I don't know how I found you, what happy link brought me here, but I'm thrilled I did! Your focus is sorely needed, and you can count me a sub.
The opening lines reminded me immediately of a song I first heard Sting sing on "If on a Winter's Night" album, the song is 'Soul Cake.' I never understood it, but liked it immediately. These words in the chorus aversion of the ones you've highlighted:
I love what you highlighted about the community piece-- how there is a temptation to just go for an aesthetic, or a "museum" with some of these liturgical feasts, rather than grasping the core of what was being celebrated, and what the celebration provided for people. So the gift of the liturgical feast days as a chance to step out and connect with others! (Or receive the help we need!)
I'm so glad that resonated with you, Steph! Especially in the online era, it's so easy to treat these feasts almost as coordinating accessories to our lives rather than opportunities for growth in faith. For my own part, I've always had a deep fascination with history...which means I have to be extra mindful of not just becoming a "collector/consumer" of information. Taking it slowly with feasts helps me to keep that in check a bit!
By the way, I have a million and a half thoughts to put into an email to you!! Thank you so much for your note!!
oh yes! I totally get the instinct to consume rather than digest information! That's why I love actually practicing feast days with my body, since it slows me down.
I love your focus on St. Clement - and so wonderful that his feast coincides with Thanksgiving! This means I can make something with oranges and lemons - perhaps even the clementing cakes, and share his tale and a rhyme. Your Village Green suggestions reminded me of an opportunity to donate clothing and cold weather gear. I will be sure to do so! Thank you!
I'm so glad you enjoyed reading and connected with these ideas, Jane! There are really so many beautiful holidays this month that can serve as such helpful reminders.
Thank you for all the work you did to make this post happen! I dried orange and lemon slices yesterday for garlands 🍊🔔🍋 I think my toddler will be a fan 😁
It’s been fun to learn along with you these last few weeks about St Clement and I like that it’s colliding with Thanksgiving... I normally wouldn’t give much thought about the saints or even really anything religious on t-day - this feels like a solid way to address that gap.
Aw thanks so much for your kind words, Lindsay - I'm so glad we got to travel through St. Clement's Day together! How did the garlands work out with your toddler? I hope it was a lot of fun!
Isn't the wealth of feast days so interesting?! For my own part, I'm a bit of an "ecumenical stew" (haha) - I tend to gravitate toward the Medieval calendar of feasts, and we find pieces of that in the liturgical calendars held by a few different denominations today. And the calendar within even a single framework of Christianity changes so much year to year - within the Catholic church, for instance, major calendar reforms have happened even in the 20th century, with feasts being removed or re-positioned.
That makes sense. I know that Scotland and Ireland are Catholic. I have studied enough history to know that the Episcopalians, and other churches in America are offshoots of the catholic Church. I believe that the only churches that aren't are the baptist churches, although we do have feast days, they aren't as numerous as the catholic.
We also don't believe in all the saints, which I've always considered to be sad. Every church should have it's own heroes who embody the church.
Southern Baptists believe that we are part of the body of Christ, and that there is the church. We just have a difference in some small things, like dancing and alcohol. Which I've never really agreed with. After all, Christ's first miracle was turning water into wine, and David danced before the lord.
I guess it comes down to being drunk on Saturday night and acting pious in church on Sunday.
I'm not one to judge and am just happy that people believe in the Lord, the birth, the crucifixion and the resurrection.
The Baptists I know sort of laugh at the holy see. But even though we jest with them, we would defend them to the death. The church is the church. The Baptists merely take their doctrine from John the Baptist instead of Paul and the church of Rome.
In the little town I was born in, which has a population of around 5000, the churches are on opposite sides of a long block. The baptist church on side, the catholic on the next corner, the methodist on a third corner, and the Episcopalians on the fourth corner.
The churches work together and support each other.
Wonderful post! I especially love your suggestions for modern clementing. Accepting help can be the hardest thing at times, thinking we don't need help, but the human connection made IS sometimes what we need. I have a friend who helps keep depression at bay by serving and helping others. I remind myself to ask for her help when I need it and that helps us both!
You'll probably be unsurprised to hear that I liked the note about the arrival of the cold weather bringing people out to gather rather than inside to hide...I'm introverted in a lot of ways and need lots of time alone but winter is my favorite outside time and gathering time!! I don't know what it is but the brisk cold and the bright sunshine together just bring me such a magical sense of being alive.
I so relate, my friend! I'm very introverted, so I've found that I have to bias myself toward "getting out" more - and especially in the winter, it's crucial! We don't get much of that beautiful winter sunshine here (haha), but even getting out in the rain is such a touchstone with our community.
Absolutely. Long solo walks are especially helpful for me -- if I've combined movement and outdoor time and solitude first thing in the morning I come back ready to face the fact that I have a house full of people! And gathering with others outside also just feels more, gosh, I don't know. I think maybe it helps me feel free and calm.
I don't know how I found you, what happy link brought me here, but I'm thrilled I did! Your focus is sorely needed, and you can count me a sub.
The opening lines reminded me immediately of a song I first heard Sting sing on "If on a Winter's Night" album, the song is 'Soul Cake.' I never understood it, but liked it immediately. These words in the chorus aversion of the ones you've highlighted:
"A soul! a soul! a soul-cake!
Please good Missis, a soul-cake!
An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry,
Any good thing to make us all merry.
One for Peter, two for Paul
Three for Him who made us all."
Thanks for your writing!
