tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83306531048558334402024-03-05T15:03:58.245-08:00 WISDOM COMMUNIONResources to nourish our body, quiet our mind, and enliven our spiritBarbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-7574981473174272342023-09-30T12:24:00.001-07:002023-09-30T12:24:13.271-07:00Eucharistic Prayer of the Cosmos<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eucharistic Prayer of the Cosmos</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ffp7BdN2fIw" width="320" youtube-src-id="ffp7BdN2fIw"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-49637132867660328762023-03-26T17:01:00.004-07:002023-03-26T17:01:37.989-07:00Birdwoman Judy Chappus, Artist and Michele Birch-Conery, Poet<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyygKlg5W8EoEMTu5sgNDJ6Bgyj_hwoGnKZFShP54awbzlOw5GhsSMihXTrqeYC7IGZeWnh5K2dNvVSW_j75JSuKEgyuVCRWKXA3YzDdAoFEmxL6slRdukChAWN4EOJLkRaT0Mif-3T-jOzmA1vcvmuILZrRa4QXy2aiLzW3ktbC8BYGkVYySnhZgg9A/s1800/2023-01-18%20Birdwoman%20Judy%20Chappus.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyygKlg5W8EoEMTu5sgNDJ6Bgyj_hwoGnKZFShP54awbzlOw5GhsSMihXTrqeYC7IGZeWnh5K2dNvVSW_j75JSuKEgyuVCRWKXA3YzDdAoFEmxL6slRdukChAWN4EOJLkRaT0Mif-3T-jOzmA1vcvmuILZrRa4QXy2aiLzW3ktbC8BYGkVYySnhZgg9A/w320-h400/2023-01-18%20Birdwoman%20Judy%20Chappus.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Judy Chappus, artist</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSAk1_GHs62DY9BWoWNqgKwa_dlEzwW2R4kWnT_9ThEFqvdCPmmhu658u12BetM4UEvOsVv3RzK0sAIlMRhY3AybGRSTj21SXwx8aSdNXe7YfdolZcFkiW4ZNKQySLArIAkVKc2Mdd6oJN4cR14TXKEJ-X4ZDfulCfsPdYGBvZzoQf854vROv-IQBAEA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSAk1_GHs62DY9BWoWNqgKwa_dlEzwW2R4kWnT_9ThEFqvdCPmmhu658u12BetM4UEvOsVv3RzK0sAIlMRhY3AybGRSTj21SXwx8aSdNXe7YfdolZcFkiW4ZNKQySLArIAkVKc2Mdd6oJN4cR14TXKEJ-X4ZDfulCfsPdYGBvZzoQf854vROv-IQBAEA=w469-h640" width="469" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-37267063400166166802021-11-29T10:38:00.007-08:002023-02-18T07:42:24.550-08:00Freeing Our Minds and Hearts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnoNBQQEgjgnimaLY9YCdm1i2VMXQM5a_ZSqc_w0tGL-KS9RMAByZP2JpBHoK1ptrq9T39pMdtvg2utV7CwwZwXRGpWPaSBM-_MvKundLVEbFbD_gYVa7_rDvUeGgT8tpSA5zRsrnywg0/s1024/Brain+Anatomy+and+Functions.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnoNBQQEgjgnimaLY9YCdm1i2VMXQM5a_ZSqc_w0tGL-KS9RMAByZP2JpBHoK1ptrq9T39pMdtvg2utV7CwwZwXRGpWPaSBM-_MvKundLVEbFbD_gYVa7_rDvUeGgT8tpSA5zRsrnywg0/w516-h480/Brain+Anatomy+and+Functions.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XKkhx3CpxQ8" width="320" youtube-src-id="XKkhx3CpxQ8"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anxiety is Really Strange</div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3h-m5NMn5VQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="3h-m5NMn5VQ"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anxiety Talk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M1eY0m9UIGk" width="320" youtube-src-id="M1eY0m9UIGk"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> Gratitude that Frees the Mind</div><div style="text-align: center;">Opens the Heart - Talk</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vXASN98WRFY" width="320" youtube-src-id="vXASN98WRFY"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Gratitude that Frees the Mind </div><div style="text-align: center;">Opens the Heart - Meditation</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">O<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bq9U0JoqRZo" width="320" youtube-src-id="bq9U0JoqRZo"></iframe></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Positive Neuroplasticity</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/haQuQiB63tU" width="320" youtube-src-id="haQuQiB63tU"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Inner Peace that Releases Fear</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RnZEdRQ-QqI" width="320" youtube-src-id="RnZEdRQ-QqI"></iframe></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Making Peace with Others</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zTuX_ShUrw0" width="320" youtube-src-id="zTuX_ShUrw0"></iframe></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fb-clvcX7fI" width="320" youtube-src-id="Fb-clvcX7fI"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /></div></div>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-44237345213429009772021-11-14T08:24:00.002-08:002021-11-14T08:24:25.260-08:00Internal Family Systems<p style="text-align: center;">Internal Family Systems </p><p style="text-align: center;">Interview of Richard Swartz by Alanis Morissette</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JH-32QS6Qfw" width="320" youtube-src-id="JH-32QS6Qfw"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-29809763836743249252021-09-28T09:29:00.009-07:002021-11-02T13:01:39.388-07:00Songs of Our Hearts<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/URbLGQ5Imq4" width="320" youtube-src-id="URbLGQ5Imq4"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4EZw-B7WKQg" width="320" youtube-src-id="4EZw-B7WKQg"></iframe></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Neshama by Shaina Noll</div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E1_vIK1u-z8" width="320" youtube-src-id="E1_vIK1u-z8"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Song of Your Heart</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Peter Kater and Snatam Kaur</div><br /><p></p><div><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">[Chorus]</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">You are becoming the song of your heart</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">How beautiful it is</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">How beautiful it is</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">As the flower blossoms forth</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">You are becoming the song of your heart</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">How beautiful it is</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">How beautiful it is</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">As the flower blossoms forth</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">You are becoming the song of your heart</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">How beautiful it is</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">How beautiful it is</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">As the flower blossoms forth</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">[Verse 1]</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">Feel the earth in your toes</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">O my child, you'll never know</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">What tomorrow brings</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">So, sing, sing, sing</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 27px; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">[Verse 2]</span></div><div>Rise before the morning light</div><div>Let you soul take its flight</div><div>God is with you listening</div><div>So sing, sing, sing</div><div><br /></div><div>[Verse 3]</div><div>Hand in hand we shall go</div><div>Through the grassy hills of gold</div><div>See the hawk circling</div><div>We sing, sing, sing</div><div><br /></div><div><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">You are becoming the song of your heart</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">How beautiful it is</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face="Programme, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-size-adjust: auto;">How beautiful it is</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Programme, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 27px; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br /></div>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-49041346448835327472021-06-02T14:57:00.026-07:002023-01-31T07:54:19.245-08:00Music Calling Us <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7EBsnr1jfOzyugPk-UOHiFOrxdFs1fX9-BdRvU3Rp_XbdbtcbR9eMAcn2WfsuNmQpwQ0ZFZ-0Hau9057IMEF2KVGtH28icLdtASDYvd3MTtS9azHJPzMw6I2ijDGFJUF8rA-rH38TutT/s933/Mother+to+Mother+Dorothy+Bury+Shaw.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7EBsnr1jfOzyugPk-UOHiFOrxdFs1fX9-BdRvU3Rp_XbdbtcbR9eMAcn2WfsuNmQpwQ0ZFZ-0Hau9057IMEF2KVGtH28icLdtASDYvd3MTtS9azHJPzMw6I2ijDGFJUF8rA-rH38TutT/w342-h640/Mother+to+Mother+Dorothy+Bury+Shaw.jpeg" width="342" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dorothy Bury Shaw (artist)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/83GoT3l0CgM" width="320" youtube-src-id="83GoT3l0CgM"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jENtQnJzgtE" width="320" youtube-src-id="jENtQnJzgtE"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sa Ta Na Ma</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G0np-5xbkus" width="320" youtube-src-id="G0np-5xbkus"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J7711tVOzJQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="J7711tVOzJQ"></iframe></div><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Br1q_i1RHPU" width="320" youtube-src-id="Br1q_i1RHPU"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aK0I7KHT_io" width="320" youtube-src-id="aK0I7KHT_io"></iframe></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gYR0xP1j4PY" width="320" youtube-src-id="gYR0xP1j4PY"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sIaT8Jl2zpI" width="320" youtube-src-id="sIaT8Jl2zpI"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tx17RvPMaQ8" width="320" youtube-src-id="tx17RvPMaQ8"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fa8Q4cJGMKg" width="320" youtube-src-id="Fa8Q4cJGMKg"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ve1c1Q1MZDo" width="320" youtube-src-id="ve1c1Q1MZDo"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVmpdaFvOnySRmvaZqaJMthTJXEMTrIYF3-qJnLsY3bC0b-4k6mr4wshcfb0rSU3wlxiGCkv6iqf4K7CMcqOZy1Ma5o3gwgOFIxvaq5jghhT9KSEMOa3MyvOpcVTKu_kB9faxkL_kTOvH/s2048/20210526_130254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVmpdaFvOnySRmvaZqaJMthTJXEMTrIYF3-qJnLsY3bC0b-4k6mr4wshcfb0rSU3wlxiGCkv6iqf4K7CMcqOZy1Ma5o3gwgOFIxvaq5jghhT9KSEMOa3MyvOpcVTKu_kB9faxkL_kTOvH/w480-h640/20210526_130254.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RPpNgvGq1Oo" width="320" youtube-src-id="RPpNgvGq1Oo"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jZm3dlf6ZB4" width="320" youtube-src-id="jZm3dlf6ZB4"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cWenZ99i_hM" width="320" youtube-src-id="cWenZ99i_hM"></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-90062893528631108832021-03-28T08:44:00.003-07:002023-01-31T07:51:21.307-08:00O Black Mama Litany <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvt51yKc68_CmnIpQI8uZIDGQgbbk7BJRVRV24HQ5Iat01OKZFXDf4JhF4y1816gMDmzsokjLmD-VIwetXq9EL3wDrZ9rXiwUKs-5tVmMD_ttxOMSb9XaFumK7qkLvus_uwxTjX-BhJFIW/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvt51yKc68_CmnIpQI8uZIDGQgbbk7BJRVRV24HQ5Iat01OKZFXDf4JhF4y1816gMDmzsokjLmD-VIwetXq9EL3wDrZ9rXiwUKs-5tVmMD_ttxOMSb9XaFumK7qkLvus_uwxTjX-BhJFIW/w480-h640/WW+Black+Madonna+Suffering.