Welcome to SALT’s “Theologian’s Almanac,” a weekly selection of important birthdays, holidays, and other upcoming milestones worth marking — specially created for a) writing sermons and prayers, b) creating content for social media channels, and c) enriching your devotional life. For the week of Sunday, March 30: March 31 is the birthday of poet and novelist Marge Piercy, born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1936. In middle age, in her work and life she became newly intrigued by her Jewish roots, and especially by Reconstructionist Judaism: “The seasons are very vivid and real to us.&nbs ..read more

  The world is not with us enough O taste and see the subway Bible poster said, meaning The Lord, meaning if anything all that lives to the imagination’s tongue, grief, mercy, language, tangerine, weather, to breathe them, bite, savor, chew, swallow, transform into our flesh our deaths, crossing the street, plum, quince, living in the orchard and being hungry, and plucking the fruit. + Denise Levertov   ..read more

  In the north country now it is spring and there is a certain celebration. The thrush has come home. He is shy and likes the evening best, also the hour just before morning; in that blue and gritty light he climbs to his branch, or smoothly sails there. It is okay to know only one song if it is this one. Hear it rise and fall; the very elements of your soul shiver nicely. What would spring be without it? Mostly frogs. But don’t worry, he arrives, year after year, humble and obedient and gorgeous. You listen and you know you could live a better life than you do, be softer, kinder. And ma ..read more

  Welcome to SALT’s “Theologian’s Almanac,” a weekly selection of important birthdays, holidays, and other upcoming milestones worth marking — specially created for a) writing sermons and prayers, b) creating content for social media channels, and c) enriching your devotional life. For the week of Sunday, March 23: March 23 is the day in 1743 that George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” had its London debut performance. During the now-famous Hallelujah Chorus, King George II rose to his feet, the story goes, so moved was he by the cascading voices — and the audience, seeing the king stan ..read more

  Welcome to SALT’s “Theologian’s Almanac,” a weekly selection of important birthdays, holidays, and other upcoming milestones worth marking — specially created for a) writing sermons and prayers, b) creating content for social media channels, and c) enriching your devotional life. For the week of Sunday, March 16: March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, celebrating Ireland’s patron saint. Here’s SALT’s “Brief Theology of St. Patrick’s Day.” March 17 is also the day in 1901 that Vincent van Gogh’s paintings were first shown at a major exhibition — eleven years after the artist’s death (he so ..read more

  A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period — When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad On Solitary Fields That Science cannot overtake But Human Nature feels. It waits upon the Lawn, It shows the furthest Tree Upon the furthest Slope you know It almost speaks to you. Then as Horizons step Or Noons report away Without the Formula of sound It passes and we stay — A quality of loss Affecting our Content As Trade had suddenly encroached Upon a Sacrament. + Emily Dickinson Dickinson’s language is just old enough, and her style just adventurous enough ..read more

  1 Picture a woman riding thunder on the legs of slavery    ...     2 Picture her kissing our spines saying no to the eyes of slavery    ...     3 Picture her rotating the earth into a shape of lives becoming    ...     4 Picture her leaning into the eyes of our birth clouds    ...     5 Picture this woman saying no to the constant yes of slavery    ...     6 Picture a woman jumping rivers her legs inhaling moons    ...     7 Picture her ripe with seasons of legs    ...   running    ...     8 Picture her tasting the secret corners of woods    ...    9 Picture her saying: You have within ..read more

  Welcome to SALT’s “Theologian’s Almanac,” a weekly selection of important birthdays, holidays, and other upcoming milestones worth marking — specially created for a) writing sermons and prayers, b) creating content for social media channels, and c) enriching your devotional life. For the week of Sunday, March 9: March 10 is the day Harriet Tubman died in 1913. Her birth year is uncertain, but it was likely about 1820. As a 15-year-old, after refusing to help an enslaver restrain a runaway, Harriet was struck in the head, knocked unconscious, and left for days. After her ..read more

  Lent 1 (Year C): Luke 4:1-13 and Deuteronomy 8:2-3,12-16 Listen to SALT’s “Strange New World” podcast episode touching these passages, “The Gospel According to Vincent - Part One: ‘Still Life with Bible.’” Big Picture: 1) As the 40-day Season of Lent begins, we turn to Luke’s account of Jesus’ 40-day temptation in the wilderness just prior to the launch of his public ministry. 2) The word “Lent” comes from an Old English word for “lengthen,” and refers to the gradually lengthening days of late winter and early spring (in the northern hemisphere, that is). Imagine: if all you knew was w ..read more

  This is Willa Cather’s only surviving letter to Edith Lewis (that’s her on the right, and Willa on the left), her creative and romantic partner of almost 40 years. Of all the letters to have survived, we're so glad it’s this one! Cather combines the cosmic and the intimate: Jupiter and Venus' celestial ballet and an unwrinkled silk suit, carefully packed by her partner. In her books, this is the wondrous, poetic light Cather shines on landscapes, gender, talent, immigrants, artists, soldiers, and everything in between. Enjoy! My Darling Edith; I am sitting in your room, looking out on ..read more