Sally Thomas

. . . ways of not playing out in quite the way you’d envisioned sometimes. At least, that’s one way to put it. A friend once told me the story of a play he’d been in, or seen, or heard about, or had a friend who had a friend who had heard this story from someone who was in it, or . . . . Continue Reading »

You realize that while you were experiencing this lifetime of Catholic practice, I was on the Junior High Sunday School Retreat at Panacea Falls. My technical and canonical knowledge about relics would not fill a thimble. Still, there are two in my house. Both of them came to us on the day we were . . . . Continue Reading »

Landscape artist Martha Kelly — who, totally coincidentally you understand, happens to be married to my brother — has for years been painting the trees, fields and sky of the Southern lowlands we both call home. Last fall, however, she began working on a series of oil-on-paper images . . . . Continue Reading »

And today we have a very special treat from Judi and the Seventh Congregational Dancers: an interpretation-in-movement of our scripture lesson, taken from 1 Kings 14. Starring Raymond as Rehoboam (with Raymond, Jr., as Abijam his son) — Darren as Shishak, King of Egypt —Judi as . . . . Continue Reading »

I’m actually not kidding about this one. The homeschooled teenagers in our area are planning a prom. Many of them are Irish step-dancers, and they’re having a ceili (or celidh, if you’re Scottish) prom. They’ll be doing reels and waltzes and stomps and troikas and this one . . . . Continue Reading »

No no no, not the hymn. I’m talking about, were you there. Nelson Memorial United Methodist Church. The Junior-High Sunday School Retreat. Panacea Falls State Park. Last weekend in April, 1978. Where they had the drowned mouse in the shower drain? And we had to do square-dancing on Saturday . . . . Continue Reading »

Those wings . . . I dunno . . .In my house things like that make the vacuum cleaner retch and the dog run away.Besides, I’m a cheapskate, and on those occasions when somebody has to be a fairy, or a dragon, or Saint Michael, I generally make our own wings.My formula is simple.wire . . . . Continue Reading »

We’ll just let this product speak for itself: Show your inspiration with style and elegance with this amazing Praying Hands Fountain.The water magically changes color as it flows into the hands.Soothing, relaxing and a perfect addition to any room.Takes 3 AA batteries (not included) and it . . . . Continue Reading »

So, First Communion’s coming up, right? And you’re making your checklist. Dress? Check. Veil? Check. What must we do to save our souls? Check. Little personalized wrappers to slip onto 500 Hershey’s Mini Mr. Goodbars? Check.Good to know you’ve got everything covered. from . . . . Continue Reading »

Or maybe it’s just a sign from Stewart: America’s Premier Sign CompanyDon’t take my word for the superior quality of these church signs. Just check out the many heartfelt testimonials from satisfied customers like yourself: “Your sign is an asset to our community,” says . . . . Continue Reading »