Santos Woodcarving Popsicles

Early Spring

2026-05-01T22:46:00.004-04:00

Today, by Mary Oliver

2026-04-25T08:37:21.024-04:00

Look and see!

2026-04-08T07:52:00.000-04:00

It can be an ugly world. It can be a boring world. It can be a world full of distraction.

Which is why the artist and the philosopher must learn how to cultivate their eyes.

In 1940, the writer James Baldwin was walking in New York City with the painter Beauford Delaney, his friend and mentor. As they crossed the street, Delaney stopped the young Baldwin. “Look,” he said, as he pointed down into the gutter. “What do you see?” All Baldwin saw was a puddle. Delaney told him to look again. This time Baldwin saw, as Nicholas Boggs recounts in Baldwin: A Love Story, “a reflection of buildings moving like mercury in the gutter’s black water, distorted and radiant.”

It is clear in Meditations that someone did this for Marcus Aurelius. How else can you explain his beautiful observations of seemingly ordinary or even unpleasant things—from the way an olive rots on the ground or the foam flecked on a boar’s mouth? What else could explain not just his turns of phrase but his ability to find philosophical truths in his own struggles as a human being? Perhaps it was Rusticus, his philosophy teacher, who taught him this, or Fronto, his rhetoric teacher, or some poet or writer he met, but in any case, as Baldwin said of Delaney, “The reality of his seeing caused me to begin to see.”

And so it goes for us. We must cultivate the ability to see—to see beauty and poetry everywhere—because it is everywhere. We must look into the gutter. We must change our aperture and perspective so that amidst the muddle and puddles of life, we can see what the artist and the philosopher sees.

Reading Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations can change the way you see the world

Easter Day

2026-04-05T07:14:05.730-04:00

A Vision, by Wendell Berry

2026-04-03T10:13:00.004-04:00

A Vision, by Wendell Berry

If we will have the wisdom to survive,
to stand like slow-growing trees
on a ruined place, renewing, enriching it,
if we will make our seasons welcome here,
asking not too much of earth or heaven,
then a long time after we are dead
the lives our lives prepare will live
here, their houses strongly placed
upon the valley sides, fields and gardens
rich in the windows. The river will run
clear, as we never know it,
and over it, birdsong like a canopy.
On the levels of the hills will be
green meadows, stock bells in noon shade.
On the steeps where greed and ignorance cut down
the old forest, an old forest will stand,
its rich leaf-fall drifting on its roots.
The veins of forgotten springs will have opened.
Families will be singing in the fields.
In their voices they will hear a music
risen out of the ground. They will take
nothing from the ground they will not return,
whatever the grief at parting. Memory,
native to this valley, will spread over it
like a grove, and memory will grow
into legend, legend into song, song
into sacrament. The abundance of this place,
the songs of its people and its birds,
will be health and wisdom and indwelling
light. This is no paradisal dream.
Its hardship is its possibility.

Charles V. "Chuck" Martin, 1932-2026

2026-03-15T18:27:00.000-04:00

Charles Martin Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Stephen C. Gregory and Son Cremation Service on Mar. 14, 2026.

Charles V. "Chuck" Martin, 93, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 1, 2026 at the McClure Miller respite house in Colchester with his youngest sister lovingly by his side. His departure marked the close of a long, generous and selfless life, lived with devotion and strength.

Born in 1932, in Burlington, to Helen and Francis Martin, Chuck was the third of eight children. He graduated from Burlington High School where he distinguished himself as three-sport athlete, excelling in baseball, football, and basketball. He was a natural competitor, with discipline and heart.

After High School, Chuck spent four years in the US Air Force, climbing to the rank of Staff Seargent, and following his active military duty, he also completed several years in the Air National Guard and in the Marine Corp Reserves. Chuck then continued both his education and his athletic legacy, receiving his Bachelor of Science from Johnson State College where he played basketball and soccer, and a Masters degree from Syracuse University. He also attended both St. Michaels and Villenova for additional coursework.

