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    • Prairie Tidings (Church Blog)
    • Rev. Badger's 2019 Stoic Blog
    • The Practical Bard (Rev. Missy's Blog)
    • Little Druid on the Prairie (Rev. Lauren's Blog)
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Mountain Ancestors Grove, ADF

Prairie Tidings: Our Church's Blog

Victims of "Othering": Thoughts on Terrorizing Places of Worship & the Murder of the Faithful

10/30/2018

 

I cannot even begin to imagine the pain, confusion, intense emotions, and suffering those of Tree of Life * Or L'Simcha Congregation are experiencing today, as well as those of the diverse community of Squirrel Hill in which the synagogue resides. 

In my not-knowing, I humbly offer these words, inspired by teachers in my traditions, and yours: 

May the god of your forebears, glorified and sanctified be his name among his people, 
Make ready a place at his table for those murdered in the midst of prayer, those slain because of another's ignorance, and those who have already survived one impossible tragedy... only to fall victim to another. 
Make ready your halls, god of Abraham, we pray, 
That their memories will forever be honored and praised, remembered and exalted, adored and treasured. 
May the sacred Fires that burn here in this world for their memory be of comfort to their spirits.
Let those Fires be warm remembrances,
Let those Fires be everlasting love,
Let those Fires bring ease to their every need,
And let those Fires be guiding lights to their spirits, that they may always be with us. 
So say we all. 


​As a priest of a church that has many meetings and events at my family's private home, imagining myself, my family, and our congregants in a similar horrific situation like the one in Pittsburgh... is impossible. No imagined tragedy could ever come close to the experience of suffering that comes from living through those life-altering moments. So, instead of bloviating in speculation, I'll offer something concrete: 

Assaults on Soft-Targets are Bankrupt of Virtue *hard stop*.

There's no point driven home, or honor gained by going after unarmed people in their most vulnerable and receptive moments. It's cowardice. It's murder. You are no soldier in some war (that doesn't exist). You're a craven murderer. Be better than that. 

In this country, especially during this time, we cannot, metaphorically speaking, create sparks when we are standing on a beach of gunpowder. 

Many of us are moved to act, and that impelling force we feel to do so can be the impetus for great change... but when the engine of change is fueled by the qualities of divisiveness, hate, ignorance, bloodlust, and anger, the products AND byproducts of that engine will be tainted and poisoned, resulting in things like nationalism, internment camps, genocide, and despotism. 

This has all happened before... and gods be good, it will not happen again. 

Fuel your change-engine with inclusiveness, virtue, kindness, compassion, and understanding... the results will truly heal one another, changing the world like no war, or forced set of rules could. 

It is a greater challenge to temper one's emotions and spirits, entering into our inner spaces where we're up to our necks in the unknown, our inner-vulnerability alarms screaming. When everything inside us tells us that sitting with another person and, without our own agenda, engaging them in a dialogue with the express purposes of peace, fair dealings, and understanding... when all that sounds like the most terrifying thing we've ever heard, sounding impossible to accomplish... that's the EXACT time to practice Courage and step forward to engage in those gentle practices.

It's saddening to me that those who harm others aren't scared to lose their "identity" when killing and harming, but hide fearfully behind vitriol, spite and violence when asked to fearlessly advocate for peace and understanding... because they're afraid that they won't be who they are without all fear, doubt, and negativity. They have become all they fear others to be... and a part of them knows that, The part of them that knows is the same part that creates the "self" they think they are... its the part that will do whatever it takes to protect itself, including murder one another.

Awaken and evolve, people of the United States of America... evolve for all our sakes. To paraphrase the motto of one of the oldest secondary schools in the country: we must be worthy of our heritage. 

Gods be good, when someone comes upon a place where people gather in prayer and commune with all that they hold as sacred, in those times, may that someone be virtuously inspired to be a good guest, entering into those places with a vulnerability of spirit, with an open heart, and with receptive hands. 

May all hosts be willing to illuminate minds and hearts trapped in darkness, feed spirits and bodies hungering for a more authentic feeling of satisfaction, and commit to building bigger, more welcoming tables to gather more people under a "canopy of peace" (in Hebrew - sukkat shalom. *Thanks for that one, Reb. Zalman, ZT"L., dear teacher... of blessed memory*). 

And may it be so that we all know what it means to be guest AND host. 

Churches are for fostering togetherness and understanding, so please...

