I like John – favorite gospel. Speaks to me – Luke was my favorite, then Mark, now John.
Stresses different stories – ask your spouse the story of your relationship, you will get different stories/ what the other sees as formative/important.
John starts with a beautiful word poem – parallel to the most important point in history to that point, creation. God spoke the Word and the world was created – now the Word has become flesh and is dwelling (pitching tent and all that implies) among us.
New beginnings. Then moves to John the Baptizer – different points than the story last week – John the Gospel makes it very clear about who John the Baptizer really is: not the Messiah, not Elijah come again, but a voice crying in the wilderness –
John calls Jesus Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world – and testifies to the movement of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life.
The next day (parallel here to the days of creation), he gathers together two of the disciples – those who will be beacons of light to the world – Nathaniel and Phillip, telling them to “Come and see.” (phrase found a lot in John) They join Andrew, Peter and John as disciples so by this point there are 5 of them.
Then we get to our text – John 2:1-11.
This is the way the gospel of john starts Jesus’ ministry – at a wedding. This is a strange little story, really. It’s the third day in John’s gospel – parallel for John to the day God called forth the vegetation of the fields, trees bearing fruit, plants bearing seed, ripe grapes called forth on the vine. On this day, there was a wedding in Cana.
Don’t know where Cana really is – scholars debate, but it was maybe 5 to 6 miles from Nazareth. Close enough to walk, but far enough away to stay in Cana during the wedding. Weddings – days and days and days. Week long celebration starting on a Tuesday night about midnight with the father of the bride leading the bride from house to house around the community. It was a community experience – a time for joy.
Years ago when Johnny Carson was the host of The Tonight Show he interviewed an eight year old boy. The young man was asked to appear because he had rescued two friends in a coalmine outside his hometown in West Virginia. As Johnny questioned the boy, it became apparent to him and the audience that the young man was a Christian. So Johnny asked him if he attended Sunday school. When the boy said he did Johnny inquired, "What are you learning in Sunday school?" "Last week," came his reply, "our lesson was about when Jesus went to a wedding and turned water into wine." The audience roared, but Johnny tried to keep a straight face. Then he said, "And what did you learn from that story?" The boy squirmed in his chair. It was apparent he hadn't thought about this. But then he lifted up his face and said, "If you're going to have a wedding, make sure you invite Jesus!" The little boy was on to something. Weddings are time of Joy.
Don’t know who was being married – maybe related to Mary. Maybe Mary was helping out at the wedding – a sort of wedding director for the 1st century.
Vivid imagination – no mention of Joseph – Mary is a widow by this time. Jesus only relative mentioned being with with Mary – the bachelor son. Maybe just Mary was invited – the way it’s phrased “Jesus and the disciples were “also invited.” Maybe it was a pity invite. It’s uncomfortable to be a single person at the wedding. Bittersweet maybe. Did he go home after calling out Philip and Nathaniel? Or did he drop by to collect Mary on the way? Gospel unclear. But he went – as well as his 5 new disciples.
After a while, the refreshments ran out – specifically the wine. I wonder if it was the strain of having extra guests that caused them to run out, 6 extra people. And we don’t know how far into the wedding it was, but I know that stress of running out of food at a party. I’m sure if they could afford it, they would have had more, but this part of Galilee was not wealthy and I can imagine that 6 extra people would really put a strain on the host. And there is not only that strain, but it could be seen as an omen that not only would the wine run dry, but that the marriage was doomed for failure, never reaching it’s fullest potential. Maybe joy was not meant for these people.
Mary remarks about this “They have no wine.” Actually she doesn’t use Jesus’ name – nor is she named in the gospel, but one referred as “The Mother of Jesus.”
To this Jesus responds “Woman! What concern is that to you and me?” – OK, I have often wondered about this comment. It’s not always translated that way. I understand the “Woman!” was not a rude way to talk in that society, but it wasn’t particularly intimate. He didn’t call her mother – again I have to wonder why. Maybe he was distancing himself from his family in order to begin his ministry; I don’t think we will ever really know. It seems harsh – maybe he was angry that she was pushing him and he replies --
My hour has not yet come.
The hour is not yet come. There are two different word to indicate the passage of time in the NT – Chronos and Kairos – the word here for hour is usually used with Kairos – God time. But Jesus’ hour has not yet come. It’s early yet. It’s not yet time but …
Jesus has the servants fill six jars with water – about 120 to 180 gallons. That’s a bunch of water. They may have been just sitting around because the bride or groom had just gone through ritual purification in order to be married. You see, the Jewish people knew they needed to be cleansed and so they had these rituals for purification – from sin both of commission and omission. It wasn’t right to enter into a marriage without being cleaned from that sin.
And then it happened – Jesus tells the steward to draw some out and taste it – and it was wine. Water from the purification jars had turned – transformed – into something else. And not only was it wine, it was very very good wine. It had been transformed into something that showed he was master over both matter and time. You see, it takes time to make a good wine – you know the saying, “We will sell no wine before it’s time.”
This was the first sign Jesus did to reveal his glory – to his disciples. The servants didn’t know what was going on, the bride and groom didn’t know, the steward didn’t know – only Jesus, his mother and the disciples. There was joy there that day…
But the clock has started and we will end this journey with Jesus at the cross, where another cup of wine will be offered, thick with bitter herbs and then the pronouncement – it is finished.
What was Jesus trying to say with this miracle? That he was ready to begin his ministry? That he was an obedient son? Or was he saying that the old, tried and true ways that we use to try to clean ourselves just don’t work any more and that we need the transforming power of God Incarnate to turn our watery tasteless existence into the cup of salvation?
Have we experienced that change – that act of creation of new life? How are you experiencing it today?
There is a question that BBT asks herself – how am I being saved today? So I am asking you – how are you experiencing the transformative power of Christ in your life today?
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Morning Prayer -- Let Our Prayers Each Day Prevail, Eph 3
Let our prayers each day prevail,
That these gifts might never fail;
And, as we confess the sin
And temptation's pow'r within,
Every morning, for the strife,
Feed us with the Bread of Life.
As the morning light returns,
As the sun with splendor burns,
Teach us still to turn to You,
Ever blessèd Trinity,
With our hands our hearts to raise,
In unfailing prayer and praise.
-- Greville Phillimore
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
-- Eph 3:14 - 19
Almighty God,
who after the creation of the world rested
from all youR works
and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures:
Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties,
may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary,
and that our rest here upon earth
may be a preparation for the eternal rest
promised to your people in heaven;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
That these gifts might never fail;
And, as we confess the sin
And temptation's pow'r within,
Every morning, for the strife,
Feed us with the Bread of Life.
As the morning light returns,
As the sun with splendor burns,
Teach us still to turn to You,
Ever blessèd Trinity,
With our hands our hearts to raise,
In unfailing prayer and praise.
-- Greville Phillimore
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
-- Eph 3:14 - 19
Almighty God,
who after the creation of the world rested
from all youR works
and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures:
Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties,
may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary,
and that our rest here upon earth
may be a preparation for the eternal rest
promised to your people in heaven;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Anime and Theology
OK, the kids and my husband are watching Naruto, usually Japanese on YouTube. This is the opening song -- taken from the internet. Spelling errors are theirs.
Rocks by Hound Dog
(Englisch)
Come On!
I Hurry As If I'm Being Chased
My Dried Chest Drives Me To Do So
Doing It For No One Else, And It Belongs To No One Else
Our Now Is...
Undo The Pain, Undo The Heart, And Undo The Shadow
Hold Your Breath And Cut Through The Darkness
Fighting And Loving Another...
...Will Never End. On The Way
I Wanna Rocks
Rocks To The Chest
So, I'm now watching too. It's OK -- it's not very complex and you can tell it's meant for teens and pre-teens, but it's holding my interest. The episode where Kakashi is teaching his little "group" of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura on their first "mission" is an illustration about how different the Eastern mind can be. The group has to choose between obeying Kakashi or building the group. Kakashi tells them that if they choose to build the group, they will fail. They choose to build the group (by feeding Naruto, who is tied up to a post some rice.) Kakashi tells them that they pass -- by choosing the good of the team over individual good.
There are parallels in this and the story of the Fall -- Kakashi passes them, even though they should fail. God doesn't kill Adam and Eve, even though God told them that God would. It's an Eastern type of mind set -- another place where it's evident to this humble author that the Judeo/Christian ethos is basically an Eastern one.
Anyway, Neon Genesis Evangelion is probably deeper and more theological, but Naruto is OK.
Now to put on my Leaf Village Headband and watch more episodes. Should I wear it like Kakashi or Sakura? Hmmm.....
Rocks by Hound Dog
(Englisch)
Come On!
I Hurry As If I'm Being Chased
My Dried Chest Drives Me To Do So
Doing It For No One Else, And It Belongs To No One Else
Our Now Is...
Undo The Pain, Undo The Heart, And Undo The Shadow
Hold Your Breath And Cut Through The Darkness
Fighting And Loving Another...
...Will Never End. On The Way
I Wanna Rocks
Rocks To The Chest
So, I'm now watching too. It's OK -- it's not very complex and you can tell it's meant for teens and pre-teens, but it's holding my interest. The episode where Kakashi is teaching his little "group" of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura on their first "mission" is an illustration about how different the Eastern mind can be. The group has to choose between obeying Kakashi or building the group. Kakashi tells them that if they choose to build the group, they will fail. They choose to build the group (by feeding Naruto, who is tied up to a post some rice.) Kakashi tells them that they pass -- by choosing the good of the team over individual good.
There are parallels in this and the story of the Fall -- Kakashi passes them, even though they should fail. God doesn't kill Adam and Eve, even though God told them that God would. It's an Eastern type of mind set -- another place where it's evident to this humble author that the Judeo/Christian ethos is basically an Eastern one.
Anyway, Neon Genesis Evangelion is probably deeper and more theological, but Naruto is OK.
Now to put on my Leaf Village Headband and watch more episodes. Should I wear it like Kakashi or Sakura? Hmmm.....
Evening Prayer -- Choral Evensong; Eph 3:5-7
Choral Evensong
5 In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power.
-- Eph 3:5-7
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
5 In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power.
-- Eph 3:5-7
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Today and This Sunday
Today is the first choir practice in my new church (that's really an old church) in quite a while. The music program never seemed to be huge -- much of the music library is from the 1960s to 1982 or so -- and so I'm starting out really really simple. I haven't been the choir director in 22 years (yes, I WAS a child prodigy!) and have a certain amount of nervousness.
I'm also preaching for the first time this Sunday -- and feel free enough to really preach to this context. So I'm a little nervous about that. Butterflies are not bad -- I just know that the first time in preaching class, I almost freaked myself out -- I even got dizzy. So, I'm going to do the deep breathing thing a lot and hand it all over.
So, off to choir practice! I am going to do something out of the hymnal this Sunday, Tallis' Canon (a really nice arrangement) for next Sunday, "Be Thou My Vision," "Down to the River to Pray" and "The Gift of Love" for later. All simple unison or two part harmony. I'm going to work on technique mostly for the next few weeks -- how to breathe, how to stand, how to enuciate. Basic but essential.
A little prayer would be welcome, too.
I'm also preaching for the first time this Sunday -- and feel free enough to really preach to this context. So I'm a little nervous about that. Butterflies are not bad -- I just know that the first time in preaching class, I almost freaked myself out -- I even got dizzy. So, I'm going to do the deep breathing thing a lot and hand it all over.
So, off to choir practice! I am going to do something out of the hymnal this Sunday, Tallis' Canon (a really nice arrangement) for next Sunday, "Be Thou My Vision," "Down to the River to Pray" and "The Gift of Love" for later. All simple unison or two part harmony. I'm going to work on technique mostly for the next few weeks -- how to breathe, how to stand, how to enuciate. Basic but essential.
A little prayer would be welcome, too.
Evening Prayer -- Be Thou My Vision; Eph 2:19-22
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Ephesians 2:19-22
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Ephesians 2:19-22
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
I'm Irritated in the Extreme
I am stating now that I will probably never ever shop at Target again and I would encourage you to do the same.
First there was the "you can't charge that much on anything but a Target charge card."
Then there was "we don't allow Salvation Army bellringers."
But now, my eldest tried to return a Christmas present of more than two items -- and couldn't. The person purchasing the present didn't realize that you couldn't return more than two items PER YEAR without a receipt. Period. End of discussion.
They can keep their merchandise. I will no longer be shopping there. Immediately next to the local Target are several other stores that WILL allow more than $200 on a Mastercard, that WILL allow Salvation Army bellringers, that WILL allow the return of more than two items per year without a receipt.
I bet they don't practice the Fair Trade stuff either.
I encourage any and all of you to call Target or email them or Clark Howard about this. I have and I may do it again tomorrow.
These measures make me angry. I bet they don't allow Girl Scouts to sell cookies either so they can sell more of their "Target Brand cookies."