Beginning in 1962, and for the next 25 years, Chuck poured his heart and soul into Middlebury Junior/Senior High School as a math and science teacher, seventh grade advisor, and coach, shaping generations of students with his steady presence. He had a gift for turning curiosity into confidence and for helping young people see the world a little more clearly. He believed, and taught others, that learning was a lifelong responsibility.

On the athletic front, Chuck served many years as Head Coach of the baseball team, and Assistant Coach for the football and basketball programs. His players fondly remember him for his dedication, drive, direction, and his famously "not-so-quiet" encouragement. In 2019, he was inducted into the Middlebury High School Hall of Fame – a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much of himself to the MUHS Tigers.

Retirement from teaching did little to slow Chuck down. He soon found himself drawn back into the sports community at Middlebury College, dedicating many more as an Equipment Manager. He loved being around the athletes – swapping stories, offering guidance, and chatting about statistics, he never forgot a name, a family, or a face, and he took immense pride in the work he did with the teams.

Chuck never married but lived a life rich in connection. In his younger years, when he wasn't teaching or coaching, he enjoyed retreating to his rustic cabin in the woods of Ripton, living very simply and contentedly. He loved keeping his property neat, chopping and stacking wood, and was especially fond of mowing his several acres of grass. Without a phone, he relied on the Ripton Store to take messages for him when needed. He was always the last one to arrive at family functions, but swept in with a grin, carrying surprises for each of his twenty-one nieces and nephews.

In the later-1980's, Chuck found a true partner in Gail Jette, a fellow MUHS teacher and coach. Together they shared more than thirty years of companionship, laughter, and deep affection. One of the greatest joys of Chuck's life was becoming "Gump" to Gail's five grandchildren, Quinn, James, Willem, Zach and Sadie, who absolutely adored spending time with him.

Chuck is lovingly remembered by two of his siblings, Mary Usher of Middletown, DE, and Colleen Steen of Fairfax, Gail's children, Peter Jette and his wife Victoria of Middlebury, and Brooke Jette also of Middlebury, as well as their children, and many nieces and nephews who cherished his presence in their lives. He was predeceased by his beloved Gail in 2020, by his parents, and by his siblings, Francis "Pepper" Martin of Barton, Patricia Laskowski of Milton, John "Jake" Martin of Bakersfield, James Martin of Georgia, and Robert Martin of Enosburg.

Over 93 years, Chuck touched countless lives with his generosity, humor, and unwavering commitment to others, and leaves behind a legacy of service, love, and the kind of quiet heroism that endures in the memories of those fortunate enough to have known him.

By Chuck's request, there will be no memorial service, but his family warmly welcomes any memories or reflections shared in the guest book, knowing he would have treasured each one.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

from Ryan Holiday of the Daily Stoic, on Love

2026-02-13T06:48:00.547-05:00

Marcus Aurelius said that if you ever found anything better in life than courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom—the four virtues—it must be an extraordinary thing indeed. Which raises the question: is there anything better?

Here’s one pretty extraordinary thing: Love.

Sure, you could argue that love fits within the virtue of justice, but it’s notable how much the Stoics speak about it. Hecato said, “I can teach you a love potion made without any drugs, herbs, or special spell—if you would be loved, love.” Marcus himself writes in Meditations (grab our leatherbound edition here) that he learned from his teacher Sextus that the key to life was to be free of passion but full of love. Indeed, there is almost no situation that hatred improves, but love enhances nearly everything.

Love transforms us. “Pure love, careless of all other things, kindles the soul,” Seneca said. It makes us selfless. It inspires us to be better. “In the end,” the Beatles wrote, “the love you take is equal to the love you make.” And that love gives our lives meaning.

Love emboldens courage. It inspires discipline. It strengthens justice. It gives purpose to wisdom. It is an extraordinary thing indeed.

***

We WILL have in-person church today!

2026-02-08T07:36:00.003-05:00

Join us!

If you cannot join us in person, we will broadcast the service on YouTube live. Go to our church's YouTube channel and you should see the live stream there.

https://www.youtube.com/@stmaryschurchcathedralroad/streams

Prayers

2026-02-03T22:02:00.000-05:00

“Attentive One,

we come to you as weary people,

laid low by the grinding weight of

federal occupation.

