Author Archives: themichellesmith

About themichellesmith

Community enthusiast from the Blue Ridge Mountains of western NC who thinks globally and acts neighborly. Inter-faith Minister and Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant. Founder and Lead Celebrant, Asheville Celebrant. Willing to work for more peace, more joy and more beautiful places to share stories, food, music and dancing, Unwilling to work for raw survival of our species. Prefers dialogue to debate. Believes fundamentally that Duke's is the only mayonnaise worth eating.

Interfaith “Water Sabbath” offers a time of rest, peace and hope for WNC water ecology and justice activists

Posted on April 26, 2012 by themichellesmith

Asheville’s affiliate of NC’s Interfaith Power and Light began offering a monthly Earth Sabbath service this spring at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Charlotte St. Every fourth Monday the community is invited to an Inter-faith service intended to offer a time of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceremony, Community, Environment, Service | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Spring Break

Posted on March 30, 2011 by themichellesmith

Faith in Asheville is on Spring Break this week.  I spent this past rainy Sunday in the Temple of Holy Rest — my own home with my sweet-heart and my dogs. I have posted the links to the faith communities … Continue reading →

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An Irish Stew of Spiritual Nourishment at Unity Center

Posted on March 23, 2011 by themichellesmith

Tears and laughter, sincerity and irony, a call to stillness and a call to service — worship at Unity Center delivers rich spiritual nourishment like a warm bowl of savory stew — make that Irish stew in this instance.  St. … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, Church, Intro, Liberal | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Meeting of Friends

Posted on March 16, 2011 by themichellesmith

The Religious Society of Friends March 6, 2011 This Sunday I visited the The Asheville Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers.  I’ve long been curious and attracted to the Friends because of their commitment … Continue reading →

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The Perennial Wisdom of New Thought

Posted on March 2, 2011 by themichellesmith

Center for Spiritual Living February 27, 2011 Sunday Celebrations at the Center for Spiritual Living Asheville have a similar structure and pace to most churches I’ve visited.  The content of these services, however, quickly reveals that the people of this … Continue reading →

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Faith flows from Asheville to Bolivia and Back

Posted on February 23, 2011 by themichellesmith

I didn’t attend any services in Asheville this week.  The sad loss of an old and beloved friend required that I make a trip to GA instead. Even so, Grace provides and I am able to share with you a … Continue reading →

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Dance, Dance Revelation!

Posted on February 16, 2011 by themichellesmith

For years I’ve heard friends around Asheville talk about “Sweat Your Prayers” and how much they loved it.  Some were quite devoted to attending these community dances.  It sounded fun—I do love to dance—but I’d never made a point to … Continue reading →

Posted in Community | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

National Preach-In on Global Warming Feb. 11 -13

Posted on February 12, 2011 by themichellesmith

I know of one service focused on global warming during Interfaith Light & Power’s National Preach-In this week-end: Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, David Gillette will give a program at the WNC Baha’i Center on “A Baha’i Perspective on the Environment,” … Continue reading →

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Gold-Red Woman: Mother Grove Temple’s Celebration of Brigid of Ireland

Posted on February 9, 2011 by themichellesmith

Community Imbolc Ritual Feb. 5, 2011 What does it mean to “worship the Goddess”? My dictionary defines “worship” as “reverent love and allegiance”, “a set of ceremonies, prayers or other religious forms by which this love is expressed” and “ardent … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceremony, Community, Holiday, Ritual | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

WNC Baha’i – Peace and Unity in an historic Asheville social club.

Posted on February 2, 2011 by themichellesmith

WNC Baha’i Center January 30, 2011 I have been curious about the Baha’i faith sense I first heard of it some 25 years ago in the early years of my spiritual search. That curiosity increased every time I passed the beautiful … Continue reading →

Posted in Community | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments