Author: Mike

Lenten crunchtime

Lent begins tomorrow. I hope you’ve had plenty of time to think about how you’ll spend the most DIY season of the church year.

My plan for Lent 2012:

  • Fasting: I am giving up about a dozen “comforting distractions.” As a vegan, I’ll be giving up soy rather than meat on Fridays.
  • Prayer: I like the idea of using a daily prayer book, but after 30 years of experimenting I haven’t found anything that really clicks for me. Recently I’ve been using Give Us This Day, and that’s what I’ll be using this Lent.
  • Almsgiving: File under MINE OWN BEESWAX.

Some years I gorge on “Lenten resources.” This year, mass, Give Us This Day, and my own community will suffice. Secular Lenten observers might enjoy Jacob Berendes’s Lent essay, and Susan Stabile has a nice roundup of resources for Christians.

508 #183: Worcester Boards and Commissions 101

508 is a show about Worcester. This week, Chris Robarge of the Citizens Advisory Council (and ACLU) talks about Worcester Boards and Commissions. Also: sharpening a Ka Bar Fighting Knife
with a Spyderco Sharpmaker and a Chef’s Choice 130.

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You can watch 508 Fridays at 7pm on WCCA TV13.

Also: FYC closing, Occupy/Tea Party protest against the NDAA.
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Occupy Worcester protests the NDAA

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I was in downtown Worcester at the federal courthouse this afternoon for the first of four (!) hours of an NDAA protest organized by Occupy Worcester.

Interest in this event skyrocketed a couple days ago when the local Tea Party encouraged members to take part.

Things began with Occupy Worcester mic checking the Bill of Rights:

The big Tea Party contingent hadn’t arrived by the time I left; most of the 30-40 people were familiar from past OW events.

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Candlemas: Planning for Spring

Tracy had a short post today about Groundhog Day, the old pagan festival of Imbolc, and Candlemas, three holidays that fall more or less today.

In Massachusetts, the days finally feel like they’re getting longer. The battle against darkness continues, but it’s obvious the tide has turned, and these holidays mark a natural time to celebrate the impending victory and think about the end of winter, whether by preparing liturgical equipment or seeing if small animals can give us an ETA.

I’m officially beginning to plan for Lent today. That means starting to think about what I might want to give up (this year: a lot), and asking the people around me if they’re observing Lent this year (many non-Christians do!). It’s also turned out to be a day of garden and business planning, and reviewing the progress of my New Year’s resolutions. Candlemas—now my favorite neglected holiday.

Ten Days Against Ten Years of Guantanamo

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I observed the tenth anniversary of Guantanamo along with hundreds of others in front of the White House. Our group had placed a wheeled cage, with someone dressed as a detainee (black hood, orange jumpsuit) inside, outside the White House 90 hours before the big demonstration began, and the goal was to keep the cage vigil going until the demonstration, and the following march to the Supreme Court, were over.

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