I love what you highlighted about the community piece-- how there is a temptation to just go for an aesthetic, or a "museum" with some of these liturgical feasts, rather than grasping the core of what was being celebrated, and what the celebration provided for people. So the gift of the liturgical feast days as a chance to step out and connect with others! (Or receive the help we need!)
I'm so glad that resonated with you, Steph! Especially in the online era, it's so easy to treat these feasts almost as coordinating accessories to our lives rather than opportunities for growth in faith. For my own part, I've always had a deep fascination with history...which means I have to be extra mindful of not just becoming a "collector/consumer" of information. Taking it slowly with feasts helps me to keep that in check a bit!
By the way, I have a million and a half thoughts to put into an email to you!! Thank you so much for your note!!
oh yes! I totally get the instinct to consume rather than digest information! That's why I love actually practicing feast days with my body, since it slows me down.
I love your focus on St. Clement - and so wonderful that his feast coincides with Thanksgiving! This means I can make something with oranges and lemons - perhaps even the clementing cakes, and share his tale and a rhyme. Your Village Green suggestions reminded me of an opportunity to donate clothing and cold weather gear. I will be sure to do so! Thank you!
I'm so glad you enjoyed reading and connected with these ideas, Jane! There are really so many beautiful holidays this month that can serve as such helpful reminders.
Thank you for all the work you did to make this post happen! I dried orange and lemon slices yesterday for garlands 🍊🔔🍋 I think my toddler will be a fan 😁
It’s been fun to learn along with you these last few weeks about St Clement and I like that it’s colliding with Thanksgiving... I normally wouldn’t give much thought about the saints or even really anything religious on t-day - this feels like a solid way to address that gap.
Aw thanks so much for your kind words, Lindsay - I'm so glad we got to travel through St. Clement's Day together! How did the garlands work out with your toddler? I hope it was a lot of fun!
It was a hit-- only partly dismantled by his exploring hahaha. Can’t wait for advent on your ‘stack!
As a person who is not a catholic, It is interesting to see how many feast days there are.
Is England catholic, or is something different. I seem to remember the Church of England being in the majority.
Isn't the wealth of feast days so interesting?! For my own part, I'm a bit of an "ecumenical stew" (haha) - I tend to gravitate toward the Medieval calendar of feasts, and we find pieces of that in the liturgical calendars held by a few different denominations today. And the calendar within even a single framework of Christianity changes so much year to year - within the Catholic church, for instance, major calendar reforms have happened even in the 20th century, with feasts being removed or re-positioned.
That makes sense. I know that Scotland and Ireland are Catholic. I have studied enough history to know that the Episcopalians, and other churches in America are offshoots of the catholic Church. I believe that the only churches that aren't are the baptist churches, although we do have feast days, they aren't as numerous as the catholic.
We also don't believe in all the saints, which I've always considered to be sad. Every church should have it's own heroes who embody the church.
Why not use "The Church?"
Southern Baptists believe that we are part of the body of Christ, and that there is the church. We just have a difference in some small things, like dancing and alcohol. Which I've never really agreed with. After all, Christ's first miracle was turning water into wine, and David danced before the lord.
I guess it comes down to being drunk on Saturday night and acting pious in church on Sunday.
I'm not one to judge and am just happy that people believe in the Lord, the birth, the crucifixion and the resurrection.
The Baptists I know sort of laugh at the holy see. But even though we jest with them, we would defend them to the death. The church is the church. The Baptists merely take their doctrine from John the Baptist instead of Paul and the church of Rome.
In the little town I was born in, which has a population of around 5000, the churches are on opposite sides of a long block. The baptist church on side, the catholic on the next corner, the methodist on a third corner, and the Episcopalians on the fourth corner.
The churches work together and support each other.
In the small
Wonderful post! I especially love your suggestions for modern clementing. Accepting help can be the hardest thing at times, thinking we don't need help, but the human connection made IS sometimes what we need. I have a friend who helps keep depression at bay by serving and helping others. I remind myself to ask for her help when I need it and that helps us both!
It's so true! We're built to be social creatures, and learning how to navigate that really helps us!
I love this so much Kristin! Thank you for taking the time to lay all of this out for us to enjoy!
I'm so glad you enjoyed, Mandy! I learned a lot (about St. Clement, and about myself!) digging into all this.
Beautifully written and researched piece, Kristin.
Thank you so much Jolene...I'm learning so much from all these holidays!
It's been a pleasure getting to know St. Clement, Kristin! ♡
What beautiful thoughts in this exceptional post, Kristin!!
Thank you so much, Dixie!! Digging into these days always teaches me so much.
You'll probably be unsurprised to hear that I liked the note about the arrival of the cold weather bringing people out to gather rather than inside to hide...I'm introverted in a lot of ways and need lots of time alone but winter is my favorite outside time and gathering time!! I don't know what it is but the brisk cold and the bright sunshine together just bring me such a magical sense of being alive.
I so relate, my friend! I'm very introverted, so I've found that I have to bias myself toward "getting out" more - and especially in the winter, it's crucial! We don't get much of that beautiful winter sunshine here (haha), but even getting out in the rain is such a touchstone with our community.
Absolutely. Long solo walks are especially helpful for me -- if I've combined movement and outdoor time and solitude first thing in the morning I come back ready to face the fact that I have a house full of people! And gathering with others outside also just feels more, gosh, I don't know. I think maybe it helps me feel free and calm.
Movement is SUCH a crucial part of it, for me too!