Waiting...Still Waiting....
Yup, here it is March 26th and we are still waiting for Spring. It would be wonderful to have a day or two of 50+ degrees days. At least the sun is shining for now, and the birds are chirping. The daffodil leaves are poking up as are the tulips and crocuses. They have been poking up for awhile but then the snow covers them back up again. But like clockwork, they rise up from the cold hard ground amongst the weeds that didn't get removed last fall and the encroaching pin cushion plant babies running amok.
But, O, for a day or two of a bit warmer weather. The spirit aches and the soul and body longs for spring to arrive.
We must have had one of the coldest March's on record. Not even to have a stray 60 degree day somewhere in the month.
So, I wait just awhile longer and hope that soon, soon, there will be some warmer days.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
PRESBYMEME:
This Meme has been going around and I'll take a stab at it.
In 25 words or less:
1. What is your earliest memory of being distinctly Presbyterian?
That would be first grade. I was frustrated at being the only Presbyterian
in my class and not being able to spell it. Growing up in an Italian Roman
Catholic town, I was an anomaly. Made me feel really different. I wanted to
be Lutheran, because it was easier to spell.
2. On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend LESS energy and time?
Well, gee...mmm...think it might be the sexuality and ordination issue?
It has torn the Episcopal church apart, it's tearing ours apart and the
Lutherans are not far behind.
3. On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend MORE energy and time?
Spiritual formation, outreach and mission, can anyone say ACTS 2:42?
4. If you could have the PC(USA) focus on one passage of scripture for an entire
year, what would it be?
Colossian 3:12-17
5. If the PC(USA) were an animal what would it be and why?
A sheep that has gone astray by nibbling its way slowly and steadily from
it's center
Extra Credit: Jesus shows up at GA this year, what does he say to the PC(USA)?
see Presbyterian Gal!
Keep it simple. Love me, serve the God's kingdom, love and serve
one another. Pray for one another. Matthew 25:31-46
This Meme has been going around and I'll take a stab at it.
In 25 words or less:
1. What is your earliest memory of being distinctly Presbyterian?
That would be first grade. I was frustrated at being the only Presbyterian
in my class and not being able to spell it. Growing up in an Italian Roman
Catholic town, I was an anomaly. Made me feel really different. I wanted to
be Lutheran, because it was easier to spell.
2. On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend LESS energy and time?
Well, gee...mmm...think it might be the sexuality and ordination issue?
It has torn the Episcopal church apart, it's tearing ours apart and the
Lutherans are not far behind.
3. On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend MORE energy and time?
Spiritual formation, outreach and mission, can anyone say ACTS 2:42?
4. If you could have the PC(USA) focus on one passage of scripture for an entire
year, what would it be?
Colossian 3:12-17
5. If the PC(USA) were an animal what would it be and why?
A sheep that has gone astray by nibbling its way slowly and steadily from
it's center
Extra Credit: Jesus shows up at GA this year, what does he say to the PC(USA)?
see Presbyterian Gal!
Keep it simple. Love me, serve the God's kingdom, love and serve
one another. Pray for one another. Matthew 25:31-46
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
POST-EASTER
It was a funny lent, not funny haha, just funny more like different. Perhaps, because it was so early, I didn't have enough space to plan. Then with the snow and ice, 3 of our Lenten breakfasts were cancelled, 1 Lenten soup supper and I Lenten Sunday worship service. Then before you knew it, it was Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter! Wheew! It all come much too fast.
Getting up at 5 am for the very, very chilly sunrise service at 7:15 am was not pleasant at all! The Methodist neighboring pastor changed the location from just outside our church doors to down by the cemetary - 1 block from the church. Not far but when it's merely 23 degrees outside it's just too cold. She spoke a wee bit longer than necessary. We processed into the darkened church, blew out our candles and warmed up in our fellowship hall with the bank of east windows where the sunrise was wonderfully visible and light. The rest of the service went well and the breakfast was great and the sun poured into the windows bathing us all in a glorious bright light.
After breakfast, I helped clean up. Set up the baskets of rocks for the ushers and took a few moments of quiet.
We had a wonderful worship by the grace of God, with the church much fuller than usual, a few more kids up front for the children's chat, blooming tulips and budded but not yet blooming Easter lilies. This is the first Easter I can ever remember when not lily had a flowering bloom! I mentioned that Easter was so early this year not even the lilies had a chance to open!!!! Everyone recieved a rock and how God can remove the rocks in our lives even as God removed the rock that entombed Jesus. With the rocks removed, we are given new and everlasting and abundant life.
Communion was a joy to celebrate.
I finally got home at 1 pm ready for the egg salad sandwich I put together quickly.
After changing into comfy sweats, I feel asleep on the couch for just over an hour. LH slept more since he finished lunch and got upstairs before I went up to change.
Had a lazy day and made supper of crab cakes, fettucini, broccoli, cauliflower, and LH's homemade Newburg Sauce (even better made with tomato paste instead of ketchup). We enjoyed a couple Pirouline Wafers (Rolled with chocolate hazelnut creme - mmmmmmmmm....)for dessert.
Yesterday, I was wonderfully granted as a reading day. I was able to sleep in and spent the day reading: Becoming a Blessed Church by N. Graham Standish.
Yayyyy! Got it finished and began Robert Fulghum's new book, What Have I Done?
So, it was a quiet, gentle, and productive day.
Fortunately, I did work ahead and have the liturgy together for our Joy Sunday this coming Sunday, March 30th which includes a baptism. Now, all I need is to work up a sermon!
Now there is some breathing space although I know April and May will fly by quickly. For now, there is this post-easter space to simply be in the light of our Lord's resurrection.
It was a funny lent, not funny haha, just funny more like different. Perhaps, because it was so early, I didn't have enough space to plan. Then with the snow and ice, 3 of our Lenten breakfasts were cancelled, 1 Lenten soup supper and I Lenten Sunday worship service. Then before you knew it, it was Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter! Wheew! It all come much too fast.
