Good Morning Gloucester

Instructions for Beach Meditation

Sit comfortably with good posture on a quiet section of the beach.

Take a few cleansing breaths and then partially close your eyes.

Notice your breathing and hear it accompany the surf

and the breeze and the smell of the sea and the soft gong of

the buoy and the touch of the sand and the warmth of the sun.

*    *    *    *

Draw breath into the center of your body, in and out,

in and out, and let the sounds and smells and sights and

feelings slowly and gently lift from your mind.

*    *    *    *

Allow your eyes to stare about six feet in front of you

and perhaps soon your vision will focus

on one bright spot; all else falling into the darkened background.

*    *    *    *

Feel the breath enter and leave in a steady rhythm.

Count them as they come and go and know

that all sound, all sight, all thought,

all feeling is fleeting

and what remains

is simply

being.

© Marty Luster 2012

For more picture poems visit matched pairs.wordpress.com

Fishing With the F/V Apollo out of New Bedford, Ma

Check out their Facebook Page to see more great photos:

http://www.facebook.com/fvApollo

For the first time in its history spanning more than two centuries, Gloucester’s historic Universalist Meeting House will be able to welcome visitors with physical handicaps to its many civic and musical events as well as to its services starting later this fall.
The Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, which was founded in 1779 as the first Universalist church in America, is currently installing platform-lift elevators connecting all three levels of the church. Handicapped-accessible lavatories are also being built.
The project is being supported in part by generous private donors and a grant from the City of Gloucester Community Preservation Committee and the City Council, recognizing the importance of this iconic building to the community.

In addition, to help see the project through to completion, the church will be conducting an online Internet auction, called “Reaching for the Stars,” featuring restaurant deals, vacation opportunities, entertainment, art, gift items, personal services, and more.
The auction is for 10 days only, beginning Sept 20 and ending Sept. 30. Bidding is open to the public.  Bidders may visit http://www.gloucesteruu.org for details and a direct link.
The 206-year-old Meeting House is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a popular venue for concerts, lectures and civic events because of its excellent acoustics and large seating capacity.
Upcoming events at the church include sea chantey concerts on Saturday, Sept. 22, by two local groups, Baggywrinkle and Three Sheets to the Wind, as part of the Captains Courageous Festival, and the Cape Ann Forum lecture series beginning Sunday, Sept. 23.
Also, on Sunday, Oct. 28, the Boston Symphony Orchestra Chamber Concert Series will make its only North Shore appearance this season at the church. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance from the Boston Symphony Orchestra (www.bso.org).
Visitors also will be welcome for tours of the church and talks about its history during the Essex National Heritage Area’s annual Trails & Sails weekend, Friday through Sunday, Sept. 21, 22 and 23. Tours will be at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Here are the pictures from the "cement pour"

Identification:   Todd Main Company, Inc. employees:                             Peter Bennett (white shirt), Carlogero Taormina (grey shirt), Sal Oliva (red shirt)

Gloucester Unitarian Universalist member:                 Newton Fink, Jr. (chair, Building & Grounds Committee)

All pictures taken by Church Administrator, Karen Rembert

    All shot with my new Canon SX 40 HS with its incredible 24mm to 840mm (35mm equiv.)zoom lens. The bottom two shots were hand held at full focal length.

Is Joey taking a break between boats or plotting another brainstorm?

Hello Everyone,

The next meeting of the Cape Ann Painters and Photography Group will meet on Monday, September 10, 2012 from 9:30-11:00.

The group will be meeting  at the new Rocky Neck Cultural Center at 6 Wonson Street, Rocky Neck. You can park in the lot on the right as you turn onto Rocky Neck and walk up to the Center. When you see Sailor Stan ‘s ahead, keep left and the Cultural Center is on the left (old Christian Science Church).  If you would like, you can pick up coffee at the  Last Stop (on the right just before you turn onto Rocky Neck.) The Last Stop’s owner said we are welcome to come and have a social hour before the meeting if we would like.

Since the Cultural Center is charging us $25.00 for the 1 1/2 hours, we will need to ask everyone to pay three dollars at each meeting to cover the cost.

We will continue with our custom of having everyone “check in” and share what they are working on.

Thank you Henry for letting us use the lovely parlor space at the Annie.  We really appreciated your hospitality  and wish you the best in your new ventures. Hope to see you at the meeting!

It will be great to see everyone again and welcome to new members!

Alice Gardner

Due to the major blow out Tales of Bong Tree Island backer reward (and all other friends and good people of Gloucester, Cape Ann and beyond) party Sunday from 4:00-9:00pm, there will be no Mug Up this week.  Mug Up will resume next Sunday, 9/16.  So for those of you who could never come to Mug Up because it interferes with your church, sleeping in or other Sunday morning activities, come to the party.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com