Be Courageous. Keep them that way. Always. 

- Rev. Wm. E. Ashton, ADF
​- Longmont, Colorado
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Image from collectionthoughtsandthings.com

Tree of Life: Rooted Deep, Crowned High - a Statement on Tragedy

10/28/2018

 
A Statement by Leaders of Mountain Ancestors Grove, ADF on 
The Massacre in a Pennsylvania Synagogue

Saturday morning, October 27th 2018.  We learned of a massacre at the Tree of Life * Or L'Simcha Congregation in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As we write this, the tragedy has thus far claimed the life of eleven people at the synagogue, a holocaust survivor among them, as well as caused bodily injury to many others, first responders included. These horrific, criminal actions send a message of hate aimed at an entire people, their culture, and their rights as citizens of the United States to assemble without fear of harm to practice their traditions in the sanctity of their own house of worship... the same grace we hope to have as our own congregation grows. 

The Jewish people, alongside countless others who have faced genocide, know a deep, generational trauma, unknown to anyone unless they've experienced it in their people's history. Today, history is repeating itself.

As the ordained priests, the president, and members of the Board of Directors of Mountain Ancestors Grove, ADF, we want our Jewish loved ones, and the other souls negatively affected in Squirrel Hill to know, as we also do for all communities who are targets of hate, that we stand with you. We stand with your families and your communities. 

In that spirit, we are one with you. You are never alone.

Resolutely yours, 
The Clergy, Board of Directors, and Leadership team of
Mountain Ancestors Grove, ADF
​Longmont, Colorado, USA

MAGpie Statement on Trans*Erasure

10/24/2018

 
Beloved community,

Over the last week, gods be good, you’ve become aware of the Trump administration’s maneuvering towards the redefining of gender, subsequently stripping the human rights and legal identities of our nearly 1.5 million trans* and non-binary siblings in the United States. You’ve likely also become aware of groups like the UUA, PFLAG, OutBoulder, and other local and national organizations publically offering their love, support, and commitment to ensuring our trans*siblings maintain their rights and legally protected identities. You’re also aware of what people and groups have remained silent.

Please, know this:

Mountain Ancestors Grove, its clergy, the board of directors and leadership team will tirelessly continue our sacred work of honoring diversity, celebrating in the myriad expressions of the human experience, and creating a welcoming congregation for inclusive polytheism. We will continue to see, hear, honor, fight for, and love our trans*siblings. In this sacred community, you are never alone.


Our church exists to help awaken people to the beauty, truth, and power of diverse difference. Our mission binds us to constant awareness and evaluation of relationships, where they’re strong and healthy, and where they’re diseased and broken. The overculture of our nation has an unhealthy/unsafe relationship with trans*folx, and our church will not miss an opportunity to not only educate the ignorant and awaken the sleeping, but to also stand by, with, and when necessary IN FRONT OF our beloved trans*kin. We are prepared to renew our daily-expiring ally card with our spirits, our deeds, and our words.

In closing, remember that although this atrocity is negatively affecting us nationally and can seem too big to manage, we can focus our efforts locally, creating smaller, more personal methods: put names and faces to trans*suffering; hold those who fear for their existence in love; assure them that no matter what, they’re not alone; commit to building and strengthening relationships with your trans*neighbors; use the power of your vote to change things for the betterment of ALL (remember, in the mid-terms is where your vote truly matters). These are things we CAN do…. things that we MUST do.


We all have the ability to affirm one another’s enduring existence by rejoicing in each other as fully as possible, just the way we are.

You are loved. You are not alone. You will not be erased.


You will always matter to us.

Resolutely yours,
​

The Clergy, Board of Directors, and Leadership Team of
Mountain Ancestors Grove, ADF
Longmont, CO
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    About the Name: Prairie Tidings

    One of the many names for a group of Magpies is "a tiding" of magpies. In 2015 this blog was used as a place for Rev. William, and Rev. Missy to share their experiences as church leaders, as well as goings on at the grove, opinions, and essays. After we got some dedicants trained in our unique work, it was unanimously decided by our board of directors to open the blog to all members of our church. So, we're a group of "MAGpies" (a tiding) sharing news, happenings, and our thoughts (tidings) with you all. 

    Thank you all for your continued support and interest in our work!

    ​MAGpies, please make all blog submissions to Rev. William, as he's managing the website. 

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