NEVER AGAIN WILL I SHOP THERE.
First there was the "you can't charge that much on anything but a Target charge card."
Then there was "we don't allow Salvation Army bellringers."
But now, my eldest tried to return a Christmas present of more than two items -- and couldn't. The person purchasing the present didn't realize that you couldn't return more than two items PER YEAR without a receipt. Period. End of discussion.
They can keep their merchandise. I will no longer be shopping there. Immediately next to the local Target are several other stores that WILL allow more than $200 on a Mastercard, that WILL allow Salvation Army bellringers, that WILL allow the return of more than two items per year without a receipt.
I bet they don't practice the Fair Trade stuff either.
I encourage any and all of you to call Target or email them or Clark Howard about this. I have and I may do it again tomorrow.
These measures make me angry. I bet they don't allow Girl Scouts to sell cookies either so they can sell more of their "Target Brand cookies."
NEVER AGAIN WILL I SHOP THERE.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Morning Prayer -- Thankful for the Morning Light; Confession; Eph 1:3-10
Thankful for the morning light
shining over earth and sea;
thankful for the sky so bright,
Creator, God, to you.
To you with all our hearts we pray,
now at the dawning of the day;
we know you have us in your care
and you will hear our prayer.
Precious is the heart of love;
may, at length, such hearts be ours;
God, please send down from above
your love and truth divine.
And may they cleanse our willing souls
of earthly ills and make them whole;
for Christ did come to share our toil
and will not spurn our prayers.
-- James Reed
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
-- Eph 1:3-10
Lord Jesus Christ,
you stretched out your arms of love
and we placed them on the hard wood of the cross.
May people know of your love
So that everyone might come within the reach of your embrace.
Clothe me in your Spirit
Help me reach my hand out with your Love
So that I can bring your Love into this world to those
Who do not know you.
All for your honor.
Amen.
(an appropriate comment -- just "Amen". This from a discussion of proper commenting techniques at the Congress on Evangelism.)
shining over earth and sea;
thankful for the sky so bright,
Creator, God, to you.
To you with all our hearts we pray,
now at the dawning of the day;
we know you have us in your care
and you will hear our prayer.
Precious is the heart of love;
may, at length, such hearts be ours;
God, please send down from above
your love and truth divine.
And may they cleanse our willing souls
of earthly ills and make them whole;
for Christ did come to share our toil
and will not spurn our prayers.
-- James Reed
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
-- Eph 1:3-10
Lord Jesus Christ,
you stretched out your arms of love
and we placed them on the hard wood of the cross.
May people know of your love
So that everyone might come within the reach of your embrace.
Clothe me in your Spirit
Help me reach my hand out with your Love
So that I can bring your Love into this world to those
Who do not know you.
All for your honor.
Amen.
(an appropriate comment -- just "Amen". This from a discussion of proper commenting techniques at the Congress on Evangelism.)
Quiet Time and New Year's resolution
I am not a New Year's Resolution kind of person. I want to think about things when I want to think about them. I guess that's why I'm not a RevGal Friday Five kind of person either.
But today, it does seem like a new day -- for various and sundry sorts of reasons. And I will say that during the Christmas break and rush, the New Year's rush and the conference last week, I was missing my quiet time.
It's called all sorts of things: prayer time, quiet time, contemplative time, whatever -- but it's necessary. We usually don't spend a long time in prayer unless it is intentional. I figure that I take time to be with my husband and build relationship -- a daily "let's really talk and not about laundry" time and we have intentional "dates" when we eliminate all distractions. We do this to build real and lasting relationship.
Why don't we do it with God? I tithe my resources to God -- how come it's so difficult to tithe a portion of my day to God? (It's really easier to write a check, now isn't it?? Be honest!)
To have a tithe of my waking time would be at least 1.5 hours. 90 minutes. So that's my goal. 90 minutes of quiet time for study, prayer and relationship building with God. Oh, yeah. And that doesn't include stuff I'm supposed to do; exegesis for papers, sermon writing and what not. Just time built into the schedule for sitting and listening in prayer and reflection. Lectio Divina type of stuff.
It's not going to be easy. Too many things will push their way into my consciousness -- I'm going to have to turn the cell phone and house phone off. But that is indeed my goal.
But today, it does seem like a new day -- for various and sundry sorts of reasons. And I will say that during the Christmas break and rush, the New Year's rush and the conference last week, I was missing my quiet time.
It's called all sorts of things: prayer time, quiet time, contemplative time, whatever -- but it's necessary. We usually don't spend a long time in prayer unless it is intentional. I figure that I take time to be with my husband and build relationship -- a daily "let's really talk and not about laundry" time and we have intentional "dates" when we eliminate all distractions. We do this to build real and lasting relationship.
Why don't we do it with God? I tithe my resources to God -- how come it's so difficult to tithe a portion of my day to God? (It's really easier to write a check, now isn't it?? Be honest!)
To have a tithe of my waking time would be at least 1.5 hours. 90 minutes. So that's my goal. 90 minutes of quiet time for study, prayer and relationship building with God. Oh, yeah. And that doesn't include stuff I'm supposed to do; exegesis for papers, sermon writing and what not. Just time built into the schedule for sitting and listening in prayer and reflection. Lectio Divina type of stuff.
It's not going to be easy. Too many things will push their way into my consciousness -- I'm going to have to turn the cell phone and house phone off. But that is indeed my goal.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Bishop Woodie White's Annual Letter to MLK Jr.
Dear Martin:
My greatest temptation in writing this year is to not mention the burden of my heart: the war in which our nation is engaged. I am certain if you were here, your voice would be heard, as the prophets of old.
This leads me to consider how profoundly your voice is missed. There have been so many occasions when I have longed for your voice. Yours was unique. You spoke with such passion, clarity and moral authority. You had the ability to change hearts as well as actions.
We seem to be at a curious juncture in America in the area of race. On the one hand, systemic and institutional racism are giving way to a more racially inclusive society. On the other, individual daily acts of prejudice and racism can still be encountered routinely.
White America, I believe, does not fully appreciate that black Americans live with the uncertainty of where and when these acts will occur. They could show up in the actions or comments of a waitress, taxi driver, supervisor, co-worker, clerk or even a "friend."
Martin, I was elated at the election of an African American as governor of Massachusetts. I remember quite vividly the riots and violence that occurred during school busing in Boston. Yet this significant milestone received little attention in the national media or even the larger black community.
Have such groundbreaking racial "firsts" become so common as to warrant less attention? I suppose in some ways that's a positive step, yet to not be celebrated is to minimize its greater significance.
Almost at the same time, a popular white comedian, enraged by some heckling from two black people in the audience, unleashed an avalanche of racial epithets from the stage. This drew national media attention and response from national leaders. The black community has begun a renewed conversation over the use of the "N" word, as people now refer to that racial slur.
Interestingly, the latter event is cited as evidence of how far America has to go, while the former is not cited as how far America has come!
Martin, I have arrived at the sobering conclusion that individual acts of prejudice and racism will have to be confronted for a long time. They seem endemic to the human psyche. Racism and prejudice can run deep. They do not automatically disappear with succeeding generations. Indeed, I have sadly noted that some grandchildren are more prejudiced than their grandparents! The issues of racism and prejudice must be addressed in every generation.
But changing policies and procedures to create a new order is not the same as changing the persons who must implement them. I have long held that saying nothing about race does not assure a positive climate. On the contrary, the church, schools and other character-forming institutions must be pro-active in fostering favorable racial attitudes, images and experiences.
America has long been a racially and ethnically diverse society, and is becoming so in ever-increasing numbers. Racism, prejudice and ethnocentrism are never too far from the surface. It takes very little to reveal unexpressed racist attitudes, hostilities and fears.
Martin, even as we witnessed the election of an African American as governor, other African-American candidates faced racist attitudes from voters and racist campaign tactics from political opponents. At the same time, ironically, an African American is being seriously discussed as a potential nominee for his party as president of the United States!
I am glad, Martin that I have lived to see such significant progress in race in American life. Yet, I am utterly disappointed in how race continues to divide the American people.
So, as we celebrate your birth date in 2007, if I were asked if race relations in America are better or still a problem, I would respond, "Yes!"
Happy Birthday, Martin, and I am confident,
We Shall Overcome!
Woodie
Atlanta, Ga.
January 2007
Retired Bishop Woodie W. White is bishop-in-residence at United Methodist-related Candler School of Theology in Atlanta.
My greatest temptation in writing this year is to not mention the burden of my heart: the war in which our nation is engaged. I am certain if you were here, your voice would be heard, as the prophets of old.
This leads me to consider how profoundly your voice is missed. There have been so many occasions when I have longed for your voice. Yours was unique. You spoke with such passion, clarity and moral authority. You had the ability to change hearts as well as actions.
We seem to be at a curious juncture in America in the area of race. On the one hand, systemic and institutional racism are giving way to a more racially inclusive society. On the other, individual daily acts of prejudice and racism can still be encountered routinely.
White America, I believe, does not fully appreciate that black Americans live with the uncertainty of where and when these acts will occur. They could show up in the actions or comments of a waitress, taxi driver, supervisor, co-worker, clerk or even a "friend."
Martin, I was elated at the election of an African American as governor of Massachusetts. I remember quite vividly the riots and violence that occurred during school busing in Boston. Yet this significant milestone received little attention in the national media or even the larger black community.
Have such groundbreaking racial "firsts" become so common as to warrant less attention? I suppose in some ways that's a positive step, yet to not be celebrated is to minimize its greater significance.
Almost at the same time, a popular white comedian, enraged by some heckling from two black people in the audience, unleashed an avalanche of racial epithets from the stage. This drew national media attention and response from national leaders. The black community has begun a renewed conversation over the use of the "N" word, as people now refer to that racial slur.
Interestingly, the latter event is cited as evidence of how far America has to go, while the former is not cited as how far America has come!
Martin, I have arrived at the sobering conclusion that individual acts of prejudice and racism will have to be confronted for a long time. They seem endemic to the human psyche. Racism and prejudice can run deep. They do not automatically disappear with succeeding generations. Indeed, I have sadly noted that some grandchildren are more prejudiced than their grandparents! The issues of racism and prejudice must be addressed in every generation.
But changing policies and procedures to create a new order is not the same as changing the persons who must implement them. I have long held that saying nothing about race does not assure a positive climate. On the contrary, the church, schools and other character-forming institutions must be pro-active in fostering favorable racial attitudes, images and experiences.
America has long been a racially and ethnically diverse society, and is becoming so in ever-increasing numbers. Racism, prejudice and ethnocentrism are never too far from the surface. It takes very little to reveal unexpressed racist attitudes, hostilities and fears.
Martin, even as we witnessed the election of an African American as governor, other African-American candidates faced racist attitudes from voters and racist campaign tactics from political opponents. At the same time, ironically, an African American is being seriously discussed as a potential nominee for his party as president of the United States!
I am glad, Martin that I have lived to see such significant progress in race in American life. Yet, I am utterly disappointed in how race continues to divide the American people.
So, as we celebrate your birth date in 2007, if I were asked if race relations in America are better or still a problem, I would respond, "Yes!"
Happy Birthday, Martin, and I am confident,
We Shall Overcome!
Woodie
Atlanta, Ga.
January 2007
Retired Bishop Woodie W. White is bishop-in-residence at United Methodist-related Candler School of Theology in Atlanta.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Whine
Here's a whine.
Why did I wait so long to do these papers?? Why??
I don't wanna do these papers. It's going so-o-o-o slo-o-o-ow. I wanna go out and play.
Waa-a-aa-ah!
Why did I wait so long to do these papers?? Why??
I don't wanna do these papers. It's going so-o-o-o slo-o-o-ow. I wanna go out and play.
Waa-a-aa-ah!
Two Moments
I am going to have to work HARD on two papers that are due on January 8 today and tomorrow, so I can't finish the uploading to google video right now, so sorry! I'll get to it hopefully as soon as the papers are finished -- and the overnight District Meeting is over. I'm shooting for Wednesday.
But I did want to say there were two moments at the Congress on Evangelism that were transcendent. The group was really rowdy and boisterious. However, even through all the merriment, we had real moments of connection. There was a moment after we had attended the Jesus Pep Rally (or WorshipTainment) and had all put on really nice and tasteful bow ties, to honor one of my favorite youth ministers and gone to dinner. The blessing consisted of us doing the "God made the sun, God made the sea, God made the fishes and God made me" blessing, complete with hand motions (appropriate for all ages).
During a very energetic discussion of our basis thesis statement -- that chuch can indeed be found in digital venues, we were talking about what church really is. We talked about the hymn "We are the Church" -- I didn't know there were hand motions! So I asked for a demonstration and we sang the hymn together, complete with hand motions at Captain Jack's Seafood Shack. It was a real transcendent moment -- at that moment, we WERE church. It gave me chill bumps.
