Last week one of my brothers sent me an article about Tom Uren – a man who was not just a friend and mentor, but more of a father figure, to the new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. When I read the article I wept. Tom Uren was an amazing man. He was one of the larger-than-life figures of my childhood, though I did not really appreciate him. A hard-core Labour politician, greatly respected, and a man of integrity. Maybe not what we think is a recipe for a man loved and used by God, but so he was.
What formed the trajectory of his life was his experiences during WWII. He was captured by the Japanese and sent to work on the infamous Burmese railway which resulted in the deaths of thousands of young men. Tom Uren had been a heavyweight boxer in Sydney, and was still a big man in spite of his starvation. He would place his body in front of other prisoners, especially the small and vulnerable, to stop them being beaten to death by the prison guards.
Towards the end of the war he was transported to Japan to slave in a copper smelter at Saganoseki. On August 9, 1945, he saw the sky turn an unearthly violet colour, twenty times more vivid than a sunset, when the atomic bomb was dropped on the distant port of Nagasaki.
These experiences did not destroy Uren as they did many others, they made him resolve to use the lessons as a framework for his life. Chief among those lessons was the effort of his commander on the death railway, the surgeon Edward “Weary” Dunlop, to harness the means of the entire camp for the good of all. Evidently, Dunlop ordered Australian officers – who received a small allowance – to contribute to a fund to buy simple medicines and black-market food for sick POWs. In that camp, POWs died at a much lower rate than in surrounding camps where this was not the policy. “The healthy looked after the sick, the strong looked after the weak, the young looked after the old,” he’d tell anyone who’d listen.” (SMHS I love the boy: The Gift Our Prime Minister Received from a Bamboo Prison)
Collectivism, concern for neighbour, especially for the vulnerable, strong advocacy for peace and nuclear disarmament, ardent environmentalism, became the central passion of his life. That’s why he became a father to a young man who had no father, a young man who would one day become Australia’s Prime Minister, and who began his election campaign by saying: “We will look after the young, we will look after the sick, we will look after our older Australians. No one held back. No one left behind” – showing that same passion as the man who had helped shape his life.
Tom Uren was not a man of faith as we understand it but I think he was a man deeply loved by God and his life was a wonderful example of God’s love poured out to those around him. As I reflect on his life today I wonder how many other young men and women, deeply loved by God, who live as Christ would live, we disregard because they don’t call themselves Christians.
I think that the love of God is present within all people. Sometimes buried deep within the soul. Sometimes a ray of light and life to all those they come in contact with.
Take time today to think about the men and women you know who radiate the love of God and the life of Christ, even though they don’t call themselves Christians. Some of them may not be well known like Tom Uren. In fact they might only be known by you and a few others. Make a list. Is there some way you could reach out and thank them for their love, generosity and life?
That’s right, Christine Sine is giving away two copies of her latest book, Digging Deeper: The Art of Contemplative Gardening!
Just a little less than TWO WEEKS left to enter – June 24th is the last day for your entries to be counted! Click here for more information!
A contemplative service with music in the spirit of Taize. Carrie Grace Littauer, prayer leader, with music by Kester Limner and Andy Myers.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-710-756 with additional notes below:
by Christine Sine
Editor’s Note: This is a repost of a Meditation Monday found here.
Last week for Pentecost Sunday I decided to walk around my garden photographing all the red flowers to fill my life with a little Pentecostal fire. It was so much fun. There were red roses and poppies, geraniums and lupines, and my stunning epiphyllum cactus orchid flowering in all its magnificence on my front porch. Then around the neighbourhood I saw red rhododendrons, camellias and lilies. Such a display, so much diversity. I couldn’t help but chuckle at these fiery displays that seemed to cry out “happy birthday to the church”.
Red rose
Red lupine
Red poppy
Red Epiphyllum cactus orchid
Celebrating the Trinity
This week, as we celebrated Trinity Sunday yesterday, I decided to look for flowers and leaves with a tripartite structure that reflected the three in one nature of the Trinity – God is One in three – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It was a great deal of fun and it emphasized for me yet again how much we miss out on when we don’t know how to connect the glory of creation to the story of our faith.
The most familiar trinitarian symbol is the Irish shamrock, Oxalis acetosella, with its three-lobed leaves, which St. Patrick supposedly pointed out to the Irish as a symbol of the true Trinitarian God of whom he preached to them, and in whose name he blessed nature to sanctify it. I prefer the brilliant display of this purple shamrock, however.
