[Dialogue] question to ponder

Thu Jun 25 11:00:08 EDT 2009

Dear Janice,

As always, your messages are so full and straight from the heart.  Thank you
-  take care of yourself for Planet Earth continues to need your passion and
energy.

Love,

Nancy

On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 7:31 AM, Janice Ulangca <aulangca at stny.rr.com>wrote:

>  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 <nancy at songaia.com>
> *To:* Colleague Dialogue <dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
> *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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