Winter Solstice: Blessing for the Longest Night(The Blue Night)

Winter Solstice: Blessing for the Longest Night

By Jan Richardson
Longest Night © Jan L. Richardson
This week, in addition to preparing for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, many congregations will offer a “Longest Night” or “Blue Christmas” service. Usually held on or near the Winter Solstice, this gathering provides a space for those who are having a difficult time during the holidays or simply need to acknowledge some pain or loss they are carrying in the midst of this season of celebration. For you who are offering or participating in such a service, and for all who struggle in this season, I wish you many blessings and pray for the presence of Christ our Light, who goes with us in the darkness and in the day.

Blessing for the Longest Night

All throughout these months
as the shadows
have lengthened,
this blessing has been
gathering itself,
making ready,
preparing for
this night.

It has practiced
walking in the dark,
traveling with
its eyes closed,
feeling its way
by memory
by touch
by the pull of the moon
even as it wanes.

So believe me
when I tell you
this blessing will
reach you
even if you
have not light enough
to read it;
it will find you
even though you cannot
see it coming.

You will know
the moment of its
arriving
by your release
of the breath
you have held
so long;
a loosening
of the clenching
in your hands,
of the clutch
around your heart;
a thinning
of the darkness
that had drawn itself
around you.

This blessing
does not mean
to take the night away
but it knows
its hidden roads,
knows the resting spots
along the path,
knows what it means
to travel
in the company
of a friend.

So when
this blessing comes,
take its hand.
Get up.
Set out on the road
you cannot see.

This is the night
when you can trust
that any direction
you go,
you will be walking
toward the dawn.

[Update: Thanks to everyone who has contacted me to ask for permission to use this blessing for a Longest Night/Blue Christmas service. If you'd like to use "Blessing for the Longest Night" in a service, I'd be delighted for you to do so; simply include this credit line:
© Jan Richardson. janrichardson.com
No need to write me for permission, though I would be pleased to hear where you're using it. If you'd like to use the artwork, please scroll down to the end of this post for info. Many thanks!]
P.S. For previous reflections on the Winter Solstice, click the images or titles below:

Winter Solstice: The Moon Is Always Whole

Door 21: Blue Plate Special

Solstice: A Woman in Winter
(From my Sanctuary of Women blog)
[To use the "Longest Night" image, please visit this page at janrichardsonimages.com. Your use of janrichardsonimages.com helps make the ministry of The Advent Door possible. Thank you!]

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This entry was posted on December 19, 2011 at 1:15 pm and is filed under Advent, art, blessings, Christmas, poetry, sacred time. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site

Jan Richardson

I am a writer, artist, United Methodist minister, and director of a company called The Wellspring Studio, LLC, which serves as an umbrella for all the writer/artist/minister stuff plus a few other things besides. My favorite projects are those that intertwine words and images. When folks ask me where The Wellspring Studio is, I say, wherever I am, there it is… You can pay a virtual visit to the studio at janrichardson.com; I would love for you to stop by.

I live in central Florida with my husband, the singer/songwriter Garrison Doles, and travel widely as a retreat/workshop leader and conference speaker. I serve as the Visiting Artist at First United Methodist Church of Winter Park, Florida, and am on the faculty of the Grünewald Guild in Washington State.
The Advent Door is a blog I’m writing during the weeks leading up to Christmas. The rest of the year, you can find me at my other blog, The Painted Prayerbook.

Christmas around Bradley Beach in photos

https://new.livestream.com/accounts/350597/events/2606797/statuses/36773927?cat=status&query=First+Snow+Cam+on+Main+Street+From+The+Bradley+Beach+Tatler

https://new.livestream.com/accounts/350597/events/2606797/statuses/36773927?cat=status&query=First+Snow+Cam+on+Main+Street+From+The+Bradley+Beach+Tatler

BRADLEY BEACH IS READY ARE YOU.

Ready The Bradley Beach Public Works and All emergency service groups stand ready to help in case of a snow emergency.
Mayor Engelstad (Term of Office 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2016)

Patrick D’Angelo Council President (Term Expires 12/31/2013)	Harold Cotler Council Member (Term Expires 12/31/2013)	Salvatore A. Galassetti Council Member (Term Expires 12/31/2013)
Norman Goldfarb Council Member (Term Expires 12/31/2013)