Even before a word is on our lips, O Lord,

you know it completely.

The disappearances, you know.

The cries of those left behind, you know.

The school grounds turned battlefields, you know.

The truth-tellers dragged from their cars, you know.

The grief met with teargas and flashbangs, you know.

If we’re honest,

some days it feels as though

all we are doing

is holding our breath,

and wondering what we are to make of this moment.

Could it be, Holy One,

that even in the face of utter cruelty

something is waiting to be born—

like the moment when the seed,

planted in fertile ground,

is summoned forth—

by sun and water and grit—

to become something no regime can stop?

Could it be that this is the moment,

in the shadow of helicopters that circle day and night,

when compassion and courage,

empathy and wisdom,

understanding and LOOOOVVVVEEEE,

are finally given hospitable conditions

to change, to grow, to live?

Could it be that this is the moment

when that tender green,

that brilliant green,

pushes up through fear and ICE—

as if to signal

that nothing—

no mask, no order, no convoy—

will stand in the way of

abundant life

emerging?

Renewing Spirit,

we want to believe this is the moment.

But we need you to fill the spaces

of our disbelief and doubt.

We need you to bridge the chasm

between peacekeeping and peacemaking.

We need you to uproot the cynicism

that quietly feeds brutality.

And from detention cell to Signal chat,

we need you to bind your people together again.

Living Spirit,

the truth is that you can already see

a new world,

one we have not yet known.

May this be the moment, God of All,

when we catch a glimpse

of that world arising.”

The Reverend Ingrid Arneson Rasmussen

A message from Bishop José McLoughlin of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina

2026-02-01T17:49:00.003-05:00

View as Webpage

January 30, 2026

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

From a very young age, I saw how people treated my mother once they learned she was a Cuban immigrant. She was called a communist, told to go back to her country, and questioned why she was here at all. This current moment is deeply personal for me because I see my own family reflected in the people that are currently being targeted. I grew up with the reality of how easily people label and dehumanize those they see as “foreign.”

I am disturbed by the escalation of violence in the form of the mass detainment of individuals, largely targeted at the immigrant community, ramped up more recently by the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and even the detainment of several minors including Liam Conejo Ramos – a 5 year old boy. There are credible reports of abuse, malnutrition, and a lack of medical care in some of these detainment facilities.

Throughout my life, I have experienced and witnessed how we as human beings easily “other” those who are different from us, whether because of an ideology, a personal grievance, insecurity, or fear. We are witnessing and experiencing an abuse of power by many in positions of authority. In my years working in law enforcement I was trained to understand that my duty was, first and foremost, to serve and protect all with dignity. Many of the tactics being utilized are a systemic affront to the justice system and antithetical to the training I received.

The Gospel reading assigned for this Sunday is Matthew 5, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. As I was preparing my sermon, I was reminded of a video I recently saw from the Department of Homeland Security quoting “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called Sons of God,” layered over troubling imagery of ICE agents in action. The imagery in this video combined with this passage is a dangerous and vile twisting of scripture and in fact contradicts the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Teargassing civil protesters is not peacemaking. Detaining people based on how they look or how they speak is not peacemaking. Peacemaking that requires coercive violence is no peace at all.

Shortly after I became your Bishop, I wrote a letter to the diocese expressing my concerns about the extremist march in Charlottesville in 2017. For me, the thread that runs through that moment until now is ultimately a symptom and tool of white Christian nationalism. I believe this to be the greatest threat to the Church, to our communities, and to this country. White Christian nationalism does not pursue peace for the sake of the Kingdom of God but pursues power for the sake of a man-made empire. White Christian nationalism perpetuates rhetoric and actions that “other” and demonize those on the margins, and justifies violence by declaring, “they are the enemy.” Yet Jesus, in the very same Sermon on the Mount, teaches, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43-44)

Our baptismal vow to respect the dignity of every human being is not theoretical. It is tested precisely when fear is loudest and when power is most tempted to forget the humanity of those it governs.