The second moment was when we retired back to the hotel and met in the local watering hole (establishment) in the hotel lobby. Ok, it was a bar. We had some laptops on the table and we had really good conversation (in the classic Methodist style -- agreeing to disagree on some items, but unified in others.) I had brought my portable communion set and we set it up and invite the local barkeep to join us -- and we went for a second round. Our communion in the bar was honest and real and it was full of promise and meaning. A moment of transcendence.
Both of these incidents were coloring outside the lines -- but we brought Christ back into our world and shared grace.
But I did want to say there were two moments at the Congress on Evangelism that were transcendent. The group was really rowdy and boisterious. However, even through all the merriment, we had real moments of connection. There was a moment after we had attended the Jesus Pep Rally (or WorshipTainment) and had all put on really nice and tasteful bow ties, to honor one of my favorite youth ministers and gone to dinner. The blessing consisted of us doing the "God made the sun, God made the sea, God made the fishes and God made me" blessing, complete with hand motions (appropriate for all ages).
During a very energetic discussion of our basis thesis statement -- that chuch can indeed be found in digital venues, we were talking about what church really is. We talked about the hymn "We are the Church" -- I didn't know there were hand motions! So I asked for a demonstration and we sang the hymn together, complete with hand motions at Captain Jack's Seafood Shack. It was a real transcendent moment -- at that moment, we WERE church. It gave me chill bumps.
The second moment was when we retired back to the hotel and met in the local watering hole (establishment) in the hotel lobby. Ok, it was a bar. We had some laptops on the table and we had really good conversation (in the classic Methodist style -- agreeing to disagree on some items, but unified in others.) I had brought my portable communion set and we set it up and invite the local barkeep to join us -- and we went for a second round. Our communion in the bar was honest and real and it was full of promise and meaning. A moment of transcendence.
Both of these incidents were coloring outside the lines -- but we brought Christ back into our world and shared grace.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Workshop on Internet Evangelism
I was going to post my notes on the portion of the workshop Jay and I presented, but Gavin took notes.
Wow. Someone DID stay awake!
Wow. Someone DID stay awake!
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
The Internet is Our Parish
Gavin and Jonathon. A 90 minute lecture, in 10 minute chunks.
Chunk 1
Chunk 2
Chunk 3
Chunk 1
Chunk 2
Chunk 3
Posting from the "Internet is my Parish"
Posting from the actual "Internet is my Parish" room AS the lectures continue.
The Two Muskateers (Jonathon and Gavo) are presenting now.
Jay V. and I did earlier and I sweated it. Literally. It was hot in here and I'm wearing a jacket and a turtleneck.
The Two Muskateers (Jonathon and Gavo) are presenting now.
Jay V. and I did earlier and I sweated it. Literally. It was hot in here and I'm wearing a jacket and a turtleneck.
The Internet is Our Parish
My Parish?
Our Parish?
Whatever.
We are in Myrtle Beach and this morning there were so many evanglists in the hotel that there is scarcely any hot water...
Abi had a LONG drive -- together it was only 7 hours; she drove at least 14 hours. Long way.
Amy had a bad bolt in her airplane and will not be here until this morning.
More later.
I will resist temptation to whack certain persons with my Bible and ask "If you were to die tonight will you go to heaven or hell?" I will resist.
Our Parish?
Whatever.
We are in Myrtle Beach and this morning there were so many evanglists in the hotel that there is scarcely any hot water...
Abi had a LONG drive -- together it was only 7 hours; she drove at least 14 hours. Long way.
Amy had a bad bolt in her airplane and will not be here until this morning.
More later.
I will resist temptation to whack certain persons with my Bible and ask "If you were to die tonight will you go to heaven or hell?" I will resist.
Monday, January 01, 2007
I'm Open for Business
I've just listed some books (including our Advent book) on Amazon. I even have my own storefront.
Please shop at your leisure...
=o)
Please shop at your leisure...
=o)
Watch Night
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
O blessed Jesus, I come to you,
hungry, sinful, miserable, blind, and naked,
unworthy even to wash the feet of your servants.
I do here, with all my power, accept you as my Lord and Head.
I renounce my own worthiness,
and vow that you are the Lord, my righteousness.
I renounce my own wisdom, and take you for my only guide.
I renounce my own will, and take your will as my law.
Through your grace I promise
that neither life nor death shall part me from you.
God has given holy laws as the rule of your life.
I do here willingly put my neck under your yoke, to carry your burden.
And now, glory be to you, O God the Father,
whom I from this day forward shall look upon as my God and Father.
Glory be to you, O God the Son,
who have loved me and washed me from my sins in your own blood,
and now is my Savior and Redeemer.
Glory be to you, O God the Holy Spirit,
who by your almighty power have turned my heart from sin to God.
So be it.
And let the covenant I have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
-- John Wesley
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
O blessed Jesus, I come to you,
hungry, sinful, miserable, blind, and naked,
unworthy even to wash the feet of your servants.
I do here, with all my power, accept you as my Lord and Head.
I renounce my own worthiness,
and vow that you are the Lord, my righteousness.
I renounce my own wisdom, and take you for my only guide.
I renounce my own will, and take your will as my law.
Through your grace I promise
that neither life nor death shall part me from you.
God has given holy laws as the rule of your life.
I do here willingly put my neck under your yoke, to carry your burden.
And now, glory be to you, O God the Father,
whom I from this day forward shall look upon as my God and Father.
Glory be to you, O God the Son,
who have loved me and washed me from my sins in your own blood,
and now is my Savior and Redeemer.
Glory be to you, O God the Holy Spirit,
who by your almighty power have turned my heart from sin to God.
So be it.
And let the covenant I have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
-- John Wesley
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Nothing to blog about
I have nothing to blog about ... or way too much to blog about and way too little time.
Between leftover Christmas Dinner (a week old tomorrow), party food leftover from the choir party, take-home boxes from various eating establishments, a ham for tomorrow, a huge bag of collard greens, black eyed peas and other goodies, there is no room in the refrigerator. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen such a packed refrigerator. And yet, I open the door and can't find a single thing I want to eat.
So it is with blogging material. There is so much I could blog about, but nothing urgently pressing. So here are some dots.
* T-Minus 2 days and about 3 hours before we leave for the conference in Myrtle Beach.
* The main floor of the house is clean and I'm taking wagers to see how long it will last. I'm betting less than half a day.
* The family is lazy and is staying home from church, but I get to go because it's my job.
* I have been invited to at least 3 or 4 parties for tonight, but would just as soon stay home.
* The gurgling sound that woke my husband up last night -- the sound that he thought was the plumbing -- was my stomach and it's not a happy camper this morning but
* I have almost zero responsibilities in worship this morning, so life will be OK.
* We are having a watchnight service tonight and that appeals to me more than parties.
* I have come up with a thought to put in my Theology paper (due Jan 8) that is more femo-radical than anything I've read. Uber-radical. I hope it doesn't get me a "F."
* My schedule is really messed up for next semester and I hope that it doesn't mean that I can't graduate.
* Next week is going to be exciting with at least 5 RevGals in Myrtle Beach. Woo Hoo!
Between leftover Christmas Dinner (a week old tomorrow), party food leftover from the choir party, take-home boxes from various eating establishments, a ham for tomorrow, a huge bag of collard greens, black eyed peas and other goodies, there is no room in the refrigerator. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen such a packed refrigerator. And yet, I open the door and can't find a single thing I want to eat.
So it is with blogging material. There is so much I could blog about, but nothing urgently pressing. So here are some dots.
* T-Minus 2 days and about 3 hours before we leave for the conference in Myrtle Beach.
* The main floor of the house is clean and I'm taking wagers to see how long it will last. I'm betting less than half a day.
* The family is lazy and is staying home from church, but I get to go because it's my job.
* I have been invited to at least 3 or 4 parties for tonight, but would just as soon stay home.
* The gurgling sound that woke my husband up last night -- the sound that he thought was the plumbing -- was my stomach and it's not a happy camper this morning but
* I have almost zero responsibilities in worship this morning, so life will be OK.
* We are having a watchnight service tonight and that appeals to me more than parties.
* I have come up with a thought to put in my Theology paper (due Jan 8) that is more femo-radical than anything I've read. Uber-radical. I hope it doesn't get me a "F."
* My schedule is really messed up for next semester and I hope that it doesn't mean that I can't graduate.
* Next week is going to be exciting with at least 5 RevGals in Myrtle Beach. Woo Hoo!
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Bury Me in a Free Land
Bury Me in a Free Land
Make me a grave where'er you will,
In a lowly plain, or a lofty hill;
Make it among earth's humblest graves,
But not in a land where men are slaves.
I could not rest if around my grave
I heard the steps of a trembling slave;
His shadow above my silent tomb
Would make it a place of fearful gloom.
I could not rest if I heard the tread
Of a coffle gang to the shambles led,
And the mother's shriek of wild despair
Rise like a curse on the trembling air.
I could not sleep if I saw the lash
Drinking her blood at each fearful gash,
And I saw her babes torn from her breast,
Like trembling doves from their parent nest.
I'd shudder and start if I heard the bay
Of bloodhounds seizing their human prey,
And I heard the captive plead in vain
As they bound afresh his galling chain.
If I saw young girls from their mother's arms
Bartered and sold for their youthful charms,
My eye would flash with a mournful flame,
My death-paled cheek grow red with shame.
I would sleep, dear friends, where bloated might
Can rob no man of his dearest right;
My rest shall be calm in any grave
Where none can call his brother a slave.
I ask no monument, proud and high,
To arrest the gaze of the passers-by;
All that my yearning spirit craves,
Is bury me not in a land of slaves.
-- Frances Ellen Watkins, freed black woman who died circa 1920
Bury me low in valleys green
And where the milder breeze
Blows fresh along the stream,
Sings roundly in the trees -
Bury me low and let me lie
Under the wide and starry sky.
Joying to live, I joyed to die,
Bury me low and let me lie.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
I remembered these two poems when I read this article. It seems that Franklin Graham wants his parents to be buried at his new mega-slick complex he calls the "Billy Graham Library" -- which, to IMHO sounds like a Disneyland ride. It sounds awful -- tacky, starting with the talking cow. Ugh!
Ruth Bell Graham wants to be buried at The Cove -- a work of love that she has been at for many, many years, which might be called the "real" Billy Graham Library. I suppose it's not flashy enough for Franklin's ego. Let the woman lie in death on the land she loves next to the man she loves. Please do not make their graves some sort of sicko tourist attraction!
Make me a grave where'er you will,
In a lowly plain, or a lofty hill;
Make it among earth's humblest graves,
But not in a land where men are slaves.
I could not rest if around my grave
I heard the steps of a trembling slave;
His shadow above my silent tomb
Would make it a place of fearful gloom.
I could not rest if I heard the tread
Of a coffle gang to the shambles led,
And the mother's shriek of wild despair
Rise like a curse on the trembling air.
I could not sleep if I saw the lash
Drinking her blood at each fearful gash,
And I saw her babes torn from her breast,
Like trembling doves from their parent nest.
I'd shudder and start if I heard the bay
Of bloodhounds seizing their human prey,
And I heard the captive plead in vain
As they bound afresh his galling chain.
If I saw young girls from their mother's arms
Bartered and sold for their youthful charms,
My eye would flash with a mournful flame,
My death-paled cheek grow red with shame.
I would sleep, dear friends, where bloated might
Can rob no man of his dearest right;
My rest shall be calm in any grave
Where none can call his brother a slave.
I ask no monument, proud and high,
To arrest the gaze of the passers-by;
All that my yearning spirit craves,
Is bury me not in a land of slaves.
-- Frances Ellen Watkins, freed black woman who died circa 1920
Bury me low in valleys green
And where the milder breeze
Blows fresh along the stream,
Sings roundly in the trees -
Bury me low and let me lie
Under the wide and starry sky.
Joying to live, I joyed to die,
Bury me low and let me lie.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
I remembered these two poems when I read this article. It seems that Franklin Graham wants his parents to be buried at his new mega-slick complex he calls the "Billy Graham Library" -- which, to IMHO sounds like a Disneyland ride. It sounds awful -- tacky, starting with the talking cow. Ugh!
Ruth Bell Graham wants to be buried at The Cove -- a work of love that she has been at for many, many years, which might be called the "real" Billy Graham Library. I suppose it's not flashy enough for Franklin's ego. Let the woman lie in death on the land she loves next to the man she loves. Please do not make their graves some sort of sicko tourist attraction!
Busy Day
The kids are going to go play Whirlyball with the Loving Husband. I'm going to stay home, clean for the choir party, write papers (gah, pfft!), etc. Tonight we are going to go play trivia at a local eating establishment with friends. Busy.
This morning, though, I'm having Breakfast Casserole -- and I may make grits.