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdV0K7xEcuC88P4BGG_S56SYwucCD7dzyIbFoaCi0OWp6b2l9JyXoswrSQ4SRKMhxJSmMMiGW0KnTErdu2XfV6FlhciWIs1S9F02AWpxngVFcisXYdrzGu6nAlwLv3RcXGVfTCeBmxJ5w/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="636" data-original-width="471" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdV0K7xEcuC88P4BGG_S56SYwucCD7dzyIbFoaCi0OWp6b2l9JyXoswrSQ4SRKMhxJSmMMiGW0KnTErdu2XfV6FlhciWIs1S9F02AWpxngVFcisXYdrzGu6nAlwLv3RcXGVfTCeBmxJ5w/w475-h640/image.png" width="475" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP2cIqC8ETKk1FXNmJEngfoivcGlR3KETJWJMh_0C7hLYr7AyW1ndAB9QsklL8cJWKqI8LsujvOBIGf9u6q3RbKl8Kq36EEveOi7_CwfdjXV7uCUF5lqns_C9Yvnx-n0yhJlqGIHoFEik/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="642" data-original-width="471" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP2cIqC8ETKk1FXNmJEngfoivcGlR3KETJWJMh_0C7hLYr7AyW1ndAB9QsklL8cJWKqI8LsujvOBIGf9u6q3RbKl8Kq36EEveOi7_CwfdjXV7uCUF5lqns_C9Yvnx-n0yhJlqGIHoFEik/w469-h640/image.png" width="469" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdgg5-aBxaplZxQfeq_qEobIhx7pA4hdztwjB72FqnVGQELHDGUwr9t5ZVFskPTciSGLRZVSWKqgTIPQqCc-ZcvAofeIF_3IzgoLoH_iS0zKy7Ekq4bPhNd6o4XvieAKERbOM2nWc9-jg/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="281" data-original-width="471" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdgg5-aBxaplZxQfeq_qEobIhx7pA4hdztwjB72FqnVGQELHDGUwr9t5ZVFskPTciSGLRZVSWKqgTIPQqCc-ZcvAofeIF_3IzgoLoH_iS0zKy7Ekq4bPhNd6o4XvieAKERbOM2nWc9-jg/w400-h239/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-71174268157720753862021-03-17T08:06:00.006-07:002023-01-30T17:54:00.456-08:00 Our Protectress<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7K3iejPnodA1-F5jIEPaohDnjT3IJAG7k8HYKiV7B8fBdj1kIZi6BH8tGiECroJg16JjpZTqsDYSeNUwCXOEuW2QIUdsL-nhaJP12XDWplsBIl83n9lVWdnSUmeDQAvASIyBFCzEe7zU/s2048/WW+Black+Madonna+Hair+Combing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7K3iejPnodA1-F5jIEPaohDnjT3IJAG7k8HYKiV7B8fBdj1kIZi6BH8tGiECroJg16JjpZTqsDYSeNUwCXOEuW2QIUdsL-nhaJP12XDWplsBIl83n9lVWdnSUmeDQAvASIyBFCzEe7zU/w480-h640/WW+Black+Madonna+Hair+Combing.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Tataya Mato, artist</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3nqNn0IbnBo" width="320" youtube-src-id="3nqNn0IbnBo"></iframe></div><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6rYw8C8GhlY" width="320" youtube-src-id="6rYw8C8GhlY"></iframe></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-62606307470122425912021-03-06T14:23:00.233-08:002023-01-30T17:58:56.213-08:00Altars of the Feminine Sacred by Wild Women Priestesses<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>"While whirling in </i><i>sanctuaries</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>and prostrating on altars</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>of a Church that </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>refused to love Her,</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>a labyrinth of fragile strength</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>was knit inside me</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>where I walked for miles</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>without a destination.</i><i>" </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Barbara Billey</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Lillian's Altar</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9J23We47HtDjJEywPGBAV9muIeAX40J0rwbMAdIjGscE6Vi58ln2ed0LDovKyLjaBNShrNB9M3vnqnJne2RV6R2YLlZ50bYWIaF0hyBRG77XDiPhtDk03mBaxz4S9yADmz55IBOMr127/s2048/WW+Lillian%2527s+Altar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9J23We47HtDjJEywPGBAV9muIeAX40J0rwbMAdIjGscE6Vi58ln2ed0LDovKyLjaBNShrNB9M3vnqnJne2RV6R2YLlZ50bYWIaF0hyBRG77XDiPhtDk03mBaxz4S9yADmz55IBOMr127/w480-h640/WW+Lillian%2527s+Altar.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Rhea's Altars</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKyM1SezzQTUVkTALZZ0G61WDS0NBjXjng7kOWIKsfB_E3u2rcHhe6N_Cv80b8pXR9qPkP4j2h_PcOfR25KK94t5_Vvza2iZNMXpnIN1p-qsxBsLPL6C4ibO86F9W_vkI6_Kk8vLUs0wX/s2048/WW+Rhea%2527s+Altar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKyM1SezzQTUVkTALZZ0G61WDS0NBjXjng7kOWIKsfB_E3u2rcHhe6N_Cv80b8pXR9qPkP4j2h_PcOfR25KK94t5_Vvza2iZNMXpnIN1p-qsxBsLPL6C4ibO86F9W_vkI6_Kk8vLUs0wX/w480-h640/WW+Rhea%2527s+Altar.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9-UNE_qYIChze1nHco4N-E0fjtFm50VigqWyIGg4Q9Ge6UK2bNx4UMICxD1uEzOMY95MHaWv5-by66WntT7_LhaMH2t73731RwbBtbD-ilaRGiZpnDMVhehQKKFYIgy4DbEYuuQ8EfSm/s1280/WW+Rhea%2527s+Altar+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9-UNE_qYIChze1nHco4N-E0fjtFm50VigqWyIGg4Q9Ge6UK2bNx4UMICxD1uEzOMY95MHaWv5-by66WntT7_LhaMH2t73731RwbBtbD-ilaRGiZpnDMVhehQKKFYIgy4DbEYuuQ8EfSm/w480-h640/WW+Rhea%2527s+Altar+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Jeni's Altars</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpDe0UiL8ev_IxOj3bspVJJaMqWcX_nB8AeTdjhewS5eqUq9gvVfhqOIIIK6NC0gqosWxUd_sd0Zx_9N0NGiWo1vgPEqx1vlr3ylCFClcQprNC01Sk_Qb0_78nxfwHM4NIatFnpQ_DS_i/s2048/Jeni%2527s+Altar.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpDe0UiL8ev_IxOj3bspVJJaMqWcX_nB8AeTdjhewS5eqUq9gvVfhqOIIIK6NC0gqosWxUd_sd0Zx_9N0NGiWo1vgPEqx1vlr3ylCFClcQprNC01Sk_Qb0_78nxfwHM4NIatFnpQ_DS_i/w640-h640/Jeni%2527s+Altar.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga-uJLYgAc9hBy0CKhf2Z-J1OOmInL6T6yWOe5AlKvu2VLLSCWz2kpgnLxbnx3EOwiHF-INV9C5h5urvqaiJWdd4mIxLbCURmuNUZ6A6eDCUqgpc0zGQG-G3kfEWYGlJSJAQtE7Zaft0j/s2048/Jeni%2527s+Black+Madonna.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga-uJLYgAc9hBy0CKhf2Z-J1OOmInL6T6yWOe5AlKvu2VLLSCWz2kpgnLxbnx3EOwiHF-INV9C5h5urvqaiJWdd4mIxLbCURmuNUZ6A6eDCUqgpc0zGQG-G3kfEWYGlJSJAQtE7Zaft0j/w480-h640/Jeni%2527s+Black+Madonna.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Barbara's Altars</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YQAwmGVRAZ-cWGncvv9HJOLj7Jc6V0Xtq6d_sEBSizZ3tYHEsbq5t15cjucwhvtv4eNZLI1-9n6ViumxtQxMG0he4VolG6DS2xgeGOdjH2Hw_OOHmdLFXfRnuMPz7s4e_9CLHjeMLAbB/w480-h640/BB+Altar+6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Dagmar's Altars</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuPTEAakawvas1BP2ZI94SQ-itISeUB1qnpeJk7M3lHIlEnbTSTvH_fek_EP5eq06NBoVboR-ijVzBMGjPpVO1wnx8N4_ueZHsL8nNkrSBb_xpIHt-ZZozXLQ0zbTiiKTe1ryE7b-BtqV/s640/WW+Vulva+1+Dagmar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuPTEAakawvas1BP2ZI94SQ-itISeUB1qnpeJk7M3lHIlEnbTSTvH_fek_EP5eq06NBoVboR-ijVzBMGjPpVO1wnx8N4_ueZHsL8nNkrSBb_xpIHt-ZZozXLQ0zbTiiKTe1ryE7b-BtqV/w480-h640/WW+Vulva+1+Dagmar.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-HOolgsPg_HTFe2_PwNc3byZkZJ96TkD3OSoxQWyLSq8tjDnmNOYrDv4WdGgTTV5o61RmB-oXk51WZ8OSdtDQG-FCR5fC9yJy2zuDEu-s8d2ivUaukSWEWC5tNAT9Mxj_B3nWdu5RxYZ/s640/WW+Vulva+8+Dagmar+8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-HOolgsPg_HTFe2_PwNc3byZkZJ96TkD3OSoxQWyLSq8tjDnmNOYrDv4WdGgTTV5o61RmB-oXk51WZ8OSdtDQG-FCR5fC9yJy2zuDEu-s8d2ivUaukSWEWC5tNAT9Mxj_B3nWdu5RxYZ/w480-h640/WW+Vulva+8+Dagmar+8.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyGLymmJ-rdfhiNwcLN5uVE5r9WSEbV_iK4or3hHGjfDzAoekiiu8MVUb04ngvlrl_V7f6jNX3hGULGOG-kACm-1pEsFLX5Q3wC4zZTqPhf-W_IYoND88tI_Pme_BUu1cTEVthuRJFVsf/s640/WW+Vulva+9+Dagmar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyGLymmJ-rdfhiNwcLN5uVE5r9WSEbV_iK4or3hHGjfDzAoekiiu8MVUb04ngvlrl_V7f6jNX3hGULGOG-kACm-1pEsFLX5Q3wC4zZTqPhf-W_IYoND88tI_Pme_BUu1cTEVthuRJFVsf/w480-h640/WW+Vulva+9+Dagmar.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><i>Mary Grace's Altar</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJjVcw1hZDKRoqhhKPVrcFj4slSCCFWOyadSr-IrQDUMqEvXVbeuj0R-KcFpw1mronBw2sJYlH289Sh_nyfZllexPALFzBviikYnd1RtU2lbghO7ksJ1f-6hQnC4LaSOytwfrWm4Xdeeh/s320/63685034708__EB249A67-96F3-49FB-9BE8-F130F8ABD79A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJjVcw1hZDKRoqhhKPVrcFj4slSCCFWOyadSr-IrQDUMqEvXVbeuj0R-KcFpw1mronBw2sJYlH289Sh_nyfZllexPALFzBviikYnd1RtU2lbghO7ksJ1f-6hQnC4LaSOytwfrWm4Xdeeh/w480-h640/63685034708__EB249A67-96F3-49FB-9BE8-F130F8ABD79A.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSMRjxXwtV1GwHQRMhr-gJvciRMbtaqTalFRYSRhJPZ340qSufOZHoIMmsQhnDxWcpYuwu6SJUBiDyGDzmLE5YnH56f4VFZm-YWM2rJL5sOc4dcptEz-sMV8KY42he9U6WOD9xxRotfJ9/s2048/WW+Vulva+2+Mary+Grace.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSMRjxXwtV1GwHQRMhr-gJvciRMbtaqTalFRYSRhJPZ340qSufOZHoIMmsQhnDxWcpYuwu6SJUBiDyGDzmLE5YnH56f4VFZm-YWM2rJL5sOc4dcptEz-sMV8KY42he9U6WOD9xxRotfJ9/w480-h640/WW+Vulva+2+Mary+Grace.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="-webkit-standard" style="text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></span><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">Ode to my V</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">My darkness, my light my delight—</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">Source of warmth, wildness, and might—</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">Pathway to wisdom, discovery, insight—</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">Source of pain and pleasure</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">Containment for life’s treasure</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">Treasure untold</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">Continuing to unfold</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">Always in process to enfold</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">My vulva, my center, </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">Is brilliant, is bold, </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">Enfleshed in the colors of pink and gold.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">Black Madonna is she, </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">Hidden but free,</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">Given to me</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;">As empowerment to be.</p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Kim's Altars</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIf0bZS41IPeqWNCKUvFCLWWYET650QytemVF1w0rOCe8uzl8uYg7W0J5Iswl6fy9PrALoHdujcEshalzqci9LOVrWapvrIhh4ii9rsfhbaTzHrSWAhoJEQbcHNs7BqiwESkWxHmzf_d8/s2048/PXL_20210307_200105013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIf0bZS41IPeqWNCKUvFCLWWYET650QytemVF1w0rOCe8uzl8uYg7W0J5Iswl6fy9PrALoHdujcEshalzqci9LOVrWapvrIhh4ii9rsfhbaTzHrSWAhoJEQbcHNs7BqiwESkWxHmzf_d8/w640-h480/PXL_20210307_200105013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vMGtPfh4pqMl70lgVJJsVQ9HXmPmzGK9F_k8hg6lxKScc3u6yQf-4HSW-hk0f-6k_BTgxyLCrOYNzMFK8QEEt-eC8TZPDr2TtHXHf8PXd5Tx0-XmmPUf8GsKGQY5zh6mbsaOS51qVu0y/s2048/PXL_20210301_210551785%257E3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1578" data-original-width="2048" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vMGtPfh4pqMl70lgVJJsVQ9HXmPmzGK9F_k8hg6lxKScc3u6yQf-4HSW-hk0f-6k_BTgxyLCrOYNzMFK8QEEt-eC8TZPDr2TtHXHf8PXd5Tx0-XmmPUf8GsKGQY5zh6mbsaOS51qVu0y/w640-h494/PXL_20210301_210551785%257E3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Marg's Altars</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AfBEV6_DcCW7zbqm9s7pIo4JgocBrwDbusoowop76vajasyaA5NBIgvhONG5y0i79u5aVJ1GNKbn6zWSbcMeDvIH7hyphenhyphenhUpRlS7gG_YXEMGJivQxFsy6r069RJCTl0LGIfKxlLezjVhBh/s640/WW+Vulva+1+Marg.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AfBEV6_DcCW7zbqm9s7pIo4JgocBrwDbusoowop76vajasyaA5NBIgvhONG5y0i79u5aVJ1GNKbn6zWSbcMeDvIH7hyphenhyphenhUpRlS7gG_YXEMGJivQxFsy6r069RJCTl0LGIfKxlLezjVhBh/w480-h640/WW+Vulva+1+Marg.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEevT3zNFvVkuiqLAOSKiL5P3Y2Z8RPThJwOOIWOdWj8WDNc_BiE3YQIAkYahb1Tzpk1CTSg9vJXV9j8WfwzcFsSXmH4mawgh8AbeSnFiR8rQOl-4U15nmqxOCObxkfw6Y3_GqGrrcaTxi/s640/WW+Vulva+2+Marg.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEevT3zNFvVkuiqLAOSKiL5P3Y2Z8RPThJwOOIWOdWj8WDNc_BiE3YQIAkYahb1Tzpk1CTSg9vJXV9j8WfwzcFsSXmH4mawgh8AbeSnFiR8rQOl-4U15nmqxOCObxkfw6Y3_GqGrrcaTxi/w480-h640/WW+Vulva+2+Marg.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><i>Sydney's Altar </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXSs5o2qQGJCONb5MzN-C81IHxuWtY6BoYDbrlkWB2E2dov79n9Wk7MQxIuEpDmsU-QcLfqt9hkpWk9yD8u3CeuqHGk0K6AnJTlOfXz5ejBR1tCIDkdMaJQmsbLyZXNJhM-CUDU_VvUfe/s320/WW+Vulva+Sydney+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXSs5o2qQGJCONb5MzN-C81IHxuWtY6BoYDbrlkWB2E2dov79n9Wk7MQxIuEpDmsU-QcLfqt9hkpWk9yD8u3CeuqHGk0K6AnJTlOfXz5ejBR1tCIDkdMaJQmsbLyZXNJhM-CUDU_VvUfe/w400-h400/WW+Vulva+Sydney+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaCbe3H3yjLwqZu4ohSMbIwObH95KRiSSB5rt01_vGrUNrwwI06fWOFzbrHkdmjtLuTKasufSI-YT_mc6wsqmfWNNQGHvggLtvQFol-D3Sqzaas_EpaNuA44SzOqQxz3qLMxbciPqYilj/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="512" data-original-width="468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaCbe3H3yjLwqZu4ohSMbIwObH95KRiSSB5rt01_vGrUNrwwI06fWOFzbrHkdmjtLuTKasufSI-YT_mc6wsqmfWNNQGHvggLtvQFol-D3Sqzaas_EpaNuA44SzOqQxz3qLMxbciPqYilj/w584-h640/image.png" width="584" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Joanna's Altar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RIVL_yTTgsoBmMc4ng0uj-fPrUS0RosveAfExifJQcTW8CJOrIPKrQDomYT99DyRhWW6IGR3W28Aw4JVCbQV5xrb-qfqgXUnb8bin9vSSWn4agAsyTT8Bs9xsjZHHD7mR1TNT1RSLMJo/s2048/WW+Vulva+Sydney+1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RIVL_yTTgsoBmMc4ng0uj-fPrUS0RosveAfExifJQcTW8CJOrIPKrQDomYT99DyRhWW6IGR3W28Aw4JVCbQV5xrb-qfqgXUnb8bin9vSSWn4agAsyTT8Bs9xsjZHHD7mR1TNT1RSLMJo/w480-h640/WW+Vulva+Sydney+1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-69940553785179203672021-02-22T12:34:00.013-08:002023-01-31T07:51:41.182-08:00Dedication to the Matrilineal Life Line by Wild Women<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qACXDbferTBKqfLMwEPPEYzkQyWKSzIloye7dbG8p1n-ySlMX7sgIjqWiuiXZQDl3_Ss0PfDrIj_rnxwTj-fcxAch3GuJq-nRyXRxgxPjdYF6l5C8XYV6QC8VmuQufpDKsRUxc1IEl0A/s2048/WW+Book+Cover+Lillian+Lewis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qACXDbferTBKqfLMwEPPEYzkQyWKSzIloye7dbG8p1n-ySlMX7sgIjqWiuiXZQDl3_Ss0PfDrIj_rnxwTj-fcxAch3GuJq-nRyXRxgxPjdYF6l5C8XYV6QC8VmuQufpDKsRUxc1IEl0A/s320/WW+Book+Cover+Lillian+Lewis.