December 15th, 2022

Image: Barbara Ryther A Familiar Story Every year we start the story again. We know this one! The characters are familiar, the plot twists aren’t a surprise anymore. A prophecy! A miraculous pregnancy! A star! Humble shepherds, wise visitors, evil ruler! Flee! We even...

November 24, 2022

The “Pie Ladies” of St. George’s Church Feasting on homemade pies on Monday afternoons was a church-sponsored tradition for residents of the former Harbor Home, a small state-run facility in York Harbor, Maine. Here, in a quiet two-story brick...

November 9, 2022

Image: Barbara Ryther In the Fall Apples are at their best in the fall… I look for smooth, red skin. No bruises, please. Honey Crisps for eating Macs for sauce Cortlands for  crisps or pies.   Today is a good day for a crisp. At the farm stand I buy six...

November 2, 2022

Image: Barbara Kautz The Lion and the Sparrow At the arc of dawnin that blue and burning placebetween what wasand what is yet to besits a lion. With shoulders like mountainsand flames for eyesthe lion awaits morningas if calling it into being. So, too, awaits the...

October 27, 2022

Image: Barbara Ryther Thoughts from the beach: Grace I’ve been thinking about the most recent Medications post, about how hard it can be to say “I’m sorry” particularly when the world seems unforgiving. To say “I forgive you” is also hard, but for different reasons. ...

September 29, 2022

Image: Nina Bisognani I’m Sorry Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as...