Getting up at 5 am for the very, very chilly sunrise service at 7:15 am was not pleasant at all! The Methodist neighboring pastor changed the location from just outside our church doors to down by the cemetary - 1 block from the church. Not far but when it's merely 23 degrees outside it's just too cold. She spoke a wee bit longer than necessary. We processed into the darkened church, blew out our candles and warmed up in our fellowship hall with the bank of east windows where the sunrise was wonderfully visible and light. The rest of the service went well and the breakfast was great and the sun poured into the windows bathing us all in a glorious bright light.
After breakfast, I helped clean up. Set up the baskets of rocks for the ushers and took a few moments of quiet.
We had a wonderful worship by the grace of God, with the church much fuller than usual, a few more kids up front for the children's chat, blooming tulips and budded but not yet blooming Easter lilies. This is the first Easter I can ever remember when not lily had a flowering bloom! I mentioned that Easter was so early this year not even the lilies had a chance to open!!!! Everyone recieved a rock and how God can remove the rocks in our lives even as God removed the rock that entombed Jesus. With the rocks removed, we are given new and everlasting and abundant life.
Communion was a joy to celebrate.
I finally got home at 1 pm ready for the egg salad sandwich I put together quickly.
After changing into comfy sweats, I feel asleep on the couch for just over an hour. LH slept more since he finished lunch and got upstairs before I went up to change.
Had a lazy day and made supper of crab cakes, fettucini, broccoli, cauliflower, and LH's homemade Newburg Sauce (even better made with tomato paste instead of ketchup). We enjoyed a couple Pirouline Wafers (Rolled with chocolate hazelnut creme - mmmmmmmmm....)for dessert.
Yesterday, I was wonderfully granted as a reading day. I was able to sleep in and spent the day reading: Becoming a Blessed Church by N. Graham Standish.
Yayyyy! Got it finished and began Robert Fulghum's new book, What Have I Done?
So, it was a quiet, gentle, and productive day.
Fortunately, I did work ahead and have the liturgy together for our Joy Sunday this coming Sunday, March 30th which includes a baptism. Now, all I need is to work up a sermon!
Now there is some breathing space although I know April and May will fly by quickly. For now, there is this post-easter space to simply be in the light of our Lord's resurrection.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
MAUNDY THURSDAY...
Had a good, but hard visit with a parishioner with lung cancer that has spread to the brain. It is a Good Friday time-dark, bleak with death all around and a deep grief. We cried together. I pray that I and the church will help walk her home, difficult as that always is. And in all this grief lies the promise of Easter, the new and everlasting life that awaits us all, that the risen Christ brings to us. I cling to that promise, especially now, in the gut-wrenching, heartache of life right now. Our only hope, is the hope of our faith, the hope of our risen Lord. It is in that hope that we live and die and live again. It is in that hope that we walk through our days, that we walk through this Holy Week to the Cross.
On Monday night, the Men's AA group was still meeting after Session meeting was over. A woman stood in the hallway and I asked if I could help her. She said there had been a family emergency and they were getting their relative out of the meeting - apparently a 15 year old had committed suicide. As the two men joined this woman, eyes welled up with tears, numb with shock, not knowing what to think or feel, I offered to pray with them and for them.
Another parishioner is facing throat cancer and still awaiting results and a meeting with the doctor to see what treatment might be best.
This Holy Week has been filled with grief and echoes the grief even yet to come.
And that is why our Lord gave himself away on the cross. There was no other way for us or through this. The power of Easter seems even greater this year. We are God's now and forever, in this life and in the new life we will be birthed into even as we leave this world and shed our bodies. Life is ours! Life will always be ours!
Thanks be to God.
Had a good, but hard visit with a parishioner with lung cancer that has spread to the brain. It is a Good Friday time-dark, bleak with death all around and a deep grief. We cried together. I pray that I and the church will help walk her home, difficult as that always is. And in all this grief lies the promise of Easter, the new and everlasting life that awaits us all, that the risen Christ brings to us. I cling to that promise, especially now, in the gut-wrenching, heartache of life right now. Our only hope, is the hope of our faith, the hope of our risen Lord. It is in that hope that we live and die and live again. It is in that hope that we walk through our days, that we walk through this Holy Week to the Cross.
On Monday night, the Men's AA group was still meeting after Session meeting was over. A woman stood in the hallway and I asked if I could help her. She said there had been a family emergency and they were getting their relative out of the meeting - apparently a 15 year old had committed suicide. As the two men joined this woman, eyes welled up with tears, numb with shock, not knowing what to think or feel, I offered to pray with them and for them.
Another parishioner is facing throat cancer and still awaiting results and a meeting with the doctor to see what treatment might be best.
This Holy Week has been filled with grief and echoes the grief even yet to come.
And that is why our Lord gave himself away on the cross. There was no other way for us or through this. The power of Easter seems even greater this year. We are God's now and forever, in this life and in the new life we will be birthed into even as we leave this world and shed our bodies. Life is ours! Life will always be ours!
Thanks be to God.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
War Has Been Officially Declared:
Had a good Lenten breakfast this morning with about 30 between the Methodist church and ours. This has been the third breakfast out of six. Half had to be cancelled because of the weather. The last one will be next week. Fortunately, I'll be doing a longer piece on "Living in Grace" tomorrow evening at LH's church for their once a month Mugs N Muffins Young Adult Bible Study. I pray it will go well.
Because of having to cancel worship on Sunday, I am actually going into Holy Week better prepared and rested than usual. Neither LH or I have been sick! A major church season without sickness, has to be the first in a long time.
We've heard the call the red-winged blackbird last Thursday before the major snow, on Sunday towards evening and again the other morning. Robins are around all year and it is the blackbird that is a true sign of spring. Now, if we could just melt the snow away and warm up some!!!
This morning while looking out the kitchen window, I saw a sparrow in the bluebird box. The hole in the box was plugged up all winter. It was plugged up yesterday. I don't know what the sparrows did with the rag plugging up the hole. I didn't see it lying on the ground, course it and the snow are both white. Perhaps they shoved it into the box. The drifts back there are still deeper than I want to walk through but I am livid. War is now declared on the sparrows. They are persistent little buggers!!!!
So, in a way, spring must be right on the way, if the War on Sparrows has begun!!!
Had a good Lenten breakfast this morning with about 30 between the Methodist church and ours. This has been the third breakfast out of six. Half had to be cancelled because of the weather. The last one will be next week. Fortunately, I'll be doing a longer piece on "Living in Grace" tomorrow evening at LH's church for their once a month Mugs N Muffins Young Adult Bible Study. I pray it will go well.