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jz7C6dvg4fGKQnH5bWPM4-p6GB1U_tChZ_5ARaQq0ZuO5bfK493-zUUnxpKCEFd3LxIvjnbn4hrFwCjlDN7Z7HoxSDrYS5ai0BmL4DG3OXLXnvN66cUmGA9CR0MsFLszPFE7_A07Ne3/s2048/WW+Dedication+Lillian+L.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jz7C6dvg4fGKQnH5bWPM4-p6GB1U_tChZ_5ARaQq0ZuO5bfK493-zUUnxpKCEFd3LxIvjnbn4hrFwCjlDN7Z7HoxSDrYS5ai0BmL4DG3OXLXnvN66cUmGA9CR0MsFLszPFE7_A07Ne3/w300-h400/WW+Dedication+Lillian+L.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lillian Lewis, Priest RCWP</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUPb4kPc2IlYCVJDBksovD32aWZB8XF8xPhMzFTjME6JvcmXPuBiEyQbzBrztswGp3eHpxjwcZ_aywRHtpoS93Jldmi7EZPeBDkTPmWKO2bxvp7OoOdEEDSvfmW4pOy2hMpFromJVWkZc/s320/WW+The+Royal+Highness.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUPb4kPc2IlYCVJDBksovD32aWZB8XF8xPhMzFTjME6JvcmXPuBiEyQbzBrztswGp3eHpxjwcZ_aywRHtpoS93Jldmi7EZPeBDkTPmWKO2bxvp7OoOdEEDSvfmW4pOy2hMpFromJVWkZc/w300-h400/WW+The+Royal+Highness.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Her Royal Highness</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Donna Sharam, Artist</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9Fio9BBlRyTQY4QRwfVg1n0844vkIsmIi3ORFQnnymtPJsnKGxfL2SQnuGYlW6jc63qUit6xXV8JMe-ryvK32WwNmWiCh5vI0TeMltQ7baVdnwD_QycFQ42tKuHCP4EozzYNXiCVykwp/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="300" data-original-width="468" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9Fio9BBlRyTQY4QRwfVg1n0844vkIsmIi3ORFQnnymtPJsnKGxfL2SQnuGYlW6jc63qUit6xXV8JMe-ryvK32WwNmWiCh5vI0TeMltQ7baVdnwD_QycFQ42tKuHCP4EozzYNXiCVykwp/w400-h256/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Mary Grace Crowley-Koch, Priest RCWP</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-15096125098954769252021-02-15T12:27:00.015-08:002021-03-01T13:55:01.709-08:00You Learn (Jagged Little Pill) by Alanis Morrisette <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3QbBbnnAr5A" width="320" youtube-src-id="3QbBbnnAr5A"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0C-Rtlx-W-8" width="320" youtube-src-id="0C-Rtlx-W-8"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mkh7OfD3bGM" width="320" youtube-src-id="mkh7OfD3bGM"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yNZLDHj7gaI" width="320" youtube-src-id="yNZLDHj7gaI"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nfWlot6h_JM" width="320" youtube-src-id="nfWlot6h_JM"></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-83814703647744964342021-02-13T13:01:00.034-08:002021-02-21T17:29:30.915-08:00Breaking Surface (Mark Nepo) and Where Do Angels Come From? (Miriam Darlington) <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD4wG8NLEfNDAToTq-s2ioDoFm59XhDRfWvTSD3DIHPJsGCtSI6h5YJIK_WlLBzBzDdn4TtWkHmarAM9gWhzJ0hglPvwzI8iY5YXNabh_K-sHdO3lAG1SRt0Ye3sWSzs8ZvHcF9Jve8zC/s700/2021-02-13+Swan+Spirit+Animal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD4wG8NLEfNDAToTq-s2ioDoFm59XhDRfWvTSD3DIHPJsGCtSI6h5YJIK_WlLBzBzDdn4TtWkHmarAM9gWhzJ0hglPvwzI8iY5YXNabh_K-sHdO3lAG1SRt0Ye3sWSzs8ZvHcF9Jve8zC/s320/2021-02-13+Swan+Spirit+Animal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhp0rTGlW_psiP6Lv99nEqVyX_18px8bHAxPVQtt9rHc7Dy0lsMB60FllroyFPfxUDd3X6ixYmf9LW2ECZxRNFhG0d_ZIn4noDeX6jLxrk4jqGCgc-hskaJobfhlBrcdq5zkYxb5bK9Vcq/s858/BB+Poem+Breaking+Surface+Mark+Nepo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="646" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhp0rTGlW_psiP6Lv99nEqVyX_18px8bHAxPVQtt9rHc7Dy0lsMB60FllroyFPfxUDd3X6ixYmf9LW2ECZxRNFhG0d_ZIn4noDeX6jLxrk4jqGCgc-hskaJobfhlBrcdq5zkYxb5bK9Vcq/w597-h640/BB+Poem+Breaking+Surface+Mark+Nepo.jpg" width="597" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23WRMNUmnC7KuSw4UYxQ3UCZKmlLIcdJY0DhV40Io6NfCkpTZL_Y7qbDj1BvHhjJy7dBpcg5gUBbz8s2KEvTw6v4jkhmPH4Pq9gyef53pXlLg2Bsqz6gg8zVYvl9GK6nUX66AVZKBPhZE/s2048/2021-02-13+Swan+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23WRMNUmnC7KuSw4UYxQ3UCZKmlLIcdJY0DhV40Io6NfCkpTZL_Y7qbDj1BvHhjJy7dBpcg5gUBbz8s2KEvTw6v4jkhmPH4Pq9gyef53pXlLg2Bsqz6gg8zVYvl9GK6nUX66AVZKBPhZE/s320/2021-02-13+Swan+1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Poem by Mark Nepo</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhOypnedt8MA_p9V_TrmiWtjHftS-ppaJDLsGCMO_OWxLRCd4Z-9-LLKqasfYrAzLvs_OvxmkNr1oxgxfj7BUPUXUGqSdLdGOVoS9wDalhFDWzqcDgevEiQ5IgMG8oSyQuVTWsjuQufMp/s1024/swan-about-to-fly-crop-1024x588.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhOypnedt8MA_p9V_TrmiWtjHftS-ppaJDLsGCMO_OWxLRCd4Z-9-LLKqasfYrAzLvs_OvxmkNr1oxgxfj7BUPUXUGqSdLdGOVoS9wDalhFDWzqcDgevEiQ5IgMG8oSyQuVTWsjuQufMp/s320/swan-about-to-fly-crop-1024x588.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTiXkMR_Z-RUGUWXDaSP13d1WaLt1jNmtsgJKLuse4YJC2VT4WspqAuKGLmr77zPz-ppS-dTCxLbsGrYWksXV_HfV48saT7pJKBuXlQsVhS9ZXTvZD6nUhDjeXgVvIQp0Eh0NXWLOs8um/s2048/Where+Do+Angels+Come+From.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTiXkMR_Z-RUGUWXDaSP13d1WaLt1jNmtsgJKLuse4YJC2VT4WspqAuKGLmr77zPz-ppS-dTCxLbsGrYWksXV_HfV48saT7pJKBuXlQsVhS9ZXTvZD6nUhDjeXgVvIQp0Eh0NXWLOs8um/w480-h640/Where+Do+Angels+Come+From.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-45814954881687268942021-01-23T05:30:00.036-08:002021-02-07T18:37:06.772-08:00A Legacy of Passion<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0okyn717o80j_e9oc0gn3DKmtOtLBGIF_8S07xKT4Ckt4fvys6kcSrG2lYc3o4hFXYcjutkki3ZEZ0LXehSxtLhB0kQpP28s522m0yzsHnIkXFqzHX-gD10Zat8QyDw7AaDol9O6Hpuy/s1588/Hawk+Image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="1588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0okyn717o80j_e9oc0gn3DKmtOtLBGIF_8S07xKT4Ckt4fvys6kcSrG2lYc3o4hFXYcjutkki3ZEZ0LXehSxtLhB0kQpP28s522m0yzsHnIkXFqzHX-gD10Zat8QyDw7AaDol9O6Hpuy/s320/Hawk+Image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN-CA">A Legacy of Passion</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span>You</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Ferdine Cloutier, Grandmere</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Cecile Gignac, Meme</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Alice Wells, Grandmother</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">JoAnn Wells, Mother</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Michele Birch-Conery, Intima</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span>You</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>lived with compassionate passion</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">trials of your oppressions – inner and outer</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">dropping seeds of polyphonic sound,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">in the Earth of my body.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">You</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>showed me how to stumble into fluid grace –</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">remarkable in your imperfections.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">You</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>are free now, flying on Hawk’s wings</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">hanging out in one nest</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">over drinks with Shekinah.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Barbara Billey, 07 Feb 2021</span></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hawk Sounds</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w4RkX33-8_4" width="320" youtube-src-id="w4RkX33-8_4"></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">You Got to Run (Spirit of the Wind)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o5zb0WTSLsY" width="320" youtube-src-id="o5zb0WTSLsY"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5zb0WTSLsY</p><div class="kp-header" data-ved="2ahUKEwjt6ruN36buAhVKV80KHaW6Dy8Q3z4oAHoECAMQAQ" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="kp-hc" style="display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-top: 12px; position: relative; width: 650px;"><div class="Hhmu2e NFQFxe viOShc LKPcQc mod" data-hveid="CAEQAA" data-md="16" data-ved="2ahUKEwjt6ruN36buAhVKV80KHaW6Dy8QhygwAHoECAEQAA" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 8px; border-bottom-right-radius: 8px; border-radius: 8px; border-top-left-radius: 8px; border-top-right-radius: 8px; clear: none; overflow: inherit; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="Ftghae iirjIb" style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 16px; padding-right: 16px; position: relative;"><div class="SPZz6b"><h2 class="kno-ecr-pt mfMhoc hNKfZe qrShPb PZPZlf" data-attrid="title" data-local-attribute="d3bn" data-ved="2ahUKEwjt6ruN36buAhVKV80KHaW6Dy8Q3B0oADAAegQIARAB" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); display: inline; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.34; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; position: relative; transform-origin: left top;">You Got To Run (Spirit of the Wind)</h2><div class="wwUB2c PZPZlf" data-attrid="subtitle" style="color: #70757a; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin: 4px 0px; overflow: hidden;"><span data-ved="2ahUKEwjt6ruN36buAhVKV80KHaW6Dy8Q2kooATAAegQIARAC"><a data-ved="2ahUKEwjt6ruN36buAhVKV80KHaW6Dy8QMTAAegQIARAD" href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C5CHFA_enCA934CA934&q=Buffy+Sainte-Marie&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgVuLSz9U3MCwwL4qvWMQq5FSallapEJyYmVeSquubWJSZCgDb5IqdIwAAAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjt6ruN36buAhVKV80KHaW6Dy8QMTAAegQIARAD" style="color: #660099; text-decoration-line: none;">Buffy Sainte-Marie</a>, <a data-ved="2ahUKEwjt6ruN36buAhVKV80KHaW6Dy8QMTAAegQIARAE" href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C5CHFA_enCA934CA934&q=Tanya+Tagaq&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgVuLUz9U3MK4syTZfxModkphXmagQkpieWAgAhjCNWBsAAAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjt6ruN36buAhVKV80KHaW6Dy8QMTAAegQIARAE" style="color: #660099; text-decoration-line: none;">Tanya Tagaq</a></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="mJ2Mod farUxc SALvLe" style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(235, 235, 235); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="i4J0ge"><div class="siXlze NFQFxe yp1CPe mod" data-attrid="kc:/music/recording_cluster:lyrics" data-md="113" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 8px; border-bottom-right-radius: 8px; border-radius: 8px; border-top-left-radius: 8px; border-top-right-radius: 8px; clear: none; padding-bottom: 16px; padding-top: 0px;"><div data-hveid="CAIQAA" data-ved="2ahUKEwjt6ruN36buAhVKV80KHaW6Dy8QsEwwAXoECAIQAA"><div class="uHNKed" style="margin-top: 12px;"><div class="Oh5wg" style="margin: 0px 16px;"><div class="PZPZlf" data-lyricid="Lyricfind002-1597222" style="font-size: 14px;"><div class="bbVIQb" jsname="Vinbg"><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.58; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Whether you're woman or whether you're man</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Sometimes you got to take a stand</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Just because you think you can</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You got to run</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You got to run</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.58; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Whether you're woman or whether you're man</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Sometimes you got to take a stand</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Just because you think you can</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You got to run</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You got to run</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.58; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Trying against the odds you're in a trance</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Say who did you think you are to have a chance?