Purple shamrock
There are lots of other plants that bear the Trinity symbolism too, many of them with three-petaled flowers that represented Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
My favourite is Trillium grandiflorum, a native of north-eastern and north-western U.S. known as the Trillium lily because it is said to symbolize the Trinity. Both its flower and leaves are tripartite – talk about wonderful imagery for us to meditate on.
Trillium Lily – Jean Andrianoff
Other plants bear the Trinity symbolism too, from their three-petaled flowers. In Europe, the wild pansy, or johnny-jump-up, viola tricolor, was also widely known as Trinity Flower – for the three colors of each of its flowers, from which familiar present-day larger pansies blooms have been bred with one or two colors usually dominant.
hybrid pansy
An interesting aspect of bred pansy strains is that though one colour may dominate, the other two colors are always preserved at the centers of the blooms. Thus, pansies of yellow dominance may be seen to symbolize the glory of the heavenly Father; purple: the sorrows of the incarnate Son; and white: the light of the empowering Holy Spirit – with the other colors in each instance always retained at the center, serving to remind us that whenever one of the Persons of the Trinity is present the others are present also, in the unity of the Godhead of love. What a delight to walk around my pansy display and examine this aspect of their beautiful sunny faces.
Aloe Vera – a Different Trinitarian Symbol
I was amazed to discover that Aloe vera, that great healing plant, also known as a miracle plant, burn plant, first aid plant, lily of the desert, jelly leek, plant of life and plant of immortality because of its many uses can also be seen as a symbol of the Trinity. Its Trinity symbolism refers to the characteristic successive emergence of new foliage spears from the base of young plants in groups of three – first two beginning spears, and then a third one between them – reflecting the emergence of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son in the interior of the Trinity.
Aloe vera
Today I discovered that the strawberry plant with its beautiful serrated tripartite leaf was another plant used to teach about the Trinity.
Strawberry leaf
There are many other plants that have Biblical significance – some of them because they are mentioned in the Bible, others because they have been associated with various aspects of the Biblical story, and now I find that every time I look at a flower or the arrangement of new leaves on a plant that I am looking for that trinitarian pattern. How about you? When was the last time that you looked intentionally at a plant with the hope of once more finding the imprint of our Triune God?
Maybe you don’t get as excited about garden plants as I do, but perhaps there are other symbols that speak to you of the nature of God and encourage you to draw close and worship. Even our finger with its three bones was used as a representation of the Trinity by Celtic Christians as is evident in this Celtic prayer.
I love connecting the symbols of our world and daily life to the biblical story and encourage you to do so too. If you have never done this before or even if you have, I encourage you to check out our Sacred Summer retreat, which is an online course where we explore other fun symbols through which we can enrich our relationship with God.
Join Christine Sine and June Friesen live in the Godspace Light Community Group for a Facebook Live discussion on what inspires June’s photography and daily reflections. Can’t join live? Keep your eye on Christine’s YouTube Channel for the recording to be uploaded later!
By Lilly Lewin
Yesterday, June 9th, is the day we remember St. Columba of Iona, also known as Colm Cille/Colmcille which means the Dove of the Church. St Columba was an Irish monk born into the Irish royal family who instead of ruling from a throne, traveled to the island of Iona to establish a monastic center of learning and Christian mission. Columba took with him twelve followers and he set sail from Ireland landing on Iona in 563 AD. There are two fun videos at the end of this post you can watch and learn more about St. Columba and the history of Iona and the founding of Scotland itself.
st columba’s bay
St Columba’s Bay
The Celtic Christians knew that God could be seen best in places of beauty and Columba felt God spoke not only through Scripture, but also through the wind and rain, the sea and the sky and even the rocks and stones of Iona and highlands of Scotland.
Iona Stones
Columba’s Bay iona
The monastic community that grew on Iona gained fame and impacted all of Scotland and Northern England. Kings sent their children to learn there and chose to be buried there. Along with learning, craftsmanship in stone and silver and iron were thriving on Iona. The first High Cross was created on Iona and I learned this trip that possibly the first Celtic Cross, the circle with the cross on top of it, was also first seen on Iona. Before my recent trip, I believed it was in Ireland first because of St. Patrick.) The High Cross in front of the Abbey today has stood in that spot for 1200 years! It has the oldest image of the Madonna and Child in all of Europe along with Daniel in the lion’s den.
St. Martin’s Cross
High Celtic Cross ..St Martin’s Cross
One legend has it that St Columba had to leave Ireland because of a war over an illuminated manuscript. Columba had hand-copied the book of Psalms without permission. The Abbot Finian found out and knew it would be wonderful so he wanted to keep it at his church not share it with Columba. This became a clan war and many people died over this Psalter. As a penance for the losses, Columba left Ireland to save as many souls as were lost in battle. And he did that and much more!
And speaking of illuminated manuscripts, one of the most famous is The Book of Kells and was most likely created on Iona or at least begun by the monks on Iona and perhaps later finished in Kells. You can see it today at Trinity College, in Dublin.
book of kells
St. Columba is famous for many prayers. He had a special hut built in front of the abbey where he wrote and prayed and read the bible daily. He is also famous for giving his community (and all of us ) a blessing on his deathbed.
“I give to you, my children, these final words: ‘Be at peace with one another, bound together by mutual and unfeigned love. If you do this, according to the example of the ancient fathers, God, who gives strength to the righteous, will bless you: and I, abiding with Him, shall intercede for you. Not only will God provide all things needed for this present life, but He shall prepare for you the blessings of eternity.”
St Columba’s last reported words of blessing in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 767.
What would it be like if we truly lived into being at peace with one another? What if we all chose to be bound together in mutual love?
How would you need to think differently or act differently?
With whom would you need to reconcile?
Take time to today to pray for peace for any conflict in your life.
Like Columba, pray for your community to have more peace and less conflict. Pray against the spirit of fear and disunity…in your own life, in the lives of your friends and family and in your country.
It is said that the last thing St. Columba wrote down, was Psalm 34 ( this is just the first 10 verses)
Take time this week to sit with this psalm . Pray with it.
What do you notice? What does the Holy Spirit high light for you?
I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
2 I will boast only in the Lord;
let all who are helpless take heart.
3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. PSALM 34
YOUR RESPONSE:
Take time to journal in response to this psalm. If you like art, create an illuminated manuscript by rewriting it in colorful pencils or markers, or just by printing it out and decorating the page. Or you might create your own original art in response to or inspired by the psalm.
Take a walk outside, like the monks of Iona did often. Let the wind, the rain, the trees and even the stones speak to you of God.
PRAY one of St. Columba’s Prayers with me:
Let me bless Almighty God,
whose power extends over sea and land,
whose angels watch over all.
Let me study sacred books to calm my soul:
I pray for peace,
kneeling at heaven’s gates.
Let me do my daily work,
gathering seaweed, catching fish,
giving food to the poor.
Let me say my daily prayers,
sometimes chanting, sometimes quiet,
always thanking God.
Delightful it is to live
on a peaceful isle, in a quiet cell,
serving the King of kings.
And Receive again the saint’s blessing:
“I give to you, my children, these final words: ‘Be at peace with one another, bound together by mutual and unfeigned love. If you do this, according to the example of the ancient fathers, God, who gives strength to the righteous, will bless you: and I, abiding with Him, shall intercede for you. Not only will God provide all things needed for this present life, but He shall prepare for you the blessings of eternity.”
St Columba’s last reported words of blessing in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 767.
WATCH AND LEARN MORE:
Christine Sine is giving away two copies of her latest book Digging Deeper: The Art of Contemplative Gardening. For more information click here!
by Michaela Atencio – originally posted here, this is a reprint with permission. You can find Michaela on their website here.
I’m nonbinary. How does this reconcile with the verse, “male and female he created them,” you may ask?
The variety in God’s creation emphasizes God’s creativity as an artist. Genesis gives us several examples of this.
God made “day and night.” This sounds like a binary, similar to “male and female,” right? But that isn’t quite all we experience in 24 hours. Sunrises and sunsets do not fit into the binary of day or night. Yet God paints the skies with these too.
On the second day God separated the sky from water. Seems like another binary. Yet the clouds hold water for us in the sky, the condensation and rain cycle refreshing our earth constantly. The sky, separate from water, contains and releases water.
God also said “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” That isn’t the full story, either. Consider marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens. Not fully land, not fully waters. There is such glorious variety in God’s creation.
We see another binary in the celestial bodies God made: “the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night.” And then, almost as a footnote, “and the stars.” There is more than just sun and moon in outer space. Planets, asteroids, black holes, supernovae.
……
Side note: these magnificent stars hundreds of times more massive than our sun, as simple as that to God.
“and the stars.” I marvel. Hallelujah.
……
“God created the great sea monsters” and “every winged bird of every kind.” A split again between water and sky. Yet we see creatures like penguins that are definitely a “winged bird,” but do not fly and instead walk and swim.
And finally “male and female he created them.” First off, intersex people exist.
But, and perhaps more importantly, friends, look around. Listen. Do you have friends or family that say they don’t fall under “male” or “female?” If so, honor that.
Does all this variety invalidate God as creator? Of course not!
I believe that this instead is an example of how authors weave words to tell a story. We see the author in Genesis give examples of the extremes that God creates. It doesn’t exclude the possibility of more.
And so we worship the God of more. The God of the marsh, the penguin, the God of the sunrise, the cloud, the supernovae. The God of the nonbinary.
You are loved. -m.
Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash
Editor’s Note: Godspace is transitioning from our theme Restoring Rhythms and Seasons to our brand new theme Living As Christ Lived – Towards Justice, Love, and Peace for All Creation. We hope you enjoy the reflections!
Enjoy a variety of resources in a convenient free download. Let Christine Sine guide you in creating a faith-based community garden! More details here.
With Pentecost Sunday now past, the church enters into Ordinary Time. There are still feasts and holidays and Saint’s Days and celebrations of other special people, but it is no longer the long church season that spans Advent through Pentecost. You can find resources about Ordinary Days and select church holidays on our Pentecost & Ordinary Time Resource Page. If you are curious what the difference is, you can find information and resources on the Liturgical Calendar in this post. Whether we are in Ordinary Time or not, however, did you know that there are many fun celebrations, many Saint’s Days, and many holidays throughout the year that Godspace has resources for? As we ground ourselves and our spirituality in the rhythm of life and seasons around us, it can be helpful to observe even ‘secular’ days as sacred. Perhaps to engage in the awe and wonder of fun or perhaps to practice a whole-hearted ethical spirituality, there are many reasons you may wish to observe various days. Here is a round-up of some of our posts on special days, month by month! Note that this is by no means complete; if you click on the holiday it will take you to the tag. Not all relevant posts are tagged, and not all holidays have been cataloged. But this list will give you a good place to start for any celebrations or observances! For Celtic Saints, be sure to check out our Celtic Spirituality Resource Page as well. Happy Observing!
January
- You can find resources for New Years & Epiphany Season on our Advent, Christmas, New Year’s, and Epiphany Page
- St Kentigern’s Day is January 13th. Diane Woodrow offers a reflection about him here.
- St Ita’s Day is January 15th. Rev. Brenda Griffin Warren reflects on her here.
- St Fursey’s Day is January 16th. Rev. Brenda Griffin Warren writes about him here.
- Martin Luther King Jr Day is observed on the 3rd Monday of January. Here is a classic prayer from Christine Sine. This post about decolonization was published on that day. Christine Sine encourages us to never be afraid of what is right in this reflection on him. Denise Moore discusses Civil Rights and what difference we can make following her participation in a march for MLK. You may also find resources on our Justice, Suffering, & Wholeness Resource Page.
- Chinese New Year is held on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar, between January 21st and February 20th. Alex Tang offers his reflection here, and Lynne Baab offers hers here.
February
- Black History Month: Diane Woodrow writes about Black History Month in this post here. You can find resources for racial reconciliation here, and posts about the Black Lives Matter movement here. You may also find resources on our Justice, Suffering, & Wholeness Resource Page.
- Lent: You can find resources for Lent on our Lent & Easter Resource page
- Imbolc is February 1st – Kate Kennington Steer shares Wisdom of the Gut – Imbolc
- St Brigid’s day is tied intimately to Imbolc, and is also on February 1st. We have many resources including this prayer and poem by Paul Neely, this hospitality litany by Christine Sine, and these posts by Elaine Breckenridge, Kate Kennington Steer, Christine Valters Paintner, and Rev Brenda Griffin Warren – among many others!
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Birthday is celebrated on February 4th. Here is a popular prayer we have shared, and a reflection on his birthday by Michael Moore.
- World Cancer Day is a global awareness day on February 4th. June Friesen offers this reflection.
- Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday is celebrated the day before Lent. Barbie Perks offers this reflection, and for more information on special days of the week before and beginning Lent, Christine Sine breaks it down in this post – or you can check out our Lent resource page.
- Valentine’s Day is February 14th. Christine Sine encourages us to find ways to ethically celebrate and also spread God’s love in this post. Check out other reflections on Valentine’s Day here!
- World Social Justice Day is February 20th. Emily Huff offers a reflection here, and Kathie Hempel offers one here. You may also find resources on our Justice, Suffering, & Wholeness Resource Page.
March
- Lent and Easter: You can find resources for Lent, Palm Sunday, Easter, etc on our Lent & Easter Resource page.
- March heralds Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Spring/Autumn resources can be found on our Seasons and Blessings Resource Page. You can also find gardening and creation care resources on our Creation Spirituality Resource Page.
- St David’s Day is celebrated March 1st. Carol Dixon offers a reflection here.
- UK World Book Day is held on the first Thursday in March. Diane Woodrow recalls her experiences here.
