The following was sent to me by a friend. I thought it worth doing and am forwarding it to anyone who might find in this a call to action for themselves. Those flowers particularly seem appropriate. It would be wonderful, I feel, if this small project went viral… Dear sisters and brothers: The New York hotel maid who was raped needs lots of support. Her lawyer has said that she feels all alone in the world, and very frightened. She... Read more

Bob Flanigan of the Four Freshman died last Sunday… Their work inspired the Beach Boys, the Lettermen, Manhattan Transfer and a host of others… Read more

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Today is Craig Ferguson’s birthday. He hosts a late night television talk show which I never see as I am long since asleep when it comes on. I know him as the nasty Nigel Wick on the fabulous Drew Carey Show of blessed memory. A while back someone pointed me to a monologue he delivered on that late night talk show. I realized this is a true mensch. With a message for just about everyone of us… Read more

Happy birthday, Woody! And, thanks for the music… Read more

ENGAGING FAITH A Muslim & Unitarian Universalist Conversation R. David Coolidge & James Ishmael Ford 15 May 2011 First Unitarian ChurchProvidence, Rhode Island TextIn the Name of God who is Mercy and CompassionBy the Night as it conceals (the light);By the Day as it appears in glory;By (the mystery of) the creation of male and female;-Verily, (the ends) ye strive for are diverse.So he who gives (in charity) and fears (Allah),And (in all sincerity) testifies to the best, –We will... Read more

I see that Frank Sinatra died on this day in 1998. If he were a Christian saint this would be his feast day. Of course he wasn’t. And it isn’t. But I find myself thinking of him, nonetheless… His was my parent’s music, so it took a while to appreciate him. Turns out there is a fair amount to appreciate… Read more

I have the enormous honor to serve as the seventeenth minister of the First Unitarian Church of Providence. Not long ago Cyrus O’Neil and I attempted a brief history of the church. Of course we drew upon many sources, and this is one. “An Old Church in a New World” is an historical sermon by the Reverend Dr Augustus Mendon Lord, eleventh minister of this church, delivered in 1920, on the occasion marking the two hundredth anniversary of the congregation’s... Read more

“The problem with the idea of one God is that it is either one too many, or not nearly enough.” Walt Wieder I continue to sit with the program I endured at my recent local Unitarian Universalist clergy retreat, “Whose Are You?” It privileged a classical theistic view, a dualistic universe with a deity that is personally involved in the lives of people, intervening in events. Specifically it turned on a calling of a person to a specific work. In... Read more

My goodness the Buddhaway is hoping in Rhode Island! This weekend we’re celebrating the birth of the Buddha at various venues. The biggest will be on Saturday at the Providence Zen Center. They’re hosting a big to do with invitees from the local Buddhist communities. I’ll be there with a supporting role. Then on Sunday afternoon at five, I’ll be at the Providence Vedanta Society speaking on “Gems from the Life of the Buddha,” a title they thought I could... Read more