Proper 25C / Ordinary 30C / Pentecost +20Texts: Luke 18:9-14, Joel 2:23-32, Psalm 65 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying […]
Intro to guided meditation, and a guided imagery for sleep
Everyone has trouble sleeping now and then. For some, it’s a real problem. Many have found that guided meditation such as a body scan, or relaxation guided imagery works wonders for helping us fall asleep when our minds are on overdrive replaying events or thinking about the future. In this podcast episode, I briefly explain […]
Faith is a bike, not a car
Proper 22C / Ordinary 27C / Pentecost +17October 6, 2019 SermonLamentations 1:1-6; Lamentations 3:19-26; Psalm 37:1-9; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10. There is a saying that goes, “it’s like riding a bike.” It’s referring to something that, once you’ve learned it, usually as a child, you never forget how to do it. I have a […]
Thanks for coming to my TED talk
A few months ago, I did a thing… I was a TEDx presenter! I only had eight minutes for my talk, so I had to cut out a lot of material. If I had had more time, I would have definitely included more stories about the generosity I have witnessed and experienced in Appalachia. There has been so much of it. I would have liked to say that I understand it hasn’t only been generosity that has brought me to where I am, but privilege also. While thinking about my own story, it was not lost on me that privilege has played a role. It would have been more difficult for a Brazilian with less education, less resources and less opportunities to take on an adventure to Appalachia. And, if I looked, sounded and acted more foreign, it might not have been as easy to make a home here. While this is an important acknowledgement, I still believe that shared generosity is the key to connection. And, there is no belonging without connection.
How I learned to accept my introversion
You know the hot blooded Latina stereotype? The passionate, impulsive and intense Latin American woman, who curses in her native tongue when she is angry (which is often), and has no trouble expressing her emotions at all times? That is not me. These days, I am fine with being quieter, more reflective and deliberate than […]
New Year’s Resolutions
There are two types of people: the ones who love to make new year’s resolutions, and the ones who think this is all silly. I’m not ashamed to be part of the new year’s resolutions camp. I love new beginnings. I was the kid who loved going shopping for new notebooks before each school year; […]
My feelings… expressions of condolences in Brazil, and around the world
For some time now, I have been interested in how people around the world express empathy and offer condolences around times of difficulty and death. What do people say to each other in different cultures when they want to offer support? What do they do? How do they grieve together? I believe that learning about […]