This week I have am sharing some stuff I absolutely love: "Her Monologue of Dark Crepe with Edges of Light" by Norman Dubie. This is an older poem and my friend who introduced it to me told me Dubie might not feel comfortable publishing it today. There would be a bit of controversy about it […]

Stories of Strength and Hope: Engaging Our Artistry to Envision a Brighter Future This virtual event is free and open to all. RSVP is required for the Zoom link. RSVP to [email protected] Creatives for Compassionate Communities is a movement dedicated to bringing people together to create more compassionate communities through the transformational power of art. We hope […]

This has been a tough week. Climate change was coming so gradually that the media and our government leaders weren't taking it seriously. And then seemingly all at once: BAM! So I looked for poems dealing with discouragement and finding the strength to carry on. Here are the poems for this 20th class: • "Moon" […]

Interfaith Book Study: How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi Facilitated by Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Church of San José Choose either Thursday evenings or Saturdays midday: Thursdays, 5:00-6:30 p.m., September 17, 24, October 1, 8, 15 Saturdays, 12:00-1:30 p.m., September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17 Dr. Kendi invites all of […]

Naomi Shihab Nye, my favorite poet (which is saying a lot because I love a LOT of poets), is speaking "here" (metaphorically - it's on zoom) This is a chance to see and hear her "live." You can get tickets here: https://hammertheatre.com/events-list/  

This Sunday’s sermon is on Mindfulness, Rut Stories and River Stories Speaker: Jim Thompson Scripture: Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he (sic). Philip Pullman, author of the fantasy trilogy, His Dark Materials, said, “After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we […]

Dear Cool Poetry People: If one were to go by my selection of this week's poems, one might think I have been in a down mood lately, and that is absolutely true. However, I also find these poems hopeful in their speaking to us, the living, to make the most of the time we have […]

The Annual Gathering of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Northern California -Nevada region is this Saturday. To attend go to ccncn.org and register!

Sunday Gathering, October 11 from 10-10:50 a.m.  Pastor Dana will offer reflections from Paul's Letter from prison to the Philippians - chapter 2:1-7.  Paul talks about the unifying qualities of humbleness and consideration of others, and their value in lifting each other up in times of strife and struggle.  We will be having some breakout room […]

I have so many incredible poems to share with you, I had trouble picking just 3 for today but here they are, two by poets new to me and one by an ancient favorite. More to come in the following weeks. "We Are of a Tribe" by Alberto Rios. The "someday" he writes in the […]

Urban Sanctuary Friends, Pastor Dana will be interviewing Janet Childs who offers her wisdom about healing and transforming the enormous grief we are experiencing as a result COVID, the fires, and the political unraveling around us.  Janet has worked with the Bill Wilson Center for Living with Dying for 45 years and is the Director […]

Dear Poetry People: Elizabeth O'Connor, chronicler of the Church of the Saviour, the DC church Gordon Cosby founded in 1947, wrote Journey Inward Journey Outward, 4 words that have stayed with me these […]