Hosting Lucy.
Ozzy Osbourne remembrance.
Hello, Dolly! – Louis Armstrong
Take Me Away – Roger McGuinn
Symphony No. 13 in B Flat Minor, Op. 113, “Babi Yar”: II. Yumor – Ayik Martyrosyan, Russian State Symphonic Cappella, Russian State Symphony Orchestra & Valeri Polyansky
Freedom’s Sons – The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem
Qingauiit – Tûdjaat
I’m Going Down to the River of Jordan – Fannie Lou Hamer
Guess Who I Saw In Paris – Buffy Sainte-Marie
Always Be Here – Archie Roach
Grass Roots – Abraham Jam
The Rolling of the Stones – Jean Ritchie, Oscar Brand & David Sear
Pirates – Rickie Lee Jones
This May Be the Last Time – Sweet Honey In the Rock
altar – Kehlani
Not All Angels – David M. Bailey
Satin Doll – Duke Ellington
Hell Nos and Headphones -Hailee Steinfeld
The Blue Hour: No. 15, Her hair – Shara Nova & A Far Cry
Paranoid – Black Sabbath
War Pigs – Black Sabbath
Changes – Black Sabbath 1
Laguna Sunrise – Black Sabbath
The Wizard – Black Sabbath
Category Archives: Current Events
23 July 2025
Filed under Albuquerque, Current Events, Family, Music, New Mexico, playlist
A fat man prays in world where starvation stalks
Forgive me, God,
for eating too much.
Forgive me, God,
for eating too much
when too many
have too little.
Forgive me, God,
for eating too much
while your beloved children
die from lack of food
caused by political decisions
and a lack of will.
Forgive me, God.
I know better.
Help me do better.
Amen..
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Food, Human Rights, United Nations
18 July 2025
Nelson Mandela Day.- Hugh Masekela
Nelson Mandela – Special AKA
The following songs are by Wouler Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir & KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic
A Madiba Wish
Mandela Medley
Asimbonanga / Biko – feat. Angelique Kidjo
Rainbow Nation
Jikele Maweni – feat. Angelique Kidjo
Thula Baba – feat. Buskaid Soweto String Project
Lizalis’indinga Iakho/Senzeni Na/Thina Sizwe
Soweto Travels
Black President – feat. Zonke
Wasiqoqela Ndawonya/Koloi Ena/Sizongena
Voice of Hope
Nomalanga
Different Colours, One People – feat. Rocky Dawuni
Mathebethebeni
Asimbonanga – Johnny Clegg & Savuka
Nkosi Sikelel ‘IAfrica – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Give Us a Flag – Richie Havens
The Old Flag Never Touched the Ground – Melinda Doolittle
Filed under Albuquerque, Antiracism, Current Events, Music, New Mexico, playlist
A prayer of confession while children hunger and starve
How cruel have we become, God,
that we could even consider
burning food while
children hunger and starve?
Kyrie eleison.
Forgive us.
How stunted is our creativity, God
that we cannot conceive
of ways to use food while
children hunger and starve?
Kyrie eleison.
Forgive us.
What has happened to our values, God,
when we dismantle programs
that distribute food to
children who hunger and starve?
Kyrie eleison.
Forgive us.
We confess our shortsightedness and cruelty;
we confess our stunted imagination and warped values.
Kyrie eleison.
Forgive us.
Pour your Holy Spirit afresh
upon those who make decisions
that they might repent and choose life
and seek ways to share the abundance you create.
Pour your Holy Spirit afresh
upon us all that we might repent
and continue to advocate and work
for a world in which everyone has enough.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Perhaps the food in question has expired and can no longer be used. If so, that is another human failure and represents additional actions of which we need to repent.
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Human Rights
A prayer in a time of floods
We thank you, God,
for individuals and organizations
that respond to disasters.
Particularly we thank you for
those involved in response and rescue
after the flooding in the Hill Country of Texas
and in central North Carolina
and in southern New Mexico.
We are grateful for each person who is at work.
And we are especially grateful for
firefighters from Mexico who have come help in Texas.
Remind us that, in times of crisis, times of ease, and all times
we are all your beloved children called to love one another.
Protect all the rescuers and responders in Texas, New Mexico, North Carolina
and places that do not make the news.
Strengthen them in every way for this challenging work.
Guide and bless their efforts.
Keep them safe.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has designated an account for contributions to support their efforts in response to this and other floods in the United States.
Filed under Current Events, New Mexico, Prayer, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
5 July 2025
50th anniversary of Arthur Ashe’s win at Wimbledon.
Climb Ev’ry Mountain – The Sound Of Music Ensemble
Running – Norah Jones
Scarlet – The Rolling Stones, feat. Jimmy Page
Fever – Eva Cassidy & Chuck Brown
Motherless Chil’ – Sweet Honey In the Rock
The Wish – Bruce Springsteen
Down to the River – George Harrison
Peace Calls- Aspen Mirabal, Kona Mirabal, Masa Mirabal, Robert Mirabal & Ethel
Bristlecone Pine – Eliza Gilkyson
Use What You Got – Billy Preston
The Riverbank – Paul Simon
Ain’t No New Thing – Gil Scott-Heron
Way Over Yonder – Rhiannon Giddens
Not This Time – Amanda Rheaume
Arthur Ashe – BZZY OG Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe – De Outsiderz
Arthur Ashe – Michael Sloan
Arthur Ashe – Kult45
Filed under Albuquerque, Current Events, Music, New Mexico, playlist
A prayer after Pride month
I thank you, God,
for friends who share photos and stories
of their participation in Pride Parades and events.