8 slices bread broken up into bite sized pieces
6 to 8 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
1 package sausage, crumbled and browned
2 cups shedded cheddar cheese (or more, or less, depending on how much you like cheese)
salt and pepper to taste
dash nutmeg
optional: half cup each of diced bell pepper and onion, cooked in with the sausage
Butter a 12 by 8 baking pan. Sprinkle the bread into the pan. Add the browned and drained sausage. Stir in the grated cheese. Whip the eggs, cream and milk together with the salt, pepper and nutmeg and pour over the top. Refrigerate, covered overnight. Bake at 350 for 35 to 45 minutes (or until set) the next morning. Cut into squares and serve with fresh fruit and grits. Mimosas are good too....
This morning, though, I'm having Breakfast Casserole -- and I may make grits.
8 slices bread broken up into bite sized pieces
6 to 8 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
1 package sausage, crumbled and browned
2 cups shedded cheddar cheese (or more, or less, depending on how much you like cheese)
salt and pepper to taste
dash nutmeg
optional: half cup each of diced bell pepper and onion, cooked in with the sausage
Butter a 12 by 8 baking pan. Sprinkle the bread into the pan. Add the browned and drained sausage. Stir in the grated cheese. Whip the eggs, cream and milk together with the salt, pepper and nutmeg and pour over the top. Refrigerate, covered overnight. Bake at 350 for 35 to 45 minutes (or until set) the next morning. Cut into squares and serve with fresh fruit and grits. Mimosas are good too....
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
It's T-minus 5 and a half days...
And I am off to a BIG RevGal and MethoBlog meetup with Dogblogger, Rev Abi and Gavin (also, Jay of Only Wonder Understands, Allen Bevere, John the Bunny lover, and Jonathon of St. Phransus.)
We are PRESENTING at the Congress on Evangelism in Myrtle Beach Jan 3 to 5. Y'all come! We are talking about the Internet and Evangelism -- and it's entitled "The Internet is Our Parish."
I'm not ready!! Arrgh!!
We are PRESENTING at the Congress on Evangelism in Myrtle Beach Jan 3 to 5. Y'all come! We are talking about the Internet and Evangelism -- and it's entitled "The Internet is Our Parish."
I'm not ready!! Arrgh!!
How to Brine a Turkey
We had guests for Christmas day -- and they wanted to know how I prepared the turkey and gravy. I cooked for two solid days. Homemade everything. I used 3 pounds of butter and a quart of heavy cream. I will have to diet soon...
So here we go!
Brining a turkey will help flavor the turkey and it certainly makes for a moist and tender bird. Your turkey needs to be thawed – either a fresh turkey, never frozen or one you have left in the refrigerator for a couple of days to thaw. It shouldn’t be injected or treated with anything – no additives, just turkey.
Boil 2 quarts of water in a very large pot. I own a 10 gallon stock pot and use this for brining. Add a cup of salt, a cup of brown sugar, one bunch of rosemary (crushed, fresh), a couple of sticks of cinnamon, one bunch of sage,(crushed) and a handful of black peppercorns. Boil for a few minutes and set aside to cool. When cool, add a cup of apple cider.
After the stock is cool, rinse off the turkey and place in to stockpot. Fill with cold water and ice (as much as you can), cover and set in a cool place for at least 12 hours, but not more than 24. If you wish, stick a thermometer into the brine and do not allow it to get over 40 degree F.
When you are ready to cook the turkey, preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Chop two or three apples and a couple of onions. Steam the apples and onions for a couple of minutes in the microwave, along with more rosemary (dried this time), cinnamon (powdered), rubbed sage, pepper and a cup of apple cider. Let the aromatics steep while you prepare the turkey. Rinse the turkey and discard the brine. Place the turkey in the roaster in the usual manner (which is actually upside down for the poor old turkey.) Tuck the wings in. Place the apples and onions in the cavity, mix a cup of white wine (I use a sweet wine, like a Riesling) with the liquid and drizzle the liquid over the turkey. Pour a cup of olive oil over the turkey and rub in the spices and oil with your hands. Place the turkey in the oven, uncovered for 30 minutes and brown the skin. This will keep the moisture in the turkey.
After 30 minutes, take the bird out of the oven and flip it over, so that the breast is down. Cover with the lid and cook for an additional 2 and a half to 3 hours (for a 12 to 15 pound bird, you will need to adjust for a smaller or larger bird). A half hour before the turkey is done, flip it over again and recover. Basting is not necessary. Take it out when done (when the interior temp gets to 162 to 170 degrees F) and leave it covered. Let it rest for 15 minutes to an hour before you carve it.
While the turkey is resting, you can take the stock out of the bottom of the pan and make a gravy. I don’t like giblets, so I make a traditional brown gravy. Start with a roux made with butter. When the roux is nice and brown, use the stock to make the gravy – you can add some wine, if you wish and if you like a creamy gravy, you can use some heavy cream. I also will chop up the onions and apples and some of the meat to give the gravy some texture.
This bird will have a slightly sweet flavor, with apples. You can do this with a hen, if you wish, but will have to adjust the cooking times. You also leave out the apples, sage and cinnamon, and use only onions, rosemary and lemons. (I do dearly love Lemon/Rosemary chicken.)
Enjoy!
So here we go!
Brining a turkey will help flavor the turkey and it certainly makes for a moist and tender bird. Your turkey needs to be thawed – either a fresh turkey, never frozen or one you have left in the refrigerator for a couple of days to thaw. It shouldn’t be injected or treated with anything – no additives, just turkey.
Boil 2 quarts of water in a very large pot. I own a 10 gallon stock pot and use this for brining. Add a cup of salt, a cup of brown sugar, one bunch of rosemary (crushed, fresh), a couple of sticks of cinnamon, one bunch of sage,(crushed) and a handful of black peppercorns. Boil for a few minutes and set aside to cool. When cool, add a cup of apple cider.
After the stock is cool, rinse off the turkey and place in to stockpot. Fill with cold water and ice (as much as you can), cover and set in a cool place for at least 12 hours, but not more than 24. If you wish, stick a thermometer into the brine and do not allow it to get over 40 degree F.
When you are ready to cook the turkey, preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Chop two or three apples and a couple of onions. Steam the apples and onions for a couple of minutes in the microwave, along with more rosemary (dried this time), cinnamon (powdered), rubbed sage, pepper and a cup of apple cider. Let the aromatics steep while you prepare the turkey. Rinse the turkey and discard the brine. Place the turkey in the roaster in the usual manner (which is actually upside down for the poor old turkey.) Tuck the wings in. Place the apples and onions in the cavity, mix a cup of white wine (I use a sweet wine, like a Riesling) with the liquid and drizzle the liquid over the turkey. Pour a cup of olive oil over the turkey and rub in the spices and oil with your hands. Place the turkey in the oven, uncovered for 30 minutes and brown the skin. This will keep the moisture in the turkey.
After 30 minutes, take the bird out of the oven and flip it over, so that the breast is down. Cover with the lid and cook for an additional 2 and a half to 3 hours (for a 12 to 15 pound bird, you will need to adjust for a smaller or larger bird). A half hour before the turkey is done, flip it over again and recover. Basting is not necessary. Take it out when done (when the interior temp gets to 162 to 170 degrees F) and leave it covered. Let it rest for 15 minutes to an hour before you carve it.
While the turkey is resting, you can take the stock out of the bottom of the pan and make a gravy. I don’t like giblets, so I make a traditional brown gravy. Start with a roux made with butter. When the roux is nice and brown, use the stock to make the gravy – you can add some wine, if you wish and if you like a creamy gravy, you can use some heavy cream. I also will chop up the onions and apples and some of the meat to give the gravy some texture.
This bird will have a slightly sweet flavor, with apples. You can do this with a hen, if you wish, but will have to adjust the cooking times. You also leave out the apples, sage and cinnamon, and use only onions, rosemary and lemons. (I do dearly love Lemon/Rosemary chicken.)
Enjoy!
Friday, December 22, 2006
Random
Me and Grandma Jean at Thanksgiving (Finally!)
Here's CatBlogging on Friday (Yeah!)
(Santa Snaps for the MacBook -- too cute.)
Blogging today instead of
1) cleaning
2) cooking
3) shopping
4) wrapping
5) writing papers....
Ponderings
I got in a heated discussion yesterday with a person who was rather critical of my girls being in karate. The kids go train a few times a week and really enjoy it. It's fun.
The girls are doing Tang Soo Do, which is an older form of karate than Twae Kwon Do and there are subtle differences. Our studio spends a lot of time with the kids stressing exercise, healthy living, drug avoidance, discipline (mostly self discipline), obedience to elders and parents, doing your best and respect of self and others. It's not considered a "sport" at our studio, but a discipline and an art. Competition is a part of it, but is not stressed but rather doing your personal best. Master Long gives the kids lots of positive encouragement. It is a much more supportative environment than the soccer teams (boy, those soccer parents are harsh!) or even the Ballet Nazi. And I know that my girls have had some solid self-defense training, as well.
This person critized me for putting my girls in karate, saying that I am promoting a violent lifestyle and that the ethos (OK, she didn't use that word) that was being promulgated is not a Christian ethos. What?? Of course, she had no real data or anything to base this on, just her prejudice. Then she went further -- "I don't think I would want to be a part of a church where the MINISTER has her children in karate." OK, fine. You're Baptist -- I'm Methodist. You probably wouldn't come to my church anyway. Just had to get in that parting shot, eh? You say, woman, that you don't believe in a violent lifestyle, but just attacked me and mine verbally. Do you not understand the problem here?? Do you not see it?? Sheesh.
I felt like doing a roundhouse kick and an upper cut. (Verbally, of course.) But I didn't. Because I DO believe in a peaceable lifestyle.
The girls are doing Tang Soo Do, which is an older form of karate than Twae Kwon Do and there are subtle differences. Our studio spends a lot of time with the kids stressing exercise, healthy living, drug avoidance, discipline (mostly self discipline), obedience to elders and parents, doing your best and respect of self and others. It's not considered a "sport" at our studio, but a discipline and an art. Competition is a part of it, but is not stressed but rather doing your personal best. Master Long gives the kids lots of positive encouragement. It is a much more supportative environment than the soccer teams (boy, those soccer parents are harsh!) or even the Ballet Nazi. And I know that my girls have had some solid self-defense training, as well.
This person critized me for putting my girls in karate, saying that I am promoting a violent lifestyle and that the ethos (OK, she didn't use that word) that was being promulgated is not a Christian ethos. What?? Of course, she had no real data or anything to base this on, just her prejudice. Then she went further -- "I don't think I would want to be a part of a church where the MINISTER has her children in karate." OK, fine. You're Baptist -- I'm Methodist. You probably wouldn't come to my church anyway. Just had to get in that parting shot, eh? You say, woman, that you don't believe in a violent lifestyle, but just attacked me and mine verbally. Do you not understand the problem here?? Do you not see it?? Sheesh.
I felt like doing a roundhouse kick and an upper cut. (Verbally, of course.) But I didn't. Because I DO believe in a peaceable lifestyle.
Christmas Prayer -- Robert Louis Stevenson
But you, O Bethlehem Eph'rathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
-- Micah 5:2
A Christmas Prayer
Loving Father,
Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift
and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing
which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning
make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
-- Micah 5:2
A Christmas Prayer
Loving Father,
Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift
and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing
which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning
make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Why I'm not shopping right now
Our builder used, well nicely said, "builder grade" plumbing stuff. In twelve years of living in the house, the flapper valves on all the toilets have worn out. If one clogs the toliet for any reason and are not careful, it overflows and runs all over the place. Gallons and gallons of water. Well, we had one flood on Saturday before the belt test. Chaos caused that one and suffered the consequences of having to clean it all up.
A few minutes ago, Entropy just caused the downstairs toilet to become a fountain and flooded the main floor and into the basement in Daddy's radio shack which contains three computers and lots and lots of radio equipment. So Entropy is going to be busy cleaning up. I'm helping and for some reason the urge to shop or decorate has fled.
And I really could use new flapper valves -- and I really could use that wine.
A few minutes ago, Entropy just caused the downstairs toilet to become a fountain and flooded the main floor and into the basement in Daddy's radio shack which contains three computers and lots and lots of radio equipment. So Entropy is going to be busy cleaning up. I'm helping and for some reason the urge to shop or decorate has fled.
And I really could use new flapper valves -- and I really could use that wine.
Wine Selections
Ok, I'm going to make shrimp and grits for Christmas Eve and I want to get a couple of bottles of wine. Which wine shall it be?
I really like the 2002 Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse. White burgundies are more complex than basic chardonnay and this one is pricey. It will run about $23 to $25 per bottle. It's not overly oak-y or sweaty in flavor. It's full of the taste of cinnamon and apples. Dry, but not acidic. Nice lively taste. My favorite.
The Louis Jadot Macon-Villages Chardonnay is a good second choice -- it runs about $10 a bottle. Nice color, not too pale. Crisp, dry, slightly acid, tastes of apples and pears. Simple taste, not really complex.
