Work After Patriarchy by Rev. Patricia Budd Kepler
Traditional ways of dividing work by gender have changed and challenges for ordering our lives are emerging. Today, women and men engage in various forms of work in the course of a lifetime: work for pay, housework, family care-taking work, volunteer work. Our expansion of work roles hold great promise for our personal development, the well-being of families, and the health of society. We can weave together all forms of work, with determination and imagination, as we open doors for future generations. Our attitudes, values, and world views are changing along with our working patterns. Old ideal images, once limited and harmful, are losing their power. Opportunities for theological reformation emerge based on a new understanding of human nature, just love, and order of society. We live in an accelerating time of great change and great consequence. This is a book for such a time.
To review or buy this book, please come to Goddard Chapel here at Tufts University where Rev. Kepler has copies to share.
The following words were written by Rev. Patricia Budd Kepler for her introduction of our benefit concert, “Singing for Sudan,” which was presented by the Chaplaincy and the Africana Center to benefit Yida refugee Camp on the outskirts of Sudan.
I walk down paved paths, bordered with snow-covered grass, and think of you walking down dust covered fileds, fleeing the terrors of war. How different we are; how different our lives. And yet, how connected we are, woven together by our humanity, meant to be each other’s keepers. You inspire us with your courage and awe us with your life force. Tonight we sing for you and offer you our hearts. And with the love for life within us, commit ourselves to a world in which everyone’s needs are met, Justice shines like the sun, and peace covers us like the stars.
Two Month Reflection
by Rev. Patricia Budd Kepler, University Chaplain ad Interim, February 23, 2012
Talk given at the Chaplaincy Forum on Religion and Moral Courage
A Reflection After a Semester at Tufts
Newtown December 14, 2012
With Newtown we mourn the unfathomable tragedy that took the lives of 20 young children, 6 teachers and administrators, and the mother of the shooter. We are deeply troubled and bewildered by the shooter who perpetrated such horror before taking his own life. We hear stories of bravery and courage on the part of the adults entrusted with the care of all of the children at Sandy Hook, and are in awe of and grateful for the love, calm, and professionalism shown by those faced by the assault. The deepest prayers of our hearts are with all affected, and our resolve is with them too, to do all we can to stem the violence that occurs far too often in our society. We are grateful for President Obama’s response and commitment to address that violence and insure the centrality of
the education and safety of our children. This event reminds us of the violence that takes place on city streets and communities everywhere. And our love for the children of our nation reminds us of the precious lives of children around the world. Too many have lost their lives in war or starvation. The sacred lives that were lost in Newtown will forever remind us of our obligations to children everywhere.
We have held prayer services and vigils throughout the weekend and are available to any who want to talk with us. The Chapel is open furing the day for those who want to continue to pray.
In Response to the Tragedy following the Marathon
Students came together on the Medford Campus last night for a gathering with the Chaplains to offer one another support in the wake of the bombing attack which occurred close to the end of the Boston Marathon. They shared their experiences of the event and their reactions to it in a spirit of support and solidarity. We are proud of the many runners from Tufts who take part in the Marathon and the many volunteers who support the race.
We are deeply grieved by the bombing that ended the Marathon. We mourn those who lost their lives and pray for healing for those who were wounded and comfort for all those who were deeply shaken. The senseless violence that rocked not only our students, staff and faculty, but the whole Boston community, and indeed our nation, needs to be met with our deep resolve to counter violence with a renewed determination to pursue a world-wide culture of peace and justice.
We recognize the achievement of those who won the Marathon, whose victory was marred by this tragedy. We celebrate them even in the midst of the horritic events that followed.
We in the Chaplaincy are here for all who want or need to talk with any one of our Chaplaincs or to pray or meditate in the Chapel or Interfaith Center. Our phone numbers are Goddard Chapel at 617-627-3427 or at Hillel at 617-627-3242.