Now, more than ever, people are asking me, "What do we do? Where do we begin?"

Pray for the hurting, the isolated, the frightened. Pray for wisdom and sound judgment for all those in leadership. Pray for our first responders and all those who risk their lives to protect us.

Stay informed and speak out. Call your representatives. Advocate for the rights and protection of the vulnerable in your community.

Understand and learn the needs of your community and work to address them. In doing so we address the symptoms of the larger failings in our policies. Maybe this begins with one act of kindness and solidarity for a neighbor.

If you are able, I invite you to give generously to The Episcopal Church's Emergency Migration Ministry fund which was commended by our Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Sean Rowe in a note sent out earlier this week.

My friends, let us stand shoulder to shoulder with each other in unity. Our baptism calls us to this work as the body of Christ, choosing the way of true peacemaking that begets love and dignity, and forsakes violence. May we move forward in boldness and in faith, trusting the Spirit to lead us.

Faithfully,

The Rt. Rev. José A. McLoughlin

Bishop

The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina

900B CentrePark Drive

Asheville, NC 28805

www.diocesewnc.org

I am a product of long corridors

2026-01-31T04:45:00.004-05:00

"I am a product of long corridors, empty sunlit rooms, upstairs indoor silences, attics explored in solitude, distant noises of gurgling cisterns and pipes, and the noise of wind under the tiles. Also, of endless books. My father bought all the books he read and never got rid of any of them. There were books in the study, books in the drawing room, books in the cloakroom, books (two deep) in the great bookcase on the landing, books in a bedroom, books piled as high as my shoulder in the cistern attic, books of all kinds reflecting every transient stage of my parents’ interest, books readable and unreadable, books suitable for a child and books most emphatically not. Nothing was forbidden me. In the seemingly endless rainy afternoons I took volume after volume from the shelves. I had always the same certainty of finding a book that was new to me as a man who walks into a field has of finding a new blade of grass."

CS Lewis, Surprised By Joy'

The earth is to the sky

2026-01-28T21:58:00.001-05:00

Nauset Light, Eastham, Cape Cod, Massachussetts

2026-01-28T10:21:07.251-05:00

born in the open air

2025-12-21T03:34:00.003-05:00

“Sit as little as possible;

give credence to no thought that is not born in the open air

and accompanied by free movement -

in which the muscles do not also celebrate a feast.”

—Friedrich Nietzsche

When I am among the Trees, Mary Oliver

2025-12-19T03:20:00.002-05:00

Ode to lighting the candle

2025-12-14T04:17:00.002-05:00

Tonight when we light
the third candle,
the candle of joy,
I remember
I am a girl
sitting beside
an evergreen wreath,
giddy with advent,
and I breathe in the scent
of spruce and wax
and fall in love
with the growing
of the light —
how each week
the tapers burn brighter —
and such a surprise
to find I am also
in love with the unlit candle,
in love with the wait,
in love with the part
of me that even
in darkness
knows itself
as flame.

— Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, “Ode to Lighting the Candle”

Don't hesistate, Mary Oliver

2025-12-06T06:21:00.003-05:00

He will come like...., by Rowan Williams

2025-11-30T07:53:00.007-05:00

Marshall Hunter Eddy, 1939-2025

2025-11-28T08:57:00.001-05:00

MIDDLEBURY — Marshall Hunter Eddy, 85, died peacefully, surrounded by his children, at his home in Middlebury, Vt., Sept. 20, 2025. Born Oct. 30, 1939, in Bridgeport, Conn., to Virginia and Maxon Eddy, Marshall spent his childhood in Southport, Conn., before leaving to study at Phillips Exeter Academy and Yale University. He left college after one year to join the Army and studied Russian at the Language School in Monterey, Calif. He was stationed overseas in Helmstedd, Germany on the East-West German border and served as a Russian language radio intercept operator from 1959-1962.

