With her forehead resting in her right hand, Rachel Robinson quietly wept as her friend was included among the names of the dead read out at Toronto’s Church of the Holy Trinity on Tuesday.
Robinson had come to the church to take part in a monthly memorial for people who have died from issues tied to homelessness, including exposure, poverty, violence, illness, addiction and neglect.
https://www.thestar.com/amp/news/gta/2019/02/11/at-memorial-for-dead-homeless-its-a-lot-of-john-does.html
In a cultural climate that often seems bleak and hopeless, here’s a story in the Guardian that speaks of change and hope for new beginnings:
Erasing the hate: the tattoo shop offering former white supremacists a fresh start
At Sickside Tattoo Studio in Mississippi, reformed gang members and white supremacists such as TM Garret seek free cover-ups for ink from their pasts
Please join us at the Homeless Memorial for an hour of remembrance and advocacy.
This outside vigil will be followed by a solemn procession to City Hall to tell Mayor Tory to act on the homelessness emergency and to stop these preventable deaths!
As part of our campaign to “Have a Heart For the Homeless”, we ask that you draw or cut out hearts on paper and cardboard and bring them with you.
Date: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at noon.
Location: Church of the Holy Trinity, 19 Trinity Square (beside the Eaton Centre)
Lunch will be provided. If you are able to contribute food or help serve, please contact Merylie at jimhoustonjim@yahoo.com
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of all our hearts be acceptable in your eyes, O God.
The best wedding receptions are the ones that are roaring good parties. In my life, I’ve been part of weddings from a lot of different vantage points. I’ve been the maid of honour at a same sex wedding, I’ve had the honour of reading the Ketubah, or marriage contract, at a Jewish wedding. I’ve been a member of the catering staff, and I’ve also been a bride myself. My favourite part of any wedding is the one where the lights are low and all the aunties are dancing in a circle to “Rivers of Babylon” by Bony M or “Jump Around” by House of Pain and it’s about the time when the caterers pack up the bar. At my own wedding, my new husband and I tried my mother sorely by dancing until about 2 am. Respecting her cultural traditions, she wouldn’t leave until we, the newly married couple did, no matter how we encouraged her to go on up to bed. We were ecstatic in the joy of our new marriage, and we danced till we couldn’t dance any more. The memories of these wedding days highlight for me the care, community, and love that made them possible.
Mary Oliver has been an ongoing inspiration to many of us here at HT. Her readings are often part of our weekly gatherings. Her work has uplifted and challenged us all for so many years.
Mary, you will be missed. May light perpetual shine upon you and all your works forever. 😢
