prayer

To our Gods of old, we bless the ground
that you tread in search of our freedom!
We bless your presence in our lives and in our hearts!
Take of this offering to your delight,
and be filled with our prayers of thanksgiving!
May our lives remain as full as our hearts on this day!
yoruban – africa

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poem

XI.

Though he was ill and in pain,
in disobedience to the instruction he
would have received if he had asked,
the old man got up from his bed,
dressed, and went to the barn.
The bare branches of winter had emerged
through the last leaf-colors of fall,
the loveliest of all, browns and yellows
[...]

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prayer

Oh, Great Spirit,
whose voice I hear in the winds
and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me.
I am small and weak.
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes
ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear [...]

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prayer of philaret

My Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee.
Thou and Thou alone knowest my needs.
Thou lovest me more than I am able to love Thee.
O Father, grant unto me, Thy servant, all which I cannot ask.
For a cross I dare not ask, nor for consolation;
I dare only to stand in Thy presence.
My [...]

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meet and greet

On Thursday, September 24th, volunteer coordinators will host various “Meet Your Neighbor” events around the City. Amsterdam’s greatest asset is its close-knit community. Our goal is to protect and enhance this asset. We wish to encourage you to take this opportunity to network, to share ideas, and work on neighborhood self-improvement projects.
Grassroots activities are planned [...]

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communion: 9/11

The community is invited to attend a memorial service to quietly mark the sad anniversary of September 11, 2001 at Riverlink Park. The event will start at 7:30pm.
7:30pm Recorded music as participants arrive.
7:40pm Welcome.
7:45pm Silent communion for 10 minutes.
7:55pm Silently drop a wreath in the river with a blessing.
8:05pm Light candles.
[...]

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ocean bound

“Ebb, ocean of life, (the flow will return,)
Cease not your moaning you fierce old mother,
Endlessly cry for your castaways, but fear not, deny not me,
Rustle not up so hoarse and angry against my feet as I touch you
or gather from you.”
- Walt Whitman

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prayer

Send Thy peace O Lord, which is
perfect and everlasting,
that our souls may radiate peace.
Send Thy peace O Lord, that we
may think, act and speak harmoniously.
Send Thy peace O Lord, that we
may be contented and thankful for
Thy bountiful gifts.
Send Thy peace O Lord, that amidst
our worldly strife, we may enjoy Thy bliss.
Send Thy peace O Lord, [...]

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do the next right thing

This is the sum of all true righteousness -
Treat others, as thou wouldst thyself be treated.
Do nothing to thy neighbor, which hereafter
Thou wouldst not have thy neighbor do to thee.

- Hindu wisdom

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ain’t it the truth

“… such feelings as lust, hatred, enmity, jealousy, and belligerence – should not be expressed; they become more and more frequent.
Expressing them tends to make them stronger and more prevalent. It is better to reflect on the disadvantages of engaging in such emotions and to try to displace them with feelings of satisfaction and love. [...]

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flag day speech

I’d like to thank Elks Lodge 101 for the opportunity to speak today as we gather to celebrate our flag – Old Glory – the proud banner that has flown for over two centuries as proof of our independence, commitment and honor.
This constellation of stars on stripes offers us a concrete hold to anchor the [...]

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prayer

“Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and you shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened to you.
For whoever asks, receives;
and he who seeks, finds;
and to him who knocks, the door is opened.”
- matthew 7:7:8, jesus of nazareth

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memorial day speech 2009

Thank you so much to the Veteran’s Commission for organizing this event this year and asking me to attend. We are all grateful for the work you do on behalf of the Veterans of our community year round – from the careful tending of monuments to continuous advocacy on behalf of those that have served [...]

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love and loss

There’s little that Bob Going and I agree about these days, but today he reposted a recording on his blog from October 2001 that is as important as it is deeply moving.
On the night of that show, the Amsterdam Oratorio, women passed out tissues to the waiting audience, which I thought was quite over [...]

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prayer

Refuse to fall down.
If you cannot refuse to fall down,
refuse to stay down.
If you cannot refuse to stay down
lift your heart toward heaven
and like a hungry beggar,
ask that it be filled,
and it will be filled.
You may be pushed down.
You may be kept from rising.
But no one can keep you from lifting
your heart toward heaven — [...]

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prayer

Life is short and we have not too much time
for gladdening the hearts of those
who are traveling the dark way with us.
Oh, be swift to love! Make haste to be kind.
- Henri Fredrick Amiel 1835

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when it really matters

If you hear the dogs,
keep on going.
If you hear gunfire,
keep on going.
If you hear shouts and footsteps,
keep on going.
harriet tubman – c. 1820-1913

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saint theresa’s prayer

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you [...]

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original

O Breathing Life, your Name shines everywhere!
Release a space to plant your Presence here.
Envision your “I Can” now.
Embody your desire in every light and form.
Grow through us this moment’s bread and wisdom.
Untie the knots of failure binding us,
as we release the strands we hold of others’ faults.
Help us not forget our Source,
Yet free us from [...]

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live adventurously

“Live adventurously.
When choices arise, do you take the way that offers the fullest opportunity for the use of your gifts in the service of God and the community?
Let your life speak.”
Statement issued by Aotearaoa/New Zealand Yearly Meeting, 1987;
quoted in Quaker Faith and Practice, 24:10

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