Next on the list would be a Beaujolais. Domestic wines -- I stick to a Napa Riesling or Chardonnay.
A good Merlot will be on the list as well.....
Time to go shopping.
I really like the 2002 Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse. White burgundies are more complex than basic chardonnay and this one is pricey. It will run about $23 to $25 per bottle. It's not overly oak-y or sweaty in flavor. It's full of the taste of cinnamon and apples. Dry, but not acidic. Nice lively taste. My favorite.
The Louis Jadot Macon-Villages Chardonnay is a good second choice -- it runs about $10 a bottle. Nice color, not too pale. Crisp, dry, slightly acid, tastes of apples and pears. Simple taste, not really complex.
Next on the list would be a Beaujolais. Domestic wines -- I stick to a Napa Riesling or Chardonnay.
A good Merlot will be on the list as well.....
Time to go shopping.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Heavy Topics
Or topics that will make you heavy ....
What's for dinner?
I've got an earache (still) that has caused the Bell's Palsy pain to flare up. So I'm going for soft and comfortable food today.
I think I want Shrimp and Grits. Yes, I had planned that for Christmas Eve, but we can do a test run today, right?
4 cups water
Salt and pepper
1 cup grits (stone-ground are the best, but quick grits will do in a pinch)
3 or 4tablespoons butter
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup heavy cream
Cook the grits in the usual manner: boil water, salt and pepper. Slowly add grits, stirring as you add. Cover and cook for recommended amount of time (remember quick grits are different than “real grits” – quick grits cook in about 5 minutes, real grits take about 30.) Remember to stir as you are cooking. When they are at the “lava bubble’ stage, add the heavy cream and cheese and butter. Stir and let finish cooking – set aside.
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined -- about 20
6 slices bacon, chopped or 1/2 cup tasso ham (hard to find, you can use prosciutto)
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup diced leeks (or scallions, or MILD onion)
2 tablespoons diced onion
2 tablespoons diced green peppers
Dash of salt and pepper
1 tablespoon white flour
1/4 cup white wine
1 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper
Sauté the shrimp in about 1/4 cup olive oil or butter (don’t scorch!) until nice an pink. Remove from pan and then either cook bacon or tasso in the pan until browned. Remove and add to bowl with shrimp. Saute the aromatics, saving the garlic for the last minute or so (or else it will become bitter.) Sprinkle white flour over the aromatics when they are transparent and stir well. Slowly add wine and cream, stirring continually until thickened. Remove from heat and add back into the pan the shrimp and bacom. Stir well. Season with salt and pepper. Place one cup of the grits into a rimmed soup bowl and top with a quarter of the shrimp (about 5) and a quarter of the sauce. Serves 4.
Serve with oyster stew, fresh baked bread with garlic spread, green salad. Yum.
Garlic Spread
Roast 4 heads of garlic in oven for a nice long time. Remove and let cool. Set out a pound of butter to soften and place in big bowl. When cooled, break apart the garlic heads into cloves. Snip the tip of each clove and squeeze the roasted garlic into the bowl Add a dash of salt and pepper and about a tablespoon of grated cheese. Mix with flat spatula until and chill until use.
What's for dinner?
I've got an earache (still) that has caused the Bell's Palsy pain to flare up. So I'm going for soft and comfortable food today.
I think I want Shrimp and Grits. Yes, I had planned that for Christmas Eve, but we can do a test run today, right?
4 cups water
Salt and pepper
1 cup grits (stone-ground are the best, but quick grits will do in a pinch)
3 or 4tablespoons butter
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup heavy cream
Cook the grits in the usual manner: boil water, salt and pepper. Slowly add grits, stirring as you add. Cover and cook for recommended amount of time (remember quick grits are different than “real grits” – quick grits cook in about 5 minutes, real grits take about 30.) Remember to stir as you are cooking. When they are at the “lava bubble’ stage, add the heavy cream and cheese and butter. Stir and let finish cooking – set aside.
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined -- about 20
6 slices bacon, chopped or 1/2 cup tasso ham (hard to find, you can use prosciutto)
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup diced leeks (or scallions, or MILD onion)
2 tablespoons diced onion
2 tablespoons diced green peppers
Dash of salt and pepper
1 tablespoon white flour
1/4 cup white wine
1 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper
Sauté the shrimp in about 1/4 cup olive oil or butter (don’t scorch!) until nice an pink. Remove from pan and then either cook bacon or tasso in the pan until browned. Remove and add to bowl with shrimp. Saute the aromatics, saving the garlic for the last minute or so (or else it will become bitter.) Sprinkle white flour over the aromatics when they are transparent and stir well. Slowly add wine and cream, stirring continually until thickened. Remove from heat and add back into the pan the shrimp and bacom. Stir well. Season with salt and pepper. Place one cup of the grits into a rimmed soup bowl and top with a quarter of the shrimp (about 5) and a quarter of the sauce. Serves 4.
Serve with oyster stew, fresh baked bread with garlic spread, green salad. Yum.
Garlic Spread
Roast 4 heads of garlic in oven for a nice long time. Remove and let cool. Set out a pound of butter to soften and place in big bowl. When cooled, break apart the garlic heads into cloves. Snip the tip of each clove and squeeze the roasted garlic into the bowl Add a dash of salt and pepper and about a tablespoon of grated cheese. Mix with flat spatula until and chill until use.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Thoughts in Solitude
MY LORD GOD,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think
that I am following your will
does not mean that
I am actually doing so.
But I believe that
the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have
that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me
by the right road
though I may know nothing
about it.
Therefore I will trust you
always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
-- Thoughts in Solitude By Thomas Merton
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think
that I am following your will
does not mean that
I am actually doing so.
But I believe that
the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have
that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me
by the right road
though I may know nothing
about it.
Therefore I will trust you
always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
-- Thoughts in Solitude By Thomas Merton
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Today is Entropy Day
(that would be my youngest daughter, btw)
She's having her piano recital at a local Lutheran church and then she's taking her Black Belt test tonight.
Big day for a little girl.
Oh, and the big sister is torturing her. It's part of the job, I think, of being a big sister.
She's having her piano recital at a local Lutheran church and then she's taking her Black Belt test tonight.
Big day for a little girl.
Oh, and the big sister is torturing her. It's part of the job, I think, of being a big sister.
Friday, December 15, 2006
John Rutter
Uses Sibelius.
“Sibelius does just about everything except think up the music for me.”
“I never thought I would abandon pen and ink, but Sibelius’ quality, speed and ease of use have completely won me over.”
John Rutter, choral composer
Check it out here.
I've waited to purchase this product (lack of true need and money), but I think at this point, it would be worth the money. I have had so many different ideas about music I want to do -- music I need/want to arrange. Now that the Music program at my new church is my responsibility, I really could use this product.
(This is a not too subtle hint that I really, really, really want this software product. And look! It's only a few days to Christmas!)
“Sibelius does just about everything except think up the music for me.”
“I never thought I would abandon pen and ink, but Sibelius’ quality, speed and ease of use have completely won me over.”
John Rutter, choral composer
Check it out here.
I've waited to purchase this product (lack of true need and money), but I think at this point, it would be worth the money. I have had so many different ideas about music I want to do -- music I need/want to arrange. Now that the Music program at my new church is my responsibility, I really could use this product.
(This is a not too subtle hint that I really, really, really want this software product. And look! It's only a few days to Christmas!)
John Rutter
Uses Sibelius.
“Sibelius does just about everything except think up the music for me.”
“I never thought I would abandon pen and ink, but Sibelius’ quality, speed and ease of use have completely won me over.”
John Rutter, choral composer
Check it out here.
I've waited to purchase this product (lack of true need and money), but I think at this point, it would be worth the money. I have had so many different ideas about music I want to do -- music I need/want to arrange. Now that the Music program at my new church is my responsibility, I really could use this product.
(This is a not too subtle hint that I really, really, really want this software product. And look! It's only a few days to Christmas!)
“Sibelius does just about everything except think up the music for me.”
“I never thought I would abandon pen and ink, but Sibelius’ quality, speed and ease of use have completely won me over.”
John Rutter, choral composer
Check it out here.
I've waited to purchase this product (lack of true need and money), but I think at this point, it would be worth the money. I have had so many different ideas about music I want to do -- music I need/want to arrange. Now that the Music program at my new church is my responsibility, I really could use this product.
(This is a not too subtle hint that I really, really, really want this software product. And look! It's only a few days to Christmas!)
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
I'm So Dizzy
my head is spinnin'.
Really. I have an inner ear infection and boy oh boy am I dizzy.
Maybe I should go blonde (again...)
Really. I have an inner ear infection and boy oh boy am I dizzy.
Maybe I should go blonde (again...)
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Chalcedon Compliant
So I'm not a heretic. Whew. What a relief.
You scored as Chalcedon compliant. You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451.
Are you a heretic? created with QuizFarm.com |
Saturday, December 09, 2006
My New Old Church
Was formed around 1819 or 1820 (records are unsure/ not too clear about it) near what is now Tribble Mill Park right off the Alcovy River. It was in a log cabin and at sometime before 1841, the church's moved (another log cabin or the same one) to it's present location. The current building was constructed around 1851, altered in the 1880's, altered again in 1939 when they got the building wired for electricity, added to in about 1957 when they remodeled the sancutary, added two classrooms, added a choir loft and the back of the current building. In the 1980's they built a two storied Christian Ed building with a new fellowship hall, kitchen, restrooms, office, preschool classrooms and playground.
I've had a couple of, uhm, odd things. I was alone in the building playing the piano in the old choir room and as I was playing, I heard voices. I thought, "Hey! Someone is here!" I got up to see who it was and I was still alone. I sat down to play some more and I heard voices again and saw something flickering out the of side of my eye. It got cold. I left. Abruptly. I'll go back into that room when someone is with me....
I'm really super rational, but.
Edited: I think I figured out it was the heater switching on and off. And that I have a very VIVID imagination.....
I've had a couple of, uhm, odd things. I was alone in the building playing the piano in the old choir room and as I was playing, I heard voices. I thought, "Hey! Someone is here!" I got up to see who it was and I was still alone. I sat down to play some more and I heard voices again and saw something flickering out the of side of my eye. It got cold. I left. Abruptly. I'll go back into that room when someone is with me....
I'm really super rational, but.
Edited: I think I figured out it was the heater switching on and off. And that I have a very VIVID imagination.....
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Entering the Home Stretch
One class done.
Second class -- oral final done today.
Third class -- all but the final paper.
Fourth class -- uh. Maybe tomorrow I'll do something with that stuff. About 50 pages to write... and an oral final. Sigh.
Second class -- oral final done today.
Third class -- all but the final paper.
Fourth class -- uh. Maybe tomorrow I'll do something with that stuff. About 50 pages to write... and an oral final. Sigh.
New Church
I am so very much enjoying my new appointment. It's a really different context and yet very much the same. The demographics are very similar; after all it's only 4 miles away from my previous church. Yet this area has yet to see the mega-boom of growth that my old appointment saw about 5 to 10 years ago. It's coming, though. Soon.
This church, my old church and three others shared pastors off andon for a long time. Sometimes it was a 4 point charge, then a three point charge, then a two point charge. They were a one point charge with a student pastor for a long time; now they have a real full time pastor. With my addition, this is the first time this church has had two appointed pastors (that I know of.)
It's about a tenth in attendance of my previous church, but they seem to be very faithful in attending. There is a larger percentage of really committed people (committed to service and presence) than at my previous church.
Right now, this little church is moving from the small church paradigm to a less small church paradigm (almost a medium sized church); from the Matriarchy/Patriarchy model to the Pastor Driven model (if you know what I'm talking about, here.) It's going to be really interesting to watch and help with that transition.
I just get the feeling that this church is a ripe seed planted in fertile ground and you better watch out! We are going to grow! (and I'm not talking numbers here!)
This church, my old church and three others shared pastors off andon for a long time. Sometimes it was a 4 point charge, then a three point charge, then a two point charge. They were a one point charge with a student pastor for a long time; now they have a real full time pastor. With my addition, this is the first time this church has had two appointed pastors (that I know of.)
It's about a tenth in attendance of my previous church, but they seem to be very faithful in attending. There is a larger percentage of really committed people (committed to service and presence) than at my previous church.
Right now, this little church is moving from the small church paradigm to a less small church paradigm (almost a medium sized church); from the Matriarchy/Patriarchy model to the Pastor Driven model (if you know what I'm talking about, here.) It's going to be really interesting to watch and help with that transition.
I just get the feeling that this church is a ripe seed planted in fertile ground and you better watch out! We are going to grow! (and I'm not talking numbers here!)
Monday, December 04, 2006
William James, in poetry, version One.
Word on the Mac has an interesting feature -- Autosummarize. I took the etext of William Jame's Varieties of Religious Experience and set the Autosummarize to 87 words. This is what I got. I like it -- it's like poetry or a prayer.