</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You're a no one from a place</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Where everyone knows your face</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">The come and go way they know the sun</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">So you better hang on and hey you better run</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">'Cause here's your chance and your race has begun</span></div></div><div class="bbVIQb" jsname="WbKHeb"><div class="ujudUb u7wWjf" data-mh="-1" jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.58; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Down in a hole</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You feel like two different people in your soul</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Feel like a loser until you see that as you bend</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You learn to be your own best friend</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And you learn how and you learn when</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">To take a chance on the spirit of the wind</span></div><div class="ujudUb xpdxpnd" data-mh="110" data-mhc="1" jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.58; margin-bottom: 12px; max-height: 110px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s ease 0s;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Whether you're woman or whether you're man</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Sometimes you got to take a stand</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Just because you think you can</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You got to run</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You got to run</span></div><div class="ujudUb xpdxpnd" data-mh="154" data-mhc="1" jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.58; margin-bottom: 12px; max-height: 154px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s ease 0s;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Babe ain't we been down</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">We've been so broke and been so low that I kissed the ground</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">But you can see yourself a winner</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Beyond the money and the greed</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Beyond the pride is a pure untested need</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And to be a champion is more than luck and speed</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">It's power and freedom in the spirit of the wind</span></div><div class="ujudUb WRZytc xpdxpnd" data-mh="110" data-mhc="1" jsname="U8S5sf" style="line-height: 1.58; margin-bottom: 0px; max-height: 110px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s ease 0s;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Whether you're woman or whether you're man</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Sometimes you got to take a stand</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Just because you know you can</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You got to run</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You got to run</span></div></div></div><div class="j04ED" style="color: #70757a; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 13px;">Source: <a data-ved="2ahUKEwjt6ruN36buAhVKV80KHaW6Dy8Q5s4FKAAwAXoECAIQAQ" href="https://www.lyricfind.com/" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.lyricfind.com/&ved=2ahUKEwjt6ruN36buAhVKV80KHaW6Dy8Q5s4FKAAwAXoECAIQAQ" style="color: #70757a;">LyricFind</a></div><div class="xpdxpnd PZPZlf" data-lyricid="Lyricfind002-1597222" data-mh="58" data-mhc="1" data-ved="2ahUKEwjt6ruN36buAhVKV80KHaW6Dy8QycMBKAEwAXoECAIQAg" style="max-height: 58px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s ease 0s;"><div class="auw0zb" style="color: #70757a; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 13px;">Songwriters: Buffy Sainte-Marie / Ian Fern Campeau / Thomas Ehren / Timothy Hill Craig</div><div class="auw0zb" style="color: #70757a; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 13px;">You Got To Run (Spirit of the Wind) lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-49454788154997927862021-01-21T09:00:00.023-08:002021-02-01T18:54:22.060-08:00Inspirational Music<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V9LZURdBJxE" width="320" youtube-src-id="V9LZURdBJxE"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F9QeTmRCpW4" width="320" youtube-src-id="F9QeTmRCpW4"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Qs7NBOEkj4" width="320" youtube-src-id="1Qs7NBOEkj4"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6rYw8C8GhlY" width="320" youtube-src-id="6rYw8C8GhlY"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EFPCzeMo6o8" width="320" youtube-src-id="EFPCzeMo6o8"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><br /> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nPyx89YZLUg" width="320" youtube-src-id="nPyx89YZLUg"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hmUlJvzRal4" width="320" youtube-src-id="hmUlJvzRal4"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xlip7JqzQBw" width="320" youtube-src-id="Xlip7JqzQBw"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Olvrx29aptY" width="320" youtube-src-id="Olvrx29aptY"></iframe></div><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-24195255617379990742020-12-30T10:45:00.096-08:002023-01-29T16:27:52.205-08:00Creating Wisdom Space
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #17365d; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Heart of Compassion International
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #17365d; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Faith Community<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #17365d; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Windsor, Ontario, Canada<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z6ZNTQnq5iPkonfaeNK8ktPKG2F4GdCkn_Qov5boVg86AKNB20XtT1uoqJsxbbrB8FSYy0io3hs51_78rOE38vSdu_7-9J54r3ROBKTvviODYpsS_AxGD2GaJsiNI8hBNAJS7f-EOcAS/s1280/Snow+and+Light.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z6ZNTQnq5iPkonfaeNK8ktPKG2F4GdCkn_Qov5boVg86AKNB20XtT1uoqJsxbbrB8FSYy0io3hs51_78rOE38vSdu_7-9J54r3ROBKTvviODYpsS_AxGD2GaJsiNI8hBNAJS7f-EOcAS/w461-h314/Snow+and+Light.jpg" width="461" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #17365d; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Word Wisdom Communion Celebration
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #17365d; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Sat, Jan 2, 2021 at 1 pm,
EST<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #17365d; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Creating Wisdom Space<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #17365d; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"> Barbara Billey,
priestess<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Call
to Prayer <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">W1:
</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Come. Come into this place which we make wisdom
space by our presence. Where the
ordinary is made sacred, the human is celebrated, the compassionate is
expected. Together we create a holy womb
with our every act of celebration.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(<i>Please mute</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Embodied Prayer </span></b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">led by Barbara Billey<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Opening
Song</span></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Qs7NBOEkj4" width="320" youtube-src-id="1Qs7NBOEkj4"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessed Be (Chant) by Shawna Carol<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">All is growing and expanding<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessed be the Light has come.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">And a love that's everlasting<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessed be the Light has come. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessed be. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Burning
Bowl Ceremony</span></b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> led by Jen Harvey<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Sharing
Word and Wisdom <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">W2: <b>A Reading from
the Gospel of Mary Magdalene (Mary 9:29</b>) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">"I will receive rest in silence," said Mary
Magdalene.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The Inspired Word of Mary. We the people say, Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Psalm
Song</span></b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Silent
Heart, Holy Heart - lyrics by Joanna Novosedlik (adapted by Barbara Billey)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Silent heart, holy heart<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Inner Light, inner spark<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Holding gently our hopes and our fears<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Opening space for our joys and our tears<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We are listening now. We are listening now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Holy One, Wisdom Divine<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Live within this womb of mine<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Shining ever Your loving Light<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Radiant in the darkest night<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We are listening now. We are listening now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">W3: <b>A</b> <b>Reading from the Gospel of Luke(Luke
2:16-21</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-top: 12pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">15-18 </span></sup></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">As the angel choir withdrew, the shepherd persons talked it over.
“Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God
has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the
baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met
what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherd persons were
impressed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">19-20 </span></sup></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep
within herself. The shepherd persons returned and let loose, glorifying and
praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the
way they’d been told!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">21 </span></sup></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">When
the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the
name given by the angel before he was conceived.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The Inspired Word of Luke. We the people say, Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Community
Wisdom Sharing</span></b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Homily
reflection followed by sharing of communal wisdom: On what and/or on whom are you
pondering?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">W4: At
this time, I invite you to share your reflections on today’s Word. I ask that
we do this in a spirit of prayer, and that we share what is in our hearts with
a witnessing presence and without cross-talk.