Because of having to cancel worship on Sunday, I am actually going into Holy Week better prepared and rested than usual. Neither LH or I have been sick! A major church season without sickness, has to be the first in a long time.
We've heard the call the red-winged blackbird last Thursday before the major snow, on Sunday towards evening and again the other morning. Robins are around all year and it is the blackbird that is a true sign of spring. Now, if we could just melt the snow away and warm up some!!!
This morning while looking out the kitchen window, I saw a sparrow in the bluebird box. The hole in the box was plugged up all winter. It was plugged up yesterday. I don't know what the sparrows did with the rag plugging up the hole. I didn't see it lying on the ground, course it and the snow are both white. Perhaps they shoved it into the box. The drifts back there are still deeper than I want to walk through but I am livid. War is now declared on the sparrows. They are persistent little buggers!!!!
So, in a way, spring must be right on the way, if the War on Sparrows has begun!!!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Living La Vida Arctic:
And so it snowed and snowed and snowed with a fairly good wind. Late Sat. afternoon, I let the dogs out and let them in and the sliding glass door to the backyard wouldn't, couldn't be shut all the way. Snow was blowing into the house where the 2 doors bypass each other, just blew in like it was outside and not inside a house. The 1 1/2 inch gap where the door couldn't quite reach the frame wasn't snowing in hardly at all. It was so weird. LH helped get towels to stick in between the doors. I ran down for plastic sheeting and duct tape and could only find plastic packing tape. (Why is it, in an emergency, I simply can't find what I need?)
By the time we had the 2 ends of the door stopped with towels, covered in plastic and tape that didn't want to stick to wet glass, I had removed over 5 sherbet container tubs of snow! The wind was wicked and just blew in with a vengence.
Of course, now that the door was frozen open and unuseable, we had to harness the greys and coax them down the garage steps and out the overhead garage door, since the snowdrifts at the side door were the height of greyhounds. The were discombobulated as to why it was ok to do their business on the driveway (which was snow covered even after being snowthrowed clean). So everytime they had to go out, it was put on boots, heavy coat, scarf, hat and mittens and leash the dogs, and trek outside. The worst is always first thing in the morning, when you're still half asleep and throw on your sweats and take them out. Ugghhh...
Fortunately, it was sunny on Sunday and between the radiant heat from the afternoon sun and the heat of my hair blowdryer, we managed to get the door unstuck and mop the melted ice that collected quicker than the blink of an eye. How glorious
to be able to use the door again. The dogs could just run out, they could freely roam and frollick in the snow, and I could be warm and dry in the kitchen without boots, hats and scarves!!!
I am so looking forward to spring! I've lived La Vita Arctic. Enough!!!
And so it snowed and snowed and snowed with a fairly good wind. Late Sat. afternoon, I let the dogs out and let them in and the sliding glass door to the backyard wouldn't, couldn't be shut all the way. Snow was blowing into the house where the 2 doors bypass each other, just blew in like it was outside and not inside a house. The 1 1/2 inch gap where the door couldn't quite reach the frame wasn't snowing in hardly at all. It was so weird. LH helped get towels to stick in between the doors. I ran down for plastic sheeting and duct tape and could only find plastic packing tape. (Why is it, in an emergency, I simply can't find what I need?)
By the time we had the 2 ends of the door stopped with towels, covered in plastic and tape that didn't want to stick to wet glass, I had removed over 5 sherbet container tubs of snow! The wind was wicked and just blew in with a vengence.
Of course, now that the door was frozen open and unuseable, we had to harness the greys and coax them down the garage steps and out the overhead garage door, since the snowdrifts at the side door were the height of greyhounds. The were discombobulated as to why it was ok to do their business on the driveway (which was snow covered even after being snowthrowed clean). So everytime they had to go out, it was put on boots, heavy coat, scarf, hat and mittens and leash the dogs, and trek outside. The worst is always first thing in the morning, when you're still half asleep and throw on your sweats and take them out. Ugghhh...
Fortunately, it was sunny on Sunday and between the radiant heat from the afternoon sun and the heat of my hair blowdryer, we managed to get the door unstuck and mop the melted ice that collected quicker than the blink of an eye. How glorious
to be able to use the door again. The dogs could just run out, they could freely roam and frollick in the snow, and I could be warm and dry in the kitchen without boots, hats and scarves!!!
I am so looking forward to spring! I've lived La Vita Arctic. Enough!!!
Saturday, March 08, 2008
SNOW UPON SNOW UPON SNOW...
We are presently being buried under vast quantities of snow. The wind is blowing and drifting the snow as well. It does not look good for holding worship tomorrow morning. I'm still pondering how I will traverse the state route to get to church, or which state route to try. Many of our folks are older and won't attempte to go out, which is wise. Several churches in NE OH are already cancelling their worship services. So far in my 4 years at Country Church we have had to cancel Sunday worship nearly 1 Sunday every winter due to adverse weather. Looks like tomorrow will be our Sunday to cancel. This, of course, on the Sunday when clocks are ahead one hour as well.
The weather forecast says that it will be near fifty degrees by the end of the week!
Yup, that's NE OH for you!
Even the greyhounds, with their long spindly legs are having to plow through the snow in the backyard. Good thing we don't have a Yorkie!!!
It's back to work on the Maundy Thursday service.
It's disappointing about worship tomorrow. I was planning to bring in a beef shank bone which the dogs have completely chewed cleaned and which have been washed and dried and are really bleached-out looking for the children's sermon. Sigh. Guess I'll save it all for 3 years from now!!!!
May all your services go well and be a blessing to you, leaders, and to all who will join together in worship tomorrow. I and our faithful will worship with you in spirit in our homes.
We are presently being buried under vast quantities of snow. The wind is blowing and drifting the snow as well. It does not look good for holding worship tomorrow morning. I'm still pondering how I will traverse the state route to get to church, or which state route to try. Many of our folks are older and won't attempte to go out, which is wise. Several churches in NE OH are already cancelling their worship services. So far in my 4 years at Country Church we have had to cancel Sunday worship nearly 1 Sunday every winter due to adverse weather. Looks like tomorrow will be our Sunday to cancel. This, of course, on the Sunday when clocks are ahead one hour as well.