Winter storms can be trying for all of us, motorists, residents and snowplow operators alike. Our goal of keeping streets open, essential traffic moving and returning streets to safe, travelable conditions quickly can only be accomplished with your help. This page has been prepared to make you aware of our Snow and Ice Plan and how you can help us achieve the plan's objectives. Working together, we will be able to provide the important services of our winter maintenance program - KEEPING STREETS OPEN, ESSENTIAL TRAFFIC MOVING, AND RETURNING STREETS TO SAFE TRAVELABLE CONDITIONS QUICKLY. I hope you find this helpful. Your support and cooperation is essential and greatly appreciated.
Richard Bianchi, Operating Supervisor                
732 776-2999 ext 3110

Biagio Cofone, Assistant Operating Supervisor
732 776-2999 ext 3111

Patrick Allan, Foreman                                            
732 776-2999 ext 3112

The Bradley Beach Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management is ready to help in time of emergency, Assisted by The Bradley Beach Fire Department and Bradley Beach First Aid All should know that it is business as always please help by keeping a eye on your neighbors and the disabled as well as the elderly. Remember 911 is for emergencies you can always call the BBPD at 732-775-6900 

Chief of Police Leonard A. Guida Police Officers Captain Stephen Fahnholz Detective Anthony Murray Lieutenant Charles Zulla Ptlw. Josephine Celauro Detective Sgt. Theodore Bianchi Patrolman Michael Tardio Sgt. Edward Scott Patrolman William Major Sgt. Michael Ricciardi Patrolman Kevin Gale Sgt. Terry Browning Patrolman Jason Gorto Detective James Arnold Patrolman Rafiq Pickett Patrolman Gregory Pancza
Emergency Management Coordinator Chief Leonard Guida 732 775-6900 Deputy Coordinators Norman Goldfarb      Stephen Fahnholz    John McLoughlin Joseph Everett           Ronald Minsky        Richard Bianchi     OFFICER LIST FIRE DEPARTMENT LINE OFFICERS Fire Chief Joseph Everett Deputy Chief Ronald Minsky Captain John McLoughlin Lieutenant Charles Baker Foreman / Engines Joseph Sanfelice Foreman / Ladder Raymond DiLello Drivers Kelly Hagerman Alan Quixley Walter Wilson

The Bradley Beach First Aid Squad
Capt. Joseph G. Walsh, 
1st. Lieutenant J.W.Zech, 
2nd. Lieutenant Angelo Napolitano,
Sergeant Jackie DiNola

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§ 350-1 Adoption of standards; availability of copies.

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Chapter 350: PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND HOUSING STANDARDS

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Bradley Beach 6-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-12. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Moving of buildings; storage sheds — See Ch. 142.

Uniform Construction Codes — See Ch. 160.

Fences and hedges — See Ch. 201.

Brush, grass, weeds and debris — See Ch. 239.

Rental property — See Ch. 365.

Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 398.

Chapter 350: PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND HOUSING STANDARDS

§ 350-1 Adoption of standards; availability of copies.

§ 350-2 Amendments to Code adopted.

§ 350-3 Supersession of other statutes.

§ 350-4 Elimination of prefacing information.

§ 350-1 Adoption of standards; availability of copies.

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:49-5.1, the International Property Management Code, 2009, published by the International Code Counsel, is hereby accepted, adopted and established as the standard and guide in determining whether dwellings and properties in this municipality are properly maintained in accordance with and in the interest of promoting the health, safety and welfare of the public. A copy of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) is annexed hereto and three copies have been placed on file in the office of the Borough Clerk and are available to all persons desiring to use and examine the same.

§ 350-2 Amendments to Code adopted.

The International Property Maintenance Code as identified above shall be hereby amended and supplemented to read as follows:

A. 

Section 101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "International Property Maintenance Code of Borough of Bradley Beach," hereinafter referred to as "this code."

B. 

Section 102.3 Application of other codes. Repairs, additions or alterations to a structure, or changes of occupancy, shall be done in accordance with the procedures and provisions of the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code. Nothing in this code shall be construed to cancel, modify of set aside any provision of the Borough of Bradley Beach Zoning Code. Any reference to the "International Building Code," "National Electric Code" or the "International Plumbing Code," as found in the International Property Maintenance Code adopted herein, shall be construed to mean and be read in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code. Any reference to the "International Fire Code" as found in International Property Maintenance Code adopted herein shall be construed to mean and be read in accordance with the New Jersey International Fire Code.

C. 

Section 103. This section, including all subparts, is deleted in its entirety.

D. 

