Sunday, July 28th

 

Earth Our Original Monastery:

An  hour to contemplate the poetry of Mary Oliver, and music by Tom Dietzel. The service will be framed by the themes in Christine Valtners Paintner’s book, Earth Our Original Monastery.

Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver

Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who make the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and crotchety–

best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light–
good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.