The weather forecast says that it will be near fifty degrees by the end of the week!
Yup, that's NE OH for you!
Even the greyhounds, with their long spindly legs are having to plow through the snow in the backyard. Good thing we don't have a Yorkie!!!
It's back to work on the Maundy Thursday service.
It's disappointing about worship tomorrow. I was planning to bring in a beef shank bone which the dogs have completely chewed cleaned and which have been washed and dried and are really bleached-out looking for the children's sermon. Sigh. Guess I'll save it all for 3 years from now!!!!
May all your services go well and be a blessing to you, leaders, and to all who will join together in worship tomorrow. I and our faithful will worship with you in spirit in our homes.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
TWO-FER-ONE!
(I'm making up for lost time by posting twice today!)
I am beginning to feel like Jonah. I have tried to squirm my way out of Jury Duty with only limited results!
The Judge in County we live in had my number last year. I tried to excuse myself claimly (rightly) that I am a solo pastor. He didn't accept that as an excuse. So, every evening I had to call in and see if I was to report. He never seated a jury all that week. I was relieved after such a week of being on tenterhooks. I should be safe for years.
Nope. The Judge has called my number again and I was scheduled for next week. Yah, right before Holy Week, extra services and two late evenings that week. So, I pleaded again that as a Solo pastor and right before Holy Week was a hardship. Maybe the Judge does go to church. I was excused! Yipee!!!
Read the next paragraph of his letter and I'm rescheduled for the week of May 5th. Dum, Dum, Da-dum...
The Judge will not rest until I serve on his jury. He will not let me go. He will continue to hound me, to seek me out, to call my number and demand my presence in his courtroom. I know what Jonah feels like. I can run, but will be found and caught. There is no escape, until I serve as I have been called to serve. Sigh.
I'm thinking maybe I should give the Judge LH's number. There's a fish that's never been caught!!!!
I served Jury Duty in Chicago while in Seminary, scared that I would have to serve on a trial and miss classes and have to take a semester over. Mercifully, my number wasn't called that day and I was done.
Then I got called up to Jury Duty while in the City on the North Coast. Fortunately, they accepted my excuse as being a solo pastor and I was excused.
LH has yet to ever be called up.
I am Jonah...
(I'm making up for lost time by posting twice today!)
I am beginning to feel like Jonah. I have tried to squirm my way out of Jury Duty with only limited results!
The Judge in County we live in had my number last year. I tried to excuse myself claimly (rightly) that I am a solo pastor. He didn't accept that as an excuse. So, every evening I had to call in and see if I was to report. He never seated a jury all that week. I was relieved after such a week of being on tenterhooks. I should be safe for years.
Nope. The Judge has called my number again and I was scheduled for next week. Yah, right before Holy Week, extra services and two late evenings that week. So, I pleaded again that as a Solo pastor and right before Holy Week was a hardship. Maybe the Judge does go to church. I was excused! Yipee!!!
Read the next paragraph of his letter and I'm rescheduled for the week of May 5th. Dum, Dum, Da-dum...
The Judge will not rest until I serve on his jury. He will not let me go. He will continue to hound me, to seek me out, to call my number and demand my presence in his courtroom. I know what Jonah feels like. I can run, but will be found and caught. There is no escape, until I serve as I have been called to serve. Sigh.
I'm thinking maybe I should give the Judge LH's number. There's a fish that's never been caught!!!!
I served Jury Duty in Chicago while in Seminary, scared that I would have to serve on a trial and miss classes and have to take a semester over. Mercifully, my number wasn't called that day and I was done.
Then I got called up to Jury Duty while in the City on the North Coast. Fortunately, they accepted my excuse as being a solo pastor and I was excused.
LH has yet to ever be called up.
I am Jonah...
IT'S MARCH!
Yikes!!! It's already March and I've been busy.
LH and I spent the better part of Leap Day, driving up to the Big City on the Northcoast to meet with our tax preparer. It snowed slushy snow all the way there and took a bit longer. Afterwards, we went to the Great Market and found some Arctic Char and Great Lakes Whitefish! Yipee! We scored! I found a bone for Jett. There was only one acceptable bone. Poor Ben. He got a couple extra Milkbones. Pounced on some fresh asparagus and garlic.
When we got home, I still had to run to the grocery store for other incidentals.
Saturday, I worked on the Maundy Thursday service and Sunday's service.
Sunday was another Soup Supper at a neighboring church just 8 miles from home and 15 minutes one way.
I may have a very sick parishioner on my hands next week, depending on the diagnosis. The pre-diagnosis is pretty awful.
Our Wed. Lenten breakfast was cancelled due to ice. There's a beautiful icy coating on the trees, bushes, and yes, even the grass. Yesterday, for a brief moment
a beam of sunshine broke through the overcast skies and just sparkled up the birch tree and grass in our backyard around suppertime. It was most amazingly gorgeous.
So, that's where I've been and how February slide into March before I could write!
Yikes!!! It's already March and I've been busy.
LH and I spent the better part of Leap Day, driving up to the Big City on the Northcoast to meet with our tax preparer. It snowed slushy snow all the way there and took a bit longer. Afterwards, we went to the Great Market and found some Arctic Char and Great Lakes Whitefish! Yipee! We scored! I found a bone for Jett. There was only one acceptable bone. Poor Ben. He got a couple extra Milkbones. Pounced on some fresh asparagus and garlic.
When we got home, I still had to run to the grocery store for other incidentals.
Saturday, I worked on the Maundy Thursday service and Sunday's service.
Sunday was another Soup Supper at a neighboring church just 8 miles from home and 15 minutes one way.
I may have a very sick parishioner on my hands next week, depending on the diagnosis. The pre-diagnosis is pretty awful.
Our Wed. Lenten breakfast was cancelled due to ice. There's a beautiful icy coating on the trees, bushes, and yes, even the grass. Yesterday, for a brief moment
a beam of sunshine broke through the overcast skies and just sparkled up the birch tree and grass in our backyard around suppertime. It was most amazingly gorgeous.