Section 106.4 Violations and penalties. Unless otherwise provided in this Code, any person, persons, other entities, or their agents, who shall violate a provision of this Code, or fail to comply therewith, or with any of the requirements hereof, shall be prosecuted within the limits provided by state or local laws and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Borough Ordinance Chapter 1, Article II, General Penalty. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense. All summons issued in connection with the enforcement of this code, or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, shall be heard before the Municipal Court of the Borough of Bradley Beach in accordance with the rules of the Municipal Court, as adopted by the Supreme Court.

E. 

Section 107.7 No notice necessary. No notice of violation need be given to any person or entity prior to the issuance of a summons for the violation of any standards or provisions herein adopted and all requirements as to notice shall be read as being discretionary and permissive only.

F. 

Section 111. This section, including all subparts, is deleted in its entirety.

G. 

Section 112.4 Failure to comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop-work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be subject to a fine of not less than $200 or more than $2,000.

H. 

Section 302.3.1 Snow removal: sidewalks and parking lots. Snow and ice shall be removed from sidewalks and private parking lots within 24 hours after cessation of precipitation.

I. 

Section 302.4 Weeds. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of six inches. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation other than trees or shrubs provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens. Upon failure of the owner, the owner's agent, or other person having charge of a property to cut and destroy weeds after service of a notice of violation, said person shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with Section 106.3 and as otherwise prescribed by the authority having jurisdiction. Upon failure to comply with the notice of violation, any duly authorized employee of the jurisdiction or contractor hired by the jurisdiction shall be authorized to enter upon the property in violation and cut and destroy the weeds growing thereon, and the cost of such removal shall be paid by the owner or agent responsible for the property.

J. 

Section 302.7 Accessory structures. All accessory structures, including but not limited to, detached garages, sheds, outside showers, fences and walls, shall be maintained in structurally sound and in good repair.

K. 

Section 302.10 Depositing of snow or ice prohibited. No person or other entity shall throw, place or deposit any snow or ice into or on any street in the Borough, and no owner, tenant or occupant shall cause or allow such throwing, placing or depositing to occur, or cause or permit said throwing, placing or depositing of any snow or ice to remain in the street, it being the intent and purpose of this provision to prohibit all such persons and entities from throwing, placing or depositing snow or ice which accumulated on the private property or adjoining sidewalks into the streets of the Borough.

L. 

Section 304.1.1. This section shall be amended to delete any reference to existing International Building Code.

M. 

Section 304.3.1 Premises identification. Commercial buildings with rear doors shall have the name of any businesses, address number and unit identification, if applicable, on the outside of said rear doors. Numbers and letters shall be a minimum of three inches high with a minimum width of 0.5 inches.

N. 

Section 304.6.1 Exterior walls. All exterior walls, including masonry walls, shall be free of chipping, staining and deterioration of paint and all such walls shall be restored to a clean good appearance.

O. 

Section 304.14 Insect screens. Every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation area, food service areas or any areas where products to be included or utilized in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored shall be supplied with approved, tightly fitting screens of not less than 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25 millimeters), and every screen door used for insect control shall have a self-closing device in good working condition.

Exception: Screens shall not be required where other approved means, such as air curtains or insect repellent fans, are employed.

P. 

Section 308.3.1 Garbage facilities. The owner of every dwelling shall supply an approved leakproof, covered, outside garbage container, and no option to this requirement shall be permitted.

Q. 

Section 404.4.1 Room area. Every living room shall contain at least 120 square feet (11.2 m²) and every bedroom shall contain at least 70 square feet (6.5 m²) for the first person and 50 square feet for each additional person.

R. 

Section 602.3 Heat supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one or more dwelling units or sleeping units on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat during the period from October 1 to May 15 to maintain a temperature of not less than 68º F. (20º C.) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms.

	Exceptions:
	(1)	When the outdoor temperature is below the winter outdoor design temperature for the locality, maintenance of the minimum room temperature shall not be required provided that the heating system is operating at its full design capacity. The winter outdoor design temperature for the locality shall be as indicated in National Standard Plumbing Code currently adopted by the NJ-UCC.
	(2)	In areas where the average monthly temperature is above 30º F. (-1º C.) a minimum temperature of 65º F. (18º C.) shall be maintained.

S. 

Sec. 602.4 Occupiable work spaces. Indoor occupiable work spaces shall be supplied with heat during the period from October 1 to May 15 to maintain a temperature of not less than 65º F. (18º C.) during the period the spaces are occupied.

	Exceptions:
	(1)	Processing, storage and operation areas that require cooling or special temperature conditions.
	(2)	Areas in which persons are primarily engaged in vigorous physical activities.