At the end of each person's sharing, I invite you to receive their
intimate God in-dwelling truth by placing our hands together and bowing or any
other gesture of appreciation, which might include silence.</span><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Our
Faith<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">W5: In what and in whom do we believe? (<i>All share</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Spontaneous Prayer</span></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> - For Whom and for what will we pray? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Response: Lumen
Christi, Opening Doors to Mystery<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.1pt;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.1pt;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Prayer of Jesus</span></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.1pt;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abwoon d'bwashmaya/Aramaic
Jesus Prayer</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KejGKjSYD6w" width="320" youtube-src-id="KejGKjSYD6w"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Offertory
Song<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">At
This Table by Idina Menzel<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/acRAIkV7QDc" width="320" youtube-src-id="acRAIkV7QDc"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Liturgy
of the Eucharist<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Consecrating
the Gifts of Mother Earth<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">W1</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Sacred Mystery, Source of Wisdom, You birth all of
creation from Your life-giving womb. We come as co-birthers to be impregnated
by the gifts of Mother Earth and to remember Jesus the midwife of empowerment
and compassion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">W2: Wisdom </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus, before You died You
gathered Your friends, as we gather today, to bless and to share bread and drink.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">W3</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As Your friends, we long to receive You
and to be Your Presence for the wholeness of ourselves and all creation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">W4</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We extend our hands over the bread and
cup. Send forth Your Spirit Sophia upon us and through Her action, make this
bread and drink Your Presence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">W5</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Loving Creator, intensify the presence
of Your Spirit upon these gifts of earth and created by the loving hands of
Your people +, as they and we, become one with You in Wisdom Jesus, Our Risen
Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Memorial
Meal: Do This in Memory of Me </span></b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(<i>We
raise our bread</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">W1</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Wisdom Jesus, You asked us to pray the
words that You shared with Your companions during that last blessing meal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">W2</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Therefore, in communion with many
Christian communities over the centuries and since that night, we pray. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">W3: Wisdom </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus,
You took bread and spoke a blessing. You broke the bread and offered it to Your
friends (<i>We break bread</i>). You said:
Take and eat. This is my Presence with You. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">(<i>Place bread on plate</i>. <i>We raise
our plate, and then lower to table followed by a bow.</i>) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> (<i>All
raise cup</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">W4</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Then, Wisdom Jesus, You took the cup of
wine, blessed it and offered the cup to Your friends. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">W5: You said: Take and
drink. This is the cup of new life given and shared with you. Do this in memory
of Me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">(<i>We raise our cup higher, and then lower to table followed by a bow</i>)
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Sharing
Communion</span></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: red; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: 425.25pt; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">W1:<span style="color: red;"> </span>We are one Body of Christ,
worthy to receive You and blessed to be healed by You. May we become what we
eat and drink, the presence of You, Jesus Christ and the covenant of all our hopes.
We all say: Amen. </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;">(<i>We</i> <i>all
eat and drink</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; tab-stops: 425.25pt; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Post
Communion Song</span></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Make
Sacred Space (Chant) by Shawna Carol<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nZKu0y_pYtY" width="320" youtube-src-id="nZKu0y_pYtY"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Make
sacred space, and be reminded of who you are.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">You
are spirit and body. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Sacred
space.</span></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Wish
of Peace and Final Blessing</span></b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">W2: With one hand on our
hearts, we extend our other hand as we bless one another in Your peace, Jesus,
and in the peace of all our ancestors in the Communion of Saints.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">W3: May we embody Your Spirit of Wisdom,
especially where there is injustice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">W4: When our personal and
communal commitments and struggles are too arduous, take us on Your shoulders
and help us to raise each other up. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">W5: As you draw us into the
future, may we realize through our loving actions Your vision of hope and
justice for all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Announcements</span></b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Closing
Song</span></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Om
Tara by Chloe Goodchild<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tara is the bodhisattva of <i>compassion and action</i> who manifests in
female form, a protector who comes to our aide in order to <i>relieve us of physical, emotional and spiritual suffering</i>. The
chant begins with AUM (from the Upanishads and considered to be the source of
all sound)</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RPpNgvGq1Oo" width="320" youtube-src-id="RPpNgvGq1Oo"></iframe></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">OM Tare Tuttare <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ture So-Ham<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Woman of the wisdom tree<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Goddess of humanity<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Singing all the Unity we long for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mother of Eternity<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Naked in her Mystery<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Singing all the Unity we long for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fierce and gentle, wild and free<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">simple in her majesty</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Dancing in the unity we long
for. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Red #1 2021-01-02</span><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> </p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-16773527837034742832020-11-01T16:52:00.001-08:002020-12-01T16:53:18.562-08:00Mass of Resurrection: Rev. Dr. Michele Birch-Conery<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1pD7bLnFSjg" width="320" youtube-src-id="1pD7bLnFSjg"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-33793332652091473782020-10-30T16:48:00.004-07:002020-12-02T16:40:55.568-08:00Celebration of Life: Rev. Dr. Michele Birch-Conery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IqjgBac_gxs" width="320" youtube-src-id="IqjgBac_gxs"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/birch-conery-remembered">https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/birch-conery-remembered</a></p></blockquote>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-3169719080012789932020-10-13T13:35:00.002-07:002023-01-31T12:47:00.601-08:00In Memory of Her: Rev. Dr. Michele Birch-Conery<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">In Memory of Her: Rev. Dr. Michele
Birch-Conery<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">(Aug 3, 1939-Oct 11, 2020)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3H3HQrlzAMIsTnKc0v5wB__udizqesrVD4SXpWr1PzQlJGhO3OapHwOIRsEgFeqrhIpyvnuZXzmuNLFSI3nn206NPm5hy1EKVnwRq5WA374FpLlaPOoZOndn_VsuqKsczcvsPFJK96LJw/s2048/MBC+Staff+Aug+3%252C+2015.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3H3HQrlzAMIsTnKc0v5wB__udizqesrVD4SXpWr1PzQlJGhO3OapHwOIRsEgFeqrhIpyvnuZXzmuNLFSI3nn206NPm5hy1EKVnwRq5WA374FpLlaPOoZOndn_VsuqKsczcvsPFJK96LJw/s320/MBC+Staff+Aug+3%252C+2015.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size: 18pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Rev. Dr. Michele Birch-Conery’s
earthly life spun round charisms connected to language, storytelling, prayer,
and to serving others as a nurse, nun, teacher, priest and bishop. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">She was born in Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada in 1939, on August 3<sup>rd</sup>, the feast day of St. Lydia,
who made her living dyeing, spinning and selling rare and expensive royal
purple cloth. The process like life was challenging. According to the New York
Times:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">“To make Syrian purple,
marine snails were collected by the thousands. They were then boiled for days
in giant lead vats, producing a terrible odor. The snails, though, aren’t
purple to begin with. The craftsmen were harvesting chemical precursors from
the snails that, through heat and light, were transformed into the valuable
purple dye.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Lydia met the apostle, Paul
and, through her conversion, she drew many Europeans to Christianity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Many of us have witnessed how
Michele possessed the rare gift of waiting on the soul and of transforming its wisdom
into words, into the royal purple cloth of a radical hospitality for difference,
and compassionate action for change in systems of oppression and injustice. Some
of her favorite sayings were “Patience in the Spirit” and “Holy Spirit back-up
plans.” Michele’s faith was well-honed and she had the flare of a true artist. Here
is the opening stanza of Michele’s last poem, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When Grief Opens the Doors to the Sacred </i>published by Suny Press in<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Unruly Catholic Nuns: Sisters’ Stories </i>in
2017.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">When grief opens the doors to
the Sacred,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">we come to the thinning
seasons, summer to Autumn, and then <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">to
winter<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">when eternity enters our awareness
keenly. We diminish <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">somewhat,
within the great spaces<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">of our universe, while parts
of our planet enter a resting and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">dying
time a fallow time to <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">prepare, without apology, the
renewals of Spring.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Our dying, at any time of
year, is like this. It is as if we <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">see<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">through to and reach into
eternity, even as our bodies <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>surrender<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">to their necessities and then
weaken toward the moment<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">of their last breathing. We
are held and embraced by<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>spaciousness<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Beyond ourselves. It is time
we are slowly coming to know<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Michele’s birth mother was
Rose Conery, a single mom. She was fostered by a loving family and adopted at
four years old. Sadly, her adoptive parents were abusive of Michele; however,
this experience influenced her to become a tenacious diplomat and lover of fun.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Michele attended two convent
boarding schools and became an accomplished pianist. After high school
graduation and work as a nurse’s aide for three years, Michele registered for a
three-year (‘59-‘62) registered nurses program at Holy Cross Hospital in
Calgary, Alberta.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Michele writes that she was
“privileged to be class president those three years and delighted in
experiencing the tremendous loyalty nurses have for each other, their
open-mindedness and excellence in nursing.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">After graduation, she worked in
general duty nursing at St. Martin’s Hospital in Oliver, BC for a year. “It was
a 40-bed hospital and I loved it,” she said, “because I got to do everything. I
was generally the ‘in charge’ nurse on whatever shift I worked and I organized
staff to attend to a variety of tasks. It was an excellent experience.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">At the end of the school year
in August 1963, Michele entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy
Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM). Four years later, she completed a BA with an
emphasis in Education and taught Grade 7 in Everett, WA for one year, and then
grade 10 at Holy Names Academy in Seattle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">“By that time,” she writes,
“it had become apparent that I was more suited to teaching at post-secondary
levels.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Because of her writing
skills, in 1970, Michele was invited by the Creative Writing Department at the
University of Montana to pursue a Master of Fine Arts Degree in the genres of
poetry, fiction and drama. She majored in poetry and completed the degree in
1973.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">The following year Michele
left the SNJM and Montana for the University of Iowa in Iowa City. For the next
10 years, as she worked on her Ph.D. in English Literature, she supported
herself working as a nurse, including several years with the ‘Flying Nurses,’
an organization that provided temporary working assignments to under-staffed
hospitals in the U.S.A.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">In 1985, Michele completed
her Ph.D. in English Literature with emphases in Modern British and American
Literature, Feminist Literary Criticism and Poetry. It included work on the
History of Literature, specifically philosophical and literary criticism of
current prevailing artistic practices.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">In 1985, Michele returned to
British Columbia “to make it my home,” she said. Two years later she became a
professor of English Literature and Women’s Studies at North Island College in