So, that's where I've been and how February slide into March before I could write!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
IT'S SNOWING, SNOWING, SNOWING...
I got a snow day today, since it's been snowing up a storm today.
Since I live a county north of where I serve, we had oodles of snow and they had snow and freezing rain which turned back into snow.
The state route (2 lane) is a winding, curvy, hilly road which often isn't plowed first thing since the highways come first. I wasn't even going to attempt it this morning, too much snow.
Spent the morning working on the Maundy Thursday service.
I should have slept in!
Looks like LH will have to start up the snowthrower later on.
It's kinda nice to have a snowday, like the kids at school. I've gotten quite a bit down on Maundy Thurs. and have my laundry going as well. Made several phone calls to parishioners and now its a cozy, quiet day.
Our Lenten Soup Supper went very well. The families of our youth made 13 different kinds of soup with grated cheddar and mozzarella cheese and oyster crackers to put in your soup. Several Presby churches in our county are involved in these Sunday evening Soup Suppers.
I did a spiel on Prayer, presented 5 different types of prayer and invited them to try one of them out for about 10-12 minutes. They then could make a symbol out of white pipe cleaners which they brought forward and placed on the altar which had a purple tablecloth with white rope light oval on it. We sang a closing hymn: Take Time to be Holy and had a closing prayer. At each place setting, there was a card with a quote from Teilhard de Chardin and a small wood cross that they could take home. I also prepared a handout on each of the five prayers for them to take home and to try them at home. It went wonderfully well.
My prayer is that God's Spirit would open them to a new way of praying that would spark their prayer life and deepen their relationship with God. All I can do is present and invite...the rest is in God's hands.
So, having today as a snow day has been a wonderful gift.
I hope, of course, to be able to go in tomorrow. I think there's about 4-5 inches already. What a blessed grace in the middle of Lent to be given a quiet day to be with God, to enjoy the snow that washes over everything making it clean, fresh and bright, and to savour the breathing space this day brings with it. Ahhhhhh....
I got a snow day today, since it's been snowing up a storm today.
Since I live a county north of where I serve, we had oodles of snow and they had snow and freezing rain which turned back into snow.
The state route (2 lane) is a winding, curvy, hilly road which often isn't plowed first thing since the highways come first. I wasn't even going to attempt it this morning, too much snow.
Spent the morning working on the Maundy Thursday service.
I should have slept in!
Looks like LH will have to start up the snowthrower later on.
It's kinda nice to have a snowday, like the kids at school. I've gotten quite a bit down on Maundy Thurs. and have my laundry going as well. Made several phone calls to parishioners and now its a cozy, quiet day.
Our Lenten Soup Supper went very well. The families of our youth made 13 different kinds of soup with grated cheddar and mozzarella cheese and oyster crackers to put in your soup. Several Presby churches in our county are involved in these Sunday evening Soup Suppers.
I did a spiel on Prayer, presented 5 different types of prayer and invited them to try one of them out for about 10-12 minutes. They then could make a symbol out of white pipe cleaners which they brought forward and placed on the altar which had a purple tablecloth with white rope light oval on it. We sang a closing hymn: Take Time to be Holy and had a closing prayer. At each place setting, there was a card with a quote from Teilhard de Chardin and a small wood cross that they could take home. I also prepared a handout on each of the five prayers for them to take home and to try them at home. It went wonderfully well.
My prayer is that God's Spirit would open them to a new way of praying that would spark their prayer life and deepen their relationship with God. All I can do is present and invite...the rest is in God's hands.
So, having today as a snow day has been a wonderful gift.
I hope, of course, to be able to go in tomorrow. I think there's about 4-5 inches already. What a blessed grace in the middle of Lent to be given a quiet day to be with God, to enjoy the snow that washes over everything making it clean, fresh and bright, and to savour the breathing space this day brings with it. Ahhhhhh....
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
HAAPY BIRTHDAY! (Happy - I really do know how to spell!)
Today's my birthday and I've got a 12 hour day with Worship Committee and Session meeting tonight. Oh Joy! I did bake brownies for the Session meeting complete with frosting and confetti sprinkles.
This is the last year in my 40th decade.
*I've noticed that my hair is grayer and doesn't take on color as well nor retain it as long. (sigh)
*The skin around my neck is not as firm as it used to be. (Yikes!)
*12 hour days really do me in - hope I can survive VBS week with 3 back-to-back 12 hour days.
*I don't remember things as well any more. (Big sigh!)
*It takes me longer to do less.
*Some aches and pains are mostly just annoying rather than anything really painful.
*I've fallen asleep on the couch waiting for the news to come on. (I thought only old people did that!)
*There are some clothes I just won't wear - really deep V'd dresses, sweaters, tops, etc. I really don't want to look slutty and I have so much padding already, who needs to wear a cami underneath, and I don't like the look of an inset in the V. Would clothing manufacturer's get over it already and bring the V up a little? I'm not too much of a frump - just modest.
*My skin sometimes seems drier. So, it's slap on the moisturizer!
*Have to pumice my feet and heels more often.
*My birthday wish - that I could wear cute shoes and not have my feet and bunions hurt!!!!
I hope to celebrate many more birthdays and all the changes they bring!
Today's my birthday and I've got a 12 hour day with Worship Committee and Session meeting tonight. Oh Joy! I did bake brownies for the Session meeting complete with frosting and confetti sprinkles.
This is the last year in my 40th decade.
*I've noticed that my hair is grayer and doesn't take on color as well nor retain it as long. (sigh)
*The skin around my neck is not as firm as it used to be. (Yikes!)
*12 hour days really do me in - hope I can survive VBS week with 3 back-to-back 12 hour days.
*I don't remember things as well any more. (Big sigh!)
*It takes me longer to do less.
*Some aches and pains are mostly just annoying rather than anything really painful.
*I've fallen asleep on the couch waiting for the news to come on. (I thought only old people did that!)
*There are some clothes I just won't wear - really deep V'd dresses, sweaters, tops, etc. I really don't want to look slutty and I have so much padding already, who needs to wear a cami underneath, and I don't like the look of an inset in the V. Would clothing manufacturer's get over it already and bring the V up a little? I'm not too much of a frump - just modest.
*My skin sometimes seems drier. So, it's slap on the moisturizer!
