Sun-drenched, late
August days
Ripening
The blackberries
along the driveway.

Avoiding the briars,
Leaning over
The stalks and
Pushing aside
The yellowing leaves…

Each morning,
The tart juice
Turning a little
Sweeter
As the fruit darkens.

Which is the beloved,
Which is the world.

By Greg Orr

Readings will he held on Tuesdays at 10:00am. Our first meeting was held August 20. Subsequent dates are August 27, September 3, 10, 17, and 24. Participants will provide their own book. Prior to the first session, please read the first two chapters (Pages 5 – 22). We will distribute a full reading schedule at the first session.

Michael Puett, a professor of Chinese history at Harvard, wrote “The Path What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life.” He neatly encapsulated the philosophies of Confucius, Mencius, Laozi, the Inward Training, Zhuangzi, and Xunzi to invite the reader to reframe their understanding of relationships, decisions, influence, vitality, spontaneity, and humanity.

In the book’s preface, Pruett wrote, “Many of us now believe that each of us should be a unique individual who knows himself. We believe we should be authentic, loyal to a truth we now tend to locate not in a higher deity but within ourselves…. But what if these ideas that we believe enhance our lives are actually limiting us?” Chinese philosophy, however, turns that on its head.

Please note that though this book’s topic is philosophy, it is very readable, and frankly, hard to put down.

At The Foundry, West Stockbridge, Friday, September 27 at 7:30 PM

Read about John below:
John Hamilton was born into a spirited Irish-American family of singers and storytellers. Breaking with his strict Catholic upbringing, he embarked on a career in music that immersed him in the colorful but dangerous world of drugs, alcohol, and rock clubs. A debilitating onset of panic disorder abruptly halted his musical pursuits, propelling him into the business world where he thrived as a creative director in advertising. Despite professional success, Hamilton’s persistent quest for the transcendent led him to seminary and, eventually, to two decades of parish work as a pastor. In “Honest To God,” he eloquently chronicles the collapse of the mainstream Christianity, his loss of connection to the transcendent and his walk into the wilderness to search for it again.

For more information, visit John’s website or The Foundry website.

Again this Fall, our church will be collecting school supplies for local families in need through September and October.

Those wishing to donate may bring their supplies to the church building. Items may be left in the food pantry basket near the entryway. We will again have a second plastic bin marked “School Supplies” on the church deck near the far entry door. If choosing this option, please place your items in the school supplies bin and close the cover tightly.

Please note: If using the outside bin, leave only paper, pencils and other items that are not affected by warm temperatures. In previous years, items such as crayons have melted in the heat.

Members of the Mission Team will arrive at the church mid-day or early afternoon on Tuesdays, gather the school supplies and take them to the Chatham Area Silent Pantry; where they will be distributed to area families with school children.

Suggested items include: loose leaf paper, construction paper, index cards, post it notes, plastic pencil boxes, glue sticks, gallon size zip lock bags, children’s scissors, crayons, markers, highlighters, dry erase markers, lead pencils, and colored pencils.

We are grateful for any and all donations to this worthy cause.

– Ed Fallon, For the Missions Team