Merry Christmas!!

No LolCat this time, sorry readers. It's Christmas Eve and I'm finally in the Christmas mood. You know what that means... Christmas music! I do love Christmas music, and I'd like to share a few of my favorites. Via YouTube, of course, because what would the blogosphere be without YouTube? Hopefully the links work...

But anyway, yes, I do love Christmas music, the beauty and the hope that they share. And I'm not especially picky about the styles... I'll take your classic belting it out a la Charlotte Church (or a Church choir, heh) and I'll also take some more rocking or unusual stuff - I adore the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, as an example. I also prefer the religious songs, except of course for the goofy ones. I mean, I hear enough about Santa and Rudolph as it is, but here so close to Christmas I'd rather focus on the miracle of God Incarnate, of Immanuel.

Boyz 2 Men O Come O Come Immanuel
- It's funny, I'd never really even heard this song until last Christmas season when it was sung at the Elizabethtown Christmas Service. I'd heard of it, but not actually heard it. This is my favorite version on YouTube because of the haunting nature of it; a powerful voice laying it out would also be great.

Celtic Woman Little Drummer Boy
- A classic of course, and though it may be odd at first glance for women to be singing this song. these women are so incredible; and besides. does it really matter what gender sings it? Just be glad I didn't find Joan Jett's version online - I like that too.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra O Holy Night
- TSO is usually a lot more rocking than this, of course, but this version of O Holy Night was absolutely incredible I thought - the power behind it. I'm used to women singing this one, but that's probly due to church. If done right, this song gives me absolute chills, and I think should always be included in any Christmas event (religious, of course). And I don't know why this text is underlined and can't fix it.

Charlotte Church What Child Is This?
- I maintain that Charlotte Church had (has) one of the very best voices for Christmas songs. Feel free to disagree. This particular song may well be one of my very favorites of all. Go Greensleeves!

Jewel O Little Town of Bethlehem
- Another beautiful singer, and a great song when pondering the circumstances into which Christ was born.

Third Day Do You Hear What I Hear?
- One of my brother's favorite Christmas songs, and I like it too. No scoffing at the "Christian rock" please... I like it and think it works really well for this song. And for those who were looking for the modern Christian rock, these guys are pretty big in that world... like, probably Top 5.

Enya Silent Night (Irish)
- Everybody's heard the English, and many no doubt have heard the German. So why not go for the Irish Gaelic version for a change? Now, I don't know if the lyrics flashed on the video are true or not, but the song itself is beautiful, which is what really matters.

Gayla Peevey I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
- Ok, so I said I like serious Christmas songs. Well, this novelty song from 1953 just makes me smile. It's silly, goofy, and ridiculous. Kinda like Coyote at times. Enjoy... or cringe, your call.

Lou Monte Dominic the Donkey
- In a similar vein to the Hippo Song, this classic makes me warm and fuzzy. Goofy, silly, but so Christmasy!

The Royal Guardsmen Snoopy's Christmas
- Goofy and fun, absolutely. I mean, it's about Snoopy and the Red Baron! But it also, deeper down, is a very poignant song about the true meaning of Christmas and how we should treat our "enemies." The Christmas Truce in goofy song format? I'm there!

So, there you go readers, a small selection both religious and goofy. What say you, any favorites that I've left out? I'm sure there are.

A Follow-Up tale, and Something Fun too!

Right, so, it seems to me only fitting that I should post something in follow-up to the meeting that we had, what, a week and a day ago now? My, how time does fly... poor Coyote is feeling pretty beat right now, like an old dog. Therefore, instead of doing what he should be doing (say, finals/papers) he's gonna blog. Logical, no?