*Have to pumice my feet and heels more often.
*My birthday wish - that I could wear cute shoes and not have my feet and bunions hurt!!!!
I hope to celebrate many more birthdays and all the changes they bring!
Monday, February 11, 2008
I'VE BEEN TAGGED!
By The Psalmist at The Psaltery for this book Meme.
Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more.
(no cheating!)
Small Surrenders: A Lenten Journey
by: Emilie Griffin
Paraclete Press, 2007
Find page 123.
Find the first 5 sentences.
Post the next 3 sentences.
"Such intertwining of death and life, sorrow and rejoicing,
is always part of the Christian message. Ours is a religion of
heartbreak and of celebration, a message of God's deep love for
his wounded world. Richard Rohr says that our religion helps us
to dance between attachment and detachment, gain and loss."
Tag 5 people!
Since I don't know how to link (I know, Duh!).
Here are the five I tagged:
Holy Grounds
Hazlenut Reflections
Faith Stones
Inner Dorothy
Micah Girl
By The Psalmist at The Psaltery for this book Meme.
Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more.
(no cheating!)
Small Surrenders: A Lenten Journey
by: Emilie Griffin
Paraclete Press, 2007
Find page 123.
Find the first 5 sentences.
Post the next 3 sentences.
"Such intertwining of death and life, sorrow and rejoicing,
is always part of the Christian message. Ours is a religion of
heartbreak and of celebration, a message of God's deep love for
his wounded world. Richard Rohr says that our religion helps us
to dance between attachment and detachment, gain and loss."
Tag 5 people!
Since I don't know how to link (I know, Duh!).
Here are the five I tagged:
Holy Grounds
Hazlenut Reflections
Faith Stones
Inner Dorothy
Micah Girl
RGBP'S FRIDAY FIVE ON MONDAY: What Are You Doing for Lent?
1. Did you celebrate Mardi Gras and/or Ash Wednesday this week? How?
Attended pancake dinner at LH's church on Shrove Tues.
Held a joint Ash Wednesday service with our Methodist neighbors
at their church.
2. What was your most memorable Mardi Gras/Ash Wednesday/Lent?
Memorable? I suppose 2005 when I had surgery on Shrove Tuesday to
repair the quad muscle I tore off my knee when I spilled down
icy steps. Spent Ash Wednesday in the most pain I ever had in
my life in the hospital.
3. Did you/your church/your family celebrate Lent as a child? If not, when and how did you discover it?
There was not as much emphasis on Lent when growing up, at least not in
the Presby church, although I was surrounded by Roman Catholics. Mom
made Fasnachtchuechli every year (dough stretched paper thin over the knees,
deep fried, drained and then sprinkled with powered sugar.
Maundy Thursday we attended church and had communion.
Discovered Lent in Seminary and as I served as prison chaplain.
4. Are you more in the give-up camp, or the take-on camp, or somewhere in between?
Usually the take-on camp.
5. How do you plan to keep Lent this year?
By dwelling with a Lenten word a day in prayer and contemplation.
And also, holding my tongue with LH and being less critical. That's
the plan at any rate. So far so good!
1. Did you celebrate Mardi Gras and/or Ash Wednesday this week? How?
Attended pancake dinner at LH's church on Shrove Tues.
Held a joint Ash Wednesday service with our Methodist neighbors
at their church.
2. What was your most memorable Mardi Gras/Ash Wednesday/Lent?
Memorable? I suppose 2005 when I had surgery on Shrove Tuesday to
repair the quad muscle I tore off my knee when I spilled down
icy steps. Spent Ash Wednesday in the most pain I ever had in
my life in the hospital.
3. Did you/your church/your family celebrate Lent as a child? If not, when and how did you discover it?
There was not as much emphasis on Lent when growing up, at least not in
the Presby church, although I was surrounded by Roman Catholics. Mom
made Fasnachtchuechli every year (dough stretched paper thin over the knees,
deep fried, drained and then sprinkled with powered sugar.
Maundy Thursday we attended church and had communion.
Discovered Lent in Seminary and as I served as prison chaplain.
4. Are you more in the give-up camp, or the take-on camp, or somewhere in between?
Usually the take-on camp.
5. How do you plan to keep Lent this year?
By dwelling with a Lenten word a day in prayer and contemplation.
And also, holding my tongue with LH and being less critical. That's
the plan at any rate. So far so good!
Thursday, February 07, 2008
NAMES MEME - as seen over at Presbyterian Gal, thanks, dear. This was fun!
Give it a whirl and see for yourself!
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Rex Sebring (used husband's car, since "caravan" doesn't have the same cachet!)
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe):
Chocolate Moose Tracks Sneakers
3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Green Greyhound
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Ann Melrose Park
5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first three letters of your last name, first two of your first name): Barba (sounds barbarian)
6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Blue H2O (Help to Others!!)
7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Sam Rudy (used short forms which maybe sounds better?)
8. STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy):
Opium Chocolate (sounds addictive)
9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your fifth grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Zak Zurich
10. SPY NAME (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Autumn Larkspur
11. CARTOON NAME (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now): Peach Sweater
12. HIPPIE NAME (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Bagel Gingko
Give it a whirl and see for yourself!
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Rex Sebring (used husband's car, since "caravan" doesn't have the same cachet!)
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe):
Chocolate Moose Tracks Sneakers
3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Green Greyhound
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Ann Melrose Park
5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first three letters of your last name, first two of your first name): Barba (sounds barbarian)
6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Blue H2O (Help to Others!!)
7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Sam Rudy (used short forms which maybe sounds better?)
8. STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy):
Opium Chocolate (sounds addictive)
9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your fifth grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Zak Zurich
10. SPY NAME (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Autumn Larkspur
11. CARTOON NAME (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now): Peach Sweater
12. HIPPIE NAME (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Bagel Gingko
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
My 160th Post -
On this grey and rainy Ash Wednesday, on this day of repentance, of rending our hearts and not our clothes before God, of remembering my mortality and my sin which is ever before me - GRACE!
A beautiful colorful rainbow to speak of God's grace, love and hope. Take heart. My love is with you and all around you. Your sins are forgiven. With Me there is life and new life forever and always.
