The Litany

I have to admit, this morning it felt like I was in an Orthodox church. The explanation is a little roundabout, so I hope you'll bear with me.

To start with I'd read some time ago, I think on some local Orthodox church's website, that the Orthodox tend not to be punctual about arriving for services. This had been reinforced by something else I'd read (Russian Orthodox this time, I think) -- and was confirmed recently by my visit to a Greek Orthodox cathedral in Salt Lake City last month. Nobody noticed my late arrival for "Orthros" ("Matins", hardly anyone was there to notice anyway), but a while later people started arriving and continued so far into what was clearly "The Divine Liturgy" (Holy Communion) that it seemed almost they'd arrived just for the ending. That's the background.

Now at present we're leading up to the celebration of the 30th anniversary of St. Bartholomew's founding. Fr. Daniel has suggested a program of preparation in advance, including fasting and prayer... and The Litany at 9:45 Sundays before Mass. And so it was today, with some of us from the Scripture Study class in the pews for the Litany, which proceeded while other folks arrived for 10 AM Mass. An interesting experience, to hear our numbers (in the responses) small at first, the sounds of new arrivals, and the strength of the responses growing as folks caught on and joined us in the Litany.

It was very much like my experience in the Greek Orthodox church, and completely unlike any Anglican service I've ever been in.

The Book of Common Prayer, 1928 (PDF)

Fr. Daniel just forwarded me an e-mail that I was delighted to receive! Now I don't really need an electronic copy of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, especially after Drew's discovery of the daily offices online (bookmarked on my cellphone's browser) but I've long thought it would be nice to have same.

Years ago I learned that the Society of Archbishop Justus has BCPs online and that they had one formatted in WordPerfect -- not exact, because the font was a little different, but close. I downloaded a copy, converted it to MS Word and, not knowing how busy life would soon get, started working on a font identical to the original. That project has remained untouched for at least 4 years and probably more.

But now comes an e-mail apparently originating with the Episcopalians For Traditional Faith, with a PDF of the 1928 BCP attached, though page sizes are re-done to print on 8.5x11 inches.

The name of the producer, Charles Wohlers of Satucket Software seems familiar; I think he may have been involved in an earlier version. Non-commercial redistribution is allowed; if there is interest it could be made available from St. Bartholomew's website.

Cancelled!

For all gasoline prices are quite high this summer, an unusual number of our parishioners are traveling this summer. It's been evident at recent Sunday services where attendance has been significantly down. For example, this morning's service was conducted completely by Fr. McGrath and Deacon Ed, sans Crucifer and Lucifers. (Although little Kavya was there to carry the Sunday School banner -- not to mention to receive her certificate for having read the Childrens' Bible all the way through!)

I hadn't paid much attention to the travel issue until Saturday morning when I showed up for Matins and Mens' Breakfast, only to learn the latter had been cancelled due to the large number of parishioners away. Apparently I missed that e-mail...

Continuing Camp

[Updated 7/20] "The best-laid plans..." It was certainly that kind of trip, for all that it ended well.

Things started off well enough Wednesday the 9th, though with the car stuffed to the gills and that only after last-minute decisions on things we really didn't need to bring. We even departed almost on schedule, the next to last time that happened on this trip.

We arrived at the Rogue River (Oregon) camp in good order early evening, but it seemed odd to see sprinklers going near the campground. Not sure whether that was a futile effort to keep the grass green or for fire control; there had been a number of reports of many big fires in California. Whatever the case, the end result was that the camp was not only hot but humid which led to a miserable sleepless night. If we'd been prescient we would have at least tried to enjoy the warmth but we weren't and we didn't.

We got up early, struck camp, re-packed the car (oddly, this time there was a little extra space) and headed off on the four-hour drive to Patrick's Point State Park on the northern California coast.

It turned out we were to be the van of the approaching Anglican Hordes from across the Diocese of the Western States; a full hour passed before the next car arrived. First things first: cell-phone signal: check. Internet access on the cell-phone: nay. Laptop Internet access via cell-phone: nay. Okay, there'll be no live-blogging from this camp. We spent the rest of the time having lunch, unloading the car, and utilizing our copious experience and lack of prescience we carefully pitched the tent where we'd get a minimum of hot afternoon sun.