We convened, more or less, at Seven of the Clock post meridiem (that would be nineteen hundred hours for you 24-hour folks) in the Quigg worship room, the Gathering Area having not enough seating or the preferred atmosphere for what we were intending. Which, of course, was somewhat nebulous, at least in the outset. Basically, if I understand what happened correctly, we came together to talk about and share our feelings regarding the perceived breaking of trust in the community, and what we hoped to do as a community in order to re-establish said trust so that we could move forward as functional; what we were not intending was a discussion of Robert's situation, or of Marie Vandenbark's history class. Both were obviously very important elements and would have a bearing on what was said understood, but those specific issues were not intended to be the topic of main discussion/sharing. After some brief introduction and a slight bringing up to speed of what had been happening, we entered into a period of worship, with Micki... well, clerking might be one way of putting it, but pastoring would, methinks, be a more apt descriptor of her function, for which I am deeply appreciative. Question was raised regarding the nature of trust and what that would look like, but things didn't really seem to be going anywhere. Then a Friend asked, hoping not out of line, if we could back up a bit. She was, Friend said, not acquainted with everyone in the room and thought it would be beneficial for all (herself included, natch) if we introduced ourselves and, much more importantly, spoke briefly on our connection to all this and why we had come to the community meeting/what each hoped to accomplish. And we did, not going around the room necessarily, but each speaking when moved and in turn.

Turns out, this suggestion was positively *brilliant* and no doubt Spirit-led. It was during this time that it was revealed to me how hurtful the Gossip Blog had been from the outset due to prior connotations of gossip; however well-intentioned, such a Blog could not have helped do some damage. I must concede, with some remorse and shame, that not all share the sense of humor of myself or James Nayler. Who, by the way, outed himself to the community and publicly apologized for his unintended exacerbation of QuakerWorldNow's apparent... difficulties. I too apologized for the community as one of those who "bit" on the Blog, so to speak. Some also spoke to the deeply personal and ongoing attacks they had been subjected to by QuakerWorldNow, including Craig (though QWN did not know who he was specifically) and Erin, as I mentioned last post (and hope she doesn't mind my mentioning). This was helpful for those who were unaware of anything beyond the initial few e-mails and the Gossip Blog e-mail. Some Friends spoke to feeling unsafe and vulnerable at ESR because of the threats they felt they had received; others spoke to their bewilderment regarding how something so simple (in their eyes) could have such an effect. Some came in an attempt to rebuild trust and community; some came seeking safety and support, comfort for their wounds; some came to offer support and hopefully comfort though they might not have known everything. I went that night to support my friends; I went because I wanted a release of the frustration, anger, fear for friends that had been growing as I learned more. I went seeking absolution for the guilt of feeling angry and threatened on behalf of my friends, the guilt that it had been someone else, not me, who had been hurt and felt threatened, (I would rather be a tank [def. 1]) and as I was there I asked for absolution of the shame that grew in me as I heard Friends talking about how the Gossip Blog hurt them unawares.

Sorry, got a bit sidetracked there. Anyway, as I said this suggestion was a very good one and it was an excellent way to get out information and clear the air, in a sense. There was some brief discussion about the community and the raw pain that was in the room was brought up, but honestly I think most of the work was done in the sharing. And... I'm not sure what else to say about the meeting. It went well. I think most people came away feeling very good about it, if not disturbed about what had happened to some people, and some healing certainly took place.

Changing subjects entirely now, since I should post about something more entertaining methinks. So Coyote was on the Interwebs recently surfing about, and look what he found! Now, for those of you unfamiliar with LOLcats, well, there's a perfect example attached to this post actually. But yeah, there it is. A Kitty pidgin Bible, I kid you not. I about fell out of my chair, and not because I was leaning back too far (though that does happen often - the leaning back, not the falling out I mean). Who has the time on their hands... I know it's a wiki, but still, why? Why, I say, "translate" the Bible into something rather ridiculous. I mean, I'm a fan of Lolcats, and if you read my blog you'll no doubt see more (ohs the noes!), but the Bible?! Still, it's funny. Well, for a bit. Read a few verses, heck read a chapter, and see what you think. Hopefully you giggle or guffaw. If not, well, Coyote tries, but does not always succeed.

And, I'm done. Tis late. Goodnight dear readers!