On this grey and rainy Ash Wednesday, on this day of repentance, of rending our hearts and not our clothes before God, of remembering my mortality and my sin which is ever before me - GRACE!
A beautiful colorful rainbow to speak of God's grace, love and hope. Take heart. My love is with you and all around you. Your sins are forgiven. With Me there is life and new life forever and always.
ASH WEDNESDAY
A grey day reflecting the grey grittiness of the ashes.
A humbling day remembering my mortality, my sinfulness.
A day of returning to God, kneeling before God, in contriteness,
in repentance, seeking forgiveness, grace, hope, and a love that
accepts, welcomes and makes new.
O God,
I turn to you, so sorry, for my headstrong willfulness, need to control, and busyness that gets in the way. In your mercy, forgive me and renew a right spirit within me. Make this time of Lent, a true time with you. Amen.
A grey day reflecting the grey grittiness of the ashes.
A humbling day remembering my mortality, my sinfulness.
A day of returning to God, kneeling before God, in contriteness,
in repentance, seeking forgiveness, grace, hope, and a love that
accepts, welcomes and makes new.
O God,
I turn to you, so sorry, for my headstrong willfulness, need to control, and busyness that gets in the way. In your mercy, forgive me and renew a right spirit within me. Make this time of Lent, a true time with you. Amen.
Monday, February 04, 2008
FEELING OVERWHELMED-
It's the start of Lent anxiety preparing for Ash Wednesday and First Sunday in Lent, as well as the last 3 Lenten breakfasts (in March) at our church, a Lenten Soup Supper hosting Presby churches in our county, Communion this Sunday, Baked Potato Lunch for Mission, and the Ordination/Installation of Elders and Deacons next Sunday, and the Boy Scouts Blue and Gold Dinner the night before our Soup Supper.
For a short month, even with an extra day, February promises to be a whirlwind of activity and I will need to be even more intentional in carving out time to simply be with God. I am already exhausted just thinking about it all.
Best to ease through it one day at time, walking one step at time with my Lord.
It's the start of Lent anxiety preparing for Ash Wednesday and First Sunday in Lent, as well as the last 3 Lenten breakfasts (in March) at our church, a Lenten Soup Supper hosting Presby churches in our county, Communion this Sunday, Baked Potato Lunch for Mission, and the Ordination/Installation of Elders and Deacons next Sunday, and the Boy Scouts Blue and Gold Dinner the night before our Soup Supper.
For a short month, even with an extra day, February promises to be a whirlwind of activity and I will need to be even more intentional in carving out time to simply be with God. I am already exhausted just thinking about it all.
Best to ease through it one day at time, walking one step at time with my Lord.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
BLUSTERY ARCTIC MORNING
The winds blew in last night and we've had gusts of 50-60 mph.
Of course, we had the windy rainstorm followed by a huge drop off in temperature, on garbage night.
Little Town has automated garbage pickup. The city assigns you a cart with a number and it's yours to care for. For nearly 5 years, we've had nary a problem with our green cart, until this morning.
No green cart as far as the eye can see. I assumed it blew somewhere, but not even within sight?
So, I spent 20 minutes driving through the sub-division looking for our cart, down every cul-de-sac. One fellow had three carts on his lawn, alas none were ours. I drove (mind you with that bitter cold whipping I wouldn't have lasted 5 yards) down the the major intersection where there were 2 carts lying on the corner. It was a long shot that ours would have travelled that far, but hey, stranger things have happened. I got out to check the numbers. Another van pulls up, another woman gets out with a little scrap of paper in her hand - also checking numbers. We exchange how we're looking for our lost litter containers. She checks the one and then says, "I guess I'll just take one." And she loaded up one garbage cart that wasn't hers. I wouldn't take a cart that wasn't mine, knowing someone must be looking for it.
Now I wonder who might've taken ours. I'm hoping one of my next-door neighbors brought it into their garage for safe keeping and will give us our garbage cart back this evening. Unless someone, actually took ours by mistake, but then where is theirs?
The Sanitation Dept. in Little Town got flooded with 1400 calls about missing garbage carts. Sure hope they turn up.
As humble as they are, garbage carts are a necessity and one thing I wouldn't want to do without - except I really only miss it, once a week, when we fill it and set it out to be relieved of its burden and ours. I wonder how we will cart away all our weekly debris and where our garbage cart now resides. I kinda miss it, even if it did just stand mutely in the garage as a sentinel to greet me whenever I pull into the garage. It was our garbage cart, spanking and sparkling new along with our house (except for the construction dust and grime)and the mail box. It all was new together and part of our life in Little Town.
Oh, Little Town will give us another one, but it just won't be the same. I know its number and I'll be looking for it.
The winds blew in last night and we've had gusts of 50-60 mph.
Of course, we had the windy rainstorm followed by a huge drop off in temperature, on garbage night.
Little Town has automated garbage pickup. The city assigns you a cart with a number and it's yours to care for. For nearly 5 years, we've had nary a problem with our green cart, until this morning.
No green cart as far as the eye can see. I assumed it blew somewhere, but not even within sight?
So, I spent 20 minutes driving through the sub-division looking for our cart, down every cul-de-sac. One fellow had three carts on his lawn, alas none were ours. I drove (mind you with that bitter cold whipping I wouldn't have lasted 5 yards) down the the major intersection where there were 2 carts lying on the corner. It was a long shot that ours would have travelled that far, but hey, stranger things have happened. I got out to check the numbers. Another van pulls up, another woman gets out with a little scrap of paper in her hand - also checking numbers. We exchange how we're looking for our lost litter containers. She checks the one and then says, "I guess I'll just take one." And she loaded up one garbage cart that wasn't hers. I wouldn't take a cart that wasn't mine, knowing someone must be looking for it.
Now I wonder who might've taken ours. I'm hoping one of my next-door neighbors brought it into their garage for safe keeping and will give us our garbage cart back this evening. Unless someone, actually took ours by mistake, but then where is theirs?
The Sanitation Dept. in Little Town got flooded with 1400 calls about missing garbage carts. Sure hope they turn up.