Port Alberni on Vancouver Island (where she lived for twenty years after a
reunion with her birth mother). She was involved in outreach by television to
the surrounding areas, which included special services to First Nations
communities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Michele writes: “I was
engaged in TV teaching to the entire province by way of a college network run
from the University of British Columbia campus. Of special note is my
participation in the province-wide Status of Women Committee for the College
system. After several years of intensive meetings and labor, we introduced a sexual
harassment policy that was accepted by the college union. As a result, the
number of harassment cases dropped to nearly zero.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">She retired from North Island
College in August 2007.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Michele recounts, “It is
evident from my numerous nursing assignments that I spread my wings and flew
far and wide. Twenty years in the professorate gave me similar experience
intellectually, creatively and procedurally. Of special importance was the
outreach to remote areas of the province by way of small learning centers and
television teaching. “<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">In 2004, Michele was ordained
a deacon in a ceremony on the Danube River in an initiative known as Roman
Catholic Women Priests (RCWP). In July 2005, she was the first woman ordained a
priest in Canada in a ceremony on the St. Lawrence River. A lot of publicity
from the Canadian press followed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the challenges of chronic illness,
Michele established three faith communities on Vancouver Island with members of
RCWP. She companioned many of the first women and one man in the program of
preparation for priesthood. Michele joined the Association of Roman Catholic
Women Priests (ARCWP) in 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">In 2014, Michele moved to
Windsor, Ontario where she ministered with ARCWP priest Barbara Billey with the Heart of Compassion International Faith
Community, and in 2015, after ten years as a priest, she was ordained a bishop
within the same association. Michele's role as a bishop was one of the
highlights of her life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">In Fall 2019, after the
recurrence of an extreme illness with a syndrome from her youth, Michele wrote,
“And so I approach the closing of my life with a heart full of gratitude for my
life and for the lives of all of you. I send you my heartfelt prayers for lives
of peace, hope and justice.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">In her last weeks of life,
Michele was tended by members of her Windsor faith community and wonderful, local
health providers in their Church house in Rhea Lalonde’s apartment alongside
the Detroit River. She died peacefully and was received into the fullness of
Divine Mystery in Hospice at Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital (the same room in which
Barbara’s mother had died two years prior) on the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend
in the early evening of October 11. Rhea and Barbara along with Brittany, a
Hospice nurse bathed, anointed and shrouded Michele. After Barbara read Luke
23:44; 24:1-10 (Jesus' burial), a smile appeared on Michele’s face. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She already seemed to be enjoying her new life
with our Holy One held in the Cloud of Witnesses and in the Communion of Saints.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Special thanks to the women
of Heart of Compassion who were intimately involved in the care of Michele for
many years and at the end of her life: Rhea Lalonde, Sharon Beneteau, Jennifer
Harvey, Marg McCaffery-Piche, Kathy Worotny, Suzanne M, and Barbara Billey. Gratitude,
too, for Jeni Marcus, Karen Kerrigan and Sydney Condray, priests with arcwp who
kept the prayers flowing in liturgy and outside, as well as the prayers,
support and love rendered by members of our international women priest
movement. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Michele’s Mass of
Resurrection will be on Sunday, Nov 1, 2020 at 2 pm by Zoom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Written by Janice Sevre-Duszynska and Barbara Billey,
priests ARCWP from information dictated by Michele last year to Marg
McCaffery-Piche. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Michele’s memoir, Bird Woman: Memoir of a Migrant
Mystic, will be published posthumously in 2021</span></i><span style="font-size: 18pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-61799968389114826832020-08-14T16:26:00.034-07:002023-01-31T12:58:49.855-08:00Rev. Dr. Michele Birch-Conery, Bishop ARCWP: She Rises Again<p> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Michele Birch-Conery, Bishop ARCWP: She Rises Again </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">by Barbara Billey, Heart of Compassion Faith
Community, Windsor, ON, Canada </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1FbWxbxF4D50uuso4hLuwz2aXniH0PZ0v0Lnm2m130C08fJYwc4AFzWxOrA2dCOQGNgVFgRGddRF328gvXv0Jdozq89HLzUHY-3lfxOg7VBuRuTKmviJe6CoMAz98q-TJA2ZRwViOzST/s2048/08-12-2020+MBC+Garden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1FbWxbxF4D50uuso4hLuwz2aXniH0PZ0v0Lnm2m130C08fJYwc4AFzWxOrA2dCOQGNgVFgRGddRF328gvXv0Jdozq89HLzUHY-3lfxOg7VBuRuTKmviJe6CoMAz98q-TJA2ZRwViOzST/w246-h328/08-12-2020+MBC+Garden.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Michele Birch-Conery, Bishop ARCWP</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Hers is a
story of biblical proportion. After two years of roller coaster health crises
and rebound recoveries, Michele Birch-Conery, bishop arcwp escapes near death
once again. This time the trajectory of her resurrection is much different both
on the physical and spiritual plane. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Michele was
admitted to a long-term care facility in December 2019. The decision was made
on an emergency basis, a choice between Hospice and long-term care. Michele's
health had significantly deteriorated after a recurrence in August 2018 of a
childhood genetic condition called cyclic vomiting syndrome. The pain that
accompanies such a condition is dire and often lasts for several days. Michele had
to be hospitalized for dehydration and electrolyte imbalances several times
since then. Nonetheless, she continued to serve in her capacity as a bishop
with arcwp, sometimes teaching us how to pastor, advocate, and collaborate on her
behalf through her physical challenges. The justice work of advocating for an
elder as her power of attorney from the "outside" was another learning curve for me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By the fall
of 2019, Michele's health was severely compromised. She wanted to die but was
not convinced (nor her medical team) that this would happen in Hospice's mandated
time frame of three months. On admission to long-term care, neither Michele, nor
any of us, in the Heart of Compassion Faith Community (HOCFC) had anticipated
the coming of the covid-19 pandemic. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Initially, our
visits and her outings with us made the harsh realities of living in long-term
care doable for Michele, until persistent lockdowns and isolation from residents
became the norm starting in March 2020. Her lack of freedom was exacerbated by
hearing loss and an inability to see. How does one navigate a world where the
voice of caregivers is muffled in a mask and the barrier of a plastic
shield? Human contact was further impaired because the majority of residents with whom Michele
lived had advanced dementia or other physical disabilities that made
communication challenging.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">In her usual
easy-going manner, Michele used these early months as an opportunity to hone
her contemplative prayer life and to work on her memoir by phone with me. As Spring turned to Summer, the hopes of the pandemic ending were nowhere in
sight. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">An ordained
person wherever we go, Michele recounted to me by phone one morning that
Harvey, a resident she had befriended had died. She had been matched at meals
with Harvey, who apparently talked the entire time, while she listened intently.
Michele told me that at the end of every meal, unaware of Covid -19 restrictions
about touch, she and Harvey shook hands. They had become friends over the past
three weeks. On the morning of Harvey's death and before his body was taken
away, Michele slipped into his room and gave him a blessing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">In early
July, I could feel in Michele's voice that her spirit was waning. I asked, "What's
important to you now?" "I spend every part of my day trying not to go
insane," Michele replied. The social isolation was dreadful for her. I
felt my heart sink with sorrow and knew that we had to get her out of there.
Michele was more than willing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">And we did.
Rhea, an eighty-two year old mother of six adult children, a retired psychiatric
nurse and a member of HOCFC enthusiastically agreed to have Michele live with
her. "It's the right thing to do," remarked Rhea. Other members of
our faith community were overjoyed that Michele would be released. We all had missed
her deeply. They agreed to help with food preparation, visits, appointments and
the move. I secured community health support services and a wonderful medical
doctor. Our arcwp priests from Michigan, Jeni Marcus and Karen Kerrigan offered our zoom celebrations, prayers and moral support.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2UZSNg8fmu3NoXSPiubRKfWDdUNzrAY3xQif3IoJwWshuTRZVq0nzhiUrhKrgcc2u5pZvByoPs9Q2MEXzdJQjIcuXoJlS5TER0ty9l07G7VtWA8XVzSAGTEwfOHgJilcK4JutOXS6wF2/s2048/2020-07-25+Pic+9+As+You+Draw+Nearer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2UZSNg8fmu3NoXSPiubRKfWDdUNzrAY3xQif3IoJwWshuTRZVq0nzhiUrhKrgcc2u5pZvByoPs9Q2MEXzdJQjIcuXoJlS5TER0ty9l07G7VtWA8XVzSAGTEwfOHgJilcK4JutOXS6wF2/w328-h246/2020-07-25+Pic+9+As+You+Draw+Nearer.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ordination Anniversary Celebrations</div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">On the
occasion of our priestly ordination anniversary celebrations on July 25th (near
the Feast of Mary Magdalene) - Michele's 15th and my 5th - about thirty people
from all over the world joined on Zoom with our faith community. We hosted our <i>Word
Wisdom Communion</i> gathering to renew our commitments and to reflect on the many
graces Sacred Presence had bestowed up on us. From her room at the long-term
care facility, Michele offers us this wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">"When I
think of all of you doing studies about Mary Magdalene, nothing should be more
relevant to our times. I think of Mary Magdalene teaching the apostles about
what Jesus shared privately with her, as well as preparing them to continue
their vocation as teachers of His Way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
is a woman of our times. If there is any one person significant to those of us
ordained as Roman Catholic women priests it is Mary Magdalene. I suggest she be
named the patron saint of our movement. I see Mary Magdalene as someone who
always maintains the peace, while being quietly vigilant about the needs of her
companions and of the people of God. She was disappeared as have been many
women of the Church. In her reappearance through contemporary feminist
theologians and authors, her significant brings us hope for the future of women
in the Church."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypvqOon53tUky4sSAgFX2lMkMU3PLxI4pAV4IleEoiNMuJC4conXK-fbFKccRy1trTW216r0NaQBPFtYLEnwXGWbsgs27lQGg5Y3v8gjjGBRI0NBsPD-Ck2ku7RJfiti_fYcBD8J3wo5g/s2048/08-12-2020+MBC+Magnolia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypvqOon53tUky4sSAgFX2lMkMU3PLxI4pAV4IleEoiNMuJC4conXK-fbFKccRy1trTW216r0NaQBPFtYLEnwXGWbsgs27lQGg5Y3v8gjjGBRI0NBsPD-Ck2ku7RJfiti_fYcBD8J3wo5g/w246-h328/08-12-2020+MBC+Magnolia.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Michele Birch-Conery, bishop arcwp</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">On July 30th,
Michele burst through the doors of the long-term care facility wearing a hot
pink blazer, pushing her wheeled-walker. This was the first time outside of
the building in six months. We happily travelled the twenty minutes to Rhea's
apartment on the river where Michele would now live. Like the story in John's
Gospel of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (11:1-44), our Michele - wisdom
elder, bishop and spiritual mentor - was returned to us and to herself. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-70618688535363401742020-08-14T08:00:00.115-07:002023-02-18T07:45:03.829-08:00As You Draw Near to Us - Ordination Anniversary Celebration Barbara Billey, priestess <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoLsSoFxxJbGOjnEaOh9Hy48o-Wh8sbog7-G5Xz5jFeNmDfP3K_ZwGpQupqVdYCnIj2ZwLZitz588HvLOftMPd1lMl4PKEE5OUApqBbuAy-Rllz5uHp6TzRcD_xw18CeVslT0uvVEmQZ3/s2048/2020-07-25+Pic+As+You+Draw+Nearer.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoLsSoFxxJbGOjnEaOh9Hy48o-Wh8sbog7-G5Xz5jFeNmDfP3K_ZwGpQupqVdYCnIj2ZwLZitz588HvLOftMPd1lMl4PKEE5OUApqBbuAy-Rllz5uHp6TzRcD_xw18CeVslT0uvVEmQZ3/w625-h416/2020-07-25+Pic+As+You+Draw+Nearer.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Barbara Billey and Michele Birch-Conery, mixed media</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><font face="helvetica"><span style="text-align: left;">This is what Jesus tells Mary Magdalene </span></font><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">in a visionary encounter with him.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;"> "</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">Where
the mind is, there is the treasure (Gospel of Mary Magdalene 7:4)." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">My call to
priesthood was birthed in an unexpected way. This sacred invitation came in the summer of 2010 following a worship service at an Episcopal
Benedictine Abbey in Three Rivers, Michigan. I was at the end of a ten-day
silent retreat at nearby GilChrist, a contemplative retreat centre where I had
gone for many retreats over the previous five years. I was getting into my car
for the drive home to Windsor, Canada when a kindly man, likely a pastor on retreat, approached me with a
question, "Are you a priest?" I was shocked that he would see me this way and I told him I wasn't one. In my
heart, I heard ‘But I want to be.’ With this awareness, I felt a deep stillness and calm. When I
arrived home, the joyous madness began as I shared this new vision with my husband, family and friends. <o:p></o:p></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">For me and
for people who know and love me, the call to priesthood was inconceivable from
its conception. My childhood play with friends did not include acting like a priest, distributing cookie wafers for hosts or juice
for wine. Although, I was educated in Roman Catholic (RC) schools, went to Mass
every Sunday, and briefly, in my late teens, contemplated a consecrated life as
a woman religious, I never dreamed of becoming a priest. How could I? I am
a woman.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">I wasn't
interested in parish council, liturgical music or any other ministries of the
Church; however, I sporadically was a minister of the Word and Eucharist. I was
not an avid Bible reader who was drawn toward theology. I certainly was not a
justice worker or activist. I was a psychotherapist with a passion for the soul
life of persons and all forms of art, especially dance. I identified, as did many
of my generation and younger, as "spiritual not religious." I went
about my life being the best person I could be based on the values of love and
care that my family and the Church had taught me.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">In my youth
and early adulthood, I enjoyed Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church where I was
