Author: D’Nanda Panda

Retired hospital chaplain, Theo-Geek, Honorary Marine, bookworm, crossword addict, and lover of intelligent conversation, well-brewed tea and/or occasional distilled spirits - as appropriate.

Greetings for the Festive Season

Welcome to the Kaffeehaus bulletin board! Feel free to post greetings in any form for our mutual enjoyment and upbuilding! A poinsettia from a friend in NY that echoes my décor for Christmas From your everlovin' Chaps: Blessed and Merry Christmas! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1J-drS2S2A As Schroeder of "Peanuts" would say: It's Beethoven Christmas music. and, just for … Continue reading Greetings for the Festive Season →

*On behalf of Hypatia* – A Page from My Guatemalan Diary: Chichicastenengo, 1974

[Please note: DeNanda is posting this for Hypatia....Enjoy!] Chichicastenengo, Guatemala. I was there in 1974, when there was nothing in the town except the cathedral . What I remember about that trip was, when we got off the bus, we were mobbed by a pack ( Yes, that is, uh, kinda disparaging but it is … Continue reading *On behalf of Hypatia* – A Page from My Guatemalan Diary: Chichicastenengo, 1974 →

From the Chaplain’s Corner: Advent Thoughts – Finale

Greetings to all in the Kaffeeklatsch! On this last Advent Sunday, I've a couple further observations about how Advent's yearly unfolding can invite us to consider the flow of salvation history: from God's creation of the universe from nothing [Gen. 1:1-2:3], to Adam and Eve's broken relationship with the Father [Gen. 3:1-24], to a promise … Continue reading From the Chaplain’s Corner: Advent Thoughts – Finale →

Joyful Jazz for the Season by the U.S. Marine “Big Band”: Let’s “Get Some!”

Greetings to All in the Kaffeeklatsch! This is such a rollickingly joyous performance by the U.S. Marine "Big Band" - on December 14, 2014 - in John Philip Sousa Band Hall at the Marine Barracks Annex in Washington, D.C. that I had to share the wealth. Blessed remaining days of Advent/Merry Christmas/Happy New Year, Everyone! … Continue reading Joyful Jazz for the Season by the U.S. Marine “Big Band”: Let’s “Get Some!” →

Advent Meets #metoo or Something Like That

Greetings to all in the Kaffeeklatsch! A recent seriocomic post of JaC's here, re: the bizarre attempt by the perpetually-offended revisionist niche in our current cultural climate, to both ban and simultaneously recast the delightfully flirtatious winter song: "Baby It’s Cold Outside", (which dates back to 1944 and was part of a largely-forgotten 1949 film … Continue reading Advent Meets #metoo or Something Like That →

From the Chaplain’s Corner: Advent Thoughts

Greetings to all in the Kaffeeklatsch! As usual, our gracious host sparked a bit of reflection by the Chaps, with this intriguing post. For many Christians, this past Sunday began the season of Advent: a time of spiritual preparation for the celebration of Christ's birth - and reflecting on His second coming. The word is … Continue reading From the Chaplain’s Corner: Advent Thoughts →

From the Chaplain’s Corner: Pope Francis in Thailand (Nov. 20-23, 2019)

Greetings to all in the Kaffeeklatsch! While enjoying some homemade butternut squash soup - garnished with freshly-ground ginger and cocoanut-milk -infused cream - at my favorite corner table here, I noticed an AP online article re: Pope Francis's visit [11/20-23/19] to "The Land of Smiles". (The first papal visit since Pope St. John Paul II … Continue reading From the Chaplain’s Corner: Pope Francis in Thailand (Nov. 20-23, 2019) →