World Singing Day 2022

World Singing Day is celebrated every 3^rd Saturday of October (this year October 15th). Music is the international, universal language of humankind. So how appropriate then to devote one day of the year to singing around the globe.  

WSD was founded in 2012 by Colorado, USA musician, Scott Johnson. The purpose of WSD is to unite humankind through singing. It does not matter who you are, every human being is invited and welcome to sing. Whether you sing in the shower or are a professional musician, check out a WSD event nearest you, and join in the joy, solidarity and unity of making music together.

The 2022 Song of the Year is Dona Nobis Pacem, Latin for Grant us peace, and how we need peace in our world today! 

Orange Shirt Day-National Truth & Reconciliation Day

September 30^th marks the National Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada. It is a day to remember the terrible legacy of Indian Residential Schools, and listen to and learn from Indigenous survivors of the schools, and/or survivors’ family members. For the story of the orange shirt, click here. 

Weekend in Black and White - August 13, 2022

 

                                                                      Apples on our tree

                    For Weekend in Black and White

Sabina's Story: A day in the life of a refugee

 The following video highlights the work of Canadian Lutheran World Relief, the Lutheran World Federation, and the Government of Canada amongst South Sudan women in an Uganda refugee camp. They provide socio-psychological support, they also provide them with training to become more self-sufficient in order that they can provide for their children. The media here in Canada rarely provides coverage of situations like this in several of the African countries. So hopefully you find this video helpful and encouraging, and perhaps it will inspire you to give generously to organizations like CLWR and LWF, which offer two-third's world peoples opportunities to improve their standard of living.

Wordless Wednesday - July 6, 2022

 

                                  For Wordless Wednesday

Brief Book Review: The Confession of Brother Haluin

Author: Ellis Peters

Publisher: General Paperbacks, 205 pages

The Author 

Ellis Peters is the fiction writer of the Benedictine Cadfael mediaeval whodunit series. This particular volume is number fifteen.

Short Summary

It is the winter of 1142, and Brother Haluin falls while helping to repair the damaged roof of the St. Peter and St. Paul Abbey hall. He is seriously injured, and so he makes what he believes could be his deathbed confession to the Abbot and Brother Cadfael.

With the assistance of Cadfael, he survives the fall. Still limping, and in need of crutches to walk, he decides to go on a penitential journey, accompanied by Cadfael. There are several interesting, adventurous events on the journey, including a murder, as well as a couple of unknown discoveries connected with Brother Haluin’s past. 

In the end, Brother Haluin, in this reviewer’s mind, makes the wrong decision by remaining a monk instead of considering another viable option. 

A brief critique: Although it is acknowledged that Brother Haluin most likely became a monk for the wrong reason or reasons, Ellis Peters seems, ultimately, to idealize the monastic vocation in the novel, to the detriment of other vocations. 

What Ellis Peters does succeed in doing quite well in the novel is presenting the “sins” of England’s 12^th century patriarchal and class-oriented society. 

The Weekend in Black & White - May 20, 2022

 

                              Spring tulip and rock

                     For The Weekend in Black & White