baptized and where I received all the Sacraments. The liturgy, especially the music
and prayers, sometimes the homilies, inspired me. Probably like most RCs, my mind
would wander. I was fulfilling my weekly obligation, because to not attend was
considered a sin, even in the late 60s and early 70s of our post-Vatican
Church.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">My parents
would drive my younger siblings and me from our middle-class, white neighborhood
to where the Church was located in one of the poorer sections of the city. I
really liked the priests, especially Fr. Joe who would rant about the latest
bishop edict that didn't fit his notion of living Gospel values. My friend,
Joanna was a music leader there. Fr. Joe was open to her subversive and
frequent attempts to thread the Feminine Sacred through the music and
liturgical movement. He rarely wore a chausable, most often baggy, cobalt blue
sweat pants underneath an alb. <o:p></o:p></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">Many good
friends have been and currently are women religious and male priests. My
passionate interest in the life of the soul and Buddhist practices held my
attention more than my involvement in the Church. I was binary: Buddhist-Roman
Catholic. In fact, there was a period of time in my 40s when I was so angry
that women weren't included in positions of leadership that, in a radical act
of defiance, I spent my Sundays walking in the cathedral of the forest near my
home. At that time, I left corporate life as an Executive Director and for ten
years, Pat St. Louis, a Sister of St. Joseph and I created a business called
WellnessWorks. We facilitated retreats, programs or
workshops that integrated spirituality, creativity and psychology.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">You can
imagine how a call to priesthood in the RC Church would have been a dramatic
turn that upset the status quo of my comfortable life and of those who loved me. The push back from family and friends was unexpected. Although he did not
object to me being a priest, my husband, Ken, in following his own truth, could
not in good conscience attend my ordination. He thought I should work for
reform from the inside of the Church. My mother told me I should not go ahead
with ordination since my husband was not supportive. They were accustomed to my
various changes, but this time I had gone too far. Some persons in my spiritual circles deemed my choice as a regression; the RC tradition was fraught with patriarchy and pedophilia. One person called it a cult. All they could see
was the confinement of my free spirit by a roman collar around my neck. </font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Where
the mind is, there is the treasure (7:4)." In the Gnostic Gospel of Mary
Magdalene, the mind, in Greek philosophy and culture, was considered to be the heart. Follow my heart, I did. I was ordained Saturday, July 25, 2015 soon after the feast day of Mary Magdalene.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgWHeeiQYZh5zWEmtEVmv2R7pZ_KuIuqSl9X1_CFuhO4FLN7pgHwYvp2LUB_OoQyXdpQeYGGW3HAhzmxg-FrsdiC7uhvkBCeyumFL83-4nNxIhe89T1qZexiR6-uJ98iU0qz9DJuBU2OA/s2048/2015+07+25+babra+269.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgWHeeiQYZh5zWEmtEVmv2R7pZ_KuIuqSl9X1_CFuhO4FLN7pgHwYvp2LUB_OoQyXdpQeYGGW3HAhzmxg-FrsdiC7uhvkBCeyumFL83-4nNxIhe89T1qZexiR6-uJ98iU0qz9DJuBU2OA/w213-h320/2015+07+25+babra+269.JPG" width="213" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">If becoming
ordained an RC woman priest wasn't enough, living out this calling has been another animal, an elephant. There are many mountains to climb and as
far as I know elephants don't climb mountains. <o:p></o:p></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">One of the
harshest realities of ordination has been the loss of friends who left the RC Church because of patriarchal structures and abuses
of women, children and persons who are LBGTQIAS+. Even though our faith
community offered a refreshing new interpretation of our tradition, sadly, they
were adverse to such an extent as to not be able to reconsider. My hopes were also dashed when only a handful of the
130 people who attended my ordination chose to continue on as a faith
community. <o:p></o:p></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">As I plod
the mountain trails, I discover many learning curves. Some of the
requirements of my vocation:<o:p></o:p></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 1. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">To be current on global and Vatican
politics and to bear the heart-breaking inherent injustices of God's beloved
creation; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 2. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">To recreate liturgy and Word to be a
contemporary expression of Divine Mystery in a model of priesthood that
embraces Jesus' values for equality, justice and empowerment. One where feminist,
liberation, and evolutionary theologies are core our liturgies and ministries; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><span style="line-height: 115%;">T 3. To acquire a third graduate degree, a doctorate in ministry, in addition to completing a program of preparation;</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 4. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">To examine in myself and to let go of
communication patterns that reek of patriarchy and domination in order to be a
model and to not repeat the harm that has been done due to these practices by our
patriarchal Church and other sociopolitical institutions; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 5. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">To live out a model of priesthood
where we flatten out the hierarchy by sharing power and responsibility;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 6. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">To be a computer geek who sometimes
feels hermetically sealed to electronic devices; to balance work and family
relationships; and to listen to people who know a lot more than I do and;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 7. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">To shift plans in order to be
responsive in the moment to emerging pastoral needs;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 8. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">To embrace and enact with others
psyche-altering, untried models of collaboration and consensus ; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 9. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">To endure my and others limits of
aging and resources (human and financial) and to take care of ourselves and
each other; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 10. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">To love and to accept persons who are
very different from me, and to collaborate with them in creating innovation in
our praying and being; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 11. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">To bear the hurt of family members
who show no interest in this essential part of me that is a priest;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 12. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">To wash and iron my vestments and
table of worship cloths; with my husband to cook meals and to care for our home
(unlike the priests who have their myriad assistants, paid and unpaid); </span></font></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 13. </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">To be publicly identified by a Church
official in the diocese of London administration as "excommunicating
myself" because Jesus did not ordain women (Jesus ordained no one);</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 14. T</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">o do all this for free; and <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="helvetica"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> 15. T</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">o withdraw from the 24/7ness of this vocation to pray, to rest and to play, and to be with
the Holy One who sustains us all in our dreaming and doing. </span></font></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd4WhXt7Jv2jTXDpxHALK3J89dlkM9t_D43WUUSwbMMcq4U9ZsIg15_Osi2phx-DgsHhq2rJ6Jy6MicflP7BpOc7XSL9NUhdAzEpJUklFUid4XYmaO4gz2oNBJZVUoLt7jwsDt5u_iPRL/s320/2015+07+25+babra+278.JPG" width="320" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">Had I known
what I was getting into would I have said yes?<o:p></o:p></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">Yes, I would
have. Why? Because the vistas and views of this elephant-climbing-up-the
mountain ordination are stunning. At every turn and around each bend is LOVE. Holy
Presence draws nearer to me, sends me mountain-climbers to guide the way that
have a lot more climbing experience than me. </font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">First, there are Jesus and Mary
Magdalene, and then centuries of Christians who were persecuted because of
their faith. Then there are our foremothers in the women priest movement, women who dared to place their feet on the path to ordination, making the way clearer for
those of us who follow. They continue to mentor and encourage us. <o:p></o:p></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">There are friends
and family who stick by me, especially Ken who is helping where and how he is
able to give space for the fuller realization of my vocation as a priest. There is the Sacrament of Holy Orders that holds all this in a spiral of grace. </font><o:p style="font-size: 16pt;"></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlamZHJ-I599Oy1Ecc9CEbapnbi9oRgvUoHIM-kbfxI7p-K4cSrPNyNd78sBSll5Aufo_xjopeM1VUDt3N8OhHe7HDpogw42YV6I-dRHS-H3KhtqyTDtzgKVw8jFx-oc-A6ISvvsSo0Bt/s2048/2015+07+25+babra+375.JPG" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlamZHJ-I599Oy1Ecc9CEbapnbi9oRgvUoHIM-kbfxI7p-K4cSrPNyNd78sBSll5Aufo_xjopeM1VUDt3N8OhHe7HDpogw42YV6I-dRHS-H3KhtqyTDtzgKVw8jFx-oc-A6ISvvsSo0Bt/s320/2015+07+25+babra+375.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">Finally, there are members of our local Heart of Compassion Faith Community who are at
the heart and soul of our holy machinations and mischievous reclamations of our
rightful place at the table of worship and in the wider world. </font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You, Sacred Presence raise me up so I can climb mountains. You
raise me up to be more than I can be.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">And now as
You, Sacred Presence draw nearer to us, a new vision of faith community is
coming toward us, where we are compelled to creatively embody Jesus' vision of
open-heartedness, equality and justice through encounters that empower us in
praying and contemplation, in sharing power and responsibility, in welcoming
the unwelcomed, and in extending compassionate care to those among us in need. <o:p></o:p></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="helvetica">As You,
Sacred Presence draw nearer to us, You dance and sing us into more mad joy. Women
are birthing the kin-dom of God into being. In our covenant with You, Divine
Mystery we feel ourselves as Your garland of beauty and we are Your delight
(cf. 61:5).<o:p></o:p></font></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/voz1VDZ305U" width="320" youtube-src-id="voz1VDZ305U"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-82634614248746943442020-07-14T09:00:00.004-07:002023-01-30T14:17:30.915-08:00 One Body, Many Voices by Barbara Billey<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-size: large;">One Body, Many Voices by Barbara Billey</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQA_XLoWOMpqaCxRjTXAdUFaM74LaYkYc2B03eZitXYPxqDpm-7-M1-Twm0RWNkVvLEoR08v0Wrimy0aqhnBUOfd6jZoXCQC-VpOx5fSxpBIvVeXoI2EWLnlXAG7hbiXRQSmaNM1x_-Mg/s4032/2020-06-13+One+Body+Many+Voices+Pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA0Jh3BONp7yVjnFIPSJr_bLeWMzBiRwDwLX8BQpG8d_TDbr6rgEc2H0HPR2vum3Ew_n4FsBVvUXtp8-w1IO8ZWX6e3lSha3kcFWPvcDHQcMJe9l_hIg11s4o5P1L0251A6Z-XnYj9cO5/s4032/2020-06-13+One+Body+Many+Voices+Pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA0Jh3BONp7yVjnFIPSJr_bLeWMzBiRwDwLX8BQpG8d_TDbr6rgEc2H0HPR2vum3Ew_n4FsBVvUXtp8-w1IO8ZWX6e3lSha3kcFWPvcDHQcMJe9l_hIg11s4o5P1L0251A6Z-XnYj9cO5/s320/2020-06-13+One+Body+Many+Voices+Pic.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i style="font-size: 14pt;">Judy Chappus, artist</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2;">
</span><br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>I'm a poor
historian. My mind mostly moves in fast-forward with more ideas that I'd like
to manifest than my entire life will allow. My Mom was like this, too. She
would ask about our plans for Christmas during our Canadian Thanksgiving dinner
in mid-October. Before she died from cancer two years ago, I would ask her to
tell me stories about my childhood, but she could only remember a few, like the
time I didn't follow her command to stay away from the wringer washing machine
(now I'm dating myself). <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>An ever
precocious child, Mom was on the phone with a friend when I decided to see what
would happen if I inserted the wet clothes into the wringer, as I had seen her
do. Mom heard my screams and came running to my rescue soon after my left arm was
being dragged along with the clothes into the vice grip of the wringer. This
memory is sketched into my body as a skin graft under my arm. Other than this
memory, Mom would usually make general statements like, "You were always
ahead of your time: six years old going on sixteen."<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>As I
approach July 1, 2020, the second anniversary of her death, memories of Mom flash
into my awareness in unexpected moments or as a visitation by her in dreams in the
middle of the night. I feel pleasure in these recollections, sometimes grief
and sorrow. I miss her.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>In
Deuteronomy (8:2-3, 14-16), Moses reminds his people of the hardships they had
endured after their exodus from Egypt and the constancy of God with them. He
tells them that they cannot live by bread alone, but "by every word that
comes from the mouth of our God" (Deut. 8:3 ). In John's Gospel in the
Bread of Life discourse, Jesus invites His companions to be nourished by Him:
"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and
whoever believes in me will never thirst again" (6:35). Now as the Word
made flesh we are reminded of our encounter with the Divine through Jesus. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>Jesus also
reminds us, "The person who takes this bread for her food will live from
generation to generation" (Jn. 6:58b). Each time we share communion as the
Body of Christ we are embedded in generations of tradition. At the epiclesis,
we invoke the Holy Spirit to transform bread and wine, fruit of the earth and
labor of our hands, into the "real presence" of Jesus, the Risen
Christ. We are also praying for change in us. As Jesus did at His last meal
with his friends on Passover, we say, "Do this in memory of me" (Lk.
22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24). This is a dangerous memory. Why?<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>There's a wholeness in Sacrament of Word
and Eucharist when all are welcome and no one is excluded because of gender,
race, nationality, class, education, age, ability or sexual orientation. This
is not true of the institutional, Roman Catholic Church. How then, can the
"real presence" be present when not all are welcome to be fully
present? <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>For many
women and persons who are non-Catholic, non-believers or LBGTQIS+, sacramental
events in the institutional Church are occasions for profound segregation and alienation,
far from the intended celebration of unity within diversity, as explicated by
St. Paul. Our baptism, beginning in the early Church, acknowledges the full
potential of women and all persons to live the new life of the Risen One.