- World Day of Prayer is held on the first Friday in March. Kathie Hempel has several prayers and reflections for this day, including this one. You may also find resources for prayer on our Prayers, Practices, & Directions Resource Page
- International Women’s Day is celebrated March 8th. Christine Sine highlights this Franciscan prayer in its honor. You can find more resources here.
- St Gertrude of Nivelle’s Day is celebrated March 17th. You can read about the patron saint of cats (and other wonderful things about Gertrude of Nivelle) here, including this reflection from Rev. Brenda Griffin Warren.
- St Patrick’s Day is March 17th. You can read more about St Patrick here, including this reflection by Elaine Breckenridge and this reflection by Tom Sine. Christine Sine offers resources for St Patrick’s Day here.
- St Cuthbert’s Day is March 20th. Carol Dixon shares music and resources here.
- Equinox – Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere – is generally celebrated March 20th. Kate Kennington Steer has a reflection for both, whether Spring or Autumn. More found here.
- World Water Day is on March 22nd. Christine Sine offers a prayer here, and Lisa DeRosa offers a reflection here.
- Cesar Chavez Day is March 31st. Catherine Lawton offers remembrance and reflection here, and Christine Sine highlights this Lenten prayer.
April
- Lent and Easter: You can find resources for Lent, Palm Sunday, Easter, etc on our Lent & Easter Resource page.
- April Fool’s Day is April 1st. You might be surprised to find resources on this, but it is a surprisingly fruitful topic! Rowan Wyatt offers this reflection on the day proper. On a year that April Fool’s Day and Easter coincided, Godspace held a Lenten theme on Foolish Love. It was called For the Love of the World, God Did Foolish Things. Talitha Fraser offers this reflection on being a holy fool, and Br. Terrance Declan offers this reflection on foolish sacrifice.
- Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd. Andy Wade offers resources here; Christine Sine offers resources here. Reflections are offered by Tom Sine here, and by Ellen Haroutunian here. You may also find resources on our Creation Spirituality Resource Page.
- World Malaria Day is observed on April 25th. Keren Dibbens-Wyatt offers a reflection here, and Andrew Jones offers a personal reflection here.
- Arbor Day is celebrated April 29th. Laurie Klein offers a reflection here.
May
- Lent/Easter Resources can be found on our resource page. Pentecost/Trinity Sunday/Ordinary Time resources can be found on the Pentecost and Ordinary Time Resource Page
- Beltane/May Day is celebrated May 1st. Kate Kennington Steer offers this reflection on Beltaine. Catherine Lawton offers this poem for May Day.
- US National Day of Prayer is held the first Thursday in May. Faith Cho offers this reflection. You may also find resources for prayer on our Prayers, Practices, & Directions Resource Page
- Mother’s Day is held at different times in the year globally, but for nearly 100 countries including the US, it is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. We have many resources for Mother’s Day – for example Melissa Taft gathered many of our resources in this post, Emma Morgan offers this liturgy for Mother’s Day, Kara Root offers this poem, and Shiao Chong offers this glimpse into Biblical Maternal Images of God. We also have many resources under Mother’s Day on our Seasons and Blessings Resource Page.
- St Brendan’s feast day is May 16th. Rebecca Baxter offers this reflection, Derek Olsen reflects on pilgrimage and Brendan, and Rev Brenda Griffin Warren offers this feast day reflection.
- World Bee Day is celebrated May 20th. Emily Huff highlights a liturgy for World Bee Day, Lisa DeRosa offers activities and reflections here, Laurie Klein offers a reflection and practical creation care here, and June Friesen offers this reflection and poem here.
- National Endangered Species Day is May 20th. Diane Woodrow offers this reflection here.
- World Day for Cultural Diversity is celebrated May 21st. Mark Pierson offers this reflection. You may also find resources on our Justice, Suffering, & Wholeness Resource Page.
- International Tea Day is observed May 21st. You can find reflections on tea here, including this reflection by Andy Wade.
- St Bede the Venerable’s Day is celebrated May 25th. Rev. Brenda Griffin Warren offers this history of Venerable Bede, and Carol Dixon offers this reflection.
- St Joan of Arc‘s Day is celebrated May 30th. Rowan Wyatt offers this history, and Diane Woodrow offers this reflection.
- Memorial Day in the US is celebrated on the last Monday of May. Christine Sine offers this prayer.
June
- Pentecost/Trinity Sunday/Ordinary Time resources can be found on the Pentecost and Ordinary Time Resource Page
- June is Pride Month, a month for awareness and celebration of LGBTQIA+. Talitha Fraser reminds us that All We Need Is Love, and Jamie Arpin-Ricci offers this Lenten reflection on tragedy and bravery in the face of hate.
