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August 2, 2005
Unitarians Revisited
Or yes, I did go back to church.
I was happier with it this time. Maybe I was more used to the singing this time, and to the one pastor I find irritating. This week's sermon was on Islam. I was a little apprehensive going in, wondering how they would handle it. They did a very nice job. They discussed the story of Mohammed, and human responses to being called by God. They discussed the Five Pillars of Islam, and how their principles can be important in any religion. They were also not afraid to link Islamic fundamentalism with terrorism.
All in all, they were very knowledgable and even-handed. I was also impressed in how they managed to make few, if any, value judgments about the religion as a whole. They simply presented it, noted what we can learn from it, noted the pitfalls of fundamentalism, and left it to us.
I like that.
We didn't make it to their Sunday school, again. It starts at 9:30 and, well, you know. Maybe next week.
I should note that the people I've met there have been very, very nice. They remember my name, and go out of their way to welcome me when they notice a new face.
Speaking of religion ... today is Lughnassadh, the Feast of Lugh; or Lammas, the feast of grain and the first harvest, however you'd like to look at it. Today we bake bread and give thanks for grain in all its forms (mmmm, beer). It's the end of the Celtic summer, but of course that's a joke in Texas. We have six weeks of 100 degree heat to go. Still, from here on out we'll notice that the days are getting shorter. The high point of summer has passed. This is the time to reap what we have sown, and to see how that harvest can be useful to others.
We're going to bake a couple of different kinds of bread and make a big pot of minestrone with basil, parsley, tomatoes, oregano and rosemary from the garden. Mmmmm. Then we'll probably take a walk (in the relative cool of the evening) to pretend we're enjoying the last of summer. Then Mom and Dad will round out the evening by watching Rock Star: INXS and hoping that JD has another terrible performance. (That last bit doesn't have anything to do with the festival, it's just what's going to happen. )
Time for math!
Posted by lynx at August 2, 2005 8:32 AM
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Comments
You know whats really good for dipping bread in?
1-2 lbs of peeled/deveined shrimp
Olive oil
Garlic cloves
serrano peppers
1 tsp of fresh parsley
1 tsp of fresh basil
roasted red bell pepper
salt to taste
Saute the garlic cloves, serrano and bell peppers in olive oil until the flavors have had a chance to mingle, place shrimp in after and cover. Let cook for about 10-15 minutes, add fresh herbs and stir, let cook until a few minutes more until shrimp is firm and pink.
By this time a nice level of broth will have accumulated, but if not, you can put in a half cup of water.
Serve over rice, or use broth as a dipping sauce for the bread.
Posted by: sharon ferguson at August 2, 2005 4:05 PM
And how does one pronounce Lughnassadh? (In case I need to use it in idle conversation.)
Posted by: Sarah at August 2, 2005 6:19 PM
Oh, Sharon, that sounds divine!
Sarah, since the word is Irish, you follow the simple rule of ignoring half the letters and making the other half say different sounds than you'd ever guess. Often in Irish a letter preceded by an "h" is not sounded at all ... except for when it sounds like a "v."
(No, really.)
Pronounce it like "LOO-nuh-suh"
Posted by: Stephanie at August 3, 2005 9:21 AM
I love that show, though I'm not sure who I could see as the lead to INXS. I like Ty and one of the girls (I can't think of her name). My husband thinks it's blasphemy lol.
Posted by: Shawna in Texas at August 4, 2005 1:37 AM