Catching up

Sorry about the pause; it's been a busy week complete with travel to the other Washington: D.C. that is. Being away, I missed Wednesday evening's event at St. Bartholomew's.

The evening started with Holy Communion, celebrating the Feast of Ss. Simon & Jude, and then continued with discussions about the Vatican's recent overtures to Anglicans. From the subsequent e-mail that Fr. Davis sent to the Parish, it sounds like a very successful opportunity to explain the overture, the circumstances that produced it, and the requirements placed on those who accept the offer. As Fr. Davis noted in his e-mail, after private discussions the following day or two:

It seems that all in attendance were more than able to comprehend what the carefully prepared, subtly-worded "VATICAN NOTE ON ESTABLISHING PERSONAL ORDINARIATES..." (a copy of which was passed out to all in attendance) meant for us and are able to say,

"Thanks, but no thanks."

I'm not completely clear on this (Hallowe'en) evening at St. Bartholomew's, but it at least begins with Evensong at 5:30. I gather that in the future at least there will be an alternative costume event in which the children are encouraged to dress up as saints instead. They do this (if memory serves correctly) at St. Luke's, Redding CA, though Fr. Davis related how it felt funny to have one girl show up in black shirt with clergy collar saying, "I'm you, Fr. Davis!"

I am reminded of a church many years ago where the adults did the same. One couple came as "St. Swithin's in the Swamp": she was St. Swithin, and he had all sorts of green vine-like material draped all over him -- as the Swamp.

Update: Somebody directed me to this cute idea: Trunk or Treat