For months — OK, years — I watched the tightly wound rows of two braided throw rugs pull apart. One under the kitchen sink, one by the back door. Each time someone stepped on them, the tears grew longer. And each time I tossed the rugs in the washing machine, I silently swore I’d stitch […]

First Parish Church, UCC in Brunswick is holding their annual Halls of Holly Church Fair Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Pilgrim House at 9 Cleaveland St., Brunswick. The fair will feature Christmas items, a cookie walk, jewelry, baked goods a candy table, American Girl Doll items, used books, CDs, DVDs, […]

BRUNSWICK In 18th and 19th century New England, preachers gave election sermons — long screeds intended to restore the moral rectitude of the voters and to make the victorious fit to govern. Nodding to that history, I offer an election sermon each Presidential election year. This was the hardest I’ve ever written. Today I speak […]

“You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you made summer and winter.” Psalm 74:17 Transitioning Already we are halfway through November as we transition into winter. The trees are mostly stripped bare of their leaves and the fall flowers have been tossed into the compost heap. The birds have begun their annual migration […]

My family of seven lives in a small house, which gets messy fast. Especially when someone leaves open the backdoor and the chickens decide it is their house too. On a recent morning I’d spent a couple of hours tidying up while my husband, Dana, and older kids were at work and school. I had […]

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) — The Chesapeake City Council has decided to display the motto “In God We Trust” at City Hall. The Virginian- Pilot reports that the council approved the display in a 7- 0 vote on Tuesday. The proposal was introduced by Councilwoman Suzy Kelly and was backed by the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, […]

WAYNESBORO, Pa. — A Pennsylvania school board has agreed to post historical documents in school lobbies as a compromise to a businessman’s offer to place plaques reading “In God We Trust” in all classrooms. The Waynesboro Area School Board made the decision Tuesday night to hang documents with the national motto, as well as copies […]

“I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I attain knowledge and discretion.” Proverbs 8:12 Wisdom Remember the Wise Old Owl, and what a wise old bird he is? It appears that he is listening, and wise people are usually good listeners. Wisdom is not merely about having knowledge. It is much more than that, and in […]

VATICAN CITY The Vatican on Tuesday published guidelines for Catholics who want to be cremated, saying their remains cannot be scattered, divvied up or kept at home but rather stored in a sacred, church-approved place. The new instructions were released just in time for Halloween and “All Souls Day” on Nov. 2, when the faithful […]

There’s much to say about the similarities between raising children and chickens. Both make a mess. Both require firm boundaries (apologies to the neighbors with the wild-bird feeder that my hens find so alluring). And both have a seemingly endless appetite and propensity to excrete smelly droppings. Both can also be a joy to watch […]