On this day in 1989, the playwright Samuel Beckett died in Paris at age 83.  My introduction to Beckett came at the hands of one of my high school English teachers.  Her name was Gigi French (I know, Gigi!), who in 1978 was a delightful leftover from the hippie era.  She was a free spirit [...]

Image by Getty Images via Daylife William Henry Draper, Anglican clergyman and hymnwriter, was born on this day in 1855. His words to "All Creatures of Our God and King" are an English translation of a Latin text believed to have been written by St. Francis of Assisi. All creatures of our God and King [...]

Charles Wesley, the writer of over 6000 hymns and co-founder of the Methodist movement with his brother John, was born on this day in 1707.  There is probably not a hymnal in the world without at least one hymn by Charles Wesley in it.  Below are four of my favorite Wesleyan hymns with links to [...]

  American poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier was born on this date in 1807.  He was also known as the  “Quaker poet.”  His poem “The Mystic Christmas” follows. The Mystic’s Christmas       "All hail!" the bells of Christmas rang, "All hail!" the monks at Christmas sang, The merry monks who kept with cheer The gladdest [...]