Immediately upon his return to the U.S., he married his childhood sweetheart, Jane Miller, and they moved to Vermont to be near the Eddy family homestead. Marshall went on to major in Russian and graduate Phi Beta Kappa from Middlebury College in 1965 before matriculating at the University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, where he graduated cum laude in 1968. He subsequently moved back to Middlebury to join the two-man law firm of Langrock and Sperry, and after two years, was offered a partnership. Marshall’s gut instinct, however, was that investing time in local youth before they reached the point of needing legal representation was the path he would find most fulfilling, and he accepted an entry-level job as a teacher. This resulted in three generations of Art students at Middlebury Union High School benefiting from “Mr. Eddy’s” encouragement, kindness and inspiration over the next 47 years.

As a member of the Middlebury community, Marshall performed several civic functions, including serving as the Chairperson of Addison County Act 250 Environmental Commission, the lead negotiator for the MUHS Teachers’ Union, a member of the Vermont Arts Council, and on the board of the Children’s Art Exchange. He was a skilled carpenter and spent hundreds of hours renovating the Eddy Family Barn down by the river into a beautiful home. After he retired in 2014, he greatly valued the camaraderie he found within his local writing group, and he loved the marvelous conversations and lasting friendships that resulted from the years he spent creating unique and beautiful clay sculptures at the Middlebury Studio School.

Marshall enjoyed singing in several choral groups, acting in local musicals, and directing senior plays and mime productions at the high school. The highlights of his performing career included serving as the Baritone Soloist with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, and playing Tevye, Fagin and the Pirate King in Middlebury Community Players’ productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver, and the Pirates of Penzance. His other favorite memories included sharing the stage with his children and grandchildren in Shrek and making his operatic debut as the Emperor in the Opera Company of Middlebury’s production of Turandot.

Marshall’s most important role, however, was that of devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved supporting his children’s and grandchildren’s academic pursuits, nurturing their artistic talent, introducing them to the stage, cheering for them on the playing fields … and loving them unconditionally through triumphs and trials alike.

Marshall is survived by his loving children: Serena Eddy, Katinka Eddy (and husband Eric Troffkin), Stanton Eddy (and Andrea Grimm), and daughter-in-law Jodi Eddy (and partner Ryan Longe); his beloved grandchildren, Chloe, Kess, Tucker, Seely, Spencer, Marshall and Ashlyn; his brother, David; brothers-in-law Alden and Bill; sisters-in-law Mary, Becky, Nancy and Barbara; and several generations of devoted cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his dear wife, Jane, son Merritt, daughter-in-law Tamara, sister Ginny, sister-in-law Linda and brothers-in-law Chuck, David, Clark and George.

In accordance with tradition, Marshall’s family transported his body in a homemade wooden casket over the Green Mountains to the Mt. Pleasant Crematorium in St. Johnsbury. Next summer, Jane’s wishes will be honored when Marshall’s ashes are combined with hers and scattered near the Oodzee-hozo Rock in Lake Champlain. A Celebration of Marshall’s Life will be held Saturday, Dec. 27, at 2 p.m., at the Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society in Middlebury and is open to all. In lieu of flowers, Marshall asked that contributions be made to the Middlebury Studio School in his honor.

Note to our community: Our family would like to extend our most sincere thanks to everyone who reached out during this past very difficult year. Dad enjoyed spending the last several months of his life connecting and reminiscing with his very favorite people — his beloved family members, dearest friends, and devoted students. He was glad for the opportunity to say farewell to so many, and to express his sincere appreciation for the love and laughter he shared with us all during his lifetime.

We are incredibly grateful, once again, for the love, compassion and expert guidance provided by Dr. Katie Miller, the staff at AC Home Health and Hospice, and Heather Blair and her most wonderful team of caregivers, all of whom helped Dad complete his final journey at home in the manner he desired. As his time grew nigh, Dad encouraged us all to take solace in the fact that he had lived a long and productive life, was happily married for sixty-two years, and did not linger long or suffer at the end. He will forever be remembered and appreciated for the warmth, wit, and wisdom that he bestowed upon us all.

