Arisia programming is up.

Guess which description (particularly) made me perk up as my housemate was reading aloud in the other room.

Saturday 9:00 PM

[225] Religion and Kink — 1hr — William Dawes A

Connections between kink and spirituality are legion. The Christian monks of the Middle Ages flagellating themselves in penitence; the woman in a latex nun's outfit, threatening her naughty students; the kinkster marveling at how his first experience of subspace reminds him of his favorite moments from synagogue; the scene so powerful it opens spiritual doors, making the scene itself a chance for connection with the divine. This panel will explore ways in which kink and spirituality intersect. dkap, Jaime Garmendia, Aimee Bouchard, Darkteddybear (m), Mistress Simone

I'm undecided as to how much of Arisia I'm going to attend.  Selections from a first-pass at the schedule.  (Melissa suggested I just buy a one-day Saturday pass, and that's probably the best idea.)  ( Read more... )

"Your package has been delivered."

Huzzah!

I can now cease any pre-emptive panicking.

on the sixth day of christmas

As I said, yesterday I didn't leave the house until I went to get my hair cut.  Despite having absorbed the information on weather.com, I was still thrown by just how cold it was when I left the house.  It was good for me to get out, though.  Walking from the salon to dinner, I found myself wishing I had my laptop with me because I wanted to work on my sermon (something I hadn't wanted to all day).

I forgot about Molly's Diesel office hours until I got the reminder email she sent to the listserv Tuesday night ("five golden rings"!), so I chose to sleep in -- having gotten home from dinner around 11:30pm and in bed around 1am.

Today I had a 2½ hr lunch with Cate and then went and gave blood at the Masonic Lodge near Porter Square (and got a free travel mug).

I don't have keys to the church, so I hung out at the library for about an hour (and had wireless, which surprised me).  I got a phone call at one point and went outside and was fine despite the fact that it was 25F (though I did go back inside after I was off the phone).  Yes, today was significantly warmer than yesterday and I remain made of polar bear.

Dear Church,

Tonight at Rest & Bread, we will reflect on the love of God in the flesh.

Music for meditation begins at 6:15 in the chapel, leading into our service of prayer & communion at 6:30.

Peace,
-Keith

It was literally me and Keith.

Call to Worship was:

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word.

Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives.

Psalm was from Psalm 96 (vss. 1-3 and 10-13).  Sacred Text was John 1:1-5, 14. We talked about the language we use for Jesus and about finding language that speaks to our contemporary experience.  Keith suggested language of "guide" (as in, on a journey), and I talked about Tillich's Ground of Being and the idea of Jesus being transparent to the ground of his being and how for me that's one way in to understanding Jesus being fully divine and fully human.

I had dinner in Harvard Square with my brother and his girlfriend tonight.  We were thwarted in our attempts to get Thai food (both 9 Tastes and Spice were closed), so we ate at Uno's.

Tomorrow I'm getting up at 5:30am for morning prayer and the going on an adventure to Northampton and environs with Carolyn.  Yeah, I think when I get home I'm just gonna post year-end wrap-up posts and then fall into bed.