- June heralds Summer in the Northern Hemisphere and Winter in the Southern Hemisphere; Summer/Winter resources are found on our Seasons and Blessings Page.
- World Environment Day is celebrated June 5th. Lynne Baab offers a reflection here.
- World Oceans Day is celebrated June 8th. Dr Robert Sluka offers a reflection here.
- St Columba’s Day is June 9th. Greg Valerio has several reflections on St Columba, as does Carol Dixon (such as this one.) Brenda Griffin Warren also offers this reflection, Michael Moore this reflection, and Christine Sine offers this prayer from St Columba.
- International Yarn Bombing Day is celebrated on the second Saturday in June. Artist Naomi Lawrence offers this reflection.
- Father’s Day is celebrated the third Sunday in June. Keren Dibbens-Wyatt offers this reflection, and Christine Sine offers this Litany and Prayer. There are also resources for Father’s Day on our Seasons and Blessings Resource Page.
- Juneteenth is celebrated June 19th. Lisa DeRosa offers this reflection.
- World Refugee Day is honored June 20th. June Friesen offers a reflection here, and Ellen Haroutunian offers a reflection here.
- The Solstice is generally celebrated June 21st; summer in the Northern Hemisphere and Winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Jan Blencowe offers this reflection on the June Solstice here, and Kate Kennington Steer offers this reflection.
- Make Music Day is celebrated June 21st. Paul Neely offers this reflection.
- Feasts of St Peter and St Paul is celebrated June 29th. Lisa DeRosa offers this reflection with music by Sheila Hamil.
July
- Canada Day is celebrated July 1st. Lilly Lewin offers this perspective on praying for our countries.
- American Independence Day is July 4th. Christine Sine offers this prayer, and Lilly Lewin offers this reflection.
- Global Forgiveness Day is held July 7th (also called World Forgiveness Day). Emily Huff shares this reflection. You may also find resources on our Justice, Suffering, & Wholeness Resource Page.
- Nelson Mandela Day is held on his birthday, July 18th. Jenneth Graser offers this poem, and Ellen Haroutunian offers this reflection.
- International Day of Friendship is celebrated July 30th. Christine Sine offers this meditation on friendship, and Rodney Newman offers this reflection on soul friends. Friendship is celebrated in several countries at various times in the year. You can find lots of resources to celebrate friendship tangibly on our Hospitality Page.
August
- Back to School resources can be found on our Seasons & Blessings Page under the Autumn (Northern Hemisphere) column, and particularly this post of resources.
- International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is honored August 9th. Rachel Taber- Hamilton offers this reflection, and Ana Lisa de Jong offers these poems.
- St Ninian of Whithorn is sometimes celebrated August 26th, or more commonly September 16th. The Rev. Brenda Griffin Warren offers this history and reflection, and Rowan Wyatt offers this reflection.
- St Fiacre’s feast day is celebrated either August 30th or September 1st. Alicia Dykstra offers this prayer, and Barry Jung offers this reflection on the patron saint of gardeners.
- St Aidan‘s feast day is celebrated August 31st. Carol Dixon offers this FREE resource on celebrating St Aidan’s Day. Michael Moore offers this reflection.
September
- Back to School resources can be found on our Seasons & Blessings Page under the Autumn (Northern Hemisphere) column, and particularly this post of resources. Labor Day resources can also be found under Seasons & Blessings.
- September heralds the beginning of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and Spring in the Southern Hemisphere. You can find seasonal resources on our Seasons & Blessings Resource Page. You can also find gardening and creation care resources on our Creation Spirituality Resource Page.
- World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is September 1st. Laurie Klein offers a reflection here. You may also find resources on our Creation Spirituality Resource Page.
- Labor Day is celebrated the First Monday of September. Lynne Baab offers these ways to pray for your work, and Jan Blencowe offers this reflection.
- Memorial for September 11th posts include this resource list by Lisa DeRosa and these prayers by Christine Sine. You may also find resources on our Justice, Suffering, & Wholeness Resource Page.
- September Equinox occurs between September 22-24 generally. It is the Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the Spring Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. Kate Kennington Steer offers this autumnal reflection, and Laurie Klein offers one here.
- St Michael‘s Day is celebrated September 29th and is also known as Michaelmas. It is sometimes celebrated in traditions as the first Sunday in October or on November 9th in Eastern traditions. Diane Woodrow offers this reflection.
October
- You can find resources for All Saint’s Day, Gratitude, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and harvest on our Seasons & Blessings Resource Page
- World Vegetarian Day is October 1st. Lisa DeRosa offers this reflection.
