May is Special
"May you too reach toward the moon and stars"
Dear Cottage friends,
Did you know that the majority of readers at The Cottage are women?
When this newsletter launched in May 2020, the core of the community was progressive Christian women who were dismayed by the growth of Christian nationalism and MAGA politics — and who were worried and isolated in the pandemic.
We felt lost.
But we found one another. And because of our shared concerns, The Cottage emerged with a truly unique voice at the intersection of religion and public issues by believing that theology and spirituality matter to our lives. We don’t want to reject faith because some use it badly; we want to find paths of renewal and rebirth amid the crises of our days.
The Cottage is about head and heart, the outward journey of engagement with the world and the inner journey of experiencing the Spirit within.
The Cottage encourages everyone — women and men, Christians and those of other faiths — to attend to wholeness by learning and in love.
May 18 is The Cottage’s third birthday. And May 14 is Mother’s Day in the United States. To celebrate both the birthday and all the women — mothers, grandmothers, sisters, teachers, friends, mentors — who have inspired us toward wholeness, we’re having the best subscription special of the year. There will never be a lower price for The Cottage than this month’s offer.
You can give the gift of The Cottage or upgrade to a new paid subscription for only $40 yearly — that’s an astonishing $3.33 a month (so trinitarian!).
Subscriptions are like NPR or PBS pledges, not a quid pro quo. Only a small percentage of the 40,000 members are paid subscribers. But they ensure that The Cottage continues and grows and can be read widely.
In addition, a paid subscription offers wonderful benefits — notably Third Thursday conversations with authors, participation in seasonal events, and unlimited access to the Cottage Archive.
I am so grateful for your presence at The Cottage. You’ve made a huge difference to my life. It has been a joy to be with you on this unexpected journey.
Gratefully,
Diana
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To current paid subscribers, we’ve got great events coming up.
Third Thursday will actually be on May 25 this month — and we are hosting a live, in-person conversation with Jeff Sharlet, author of The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War. His earlier book, The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, was also a Netflix series. He’s an extraordinary writer, a brave public voice against Christian nationalism, and a professor at Dartmouth. Remember: all past recordings are at The Cottage Archive and you can listen to them at any time (or use them in Sunday school classes, book groups, etc.)
Summer special reflection series in July will be on the how we practice citizenship in these conflicted times. We’ll be focusing on Broken We Kneel, a book I wrote shortly after 9/11. More details will be forthcoming!
IMPORTANT INFO FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS: You can manage your subscription here: https://dianabutlerbass.substack.com/account. (Remember to update expired cards or enter a new one if your card was lost or stolen!)
If you have questions about your subscription or renewal issues, please email us at the.cottage.email@gmail.com.
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May is beautiful at The Cottage! All manner of things are coming up in the garden.
An Iris Blessing
May your blooms be floriferous and in good form,
Distinctive, with good substance, flare, and airborne,
With standards and falls that endure, never torn.
May you display many buds and blooms sublime,
In graceful proportion on strong stalks each day,
Gently floating above the fans and the fray.
May you too reach toward the moon and stars,
Bloom after bloom, many seasons in the sun,
Enjoying your life, health, and each loved one,
Until your living days are artfully done.
— Georgia Gudykunst
(from the Tucson Area Iris Society)
A hidden wooden cottage
is much safer than a solid fortress standing
in an obvious place on the hill!
— Mehmet Murat Ilan
Such a timely message in my mind’s chaos this morning. Back on solid ground I stand. I rest now in gratitude.
I so needed this reminder and message today after reading so much conflicting, conflictual, and spiritually draining “news.” A person found guilty by a jury of his peers of sexual abuse one day getting an open forum and platform on national media to tell more lies and foment more anger and abuse the next. It makes my head spin! But it invites me to dig deeper to my roots of truth, courage, and compassion. To walk the fine line between apathy and vitriol.