Eventually, though, folks started arriving. And then we started hearing about the fires. Many folks had to find alternate routes through the mountains because roads were closed due to the fires. One family arrived not knowing if they'd have a house to return to -- anticipating evacuation they'd already moved everything important out into storage, so when the order came they were packed and ready. (Hopefully some Redding reader can update us on Linda's house? We've been praying...)

Our numbers were significantly reduced, even at the last minute where it seems a third of those who'd registered decided not to come. They don't know what they missed -- a covered community cooking area with running hot & cold water (and sinks with drains!), flush toilets, hot showers IN the camp, and electricity for charging laptops, cellphones, MP3 players and Coleman air-mattress inflaters.

Air mattresses? Yes, it's sad but true, our hardy Anglican Horde has gone soft. Throughout the afternoon one could hear the high-pitched whine of the pumps all around the camp. (True confession: these old bones don't sleep as well on sharp rocks as they once did so I had one too -- it must have been a banner year for the Coleman corporation.)

In any event by evening we were into full swing with the daily routine:

- Get up (slowly)
- (Re-)start campfire and collect around it
- Make hot coffee/cocoa in individual camps (for whomever is around)
- Make & eat breakfast in individual camps (except days for group breakfasts)
- Morning Prayer (for those awake or pretending to be)
- Breakfast (group or family)
- Morning outing and/or Bible study/lecture (for those awake by now)
- Lunch (on your own)

- Afternoon outing and/or Bible study/lecture
- Supper (except days for group dinners)
- Evening Prayer
- Supper (group or family)
- Campfire & PARTY TIME (but quietly, please, we're Anglican)

New things this camp: Not one group supper but two, and the second a chili cook-off, complete with judges. One group breakfast was planned, but enough was left over for another on Sunday morning, after Holy Communion.

Although we'd brought our "premier" 3-burner camp stove, they had to do without it. The equipment failures for this trip actually began before it started, when one of the old Coleman gas lanterns failed and the attempt to fix it inadvertently damaged it beyond repair. Then the gas stove failed (bad batch of white gas?). Problems with the fluorescent lantern rounded out the set.

Oh. And had I mentioned it was anything but warm? For all I'd checked the weather forecasts for the area, they seem to have been made for a spot a few miles inland. Right on the coast (and we were just a couple hundred meters or so from the cliffs) it was c-o-l-d! One started to wait for the afternoon sun to get warm, but on the second day a high layer of smoke from the fires moved in and diluted the sun. Oh well.

People enjoyed the location (or its amenities?) and thought it would be a good location to return to next year, though we barely had enough parking as it was. No matter, we'll come anyway -- the opportunity to spend several days with fellow Anglicans from other parishes is not to be missed!

{The Miller Menagerie have put their photos online at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/millermenagerie/sets/72157606208161884/detail/ or go to theirr weblog: http://www.millermenagerie.com/blog/?p=427>

Off To Camp

With a "bon voyage" e-mail from Fr. Daniel, we'll hopefully be headed off in the morning to the Diocese of the Western States Family Campout on the northern California coast. "Seumas Ruaraidh" is back from the transmission shop and seems fine. All that's left is for the rest of the household to pack and for me to figure out How To Get Cram It All Into The Car and, after we're all up in the morning, hit the road with a stop at the plush (by my camping standards) Rogue River campground tomorrow night.

Whether I live-blog this trip or not will be dependent upon Internet access at camp. (I *might* have cell-phone access -- in any event I will have a laptop because I have a journal article due Tuesday and it is still not done...)

Weed-wackin'

Last Sunday Fr. Daniel noted that our church had been growing -- the weeds in particular. Perhaps making up for lost time after our cold spring. But in any event, we're long overdue for a general work party.