Gardens

2025-10-31T08:01:00.000-04:00

dia de los muertos

2025-10-31T07:44:00.000-04:00

Today is Halloween here in America, a holiday of fun and mischief for children—masks, candy, and staying up late. But tomorrow, in Mexico, begins Día de los Muertos, a holiday more aimed at adults and with deeper philosophical roots. All over Mexico and in other places that celebrate the holiday, people are gathering not for treats, but to honor and remember their loved ones who have passed away. It’s a three-day reflection on the essence of memento mori (check out our memento mori collection here)—a collective moment of bereavement that blends somber remembrance with the vibrancy of a jazz funeral.

The great Montaigne (if you haven’t read his famous Essays or Sarah Bakewell’s How To Live, put them on your list!) once shared a story from the New World: an ancient drinking game where participants would pass around a painting of a corpse in a coffin, toasting, “Drink and be merry, for when you’re dead you will look like this.” It’s both cheeky and profound, perfectly capturing the spirit of Día de los Muertos. The imagery of skulls and skeletons, the face paint, the music and dancing, the prayers, and the altars—all serve as reminders that death is not a horror to avoid, but a natural part of life to acknowledge and, in some ways, celebrate.

At first glance, it may seem strange to celebrate death—stranger still to involve children. But is it really any odder than banishing all thoughts of death from our lives, allowing it to resurface only in moments of dread? Or pretending that the one universal certainty—our mortality—can be ignored?

There is great value in rituals that allow us to confront and even dance with the reality of death. Taking time to process, grieve, and accept this inevitable part of existence helps us live with more clarity. It’s better to regularly acknowledge death, like scheduling an annual check-up, than to be shocked by it when it inevitably arrives.

So tomorrow, drink, be merry, and celebrate the Day of the Dead. Remember those you’ve lost, and cherish the ones still here. In the end, that’s all we can really do.

For generations, humans have been trying to keep the idea of memento mori at hand in different ways. In addition to the Aztec traditions that evolved into our modern day Día de los Muertos celebration, you can see it in historical writing, art, music, and of course jewelry. All created with the intent of reminding their observer that death doesn’t make life pointless—it makes life purposeful.

Hello, sun

2025-10-22T14:07:00.001-04:00

W. Landon Dennison Jr., 89, of Hinesburg

2025-10-18T20:40:00.002-04:00

W. Landon Dennison Jr., 89, of Hinesburg

October 16, 2025

W. LANDON DENNISON JR.

HINESBURG — W. Landon “Lanny” Dennison Jr. died at his home in Hinesburg, Vt., on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. He was 89 years old.

Lanny was born in Princeton, N.J., on Jan. 22, 1936. He attended Deerfield Academy and graduated from Princeton University in 1958 and Jefferson Medical College in 1962.

Lanny married the love of his life, Alison Holland, on July 4, 1960.

Lanny served as the medical officer aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, SSBN-602. In 1970, he completed his residency at Mary Hitchcock Hospital in Dartmouth and moved his family to Hinesburg to open his dermatology practice.

As a doctor, Lanny traveled to the Northeast Kingdom, Middlebury and St. Albans. He never turned away a patient, taking payment in eggs, crocheted afghans, and even feed for his daughter’s horse. It wasn’t unusual for him to stop by a patient’s home after church on Sunday.

In addition to being a devoted doctor, husband and father, he was a true renaissance man, painting, tying flies, studying philosophy, hunting, and cycling until the end of his life. His Vermont connections started early in life and ran deep. He spent summers as a camper and counselor at Keewaydin Camp on Lake Dunmore, where his parents worked each summer.

Lanny leaves behind his wife of 65 years, Alison Holland Dennison; children Meg (Tim Peek), Bill (Deb Dennison), Andrew (Alison Dennison), and Michael (Tiffany Dennison); nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren; and brother Tom (Marianne Dennison).

A celebration of Lanny’s life will be held Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church in Shelburne with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lanny’s name may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church of Shelburne, 5171 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482 or Hinesburg Community Resource Center, PO Box 444, Hinesburg, VT 05461.

"Today" by Mary Oliver

2025-09-22T10:42:00.005-04:00

Church of our Saviour, Mission Farm, Killington, Vermont

2025-08-04T07:56:00.006-04:00