- World Communion Sunday is observed on the first Sunday in October. June Friesen offers this reflection.
- St Francis of Assisi Day is October 4th. Elaine Breckenridge offers this reflection, and Keren Dibbens-Wyatt offers this reflection.
- World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10th. Kathie Hempel offers this reflection, and Alex Tang offers this reflection.
- Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 2nd Monday in October. You can find many resources for Thanksgiving on our Seasons & Blessings Resource Page. You can find recipes under our Hospitality resource page. You can also find many posts on celebrating gratitude or harvest on the Seasons & Blessings Resource Page.
- US Indigenous People’s Day is observed on the 2nd Monday in October. Rachel K. Taber-Hamilton offers this reflection, and June Friesen offers this reflection.
- World Food Day is October 16th. Christine Sine has put together this list of resources.
- Halloween is observed October 31st. Lilly Lewin shows us how to pray with our candy, and Christine Sine offers eco-friendly Halloween resources. Mary Harwell Sayler offers this poem, Diane Woodrow offers this reflection, and Jan Blencowe offers this reflection.
November
- You can find resources for All Saint’s Day, Gratitude, Thanksgiving, and harvest on our Seasons & Blessings Resource Page
- You can find Advent resources on our Advent, Christmas, New Year & Epiphany Resource Page. You can also find Celtic Advent resources on our Celtic Spirituality Resource Page
- All Saint’s Day is held on November 1st. Check out Christine Sine’s resources here. Kathie Hempel offers a reflection here.
- Looking for Circles Day is November 2nd. Laurie Klein offers a reflection here, and Christine Sine offers one here.
- World Freedom Day is observed November 9th. Kathie Hempel offers a reflection here.
- Veteran’s Day is observed November 11th. Christine Sine offers a reflection and prayer here.
- World Kindness Day is on November 13th. Emily Huff offers this reflection, and Ana Lisa De Jong offers this poem.
- Celtic Advent begins November 15th. You can find Celtic Advent resources on our Advent, Christmas, New Year & Epiphany Resource Page. You can also find Celtic Advent resources on our Celtic Spirituality Resource Page. For example, Elaine Breckenridge offers this reflection, and Christine Sine welcomes you to Celtic Advent.
- St Hilda’s Day is celebrated November 17th. Laurie Klein offers this reflection, and Rev. Brenda Griffin Warren offers this reflection.
- World Toilet Day is November 19th. Diane Woodrow offers several reflections including this one.
- Universal Children’s Day (also called World Children’s Day) is observed November 20th. June Friesen offers this reflection.
- Christ the King Sunday is celebrated the last Sunday of Ordinary Time, completing the liturgical year in Sundays. Christine Sine offers this prayer, and Kate Kennington Steer offers this reflection.
- Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas Day. You can find many resources on our Advent, Christmas, New Year & Epiphany Resource Page. Ordinary Time ends.
- American Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 4th Thursday in November. You can find many resources for Thanksgiving on our Seasons & Blessings Resource Page. You can find recipes under our Hospitality resource page. You can also find many posts on celebrating gratitude or harvest on the Seasons & Blessings Resource Page.
December
- You can find Advent, Christmas, and New Year‘s resources on our Advent, Christmas, New Year & Epiphany Resource Page.
- World Aids Day is observed December 1st. June Friesen offers a reflection here.
- World Soil Day is observed December 5th. Lisa DeRosa offers a reflection including a poem by Catherine Lawton in this post, and June Friesen offers a reflection here.
- St Nicholas’ Day is celebrated December 6th. Christine Sine offers history with celebration suggestions.
- St Lucia’s Day is observed December 13th. Lynne Baab offers this reflection, and Carol Dixon offers this reflection.
- The December Solstice typically falls on December 21st. In the Northern Hemisphere it is the shortest day of the year and begins Winter, and in the Southern Hemisphere it begins Summer. You can find summer and winter resources on our Seasons & Blessings Resource Page. Diane Woodrow offers this December solstice reflection, and Carol Dixon offers this one.
- Blue Christmas is generally observed on the solstice. You can find more resources on our Advent, Christmas, New Year & Epiphany Resource Page. Barbie Perks offers this reflection, and Michael Moore offers this reflection.
- Christmas Eve is December 24th. Jeannie Kendall offers a reflection here, and Lucinda Smith offers one here. You can find more resources on our Advent, Christmas, New Year & Epiphany Resource Page.
- Christmas is December 25th. Christine Sine offers these Christmas Prayers, and Sue Duby offers this reflection. You can find more resources on our Advent, Christmas, New Year & Epiphany Resource Page.
