Many misleading statements have fueled changes in the Newberg I love. (Addendum added below on Dec. 13, 2022) This is the poster that mobilized people to create the COPS PAC and overturn the Newberg School Board: A desire to make our school and community welcoming …
Read MoreAdvent Waiting and Longing—Finals
Little sister has triumphed over big sister. Flesh and Blood conquers hand-guided cloth figures. The Muppets, a plucky 20 seed winning upset after upset, are finally defeated. It’s time for one last round of voting…will Elizabeth Curtis Gemeroy’s Advent dreams come true? Voting deadline is …
Read MoreAdvent Waiting and Longing—Round 3
Almost a clean sweep of what-in-the-world voting. At least The Porter’s Gate got through. And at least I can watch you all cry in anguish as you decide between your beloved Muppets and Amy Grant. You can vote I guess. If you want. This is …
Read MoreAdvent Waiting and Longing—Round 2
My pleas saved Audrey Assad, but likely just for one round, because now she faces she-who-is-Christmas, Amy Grant. But thanks to Jenn Perez for creating a Spotify playlist with all of these songs, so many new to me and so good. I genuinely love the …
Read MoreAdvent Waiting and Longing—Round 1
Round 1? But we already voted once! Ah, yes, dear friends, but that was the play-in round, because we were so inundated with submissions! We now are at the 16 songs we usually vote for…although we have a sneaky 20 seed that made its way …
Read MoreAdvent Waiting & Longing—Play-in Round
26 entries! Amazing. Thanks to all who contributed, and it makes for an extra round of voting this time. Listening to all of these, I realize there are so many different ways to evaluate: Does the lyric convey waiting and longing? Does the music? And, …
Read MoreAdvent Caroling Madness X
We have made it to everyone’s favorite time of the year! It is time for Advent Caroling Madness X, the tenth journey into submitting and voting for your favorite versions of Christmas songs! It all began with a spark of inspiration while driving in my car …
Read MoreAn Open Letter to the Newberg School Board
An open letter to the Newberg School District Board of Directors and Superintendent Phillips, I’m writing this open letter since public comment isn’t allowed this evening. I write as a parent of three graduates of Newberg High School and as a former employee. I’m writing …
Read MoreDependence and Wonder
(Message given at Wayside Friends on July 17, 2022) Imagine we are sitting by the shore of a lake. I push out from the shore in a little fishing boat, and turn and face you, using the acoustics of the water to share a story …
Read MoreRegenerative Belovedness
(Message given at Wayside Friends Church on May 15, 2022) One of the joys of getting older is time. Time to see more and more of what is out there in our beautifully diverse world. Time to read more perspectives and experience more things; the …
Read More