to celebrate the 250th Anniversary by hosting “a > collaborative town hall where the community and their elected > representatives are able to come together and discuss a collective vision > for the future of their communities and the City of Chicago as a whole.” At > the last Chicago City Council meeting, they passed the resolution! Here is > a copy of the Resolution: Chicago City Council 250 Resolution > <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aWQ2qG9AhB_4CZfOn_sGJLHQ9OuSGv-E/view?usp=…> > > Here are additional materials developed with the assistance of AI > NotebookLM that give visual and audio information to assist anyone willing > to take the challenge of leading their community in this process: > > - > > Cinematic Video: IL America 250 Explanatory Video > <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s_J2X_okawWwbbTqqUkpoIorklAAIwgH/view?usp=…> > - > > Infograph: IL America 250 Infographic > <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pk9IJXZBKOVz7KK_ymh1bzZPAbcIKg4H/view?usp=…> > - > > Facilitator's Blueprint: IL America 250 podcast ep "The two hour > blueprint for community consensus" > <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z7sIIOsscr8feA8E6D-SMQAb9FfeFHTr/view?usp=…> > > Would you like to have something like this happen in your area? Would you > be willing to contact your state’s America 250 Commission? Who are others > you know who might be interested in making this happen in your area? What > other thoughts, suggestions do you have to create momentum for community > meetings to happen locally and nationally during 2026? We are looking > forward to hearing your ideas and reflections. > > Rory Gilchrist > > Program Manager > > rgilchrist(a)ica-usa.org > > Karen Snyder Troxel > > Archives Coordinator > > ksnyder(a)ica-usa.org > > _______________________________________________ > Dialogue mailing list > Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net >

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Re: [Oe List ...] The Tibooburra Project | Outback NSW | Church Refurbishment | Cameron Co...
by Isobel and Jim 14 Jun '26

14 Jun '26

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Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Town Hall Meetings – resources for America’s Semiquincentennial
by Mari Crocker 13 Jun '26

13 Jun '26

Thank you, thank you, Rory and Karen for providing links to these field-and-time-tested guides for participative, reflective celebrations of “We the People.” Marilyn Crocker > On Jun 11, 2026, at 3:27 PM, Rory Gilchrist via Dialogue <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: > > This year in the United States, we are celebrating 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on who we are, as a people, in our local communities. For the ICA it brings back memories from 1976 when Town Meetings were held in every county in every state of the union to celebrate America's 200th birthday. Two Archives Town Meeting pages are available here: ICA Global Archive – Town Meetings <https://icaglobalarchives.org/collections/awakening-local-communities/town-…>. We have been pondering what today’s efforts at grassroots reflection could look like in 2026. > > One step the ICA staff and Global Archives volunteers have taken is to design a “do-it-yourself” Facilitation Guide to allow people interested in having a significant Vision and Action Planning event happen in their community in two-hours. The Facilitation Guide is very flexible to allow individuals to modify for their needs. Here is the Guide: > > Guide for reading on screens: Word Doc <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jSVr41SV85vmUfdcYoPlvMREadJqTdTT/edit> | Adobe PDF <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XtNrLrcwbbAq1eC8dE1eY8lnV5jYNLvD/view> (continuous pagination) > Guide for printing: Adobe PDF <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZIF1Yz8Bwi4rsaxqhipjH7bBj89x2vdJ/view?usp=…> (booklet pagination; use “short edge” double-sided printing) > > Since every state has an America 250 Commission, ICA took another step—to contact the Illinois 250 America Commission, and to offer this Facilitation Guide, as well as Facilitator Training for community leaders to use the Guide. A colleague of the ICA, who is a commissioner on the Illinois 250 Commission, has been working with the Chicago 43rd Ward Alderperson to create a resolution to celebrate the 250th Anniversary by hosting “a collaborative town hall where the community and their elected representatives are able to come together and discuss a collective vision for the future of their communities and the City of Chicago as a whole.” At the last Chicago City Council meeting, they passed the resolution! Here is a copy of the Resolution: Chicago City Council 250 Resolution <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aWQ2qG9AhB_4CZfOn_sGJLHQ9OuSGv-E/view?usp=…> > Here are additional materials developed with the assistance of AI NotebookLM that give visual and audio information to assist anyone willing to take the challenge of leading their community in this process: > Cinematic Video: IL America 250 Explanatory Video <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s_J2X_okawWwbbTqqUkpoIorklAAIwgH/view?usp=…> > Infograph: IL America 250 Infographic <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pk9IJXZBKOVz7KK_ymh1bzZPAbcIKg4H/view?usp=…> > Facilitator's Blueprint: IL America 250 podcast ep "The two hour blueprint for community consensus" <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z7sIIOsscr8feA8E6D-SMQAb9FfeFHTr/view?usp=…> > Would you like to have something like this happen in your area? Would you be willing to contact your state’s America 250 Commission? Who are others you know who might be interested in making this happen in your area? What other thoughts, suggestions do you have to create momentum for community meetings to happen locally and nationally during 2026? We are looking forward to hearing your ideas and reflections. > > Rory Gilchrist > Program Manager > rgilchrist(a)ica-usa.org <mailto:rgilchrist@ica-usa.org> > Karen Snyder Troxel > Archives Coordinator > ksnyder(a)ica-usa.org <mailto:ksnyder@ica-usa.org> > <image_1.png> > > _______________________________________________ > Dialogue mailing list > Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net

