Letters from Ascension Hermitage and Sanctuary

I don't want to walk on ice, even to feed the birds . . . so I put a new feeder right on the handrail beside the steps - and happily the birds adopted it right away! The temperature is now 21 degrees, the high expected for today, so the ice is going nowhere, but at least the birds won't go hungry. We hope everyone is staying warm - and well fed, of course!  

 Ducky the beagle always wants to go outside, but on these cold days he wants to come right back inside to his warm bed and chew toys! I think he believes if he just stares at the door it might magically open. Sometimes he even jumps up on the door - but he knows my rule: all four paws must be down before I'll open the door! We hope you and yours are staying safe and warm.

As it happened, this week two of my great friends mentioned the Buddhist monks and their dog Aloka walking for peace. I had heard about the walk but had not really been following it. . .  I will be now! And want to share two gifts - I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do: Dana Catharine, artist, author, teacher and a friend for 50+ years sent her drawing of Aloka. Rebecca McElhone, a licensed lay preacher in the Diocese of Easton and a friend of many years, sent a copy of her sermon for today. [This Sunday's Scripture Readings: OT: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 5-13; Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23]. When preachers prepare a homily or sermon, we read the lectionary for the assigned readings for the particular Sunday we will be sharing the good news with you, the listener. It might be a word or a sentence or just the central theme of the readings. Sometimes it’s the Collect that is shared before the readings for any particular Sunday. It might even be what’s ...

As you can imagine, extra bedding is just one of the items needed before the impending storm. We've also bought extra food and even a snow shovel.  Because it will be almost impossible to get to our chickens, they have an extra flock block in their coop, and Mariette (our newest rescue) will be coming indoors. She has still not fully recovered from her highway experience and is missing a lot of feathers. I have filled all of the bird feeders and even added a new one since reaching the feeders through snow and ice won't happen. Our greatest concern is ice and sleet after the snow which can easily take down power lines and tree branches. I know many reading this blog are in the same predicament - may we all be safe and warm! The governor of Louisiana recommended making gumbo and staying indoors and off the roads. I won't be making gumbo, but I do have black beans soaking for soup and will be staying indoors as much as possible! You eat something warm and be careful too.  

Mec and I went to Cambridge today for her vet check-up and rabies vaccination. . .  and to get her nails trimmed. She was well-behaved and friendly! "Lean, muscular - in great condition," the vet said! We stopped at the  Bay Country Bakery  for a tiny treat on the way home . . . can't do that too often or lean and muscular would go right out the window!  

 Our newest - a chicken rescued today from the middle of the highway, Rt. 13 to be exact. I believe she is a Red Star. Cindy (who actually found her) thinks she had been living under a truck and fell out/off on the highway because there were no farms or houses nearby, and because she went right under Cindy's truck and onto the axle. Right now, she is pretty scruffy and missing a lot of feathers especially on her back. She was extremely thirsty when she first got here but immediately began picking at a patch of grass. Fortunately, there is a pen where she can be apart from the others in our small flock at least until she is stronger (or maybe forever. . .). And her name? Mariette! You just never know what surprises the day will bring!

Precious is not a fan of collars, but she was happy to show off her new harness. She has been with us now for almost three months and has settled in quite well. She loves people and cats and seems slowly to be making peace with the reality that she lives in a multi-dog household! She also loves dog biscuits and her Benebone chew toy. As we all are, she is looking forward to warmer, sunny weather, when being outside is more fun!  

It's New Year's Day and while most of the world is celebrating that fact, many Christians will also be celebrating the Holy Name of Jesus. The following text is from the Episcopal Church website: Today is the feast of the Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Eternal Father, who gave to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Holy Name Day, celebrated on January 1, honors the naming of Jesus, which took place on the eighth day after his birth in accordance with Jewish custom. Formerly known in Anglican tradition as the Feast of the Circumcision, the day was renamed in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer to emphasize the power and meaning of the name given to the Son of God. The name “Jesus,” meaning “Savior” or “Deliverer,” recalls the angel’s message to Joseph th...