VATICAN CITY The United States returned to the Vatican Library Thursday a rare copy of a letter written by Christopher Columbus in 1493 announcing his discovery of the New World that was stolen and replaced with a forgery. It’s the third such return in recent years after U.S. investigators, tipped off by a rare books […]

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Proverbs 9:10 Overcoming Fear At the onset of World War 2 Franklin Roosevelt, in an address to the nation, said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Fear is a tricky emotion. Healthy […]

ORR’S ISLAND All Saints’ Chapel has announced its schedule of clergy that will lead its services through September. Rev. Katharine Babson will officiate this week’s service. The schedule for the rest of summer is as follows:  June 24 — Rev. Frank Strasburger  July 1 — Rev. Samuel Hartman  July 8 — Rev. […]

Every Father’s Day my mother bought herself the same present: A tool. Might be a new hammer or a shovel or a set of wrenches. With my father living in another state, a farm to run and two children to raise, she filled the role of both father and mother, and accordingly treated herself to […]

The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. The recent suicides of fashion designer Katie Spade and celebrity chef and writer Anthony Bourdain have reminded all of us that, even for the wealthy, life can become too painful to bear. The sad truth is that suicide rates […]

“Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been known to them in the breaking of the bread.” Luke 24:35 Brokenness We all experience some form of brokenness during our lifetimes, a broken promise, broken relationships, or a broken heart. Life can take its toll on all of us. But […]

ORR’S ISLAND All Saints’ Chapel has announced its schedule of clergy that will lead its services through September. This week will see Rev. Alfred Niese officiating. The schedule for the rest of summer is as follows:  June 17 — Rev. Katharine Babson  June 24 — Rev. Frank Strasburger  July 1 — Rev. […]

AURBURN The First Universalist Church of Auburn, Unitarian Universalist, will ordain Donna Dolham into the Unitarian Universalist ministry. The service, which is open to the public, will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 16, at the church, located at 169 Pleasant St. Dolham has served as intern and sabbatical minister with the First Church […]

Little inspired me to plant a vegetable garden this year. The spring air seemed abysmally cold. I’d waited too long to start my seedlings indoors. And each day I looked out my kitchen window at my little plot of soil, the weeds stood taller. But I had a choice: Spend all summer watching the weeds […]

BRUNSWICK Deacon Patrick Finn, a Bath native and Morse High School graduate, will be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Robert P. Deeley. The celebration will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 16, at 10 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church, located on 39 Pleasant St. All are welcome to attend the celebration. […]