Life
experience. If
experiences. Religion,
life? religious.
religious life.
condemn life. God.
God experience.
O God! life.
Life for God.
If life. If subject's life.
God is life with minds who experience. God!
God of God.
God experienced.
Experiences of life.
Subconscious life.
If experience. praising God. God experience. If man's.
If positive
Religious mind. Spiritual life.
If Gentle God, then
life? life. If
God?
life. solitary life.
towards God. life.
Take God's experience.
Spirit lives. Experience man to God, man with God. Religion.
If
God
If
Life
experience. If
experiences. Religion,
life? religious.
religious life.
condemn life. God.
God experience.
O God! life.
Life for God.
If life. If subject's life.
God is life with minds who experience. God!
God of God.
God experienced.
Experiences of life.
Subconscious life.
If experience. praising God. God experience. If man's.
If positive
Religious mind. Spiritual life.
If Gentle God, then
life? life. If
God?
life. solitary life.
towards God. life.
Take God's experience.
Spirit lives. Experience man to God, man with God. Religion.
If
God
If
Friday, December 01, 2006
Looking at the Headlines for the News
Sixth Grader Tasered At Middle School
Student Killed Trying To Get On School Bus
Three Teens Accused Of Bringing Assault Rifle To School
12-Year-Old Charged With Bringing Gun To School, Threatening Teacher
CIA Agent Stole Jewelry, Panties
The first four make me want to move. The last on is just plain strange.
Student Killed Trying To Get On School Bus
Three Teens Accused Of Bringing Assault Rifle To School
12-Year-Old Charged With Bringing Gun To School, Threatening Teacher
CIA Agent Stole Jewelry, Panties
The first four make me want to move. The last on is just plain strange.
Reflections and a Proposal
As the controversy continues on Methoblog and others, I keep coming back to an word a Lutheran friend taught me – adiaphora. Adiaphora is a Greek term that is most most of the time translated as “indifferent matters” or “indifferent things.” The Lutherans have a definite list of those things that are considered adiaphora and if you want to know lots and lots about the Lutheran church, you can research the development of this concept after Luther’s death and as the Lutheran church formed. It was not a bloodless conversation. People sacrificed and died for these ideals – blood, sweat and tears. Each of us have our own idea about things that are necessary for the transmission of the Gospel, things that are indifferent and things that undermining and ultimately destroy witness to that Gospel.
If something is necessary or a matter of indifference, it is considered good and acceptable for the unity of the church local and the Church Universal to practice these things. I suppose my favorite example would be things like liturgical garments, stoles, paraments, purificators and whatnot. These are adiaphora. Gavin once told a story about someone who released pigs in the sanctuary. This, too is adiaphora, but right on the line for me. It does not really destroy the witness of the church to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, nor does it distort the Gospel for me, but it could make the message harder for some to hear (as well as being in really bad taste.) Communion is necessary, for me as a Methodist. It is a means of grace that cannot be underestimated. It is a feeding of the body and the soul in a manner that nothing else can even begin to approach.
So here is the question: what things undermine the proclamation of the Gospel and what things do not? What things can we agree to being necessary? What things are adiaphora? How are we to judge? By what method? We would (as we always have) begin with scripture.
I quoted “Our Theological Task” from the UMC Book of Discipline earlier this week. One of the most endearing things to me about the Methodist church is the encouragement of doctrinal inquiry. It is a hallmark of Methodism. As we each, individually, work through the doctrines and dogmas of our faith (and yes, I use the word dogma), we more fully appropriate into our lives. A part of that appropriation is a careful listening to each other. I personally am not so arrogant to think that a “liberal” or a “fundie” can’t teach me something. It takes a deliberate pause to not react, but to listen and try to understand another person’s position. I know that I am not that good at this task at times, so I’m preaching to myself here.
Jay noted today that somehow theological and doctrinal differences faded away into the background when his local pastor’s group joined in prayer for their community. Earlier he had asked for Resolutions for the next General Conference.
Therefore
I propose that the Methobloggers unite in a Resolution for a monthly/yearly day of prayer for the unity of our denomination. And that part of that prayer have feet – that it required action of some sort/ service of some sort that will spell out unity across vast theological difference.
We are one in Christ Jesus, all one body
All one spirit, All Together
We share one God,
One mighty Lord,
One Abiding Faith
One binding love
One single Baptism,
The Holy Spirit uniting all.
If something is necessary or a matter of indifference, it is considered good and acceptable for the unity of the church local and the Church Universal to practice these things. I suppose my favorite example would be things like liturgical garments, stoles, paraments, purificators and whatnot. These are adiaphora. Gavin once told a story about someone who released pigs in the sanctuary. This, too is adiaphora, but right on the line for me. It does not really destroy the witness of the church to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, nor does it distort the Gospel for me, but it could make the message harder for some to hear (as well as being in really bad taste.) Communion is necessary, for me as a Methodist. It is a means of grace that cannot be underestimated. It is a feeding of the body and the soul in a manner that nothing else can even begin to approach.
So here is the question: what things undermine the proclamation of the Gospel and what things do not? What things can we agree to being necessary? What things are adiaphora? How are we to judge? By what method? We would (as we always have) begin with scripture.
I quoted “Our Theological Task” from the UMC Book of Discipline earlier this week. One of the most endearing things to me about the Methodist church is the encouragement of doctrinal inquiry. It is a hallmark of Methodism. As we each, individually, work through the doctrines and dogmas of our faith (and yes, I use the word dogma), we more fully appropriate into our lives. A part of that appropriation is a careful listening to each other. I personally am not so arrogant to think that a “liberal” or a “fundie” can’t teach me something. It takes a deliberate pause to not react, but to listen and try to understand another person’s position. I know that I am not that good at this task at times, so I’m preaching to myself here.
Jay noted today that somehow theological and doctrinal differences faded away into the background when his local pastor’s group joined in prayer for their community. Earlier he had asked for Resolutions for the next General Conference.
Therefore
I propose that the Methobloggers unite in a Resolution for a monthly/yearly day of prayer for the unity of our denomination. And that part of that prayer have feet – that it required action of some sort/ service of some sort that will spell out unity across vast theological difference.
We are one in Christ Jesus, all one body
All one spirit, All Together
We share one God,
One mighty Lord,
One Abiding Faith
One binding love
One single Baptism,
The Holy Spirit uniting all.
The "Yeah, Right" Wish List
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Sermon Spice
I'm submitting my very first video to Sermon Spice dot Com.
I've uploaded a Quicktime version here. I need to sell a few before I can buy the QT plugin to translate it to *.avi.
What do you think?
I've uploaded a Quicktime version here. I need to sell a few before I can buy the QT plugin to translate it to *.avi.
What do you think?
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
I'm at home
with Viral Gastroenteritis (goody) and a sinus infection. I have zero energy. None. I don't even have the energy to eat. I'm just watching TV and I have come to a conclusion.
I am buying NOTHING for Christmas. Nothing. Except for food. No new decorations. No presents, except for the kids or those important to me. Nothing. When did Christmas get to be all about what you buy? When did it get to be all about Greed??
I like this site (Buy Nothing for Christmas).
and Buy Nothing Christmas
and Rev Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping
and of course The Church of Immaculate Consumption/
I know someone else posted this, but the commercials are getting to the point I can't STAND it.
I am buying NOTHING for Christmas. Nothing. Except for food. No new decorations. No presents, except for the kids or those important to me. Nothing. When did Christmas get to be all about what you buy? When did it get to be all about Greed??
I like this site (Buy Nothing for Christmas).
and Buy Nothing Christmas
and Rev Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping
and of course The Church of Immaculate Consumption/
I know someone else posted this, but the commercials are getting to the point I can't STAND it.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Well, Duh.
| What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm You're probably in the final stages of a Ph.D. or otherwise finding a way to make your living out of reading. You are one of the literati. Other people's grammatical mistakes make you insane. | |
| Dedicated Reader | |
| Book Snob | |
| Literate Good Citizen | |
| Non-Reader | |
| Fad Reader | |
| What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz | |
A post just to say
that I'm still alive.
The LH was too sick with a GI bug to drive, so I drove the complete 12 hours from WVa. Then he gave me the bug (on top of this sinus infections.)
So, we are home alive. And I'm grateful for it, but could do without the bug.
The LH was too sick with a GI bug to drive, so I drove the complete 12 hours from WVa. Then he gave me the bug (on top of this sinus infections.)
So, we are home alive. And I'm grateful for it, but could do without the bug.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Thanksgiving at Grandaddy and Elizabeth's House
The menfolk roasting the turkeys over an open fire. This seems to involve: fire, power-tools and shooting the bull.
Entropy looking out over the mountains. No civilization in sight. However, she and her sister got nervous when the deer-hunters got a little closer to the house and they stopped wandering around in the woods.
The chickens. Entropy didn't eat the eggs this morning when she realized where EXACTLY the eggs came from. She's facinated by the whole process and told me it seemed really "organic." Yep. That it is.
Chaos is too cool to be sucked into the whole farm thing. She did like shopping at Fenton Glass and at Prickett's Fort today. She also likes the fact that Daddy got the WiFi working.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Pictures
Labeling the cat.
Perhaps a label other than "Theology" is needed, as I now have 10 shelves labeled "Theology."
My Mouse in the school variety show
Entropy chasing chickens. Great fun for her, stress for the chickens. She ate fresh eggs for the first time this week.
Clyde who thinks he is a dog. He loves to be petted and will butt you if you stop.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
I've Spent Two Days
In DeLurking fun -- and now it's time to get ready for Thanksgiving.
I'm meeting a RevGal IRL (exciting!)
I've had the kids to the doctor's today (both with sinus infections, ugh.)
I've had my teeth cleaned.
I've gone grocery shopping.
I've done laundry.
I've tried to take a picture of the cat and now I have a question:
How come when I DON'T want the cat in the picture, she won't go away, but when I WANT a picture of the cat I can't find her?
I'm meeting a RevGal IRL (exciting!)
I've had the kids to the doctor's today (both with sinus infections, ugh.)
I've had my teeth cleaned.
I've gone grocery shopping.
I've done laundry.
I've tried to take a picture of the cat and now I have a question:
How come when I DON'T want the cat in the picture, she won't go away, but when I WANT a picture of the cat I can't find her?
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Thanksgiving Delurking Week
There are so very many things in our lives that we can be thankful for. I personally, am thankful for such a wonderful group people represented by the RevGals and BlogPals and our community here online. At Bits and Odd Pieces of Mindy's Kingdom recently, some of us were noticing that there has been a drop in commenting recently. So, in honor of Mindy, Princess of Everything, we are having a Thanksgiving Delurking week! (Please notice the cow; that's for Mindy).
Place this image on your blog and announce Delurking Week, starting today and running until the 26th. When you visit a blog, you can either just say "Thank for for blogging" or place a blogstone (o) (The invention of PPB of The Ice Floe) or whatever the Spirit moves you.
Let the Delurking begin!
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Full Plate
How come when you have a full plate more things happen?
This is my last Sunday at my home church (home for 10 years) and my first Sunday at my new church (at 11:00) -- end of the semester, final projects to work on, finals to prepare for, trip coming up for Thanksgiving so...
I now have a strained muscle in my back -- hurts to move and I've taken a muscle relaxant.
And then Chaos steps on the cat -- she made a muffled squeaky meow and had problems breathing (the cat, not Chaos). One trip to the emergancy vet. Little Kitty is OK, just bruised. The only thing that's hurting now is my wallet, which has a smoking hole in it.
Oh and Chaos? Now renamed "Leadboot Catcrusher."
This is my last Sunday at my home church (home for 10 years) and my first Sunday at my new church (at 11:00) -- end of the semester, final projects to work on, finals to prepare for, trip coming up for Thanksgiving so...
I now have a strained muscle in my back -- hurts to move and I've taken a muscle relaxant.
And then Chaos steps on the cat -- she made a muffled squeaky meow and had problems breathing (the cat, not Chaos). One trip to the emergancy vet. Little Kitty is OK, just bruised. The only thing that's hurting now is my wallet, which has a smoking hole in it.
Oh and Chaos? Now renamed "Leadboot Catcrusher."
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
OK, I snorted Iced Tea Out My Nose.
This is so true!! I think I'll post it on my blog. That my Brother-in-law reads. And maybe his neighbor.
Having Fun
New Toy
I'm having fun labeling things. One day I WILL be organized. I WILL. Right now, I'm going to be disorganized with really cool labels on things. I think I'll label the cat.
I'm having fun labeling things. One day I WILL be organized. I WILL. Right now, I'm going to be disorganized with really cool labels on things. I think I'll label the cat.
::sadness::
Because of my own poor planning, sick babysitters, babysitter's sick dad, rain, etc. I'm going to have to go home instead of stay at school today and I'm going to miss Lunch and Lecture with BBT.
Sadness.