SNOW IS ON ITS WAY AND HERE IS SOME BASIC INFORMATION TO KNOW

[Added by Ord. No. 2003-24; amended 5-24-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-16]

9-11.1 

  Whenever there is snow covering on the streets or highways in the Borough, in the discretion of the Superintendent of Public Works or his designee, the following prohibitions will take effect:

a. 

Parking of all vehicles on the south side of the street on any street which runs east and west is prohibited until after the snow has stopped and the street has been plowed; then, after the snow has stopped and the south side of the street has been plowed, park the vehicles on the south side of the street on any street which runs east and west until the streets have been plowed sufficiently and to the extent that parking will not interfere with normal flow of traffic.

b. 

Parking of all vehicles on the east side of the street on any street which runs north and south is prohibited until after the snow has stopped and the street has been plowed; then, after the snow has stopped and the east side of the street has been plowed, park the vehicles on the east side of the street on any street which runs north and south until the streets have been plowed sufficiently and to the extent that parking will not interfere with normal flow of traffic.

c. 

Any vehicle parked in violation or abandoned on a public street shall be deemed to be a nuisance and a menace to public safety and any public safety officer may provide for the removal of such vehicle. The owner shall pay the reasonable costs of removal and storage of a vehicle before redeeming possession thereof.

d. 

This parking prohibition shall remain in effect until after the snow has ceased and the streets have been plowed for the full width as well as until parking will not interfere with the normal flow of traffic.

e. 

During a snow emergency, if off-street parking is available, any vehicle shall not be parked on any street.

f. 

Any owner or owners, occupant or occupants, tenant or tenants, building superintendent, rental agent or person in charge of premises abutting or bordering upon any public street in the Borough shall remove all snow and ice from the abutting sidewalks of such streets, or in the case of ice which may be so frozen as to make removal impracticable, shall cause the same to be thoroughly covered with sand or ashes, within 24 hours of daylight after the same shall fall or be formed thereon.

9-11.2 

  This section shall not apply to either Main Street or Ocean Avenue as to parking of vehicles. However, the regulations regarding sidewalks shall apply.

9-11.3 

  The penalty provisions of § 9-10 shall apply to a violation of this ordinance. In addition, the Police Department shall have the option of towing any vehicle in violation at the owner's expense.

9-11.4 

  Removal costs. In addition to the provision for penalties herein made for violations of this section, and in case such snow or ice shall not be removed from such sidewalks by the owner or owners, tenant or tenants, occupant or occupants, building superintendent, rental agent or person in change of any premises, as provided in Subsection 9-11.1F, the same shall be removed forthwith and under the direction of the Supervisor of Streets, and the cost of such removal as nearly as can be ascertained shall be certified by the Supervisor of Streets to the governing body. The governing body shall examine such certification and, if found to be correct, shall cause such cost to be charged against such real estate so abutting or bordering upon such sidewalk or street, and the amount so charged shall forthwith become a lien and a tax upon such real estate or land and be added to, recorded and collected in the same manner as the taxes next to be levied and assessed upon such premises and shall bear interest and be enforced and collected by the same officers and in the same manner as other taxes.

9-11.5 

  Depositing snow on street restricted. No person, firm or corporation, the owner, tenant or occupant of any premises abutting on any street shall throw, place or deposit any snow or ice into or on any street in the Borough, it being the intent and purpose of this provision to prohibit all such persons from throwing, casting, placing or depositing snow and ice which accumulated on the private property abutting the street or sidewalk on the sidewalks or streets of the Borough.

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Thanksgiven 2013 By Wendy Ella May

Chocobeanz is a snackateria for all your beach snacking delights!

Chocobeanz is a snackateria for all your  snacking delights!

We have a wonderful array of "create your own" sandwiches, salads, and smoothies with a range of fresh vegetables, grilled proteins, and homemade pestos.

 
Add to Your

Bradley Beach 

Main Street 

International Culinary

 Experience  

With our Hand Pie

(Meat andVegan)

Fresh Fruit Tarts

Come have a blast!

Mon - Thu: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Fri - Sun: 9:00 am - 10:30 pm

 

                          “Jane DeNoble of Bradley Beach NJ

   I am addicted to your Cappuccino Smoothie! I am coming over for one - it is a scorcher out there     today!”

  

 Neelam Chandy  Kendall Park NJ

The deserts are to die for. Must try.

                                                                              

 

MJ S. Poblete  Rutgers Student

Very nice people. Both times I've been there, the owners gave me something free of charge. They even let us sample the goodies! Anyway, my sandwich was great, and so was my mango smoothie! :)

 

 SUNIL DUDANI THE PROUD OWNER.