[Dialogue] question to ponder

[Janice Ulangca]

Nancy, what a wonderful message.  Thank you for your question - and the great report on sharing with the Cohousing Conference and an update on dear Fred and your 50th anniversary.  1959 - what a year that was for starting powerful families!  Those I know about include Gordon and Roxana Harper.  I'll stay with Dick and Ellen Howie this weekend, and attend the 50th anniversary celebration for Ken and Dorcas Rose - hosted by their children Alice and David and families. How much all these folks have added to the world!

About the singing question - I can only guess, and look forward to others' answers.  My speculation is  yes, and yes, re the church and movement building.  As I experienced our movement, the singing was more alive than in most churches. We sang as if our lives depended on it - and you are right, our missional lives did.  Years ago I heard a member of Sweet Honey in the Rock say that singing kept the 1960s civil rights activists going - even singing in jail.  She said that people could never have continued against the brutality and dehumanizing without singing. In Iran these days we do not hear about singing - but the evening ritual of shouting, "God Is Great!" from the rooftops might serve something of the same need.

Have a wonderful celebration on July 4th.  Prayers and admiration for Fred, living so fully.  And thank you all at Songaia for your pioneering demonstration of community life.
Much affection,
Janice Ulangca

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Nancy Lanphear 
  To: Colleague Dialogue 
  Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 12:48 AM
  Subject: [Dialogue] question to ponder


  Dear Ones, 

  WHERE DID OUR SINGING AS AN ORDER COME FROM ?  WAS IT THE CHURCH?  WAS IT FROM MOVEMENT BUILDING ACTIVITIES?  One of our Songaians asked that question of us - he had given a tour today and was asked?  Please respond with answers or just your own stories.  I would love to hear from you about a spiritual practice that has opened so many hearts and places of energy, and at times literally kept us alive.

  This has been a big week here at Songaia!  The national Cohousing conference is being held in Seattle this year and the executive director lives here.  He has enlisted most of us to contribute in one or many ways during the week.

  On Monday night we hosted the International Summit group from the conference which translated into 38 folks from the group at dinner in our common house along with the 30 of us Songaians.  Of course we were our authentic selves and had singing, introductions, a birthday celebration with questions, and a fantastic meal -  a joyful time was had by all.

  I led the singing and included Consider Yourself, This Little Light of Mine, and Oh, Mr. Sun and Russian Hymn for the Earth - the first was a song of welcome and the others, in acknowledgement of Summer Solstice and the wonder of gathering as Earthlings.  We ate in honor of communitarians and those who had not yet found themselves enveloped in a welcoming community.  

  Following the meal we celebrated one member's birthday.  His name is Nartano and as he has been so moved by the ritual around each members birthday, he wanted to share the ritual with our guests.  Fred asked the questions of him and then shared words that recognized Nartano's role in the community.  

  We closed the evening by singing the Irish Blessing to our guests.  They left with tears and smiles of joy and hope that if we could share the values of our community lifestyle with the world, it would be a more peaceful place to live.

  Yesterday, Fred was awarded the Geoph Kozeny Award for a life of communitarian activities.  Our friend Geoph died a year ago with cancer.  Fred was so honored to be the first recipient of the award.

  Today, we hosted 40 people who were on a cohousing community bus tour.  They came for lunch and a tour of Songaia.  Again, we sang before lunch, they joined in with great gusto!

  Fred continues to be his spirited, wonderfilled self.  The huge limitations of movement and dextarity frustrate him but he keeps finding new ways to type - he now uses his thumbs and a voice activated computer program.  SINGING here at Songaia and at church is a lifeline for him.  Somehow with his breathing capacity greatly diminished, he still sings with joy and twice as many breaths.  At his ALS diagnosis 1 1/2 years ago, he promised me we would still be together to celebrate the journey of the 2 of us and the life of our family. We are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary on July 4th with family and our community. 

  We are so very grateful to be living in our community of Songaia.  And we are grateful for you,  our spirit community of many years.  Take care and remember that you are all loved, 

  Nancy





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