Sadness.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Evening Prayer
Hushed was the evening hymn,
The temple courts were dark;
The lamp was burning dim
Before the sacred ark;
When suddenly a voice divine
Rang through the silence of the shrine.
The old man, meek and mild,
The priest of Israel, slept;
His watch the temple child,
The little Levite, kept;
And what from Eli's sense was sealed
The Lord to Hannah's child revealed.
O give me Samuel's ear,
The open ear, O God,
Alive and quick to hear
Each whisper of your Word,
Like him to answer at your call,
And to obey you first of all.
O give me Samuel's heart,
A lowly heart, that waits
Where in your house you are,
Or watches at your gates;
By day and night, a heart that still
Moves at the breathing of your will.
O give me Samuel's mind,
A sweet unmurm'ring faith,
Obedient and resigned
To you in life and death,
That I may read with child-like eyes
Truths that are hidden from the wise.
-- James Drummond Burns
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.
Gracious and Everlasting God,
You made this universe
You created order out of chaos, and gave it marvelous order,
Its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of all living creatures:
As we explore the mysteries of your creation,
May we know You better and
May we come to know how best to serve you to Your eternal will.
In the stillness, let us hear You.
In our newness, let us hear You.
In the quietness of the night, let us hear You.
In our sleeping and in our waking, let us hear You.
Dearest and Gracious God,
Your loving hand has given us all that we possess:
Pour on me your grace so that I may honor you with all that I am and all that I have.
Make me a faithful steward of your bounty.
I give to you but Thine own.
Amen.
Found at
St. John's Rev Abi, and sticking in my mind right now -- perhaps because I am building a literal sacred space in my house right now.... Even if I know that real sacred spaces are not literal or physical -- they are beyond.
Inside of sacred space you are indestructible, even though you feel quite vulnerable and unsure of yourself in many ways. Inside of sacred space you can love America and critique America at the same time. Inside of sacred space you can weep for the bigger evil of which both sides are victims. Inside of sacred space you can imagine an alternative universe because you have now been there yourself. Inside of sacred space you can - if you can dare imagine it - hear God.
- Richard Rohr
Inside of sacred space you are indestructible, even though you feel quite vulnerable and unsure of yourself in many ways. Inside of sacred space you can love America and critique America at the same time. Inside of sacred space you can weep for the bigger evil of which both sides are victims. Inside of sacred space you can imagine an alternative universe because you have now been there yourself. Inside of sacred space you can - if you can dare imagine it - hear God.
- Richard Rohr
The Strengths and Weaknesses of the UMC
Strengths of the UMC
As I reflect upon the Discipline of the UMC and my experience in the denomination, I would say that the major strength of the UMC lies in its connectional system. Rev. George Cookman in 1839 in a speech in celebrating achievements at Centennial says, when pressed “with the question, ‘What is the grand characteristic, the distinctive peculiarity of Methodism?’ I would answer, It is to be found in one single word, ITINERANCY. Yes, sir, this, under God, is the mighty spring of our motive power, the true secret of our unparalleled success. Stop the itinerancy, let congregationalism prevail for only twelve months, -- Samson is shorn of his locks, and we become as other men” (Richey, 246).
It is the heart and soul, the distinctive mark of the Methodist system. Thomas Frank says, “Like breathing in and breathing out, the local churches of United Methodism and the connection through which they are linked together are both vital expressions of the church. Each local church is gifted in its own way for worship, fellowship, education, and care – breathing in deeply the life of Christian community. Each is drawn into mission in company with churches of a broader connection, breathing out the witness and service of the church in the world” (Frank, 38). The connectional system is a beautiful reminder of the unity in and of the body of Christ. Each member is just a small part; the sum is larger than any of us could imagine. With our connectional system we are able to do things that smaller denominations and independent churches cannot. We are able to pool resources in times of trouble through organizations like UMCOR. We are able to operate a publishing house so that we are not dependent on a secular house deciding on doctrinal issues. We are able to create powerful resources like the General Board of Discipleship. We are able to better support congregations by insuring that they will always have a minister. This connectional system also allows for series of checks and balances in order that power not be mismanaged and abused. The connectional system is the crowning achievement of Methodism in America.
Weaknesses of the UMC
The largest weakness of the UMC is the connectional system. “The United Methodist Church must seem an immensely complicated mechanism” (Tuell, 162). It is a large cumbersome machine, at that. Like any other large organization, there is a lot of bureaucracy and wasted effort. Like any other large organization, there can be a lot of strife and infighting among small groups. There is emotional distance between the laity and the clergy of the church. The itinerant system is seen to be outdated. The church’s position on some modern issues is outdated. The denomination is shrinking in membership as the numbers of people attending independent churches is growing. Our own congregations do not understand the value of the itinerate system.
But all these types of problems have been seen in the past. In the 1820’s to the 1840’s, the MEC was swept into arguments about their young, mostly single men preachers moving from the circuit to a “station” or being “located” in one place. In an article from the Christian Advocate on October 27, 1841, editor Thomas Bond writes cogently about the dangers of locating. He claims that it is onerous to the churches because of the large debt that they could incur. He talks about the “unfriendly influence” on the spiritual state of the churches and how if a minister were located, he would not be able to proclaim a message of deliverance and repentance. He is concerned about the country people and the small village churches (Richey, 248-250.) However, locating did not cause the death of itinerancy. More than 150 years later, when there is tremendous debate about the future of the itinerancy, the current arguments against the reformation of the system reverb with this same rhetoric.
To continue Thomas Frank’s analogy, we must allow the church to breathe in the wind of the Holy Spirit and breathe out the witness of Christ upon our communities. Any living breathing organism has need to grow and evolve. Our opportunity is before us -- to change and to reform our connection in order to better suit the needs of our people, society and congregations, as has been done throughout the history of Methodism in America. Our threat is our own lethargy and entropy.
Change can be threatening. Our task is to carefully evaluate our needs and our strengths and deliberately, one step at a time reform our system to meet those needs. “The United Methodist connection has always been a challenge to maintain. To meet and make decisions in conference requires deep commitment, energy and attention. To assign pastors where they are most needed and best able to serve is exceedingly complex. To worship and serve as a congregation means continually swimming against the tide of American privatism and consumerism. And no ecclesial role is more daunting than trying to be a bishop of integrity” (Frank, 319). We have the means for reform in our hands – our Book of Discipline. It has teeth. It has methods developed over generations to help us along in this modern world. We need leaders willing to use it – from the laity to the episcopacy. We need leaders that will boldly take Methodism into this next century, reforming the itinerancy system, as it has been reformed and reshaped in the past. We need leaders that will identify waste and bureaucracy. We need leaders that ask themselves have I “been oiling the machinery of what exists while failing to employ a tough mind and tender heart, pastoral soul and a prophet’s conscience for the kind of radical transformation that is conducive to the gospel and creates a Church that is a harbinger of God’s kingdom/reign” (Sprague, 112). How can we become leaders that can affect this kind of radical transformation.
Bibliography
The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2000, (The United Methodist Publishing House: Nashville, TN), 2000.
Thomas Edward Frank, Polity, Practice, and the Mission of The United Methodist Church, Updated Edition, (Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN), 2002.
Russell E. Richey, Kenneth E. Rowe and Jean Miller Schmidt, The Methodist Experience in America: A Sourcebook, Vol. II, (Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN), 2000.
C. Joseph Sprague, Affirmations of a Dissenter, (Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN), 2002.
Jack M. Tuell, The Organization of The United Methodist Church, 2002 edition, (Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN), 2002.
As I reflect upon the Discipline of the UMC and my experience in the denomination, I would say that the major strength of the UMC lies in its connectional system. Rev. George Cookman in 1839 in a speech in celebrating achievements at Centennial says, when pressed “with the question, ‘What is the grand characteristic, the distinctive peculiarity of Methodism?’ I would answer, It is to be found in one single word, ITINERANCY. Yes, sir, this, under God, is the mighty spring of our motive power, the true secret of our unparalleled success. Stop the itinerancy, let congregationalism prevail for only twelve months, -- Samson is shorn of his locks, and we become as other men” (Richey, 246).
It is the heart and soul, the distinctive mark of the Methodist system. Thomas Frank says, “Like breathing in and breathing out, the local churches of United Methodism and the connection through which they are linked together are both vital expressions of the church. Each local church is gifted in its own way for worship, fellowship, education, and care – breathing in deeply the life of Christian community. Each is drawn into mission in company with churches of a broader connection, breathing out the witness and service of the church in the world” (Frank, 38). The connectional system is a beautiful reminder of the unity in and of the body of Christ. Each member is just a small part; the sum is larger than any of us could imagine. With our connectional system we are able to do things that smaller denominations and independent churches cannot. We are able to pool resources in times of trouble through organizations like UMCOR. We are able to operate a publishing house so that we are not dependent on a secular house deciding on doctrinal issues. We are able to create powerful resources like the General Board of Discipleship. We are able to better support congregations by insuring that they will always have a minister. This connectional system also allows for series of checks and balances in order that power not be mismanaged and abused. The connectional system is the crowning achievement of Methodism in America.
Weaknesses of the UMC
The largest weakness of the UMC is the connectional system. “The United Methodist Church must seem an immensely complicated mechanism” (Tuell, 162). It is a large cumbersome machine, at that. Like any other large organization, there is a lot of bureaucracy and wasted effort. Like any other large organization, there can be a lot of strife and infighting among small groups. There is emotional distance between the laity and the clergy of the church. The itinerant system is seen to be outdated. The church’s position on some modern issues is outdated. The denomination is shrinking in membership as the numbers of people attending independent churches is growing. Our own congregations do not understand the value of the itinerate system.
But all these types of problems have been seen in the past. In the 1820’s to the 1840’s, the MEC was swept into arguments about their young, mostly single men preachers moving from the circuit to a “station” or being “located” in one place. In an article from the Christian Advocate on October 27, 1841, editor Thomas Bond writes cogently about the dangers of locating. He claims that it is onerous to the churches because of the large debt that they could incur. He talks about the “unfriendly influence” on the spiritual state of the churches and how if a minister were located, he would not be able to proclaim a message of deliverance and repentance. He is concerned about the country people and the small village churches (Richey, 248-250.) However, locating did not cause the death of itinerancy. More than 150 years later, when there is tremendous debate about the future of the itinerancy, the current arguments against the reformation of the system reverb with this same rhetoric.
To continue Thomas Frank’s analogy, we must allow the church to breathe in the wind of the Holy Spirit and breathe out the witness of Christ upon our communities. Any living breathing organism has need to grow and evolve. Our opportunity is before us -- to change and to reform our connection in order to better suit the needs of our people, society and congregations, as has been done throughout the history of Methodism in America. Our threat is our own lethargy and entropy.
Change can be threatening. Our task is to carefully evaluate our needs and our strengths and deliberately, one step at a time reform our system to meet those needs. “The United Methodist connection has always been a challenge to maintain. To meet and make decisions in conference requires deep commitment, energy and attention. To assign pastors where they are most needed and best able to serve is exceedingly complex. To worship and serve as a congregation means continually swimming against the tide of American privatism and consumerism. And no ecclesial role is more daunting than trying to be a bishop of integrity” (Frank, 319). We have the means for reform in our hands – our Book of Discipline. It has teeth. It has methods developed over generations to help us along in this modern world. We need leaders willing to use it – from the laity to the episcopacy. We need leaders that will boldly take Methodism into this next century, reforming the itinerancy system, as it has been reformed and reshaped in the past. We need leaders that will identify waste and bureaucracy. We need leaders that ask themselves have I “been oiling the machinery of what exists while failing to employ a tough mind and tender heart, pastoral soul and a prophet’s conscience for the kind of radical transformation that is conducive to the gospel and creates a Church that is a harbinger of God’s kingdom/reign” (Sprague, 112). How can we become leaders that can affect this kind of radical transformation.
Bibliography
The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2000, (The United Methodist Publishing House: Nashville, TN), 2000.
Thomas Edward Frank, Polity, Practice, and the Mission of The United Methodist Church, Updated Edition, (Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN), 2002.
Russell E. Richey, Kenneth E. Rowe and Jean Miller Schmidt, The Methodist Experience in America: A Sourcebook, Vol. II, (Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN), 2000.
C. Joseph Sprague, Affirmations of a Dissenter, (Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN), 2002.
Jack M. Tuell, The Organization of The United Methodist Church, 2002 edition, (Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN), 2002.
Working On My Bedroom Retreat
I had "help" with the laundry.
I purchased on of those "Bed-In-A-Bag" things. I like the green color.
My dresser with lots of candles, but without the new green draperies. The green tray I rescued is on the dresser with candles on it.
And I conceded to the fact if I wanted to watch something "mommy" oriented, I needed a TV in the bedroom. I resisted this for years, but caved in. This is the old TV from the Living Room.
I've set up a desk in the corner and it's being used by myself and the kids on occasion for their homework. I've put special treasures on the desk -- that old silver bowl with pillar candle, a mirror tray and pencil cups, my upstairs hard-drive, a picture of my children, a paperweight, an old Fenton "Peach crest" vase from the 1940's. I'll take a picture soon -- right now I'm cleaning out the closet.....