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Re: [Oe List ...] The Tibooburra Project | Outback NSW | Church Refurbishment | Cameron Co...
by Isobel and Jim 13 Jun '26

13 Jun '26

Dear Paul, Thank you, writing I assume from your home base in London that we cheeky Aussies call ‘The old Dart ‘! Lots of ‘world wide and history long’ going on ness, as JWM would say- it’s a tough time it seems, just everywhere. So much hatred and fear and people in their silos- no one wants to hear - I pray come again please; Town Meetings, Community Meetings, Local Community Convocations, Local Churches and the like - I reckon and with skilled Facilitators- those events would be very well attended- I think at least the anger and anxiety experienced by thousands could be channelled and empathetically addressed. Thank you for watching the video Paul-the significant fact most people have heard about Tibooburra is how hot it is in summer🎵🎶 Not much makes headlines out there 😊 Take good care mate, and y’all ❤️🌠 🦋 Isobel Isobel Bishop Mob. 0412 129 425 > On 13 Jun 2026, at 3:26 pm, PAUL SCHRIJNEN <pschrijnen(a)aol.com> wrote: > Gosh Isabel, > > It is wonderful to see you at work with your crew. > > Indeed, you are a role model for me. Thank you! > > All the best, > > Paul > >> On 12 Jun 2026, at 00:16, Isobel and Jim via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: >> >> >> >> https://youtu.be/Tf46wIjqdQM?si=elIg5-zNgXWKhfqb >> Dear friends all over North America, >> I thought you may like to see something a bit different . There is so much hatred etc going on, here is the outback far western part of the State of New South Wales. >> My daughter Cathy & I were part of the volunteer team last month. Frontier Services is the ‘outback ‘ arm of my Church ,the Uniting Church in Australia. I am many years now a retired Minister of the Church ( as was Jim). >> Thank you for the recent chat about Worship in Church , I found it so lovely to read ! >> Special thanks to Dianne, Sherwood, Wanda and Nancy ! >> The Church I now attend is bending the trend of most of the wider Church. >> Lots of children, couples, gender diverse, gender identity young ones. It’s a joy to be there on Sunday, both morning and evening😊🌠 >> The Ministers are a team: Wife & Husband- it’s very heartening as now at 90, I’ve seen so much in the institutional Church ! >> I can walk just a 3 min walk too. >> With my love to you all, from down here , >> Isobel >> >> >> Isobel Bishop >> Mob. 0412 129 425 >> _______________________________________________ >> OE mailing list >> OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net >> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net

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The Tibooburra Project | Outback NSW | Church Refurbishment | Cameron Co...
by Isobel and Jim 13 Jun '26

13 Jun '26

https://youtu.be/Tf46wIjqdQM?si=elIg5-zNgXWKhfqb Dear friends all over North America, I thought you may like to see something a bit different . There is so much hatred etc going on, here is the outback far western part of the State of New South Wales. My daughter Cathy & I were part of the volunteer team last month. Frontier Services is the ‘outback ‘ arm of my Church ,the Uniting Church in Australia. I am many years now a retired Minister of the Church ( as was Jim). Thank you for the recent chat about Worship in Church , I found it so lovely to read ! Special thanks to Dianne, Sherwood, Wanda and Nancy ! The Church I now attend is bending the trend of most of the wider Church. Lots of children, couples, gender diverse, gender identity young ones. It’s a joy to be there on Sunday, both morning and evening😊🌠 The Ministers are a team: Wife & Husband- it’s very heartening as now at 90, I’ve seen so much in the institutional Church ! I can walk just a 3 min walk too. With my love to you all, from down here , Isobel Isobel Bishop Mob. 0412 129 425

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