Through the gifts of Spirit, we fulfill the promise of our Creator as imaging
this Divinity in our day-to-day human experience. How is this possible when the
patriarchal system in which our sacraments are confected, solely by the
privilege of a male priest, makes Word and Eucharist politically and socially
oppressive? <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>If there is
one grace from the Covid-19 pandemic it is our longing for connection and community. Zoom technology has afforded
us the opportunity to connect in ways previously not possible.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>Imagine a community where all persons are welcome as spiritual leaders, whether ordained or
non-ordained, believer or non-believer, Christian or another tradition, white or BIPOC, heterosexual or LBGQTIS+. We
flatten the hierarchy and denounce clericalism. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>My sacrament
of Holy Orders is expressed through being in collaboration with others to
create encounters with the Sacred. I call myself a priestess not a priest. I support the empowerment of persons to become their own spiritual leaders. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Word</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> is shared as scripture, a poem, a
song, a video clip or a piece of art. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wisdom</i>
is a valuing of all voices in response to the movement of our hearts in
relation to the Word. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Communion</i> is
shared equally by all voices during the entire celebration, especially in the
epiclesis and memorial meal, with each person (not only the priest) making the
liturgical gestures of lifting bread and cup. Some spiritual leaders may choose
to favor an expression of Communion that is different than the Roman Catholic
Eucharistic Rite or exclude this all together, under the assumption that when
we gather we are symbolically in communion. Imagine the creativity and vast
expressions of prayer that will be ushered in by our diversity. This is already
evident!<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>Yesterday, I
saw a sign while driving on the expressway. On top and at the bottom of capital
letters 'JUNE 27' were the words 'A Miracle'. The smallest word in black at the
bottom right corner of the sign was 'Unity'. I had seen this sign elsewhere
earlier in the day. I wondered what the scripture reading is for June 27, the
afternoon when our Community gathers for our Word, Wisdom, Communion celebration.
I was overjoyed to read that Jesus says, "Whoever welcomes you welcomes
me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the One who sent me" (Matt. 10: 40
). My husband later told me that on June 27 people are asked to put a can of
food on their doorstep that will be picked up by volunteers and donated to food
banks. Record collections of cans have occurred in other communities where this
event has taken place. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7b1fa2; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: #7b1fa2;">We are in miracles now. As we continue to deepen
into our vision, I will forever remember this moment in our history as a time of becoming one body, many voices. </span><span style="color: #3367d6;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-33752316100277376732020-06-06T16:01:00.059-07:002023-01-31T07:55:14.625-08:00The Trinity is Not a Straight Line by Barbara Billey<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Trinity is Not a Straight Line<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> Barbara Billey, Priestess</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpLgnuBtUPc1zQGobatddcJ1_IoDug6xMp5FJQuVUzuB40d2jOOiIfZdlxIbI3aXmqS0LANGVc-sjkLhIS_sS5eAT7taelmyusQz4Fgz7zUkuKc7vUPCeoVT1KPctAHtDhhSo8uYq75Vp/s4032/2020-06-06+Trinity+Symbol.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpLgnuBtUPc1zQGobatddcJ1_IoDug6xMp5FJQuVUzuB40d2jOOiIfZdlxIbI3aXmqS0LANGVc-sjkLhIS_sS5eAT7taelmyusQz4Fgz7zUkuKc7vUPCeoVT1KPctAHtDhhSo8uYq75Vp/w300-h400/2020-06-06+Trinity+Symbol.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Trinity
Spiral, Barbara Billey, artist</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A bat infects a rat with Covid-19. This virus, more powerful
than any oppressive political leader who can press a button and blow up nations, has forced us into exile from one another. We are are both self and government imposed into isolation. We are leery to touch people whom we love, masked characters in a drama we didn't construct. We are taken from jobs that provide financial security. We are unable to pray and
socialize in ways that nourish us. The simple and meaningful gesture of a
handshake, a hug or kiss, can put our lives in peril. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">During this Covid-19 pandemic, I appreciate more fully the
plight of the Israelites of Hebrew Scripture. As they leave Egypt and cross the
barren desert for forty years, they are led by Shekhinah, the Divine Feminine and Presence
of God. Shekhinah, the Hebrew Word for dwelling or settling, denotes the Divine
Feminine in our midst. She first appears in the Book of Genesis, especially
present at certain times and in certain situations of dire hardship and exile. Shekhinah
is associated with the wind and the Spirit of Wisdom Sophia, the equivalent of
the Holy Spirit in our Christian tradition. Might they have sung as we have
today, "(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sing</i>) Wandering and
lost in this desert, we behold Your mystery and might, Holy Presence that forms
clouds of glory by day and a pillar of fire by night" (Exodus 13:21)?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The Israelites carry Shekhinah in their hearts and within
the Ark of the Covenant. She is present during their worship, prayer and study
of Hebrew scripture. When the Israelites finally arrive in the promised land,
Shekhinah is there, too, including in their synagogues. She is woven into every
aspect of their spiritual and religious lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">"All natures, all forms, all creatures exist in and
with one another," says the Savoir, one of his last teachings according to
the Gospel of Mary (2:2). In the Gospel of John, Jesus assures his companions
that after he leaves God will gift them with the Holy Spirit as the Paraclete -
Advocate and Spirit of Truth. How? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">"You'll know that I am in God, and you are in me and
I am in you (John: 14: 20). Is this new language for the Holy Trinity? In Jesus' knowing, the Trinity is not a straight line: Father, Son and Holy Spirit -
two men and a dove. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus evokes the image that we are intimately
interwoven; perhaps, three Divine, dancing energies and three voices, as in a
helix of DNA or a spiral. Thus, we have many ways to be in relationship with
the Divine, and we are an integral part of this Trinity! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Again in the Gospel of Mary, Jesus teaches, "... and
they will resolve again into their own roots (2:3)," In this Gospel,
"roots" relates to "the good" or our own Divine nature. We
see examples of this around the world with the current movement "Black
Lives Matter". From an outrageous atrocity - the murder of a black man,
George Floyd by a white police officer, we witness all races rising up in
solidarity for "the good" on behalf of the unheard and the injustice
of racism. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">In these times of exile by Covid-19, when all our lives matter, it can seem like nothing is like it once was and will
likely never again be. Yet, we can rely on Shekhinah, knit within the configuration
of the Trinity, as a stable force who sustains and connects us, who gives clarity
to be in right relationship, and who helps advocate for justice, even if this
has to be at a safe distance from one another. She will dwell within each of us as love and be with us our journey out of exile! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sing</i>)
Shekhinah, Shekhinah. Your power enfolds us, surrounds and upholds us.
Shekhinah, Shekhinah.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EFPCzeMo6o8" width="320" youtube-src-id="EFPCzeMo6o8"></iframe></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><br />Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-3558445822304088302020-06-01T16:06:00.003-07:002023-01-31T07:55:49.927-08:00Our Pentecost Fire by Barbara Billey<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 9pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.6pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Our Pentecost Fire by Barbara Billey, Priestess, Heart of Compassion Faith Community, Windsor, Ontario, Canada (01 June
2020)</span><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The dove descending breaks the air<br />
With flame of incandescent terror<br />
Of which the tongues declare<br />
The one discharge from sin and error.<br />
The only hope, or else despair<br />
Lies in the choice of pyre or pyre-<br />
To be redeemed from fire by fire.<br />
<br />
Who then devised the torment? Love.<br />
Love is the unfamiliar Name<br />
Behind the hands that wove<br />
The intolerable shirt of flame<br />
Which human power cannot remove.<br />
We only live, only suspire<br />
Consumed by either fire or fire.”</span><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<span style="background: white;">― </span></span><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">T.S. Eliot, </span><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2886568">Four Quartets</a></span><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZTZdOu79UiNZ2L-vHA08zJOlzQrQC5B8_oVAXr3za5xYPPwWJ7SPysgbcP4-EFEOC4-QnD-SHCjfPd1NcPyKNIenpP1ONCMWN7FJV_rsgXxdRc5uqxnc_9CXNbrMWHMBbVKudT1Ti8Ag/s1024/2020-06-02+Fire+Symbol.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZTZdOu79UiNZ2L-vHA08zJOlzQrQC5B8_oVAXr3za5xYPPwWJ7SPysgbcP4-EFEOC4-QnD-SHCjfPd1NcPyKNIenpP1ONCMWN7FJV_rsgXxdRc5uqxnc_9CXNbrMWHMBbVKudT1Ti8Ag/s320/2020-06-02+Fire+Symbol.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.6pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">T.S. Eliot wrote this poem after he converted to
Christianity. For him, the Holy Spirit is the central fire that redeems
humankind from the fires of hell. I'm not a proponent of the dualistic theology
of heaven and hell; however, how do we make sense of a senseless hell that has
taken place during the past week in the US where a black men, George Floyd is
suffocated to death by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota? There's no
solace in the irony that police officer, Derek Chauvin uses his knee to commit
this atrocity; a praying position this is not. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yesterday was Pentecost, a feast day for Christians around
the world that is rooted in the tradition of the Israelites. Shavuot in Hebrew,
Pentecost is a celebration of the gifts God gave his people in the Torah on
Mount Sinai, which occurs fifty days after Passover, the day that marks their
liberation from enslavement in Egypt by Pharaoh. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Christian tradition, Pentecost occurs fifty days after
Easter when we celebrate Jesus' resurrection from the dead. In Acts of the
Apostles (2:1-11), a roaring wind fills the room where Jesus' companions are
gathered. Tongues of fire descend upon their heads and each person is filled
with the Holy Spirit, as well as the ability to speak and understand diverse
languages. This is fluid fire that unleashes like a wild goose honking. Imagine
sitting around a table for a meal with people from many nations. What a gift of
radical hospitality given by Sophia Spirit!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In John's account of Pentecost (20:19-23), Jesus' companions
are huddled in a room for fear of persecution by Jewish and Roman authorities. Jesus
appears - fixed fire, a dove, an energy that harnesses their fears into calm.
He says, "Peace be with you. As Creator God has sent me, so I send
you" (v. 21). He gives them the gift of Spirit Sophia, to guide and to
give them courage that they may continue His way of spreading the Good News: compassionately
healing, teaching and justice-making. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the Gospel of Mary, after Jesus appears to His companions,
they weep greatly and cried out, "How shall we go the nations and proclaim
the good news of the Child of Humanity? If they did not spare him, how will
they spare us!" (5:2-3). Mary Magdalene gives the same reassurances as
Jesus: "Do not weep and be pained or doubt, for all His grace will be with
you and shelter you" (5:5-6). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are we not bombarded by fire right now? The murder of George
Floyd is another suffocating assault during our Covid-19 pandemic that is
incited by racism and violence. Many are in a hot mess of trauma and confusion
that is accompanied by anger, grief and sadness. What can we do? How are we to
be? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My mother was a wonderful listener and she also spoke,
sometimes unsolicited, sound advice. Our conventional wisdom in times such as
this is to lash out, to get revenge and to judge. To loot, burn and destroy. What
is the Jesus way of justice? When I came to my mother with a concern or problem,
she would often say, "When I don't know what to do I always pray to the
Holy Spirit." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And T.S. Eliot, what does he say? "</span><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">We
only live, only suspire, consumed by either fire or fire.” </span><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br />Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330653104855833440.post-65357904798963336392015-09-21T15:26:00.002-07:002023-02-18T15:30:49.106-08:00Distinguished Visitor Barbara Billey University of Windsor<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9gGj5FEWX3LjVpWo76kCNj6Nlo8nEqj6tDlx3cwqINVWzWJkaRX_O3h-a7qgNZO5je6iabG6ERQTR2NLJ_Yo6P3nfITHq7eSFvMJr9cuetaTTv1gRtWCdGKrpeFmV1mnlfeGvLTh_4eOeasHS9k7UiRBi0mUBxPPDrYSBig7dVXykKOY_MMQ3AZ-YA/s5312/Barb%20Distinguished%20Visitor%20Sept%202015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="5312" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9gGj5FEWX3LjVpWo76kCNj6Nlo8nEqj6tDlx3cwqINVWzWJkaRX_O3h-a7qgNZO5je6iabG6ERQTR2NLJ_Yo6P3nfITHq7eSFvMJr9cuetaTTv1gRtWCdGKrpeFmV1mnlfeGvLTh_4eOeasHS9k7UiRBi0mUBxPPDrYSBig7dVXykKOY_MMQ3AZ-YA/w320-h236/Barb%20Distinguished%20Visitor%20Sept%202015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Barbara Billeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360290785131420729noreply@blogger.com0