The joy, the love, the faith, the freedom,
the courage, the hope, and yes, the pride
in their faces and their bodies
fills my soul with gladness
almost beyond words.
I thank you for their witness.
It touches me profoundly and
deepens my understanding
that you create each of us
in your image and that
each person of
every sexual orientation and
every gender identify
is your beloved child.
I pray, God,
for each friend, each person
who, for whatever reason or reasons,
chose not to participate
in public events.
May they know they are loved by you and
that they too fill my soul with gladness.
Help me remember that Pride
is a focus for a month
and a way to live each day.
Inspire me to love you
and all your children more dearly.
Guide me to work
more faithfully for
a community, a church,
a state, a country, and a world
where everyone knows welcome
and everyone belongs;
where everyone is treated
with dignity and respect;
where all people can participate in Pride events: and
justice and equity prevail for all.
May it be so, Rainbow God.
Amen.
2 July 2025
Filed under Current Events, Family, Friends, Human Rights, Prayer
A prayer as the struggle continues
(on the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising
and as the Pentagon renames the USNS Harvey Milk)
When fear calls us to forget,
when bigotry seeks to rewrite and erase,
we remember, God.
We will remember.
We remember Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera,
and all your beloved children
who participated in the Stonewall Uprising,
demanding dignity, respect, and justice.
We will remember.
We remember your beloved child Harvey Milk.
Even as the Pentagon removes his name from a U.S. naval vessel.
We remember his service in the U.S. Navy.
We remember his service in San Francisco.
We remember efforts to recruit us,
to recruit us for the fight to preserve democracy
from those who are trying to constitutionalize bigotry.
We remember his challenge and inspiration.
”you have to give them hope.
Hope for a better world,
hope for a better tomorrow,
hope for a better place to come to
if the pressures at home are too great.
Hope that all will be all right.”
We give thanks for the hope Harvey Milk gave,
the hope he still gives,
and we will remember.
We remember individuals and organizations
who have worked through the years
for the recognition, rights and inclusion of
the LGBTQIA2S+ community
within society and the church.
We will remember.
We remember with thanks those
engaged in this work and ministry
who we knew, and perhaps worked with:
who we know and work with now:
(say names aloud or silently in your heart).
We will remember.
We remember with thanks those
engaged in this work and ministry
whose names we did not know,
whose names we do not know,
and yet who touched our lives
and made life better, more whole, more just.
You know their names, God.
You made and love each one.
And we will remember.
We remember and confess
that some organizations
and individuals (myself among them)
have been too careful, timid, and fearful
through the years.
We accepted the status quo
and failed to challenge the oppression
endured by your beloved LGBTQIA2S+ children.
Forgive us. Renew us. Inspire us.
Help us find our voices.
Help us locate our places in the struggle.
We will remember.
And by your grace, may we do better.
We pray in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
words in italics are a paraphrase of Harvey Milk’s words in “That’s What America Is” a speech delivered by San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, June 25, 1978 (Gay Freedom Day); words in quotation marks are from “You’ve Got to Have Hope” by Harvey Milk delivered on June 24, 1977; note that like many public speakers (and preachers) Harvey Milk presented the same ideas in numerous speeches; words in bold italics are stage directions for your prayer
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Human Rights, Prayer
27 June 2025
Walk. From Eric & Essie’s house to our apartment.
No matter what the current administration does. we will remember. The first four songs remember Harvey Milk. The remainder of the playlist remembers the Stonewall Uprising which began on 28 June. According to the Stonewall Veteran’s Association, the songs on this playlist were among the most popular songs in the Stonewall jukebox during the week of the Stonewall Rebellion.
Tired of the Silence – Andrew Lippa, Bay Area Rainbow Symphony, Dr. Timothy Seelig & San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
The Times of Harvey Milk – Mark Isham
Wave a Flag for Harvey Milk – Mr. Greg & Cass McCombs
Give ‘Em Hope – Boys’ Entrance
Crystal Blue Persuasion – Tommy James & The Shondells
Grazing In the Grass – The Friends of Distinction
Romeo and Juliet – Henry Mancini
(We’ve Got) Honey Love – Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
The More I See You – Chris Montez
Don’t Let the Joneses Get You Down – The Temptations
Before the Parade Passes By – Barbra Streisand
More Today Than Yesterday – The Spiral Starecase
The Young Folks p Diana Ross & The Supremes
Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In – The 5th Dimension
It’s Your Thing – The Isley Brothers
While You’re Out Looking for Sugar – Honey Cone
Don’t Bring Back Memories – Four Tops
The Windmills of Your Mind – Dusty Springfield
My Way – Frank Sinatra
This Is My Life (La Vita) – Shirley Bassey
What Does It Take – Junior Walker & The All Stars
My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder
Get Back – The Beatles
Filed under Albuquerque, Current Events, Exercise, Human Rights, Music, New Mexico, playlist
A prayer to the Creative Spirit of diversity
Creative Spirit,
you make all that is,
you make the human family,
in rich, wild diversity,
each one in your own image,
everyone beloved by you.
The diversity you create
enlarges the sphere of possibilities
for all of us.
Help us
acknowledge the diversity you create
as your gift to us;
understand the diversity you create
as enhancing your world;
and celebrate the diversity you create
as enriching our lives.
Inspire us to reject and dismantle
all systems and ideologies
that erroneously and sinfully
maintain that some of us have greater value.
Guide us to welcome all people
as your beloved children
and to love one another
as taught and lived by Jesus
in whose name we pray.
Amen.
inspired by When God Became White by the Rev. Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim (subscribe to her Substack account)
Filed under Antiracism, Books, Current Events, Human Rights
Along the Graybeard Trail 