Have you ever been part of a group that just didn’t seem to gel? People weren’t on the same wavelength, there were unnecessary misunderstandings and distrust? We often think of community as something that happens …
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Rituals Build Community
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In Lieu of Flowers
In my career, I’ve officiated close to 200 funerals, memorials, or graveside services. To the best of my recollection, there have been flowers at every single one. Some of the floral displays have been elaborate and …
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Officiating as Holding Space
“What exactly is officiating?” I’ve been asked. “Isn’t it just getting up in front of people and speaking?” Yes, it is that…. but also more. Officiating a ceremony to mark a life event does require …
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Unplugged Ceremonies
Recently a wedding photographer’s Facebook post went viral when she called out a wedding guest who blocked her shot by trying to take a photo with an iPhone. The post, which began “To the girl …
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Spiritual Care
There are a couple different ways to understand spirituality. Many people associate spirituality with religion or religious belief. Another way to understand spirituality is as the natural, human search for meaning and purpose. This can …
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Going Through the Motions
One well-known criticism of rituals is that it is “just going through the motions.” While that can be the case, it doesn’t have to be. A recent Patheos article considered the average Christian’s understanding of …
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Death Positivity
The movement to bring death out of the shadows and into cultural consciousness and regular conversation is known as the Death Positivity Movement. The goal of Death Positivity is to acknowledge that death happens to …
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Fire-Walking Ritual Builds Community
The Fire-Walking ritual of Anastenaria takes place every year between May 21st and May 23rd in Northern Greece. Thought to have Christian and Pagan roots dating back to the Middle Ages, participants dance around the …
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Graduation Rituals – Cultural and Practical
The season of graduation is upon us. This weekend the University of Vermont will be awarding degrees. Soon local high schools will be playing pomp and circumstance as the class of 2019 receive their diplomas. …
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Ritual in the Simple
One misconception about ritual is that it has to be fancy. While ritual can be elaborate and ornate, ritual can also be plain and simple. On Christmas morning in my family, we share a breakfast …