I purchased on of those "Bed-In-A-Bag" things. I like the green color.
My dresser with lots of candles, but without the new green draperies. The green tray I rescued is on the dresser with candles on it.
And I conceded to the fact if I wanted to watch something "mommy" oriented, I needed a TV in the bedroom. I resisted this for years, but caved in. This is the old TV from the Living Room.
I've set up a desk in the corner and it's being used by myself and the kids on occasion for their homework. I've put special treasures on the desk -- that old silver bowl with pillar candle, a mirror tray and pencil cups, my upstairs hard-drive, a picture of my children, a paperweight, an old Fenton "Peach crest" vase from the 1940's. I'll take a picture soon -- right now I'm cleaning out the closet.....
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Broken Dish and Rescued Treasures
This broken dish that I am trying to repair. It was painted by the Loving Husband's grandmother and broken about 50 years ago (well, I don't know how long it was broken...) There are a few missing pieces, so the repair will be interesting. Also a few "Jelly Jars" (I think that they were actually shrimp cocktail sauce jars) that I am going to make into votive holders and an old mirror that was so very dirty that I couldn't tell it WAS a mirror until I cleaned it up. I thought it might have been a framed picture -- it was so very covered with grime and dirt. It cleaned up OK -- I'm going to hang it in my bedroom retreat.
There is something very satisfactory about cleaning up things that are dirty and broken.
A Short Evening Prayer
But heartfelt.
At your feet, O Christ, we lay
your own gift of this full day;
Doubt of what it holds in store
Makes us crave your aid the more;
Even in a time of loss,
Mark, it Savior, with your Cross.
Yes, we would your Word embrace,
Live each moment on your grace,
All ourselves to you consign,
Fold up all our wills in yours,
Think, and speak, and do, and be
Simply that which pleases you.
Hear us, Christ, O, hear our prayer;
Hear, and bless our deepest care.
May your love to us impart,
Loyal singleness of heart;
So shall this and all our days,
Christ and God, show forth your praise.
Words: William Bright (19thC) adapted
At your feet, O Christ, we lay
your own gift of this full day;
Doubt of what it holds in store
Makes us crave your aid the more;
Even in a time of loss,
Mark, it Savior, with your Cross.
Yes, we would your Word embrace,
Live each moment on your grace,
All ourselves to you consign,
Fold up all our wills in yours,
Think, and speak, and do, and be
Simply that which pleases you.
Hear us, Christ, O, hear our prayer;
Hear, and bless our deepest care.
May your love to us impart,
Loyal singleness of heart;
So shall this and all our days,
Christ and God, show forth your praise.
Words: William Bright (19thC) adapted
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
We look and we really don't see
Today I saw:
* a semi-truck with a whimsey on the back bumper -- a 18 inch tall rubber mouse. With really big ears.
* the ribbon of the centerline fading into the soft grey of the horizon, exactly matching the yellow of the turning leaves.
* a little girl skipping alongside an older man, running ahead, lagging behind for a reassuring touch on the head. She was wearing rainbow striped stockings and red sparkley Mary Janes.
* my two children's heads bowed together with their arms around each other as they read a book.
* a couple kiss each other and hold hands after 60 plus years of marriage.
* a pattern of red maple leaves against a robin's egg blue sky
* the flame of a candle shining through 100 year old glass
* the dark curl of my husband's hair
* a flickering ginger tail under my desk. Just the tail was showing.
* a tree hung with old CDs at sunset
* a semi-truck with a whimsey on the back bumper -- a 18 inch tall rubber mouse. With really big ears.
* the ribbon of the centerline fading into the soft grey of the horizon, exactly matching the yellow of the turning leaves.
* a little girl skipping alongside an older man, running ahead, lagging behind for a reassuring touch on the head. She was wearing rainbow striped stockings and red sparkley Mary Janes.
* my two children's heads bowed together with their arms around each other as they read a book.
* a couple kiss each other and hold hands after 60 plus years of marriage.
* a pattern of red maple leaves against a robin's egg blue sky
* the flame of a candle shining through 100 year old glass
* the dark curl of my husband's hair
* a flickering ginger tail under my desk. Just the tail was showing.
* a tree hung with old CDs at sunset
Evening Prayer
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
--Words: Henry Lyte, 1847
89 O LORD, your word is everlasting; *
it stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another; *
you established the earth, and it abides.
91 By your decree these continue to this day, *
for all things are your servants.
92 If my delight had not been in your law, *
I should have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your commandments, *
because by them you give me life.
94 I am yours; oh, that you would save me! *
for I study your commandments.
95 Though the wicked lie in wait for me to destroy me, *
I will apply my mind to your decrees.
96 I see that all things come to an end, *
but your commandment has no bounds.
-- Psalm 119
Luke 13:10-17 (NRSV)
10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, 'Woman, you are set free from your ailment.' 13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.
-- Luke 13
Almighty and most merciful God,
it is only by your faithfulness that your people know of faithfulness
It is only by your service that your people know of service.
It is only by your example that we know fullness of life.
It is only by your touch that we know of true healing.
You are an almighty and everlasting God,
Your Spirit is our advocate and help.
Help us stand straight and tall, for your sake.
Hear our prayers, not just for ourselves but for the whole body of your people, for your sake
Help us find our vocation and passion so that we may truly serve you, for your sake.
God of peace,
You have taught us that in returning and rest our hope in your presence we will be saved
In resting we will be healed,
In resting we will become straight and tall,
In resting we will be renewed,
In resting we will know You in the stillness of the night.
In stillness and in quietness You will be our strength:
By the might of your Spirit lift us -- raise us up, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen. (A Prayer of John Wesley)
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
--Words: Henry Lyte, 1847
89 O LORD, your word is everlasting; *
it stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another; *
you established the earth, and it abides.
91 By your decree these continue to this day, *
for all things are your servants.
92 If my delight had not been in your law, *
I should have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your commandments, *
because by them you give me life.
94 I am yours; oh, that you would save me! *
for I study your commandments.
95 Though the wicked lie in wait for me to destroy me, *
I will apply my mind to your decrees.
96 I see that all things come to an end, *
but your commandment has no bounds.
-- Psalm 119
Luke 13:10-17 (NRSV)
10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, 'Woman, you are set free from your ailment.' 13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.
-- Luke 13
Almighty and most merciful God,
it is only by your faithfulness that your people know of faithfulness
It is only by your service that your people know of service.
It is only by your example that we know fullness of life.
It is only by your touch that we know of true healing.
You are an almighty and everlasting God,
Your Spirit is our advocate and help.
Help us stand straight and tall, for your sake.
Hear our prayers, not just for ourselves but for the whole body of your people, for your sake
Help us find our vocation and passion so that we may truly serve you, for your sake.
God of peace,
You have taught us that in returning and rest our hope in your presence we will be saved
In resting we will be healed,
In resting we will become straight and tall,
In resting we will be renewed,
In resting we will know You in the stillness of the night.
In stillness and in quietness You will be our strength:
By the might of your Spirit lift us -- raise us up, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen. (A Prayer of John Wesley)
Attention all Methodists
Please check out:
www.methoblog.com
This is an attempt for open and honest conversations within Methodism. WesleyBlog is defunct; Blogging Methodist never really took off. This is a fresh new try.
www.methoblog.com
This is an attempt for open and honest conversations within Methodism. WesleyBlog is defunct; Blogging Methodist never really took off. This is a fresh new try.
School
Three weeks and 2 days of classes left.
One Systematic Paper (Dec 8)
One Evangelism Project (Dec 7)
One Systematic Journal (Nov 17)
Three William James Reading interactions after today (one a week)
Three Evanglism Reading Interactions (Ditto)
Reading Week then
One ORAL final in Systematics (Dec 17)
It's the home stretch....
One Systematic Paper (Dec 8)
One Evangelism Project (Dec 7)
One Systematic Journal (Nov 17)
Three William James Reading interactions after today (one a week)
Three Evanglism Reading Interactions (Ditto)
Reading Week then
One ORAL final in Systematics (Dec 17)
It's the home stretch....
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Just some pictures
The bowl that St. Casserole gave me advice about. It was black with grime/tarnish. It had been classified as "trash." I almost threw it away. It had 30 year old silver polish dried in all the crevices and grooves. It polished up OK.
But there is definite pitting and corrosion in the inside part of the bowl that will NOT go away so...
I made a candle holder out of it with the help of some marbles. It now sits on my desk along with...
My lamp and hard drive. And organic hard drive warmer. It tends to shed.
But there is definite pitting and corrosion in the inside part of the bowl that will NOT go away so...
I made a candle holder out of it with the help of some marbles. It now sits on my desk along with...
My lamp and hard drive. And organic hard drive warmer. It tends to shed.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Friday, November 03, 2006
Danger Danger Will Robinson!
Major Time Suck!!
But fun!
I think it will be useful for video projects to science fair projects.*
*Chaos has joined the "nerd club" at school -- that is, the science fair club. It's her, a friend and then lots and lots of "nerds."
But fun!
I think it will be useful for video projects to science fair projects.*
*Chaos has joined the "nerd club" at school -- that is, the science fair club. It's her, a friend and then lots and lots of "nerds."
Morning Prayer
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *
the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
What is man that you should be mindful of him? *
the son of man that you should seek him out?
You have made him but little lower than the angels; *
you adorn him with glory and honor;
You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *
you put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, *
even the wild beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.
O LORD our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!
-- Psalm 8:5-10 BCP
22He said to his disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your
body, what you will wear. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24Consider the
ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how
much more value are you than the birds! 25And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of
life? 26If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? 27Consider the
lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like
one of these. 28But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the
oven, how much more will he clothe you-you of little faith! 29And do not keep striving for what you are to eat
and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30For it is the nations of the world that strive after all
these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things
will be given to you as well.
-- Luke 7:22- 31
O God the Father,
Have mercy.
O God the Son,
Have mercy.
O God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy.
Remember not, Lord, our offences.
Spare us, Good Lord.
From all evil and sin,
Good Lord, deliver him.
From the assaults of the devil,
Good Lord, deliver him.
From thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation,
Good Lord, deliver him.
In time hour of death,
Good Lord, deliver him.
In the day of judgement,
Good Lord, deliver him.
By the mystery of thine Incarnation,
Save him, O Lord.
By thy Cross and Passion,
Save him, O Lord.
thy thy Resurrection and final Triumph,
Save him, O Lord.
That it may please thee to grant him relief in pain
We beseech thee to hear us.
To give him such health as is agreeable to thy will
We beseech thee to hear us.
That it may please thee to deliver his soul
We beseech thee to hear us.
To cleanse him from his sin
We beseech thee to hear us.
That it may please thee to receive him to thyself;
We beseech thee to hear us.
To set him in a place of light and peace
We beseech thee to hear us.
To number him with thy saints and thine elect
We beseech thee to hear us.
Son of God;
We beseech thee to hear us.
O Lamb of God;
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God;
Grant him thy peace.
-- 1928, BCP
the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
What is man that you should be mindful of him? *
the son of man that you should seek him out?
You have made him but little lower than the angels; *
you adorn him with glory and honor;
You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *
you put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, *
even the wild beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.
O LORD our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!
-- Psalm 8:5-10 BCP
22He said to his disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your
body, what you will wear. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24Consider the
ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how
much more value are you than the birds! 25And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of
life? 26If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? 27Consider the
lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like
one of these. 28But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the
oven, how much more will he clothe you-you of little faith! 29And do not keep striving for what you are to eat
and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30For it is the nations of the world that strive after all
these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things
will be given to you as well.
-- Luke 7:22- 31
O God the Father,
Have mercy.
O God the Son,
Have mercy.
O God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy.
Remember not, Lord, our offences.
Spare us, Good Lord.
From all evil and sin,
Good Lord, deliver him.
From the assaults of the devil,
Good Lord, deliver him.
From thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation,
Good Lord, deliver him.
In time hour of death,
Good Lord, deliver him.
In the day of judgement,
Good Lord, deliver him.
By the mystery of thine Incarnation,
Save him, O Lord.
By thy Cross and Passion,
Save him, O Lord.
thy thy Resurrection and final Triumph,
Save him, O Lord.
That it may please thee to grant him relief in pain
We beseech thee to hear us.
To give him such health as is agreeable to thy will
We beseech thee to hear us.
That it may please thee to deliver his soul
We beseech thee to hear us.
To cleanse him from his sin
We beseech thee to hear us.
That it may please thee to receive him to thyself;
We beseech thee to hear us.
To set him in a place of light and peace
We beseech thee to hear us.
To number him with thy saints and thine elect
We beseech thee to hear us.
Son of God;
We beseech thee to hear us.
O Lamb of God;
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God;
Grant him thy peace.
-- 1928, BCP
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
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