- The Twelve Days of Christmas is the Christmas Season, lasting from Christmas through Epiphany in the new year. Christine Sine offers this reflection, and Lilly Lewin offers a reflection here. You can find more resources on our Advent, Christmas, New Year & Epiphany Resource Page.
- New Year’s Eve is observed December 31st. Elaine Breckenridge offers a reflection here, and Michael Moore offers one here. You can find more resources on our Advent, Christmas, New Year & Epiphany Resource Page.
Did you know? We have many resources available for downloads–from books to retreats, cards and coloring pages, and much more–including free resources! Check out our shop here for all the fun!
words, photo, and painting by Keren Dibbens-Wyatt
It is 1977. I’m six years old and the Queen is about to celebrate her Silver Jubilee. It’s a pretty big deal. Everyone is organising events and parties. I am going to be in the school choir. For some reason, we are singing a medley of songs from the musical Oliver. There is certainly a lot more food, glorious food, around than usual. Red, white and blue cakes with silver orbs on them. That you can eat the little globes of space-age metallic icing blows my tiny mind.
I was bought a long brown dress with flowery panels (think your Granny’s curtains and you won’t be far off) to wear for the concert. My best friend’s Mum has made her a white one with Union Jacks on it. Later in life she will doubtless be one of the kids who never forgets her P.E. kit or ingredients for Home Economics. I won’t know, because in a couple of years my whole world will change and I’ll lose touch with her.
This same year is when my teacher tells me I have no talent for art after all. She seems more disappointed than I am, and I won’t discover she was wrong until I’m in my mid-forties. Here and now, I spend most of my time alone with my library books or my imagination in our garden and the plum orchard behind it. I build broomsticks which inexplicably fail to fly, and see how many skips I can do with the rope before I fall over (clue, not many) watch bugs, listen to birds, pretend I am a tiger in the grass and help my Dad shell peas.
When we move, two years later, I am heartbroken. The gardens we will have from now on will seem tiny in comparison, and the houses too. I feel folded away, packed into smaller and smaller spaces as I get older, disaster after disaster appears to befall me. Bad choices anyway. I don’t remember the Golden Jubilee. There must have been one. I’m too busy being a catastrophe. But eventually a catastrophe who prays. This saves me.
By the time I’m fifty, I’m squashed into one room of a damp bungalow by a debilitating illness. Yet I have found ways to fly back to that garden of imagination. I write and I paint. Astonishingly, with practice, quite well. I surprise myself. I have a book published and have completed many more. Portfolios stuffed with art line the room. My beloved was a rare, good decision, and he keeps me going. We survive, somehow, two broken origami kits with lost instructions. Folded, scored, uncertain of what shapes we are meant to be.
And then, everything changes again. We have held on so tightly, so desperately, we struggle to believe it. A new place. Social housing, still, yes, but in a rural setting. The rooms are large, airy, cool, clean, dry, free of mould. There is space to breathe. There is a garden. It is huge. There are oak trees next door, squirrels, rose bushes, birds everywhere. I can’t get outside much, but I can see all the green pouring in through the windows. It feels like coming home.
It is 2022. I’m fifty-one years old and the Queen has just celebrated her Platinum Jubilee. So much has changed. So much is the same. The seasons of life have overtaken us. Her Majesty is very elderly now, clearly unwell after Covid. She is tired. She has been a constant, a compass, a stalwart, a fulcrum for the nation. God bless her.
I’m still ill, still not likely to burst into songs from Oliver any time soon. I don’t know how long I’ve got here. But I can breathe again, I can hope again. There are books to write and somehow, I’m starting to believe people might read them. I want to speak hope into the lives of the desperate, tell what I know of hanging on to the truth that God is love, even in dark, dank corners. I want to give that six-year-old me the magical stories that kept her going, and the thirty-year-old me spiritual guidance. I want to reach out with my imagination and paint my roses and push on the backs of wardrobes, and let myself bloom in the garden.
Join Christine Sine for a FREE Webinar on Saturday, June 25th at 9:30 am PT as she discusses her brand-new book and invites you for some fun activities and discussion. If you sign up before June 24th at 9 pm PT, you will be automatically entered into a *giveaway* for Digging Deeper – for giveaway details, visit tinyurl.com/diggingdeepergiveaway or click here. For webinar details and to sign up, visit tinyurl.com/diggingdeeperwebinar or click here.
As an Amazon Associate, I receive a small amount for purchases made through appropriate links.
Thank you for supporting Godspace in this way.
When referencing or quoting Godspace Light, please be sure to include the Author (Christine Sine unless otherwise noted), the Title of the article or resource, the Source link where appropriate, and ©Godspacelight.com. Thank you!