We used to hold these pretty regularly in the growing season, with folks turning out with all their yard gear to keep the place in order. But between the grounds project, which seeks a more readily maintainable environment with natural vegetation (the invasive blackberries seem to be nearly gone), and a hired groundskeeper (who is off for the summer, the funding going into the Remembrance Grove), we've gotten a bit out of the habit.

We need to get back in the practice, but it may be difficult. I've suggested a call for a specific date and especially times (it's all volunteer anyway, but I think it's a good thing to limit expectations), with specific things to be addressed. It seems also a good thing to have more people involved, perhaps those who aren't able to do the more physical labor could make a lunch for the group? Help build the sense of commnity...?

I wonder what other churches do...

Where Good Guys Wear Black

Saw a link to the cleverly-titled blog Where Good Guys Wear Black a few minutes ago, the result of another site preparing to join the Continuing Anglican Blog Ring. Took me a few seconds to make the connection...

I've linked to an interesting posting on the blog. Take a look.

The Ranjit Party

Well, it really should have been called called the Maya (or Meyya) Party, but I'm way ahead of myself. And since I am way ahead of myself I will go ahead and ask about the picture, "What do these people have in common?"

Answer: They all became Americans today.

In any case, "the best laid plans o' mice and men" certainly went a-gley today. The plan was simple enough: the rest of the household would head over to Carnation (the town, named after the famous dairy farm nearby) to walk with one of "our" candidates in the Independence Day parade there. Since my foot is still not healed, I would drive to the Seattle Center (just under the Space Needle) for the naturalization of a member of our church community. If possible, the rest would meet up with me -- but as the parade was to begin at 11 and the ceremony at noon, it didn't look likely, so we'd probably just meet at home later.

That was the plan.

The reality was that a few minutes after they left I got a call. Something in Seumas Ruaraidh ("Red Jimmy") had gone "snap - whizzzzz", but they couldn't see anything wrong under the hood. (Later I learned it wouldn't start out well from a stop: transmission.) We decided they should take the Jimmy to the mechanic's shop nearby and I'd go pick them up.

I dropped them on the north end of Carnation, drove to the south where I picked them up again, and we rushed off to Seattle arriving minutes after the ceremony had begun.

I suppose a stage crowded with long-winded politicians before a captive audience on a national holiday is not uniquely an American tradition, but in any event over 500 some folks plus their families and friends were treated to same. (And it didn't even end with the swearing-in, shown in the photo, several more politicians had to get up to speak afterwards.)

Afterwards those of us there to witness and celebrate Maya's naturalization decided to go out for lunch together. Hubby Ranjit called in the reservation so we became "the Ranjit party," though the party was for Maya.

Poor Maya. All she really wanted was a simple, quiet week-day ceremony, but instead she was one of those chosen to become an American on the Fourth of July -- on Independence Day! I hope Fr. Daniel will announce this on Sunday; I know the parish will be delighted.

7/06 Update: Fr. Daniel did note this during the announcements this morning. Meyya would have been thrilled to hear the surprised joy with which the announcement was received.

Remembrance Grove

On Sunday D.J. reported on the plan for the property along Avondale Way drafted by the Memorial Committee and the Junior Warden. From the road the property never been highly attractive but our focus has always been on other things, and there's an awful lot to keep up.

Two or three years ago Dee and Joanne drafted a five year plan for the grounds, which has been proceeding fairly well thus far, covering the larger extent of the gardens -- though the Garden Guild seems not to have been too active of late, probably because so many parishioners are traveling (Sunday's turnout was half the average).

But the latest plan is a Remembrance Grove, a number of native flowering trees to provide at least seasonal color and shade (Pacific Northwesterners love shade, and something other than intense green is also nice once in a while), and maybe some noise abatement (color me uncertain). Funds for several trees have already been donated, and it's noted that the "memory" hardly needs to be limited to a parishioner gone on to the greater glory. For example, next year is our 30th wedding anniversary and our 26th year at St. Bartholomew's -- it seems that would count.

Not the first "memory" I have on the grounds, though. There is "Danny's Rock," for example, but that's a story for another post.