As humble as they are, garbage carts are a necessity and one thing I wouldn't want to do without - except I really only miss it, once a week, when we fill it and set it out to be relieved of its burden and ours. I wonder how we will cart away all our weekly debris and where our garbage cart now resides. I kinda miss it, even if it did just stand mutely in the garage as a sentinel to greet me whenever I pull into the garage. It was our garbage cart, spanking and sparkling new along with our house (except for the construction dust and grime)and the mail box. It all was new together and part of our life in Little Town.
Oh, Little Town will give us another one, but it just won't be the same. I know its number and I'll be looking for it.
Monday, January 28, 2008
THINGS NEVER MENTIONED IN SEMINARY:
Sunday was our annual congregational meeting following worship in our Fellowship Hall. Nominating & Building & Grounds committees (small committees though they are)were to host the coffee hour. One white-haired saint of the church made a point to mention a week ago Sunday, that she hoped there would be something more than just donuts, if you expect people to stay.
Well, now she had a point. When the Deacons met on Wednesday (1 is on Nominating committee, 1 is wife of Nominating committee member), the annual meeting was mentioned and someone mentioned donuts. I simply commented that perhaps we could use something a bit more since it would be lunch time. One offered some Trail Bologna (good Amish country cold sausage) and cheese and crackers. Great.
I began to think of the kids and knew you have to feed the crowd to make it more enjoyable and way of gathering. What good is the meeting when everyone's stomach is growling and all they're thinking is: how much longer 'til this is over and we can get lunch?
So, I made three salads - egg, salmon and chicken on Saturday.
On Sunday morning, I went through 3 loaves of bread (2 white, 1 wheat)and made an assembly line smearing salad on slices of bread and topping them with another slice, then cutting the slice diagonally into triangles and cutting the triangles diagonally into smaller triangles. After, I filled a serving plate, I went on and made American cheese sandwiches, cutting them in the same way. Next the PB & J with the same process. I put the cheese and PB & J onto a serving plate and the salmon salad sandwiches on their own seperate plate.
(The day before I made folded over index cards and a multi-colored pencil to write the name of the different sandwiches so people knew if it was chicken or tuna or what the salmon was!)
In a half hour I had all the sandwiches made, having gone through three loaves of bread and wondered if there was enough. I bagged up the left over salads, thinking they could be smeared on crackers.
Right after worship, I had to go to the office and run something off the computer which took some time. By the time I got upstairs, most of the sandwiches were gone. I got a triangle of American cheese. The trail bologna had vanished. There was some Swiss cheese, crackers, veges and dip and cookies still left.
Had I not made the salads and sandwiches, there would've been many hungry people. The kids gobbled up the cheese and PB & J sandwiches.
I sent one woman whose daughter is disabled and whose grandson lives with her, home with some egg and chicken salads.
There was still some left for LH and I to have a sandwich when we arrived back home.
I don't recall it ever mentioned in Seminary, that sometimes you have to literally feed your people, with homemade sandwiches!!! Even then, the meeting lasted less than 1/2 an hour! (which I suppose is OK that there weren't any major issues or concerns weighing heavily on people's hearts - outside the big gloomy ones of aging membership, no new members, tight finances, but we have 5 young people in the confirmation process, kids involved in Tone Chimes, choir and a small youth group and younger members who stepped in and have taken over some of the activities the older women and folks could no longer do without so much as a complaint! So there are signs of hope along the way!)
It's just one of those things that never got mentioned in Seminary...
I'm sure there are many more! Care to share what never was mentioned in Seminary that you ended up doing?
Sunday was our annual congregational meeting following worship in our Fellowship Hall. Nominating & Building & Grounds committees (small committees though they are)were to host the coffee hour. One white-haired saint of the church made a point to mention a week ago Sunday, that she hoped there would be something more than just donuts, if you expect people to stay.
Well, now she had a point. When the Deacons met on Wednesday (1 is on Nominating committee, 1 is wife of Nominating committee member), the annual meeting was mentioned and someone mentioned donuts. I simply commented that perhaps we could use something a bit more since it would be lunch time. One offered some Trail Bologna (good Amish country cold sausage) and cheese and crackers. Great.
I began to think of the kids and knew you have to feed the crowd to make it more enjoyable and way of gathering. What good is the meeting when everyone's stomach is growling and all they're thinking is: how much longer 'til this is over and we can get lunch?
So, I made three salads - egg, salmon and chicken on Saturday.
On Sunday morning, I went through 3 loaves of bread (2 white, 1 wheat)and made an assembly line smearing salad on slices of bread and topping them with another slice, then cutting the slice diagonally into triangles and cutting the triangles diagonally into smaller triangles. After, I filled a serving plate, I went on and made American cheese sandwiches, cutting them in the same way. Next the PB & J with the same process. I put the cheese and PB & J onto a serving plate and the salmon salad sandwiches on their own seperate plate.
(The day before I made folded over index cards and a multi-colored pencil to write the name of the different sandwiches so people knew if it was chicken or tuna or what the salmon was!)
In a half hour I had all the sandwiches made, having gone through three loaves of bread and wondered if there was enough. I bagged up the left over salads, thinking they could be smeared on crackers.
Right after worship, I had to go to the office and run something off the computer which took some time. By the time I got upstairs, most of the sandwiches were gone. I got a triangle of American cheese. The trail bologna had vanished. There was some Swiss cheese, crackers, veges and dip and cookies still left.
Had I not made the salads and sandwiches, there would've been many hungry people. The kids gobbled up the cheese and PB & J sandwiches.
I sent one woman whose daughter is disabled and whose grandson lives with her, home with some egg and chicken salads.
There was still some left for LH and I to have a sandwich when we arrived back home.
I don't recall it ever mentioned in Seminary, that sometimes you have to literally feed your people, with homemade sandwiches!!! Even then, the meeting lasted less than 1/2 an hour! (which I suppose is OK that there weren't any major issues or concerns weighing heavily on people's hearts - outside the big gloomy ones of aging membership, no new members, tight finances, but we have 5 young people in the confirmation process, kids involved in Tone Chimes, choir and a small youth group and younger members who stepped in and have taken over some of the activities the older women and folks could no longer do without so much as a complaint! So there are signs of hope along the way!)
It's just one of those things that never got mentioned in Seminary...
I'm sure there are many more! Care to share what never was mentioned in Seminary that you ended up doing?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)