What happened to all the visitors?

The "ClusterMaps" image over on the right has just had its counter reset, and all visitors who last visited before a week or so are gone. The e-mail from "ClusterMaps" noted this and the improvement from their last reset, but in my humble opinion their reset algorithms need some work, because it gives the blog a false image. It might disappear.

Selah

Flying out tomorrow once again for a week of meetings, so there won't be many updates until my return. The happy news is that I have no work travel (currently) planned for July and August.

Joninės (Lithuanian midsummer)

This afternoon I looked up "midsummer" and, thanks to our new Lithuanian Christian connection, had my attention brought to this on Wikipedia and I thought I'd share it at least with fellow parishioners who read this blog (if you want more, including links, go here):

Lithuania

See also: Saint Jonas' Festival

Midsummer is commonly called John's Day (Joninės) in Lithuania, and is also known as Saint Jonas' Festival, Rasos (Dew Holiday), Kupolė, Midsummer Day and St. John's Day. It is celebrated in the night from the 23rd of June to the 24th of June and on the 24th June. The traditions include singing songs and dancing until the sun sets, telling tales, searching to find the magic fern blossom at midnight, jumping over bonfires, greeting the rising midsummer sun and washing the face with a morning dew, young girls float flower wreaths on the water of river or lake. These are customs brought from pagan culture and beliefs. The latter Christian tradition is based on the reverence of Saint John. Lithuanians with the names Jonas, Jonė, Janina receive many greetings from their family, relatives and friends.

Personally "jumping over bonfires" evokes a memory of Persian Nowrooz preparations (preparations for spring equinox), but maybe Vilia can educate us further...? I'd love to know more!

Sadly, I will be "on the road again" at that time and not back until July.

Hiccups

A couple of announcements today demonstrate how things can go awry.

First, Kathy requested prayers for Kairos Prison Ministries. The State Attorney General is apparently tired of lawsuits from disgruntled (or merely troublemaker?) inmates over the food brought in for the Kairos weekends and so there will be no more food brought in for Kairos and no more daily cookie distribution to all the inmates during Kairos. (And I learned for the first time that they even made bags of cookies specifically to certain inmates' dietary requirements!) From now on the volunteers inside and Kairos participants will eat the same prison meals enjoyed by all the rest of the prisoners.

I know our State Attorney General personally, and from that knowledge I believe his reasons for such a ruling are exactly as stated, as much as I dislike the result.

The other announcement was that Fr. Davis had run into trouble getting to Youth Camp this weekend. The stories are slightly inconsistent but in all cases his vehicle died somewhere around Medford OR. He apparently rented a vehicle so that the St. Bartholomews' contingent is continuing on and will arrive (or, by now, hopefully have) more or less on time, but not with everything in the diocesan(?) trailer he was towing. The Bralliers were riding to the rescue in their minivan, presumably to deliver the requisite necessities from the trailer.

Kathy notes her experience is that when you're on an effective mission, these kinds of things crop up. (I'm not going to debate the logic of that.) But please put Kairos, which does really change lives, and the Youth Camp (not to mention Fr. Davis and transportation issues), in your prayers.

And by the way, welcome home, Ruby! It's really good to have you back for the summer.

FAMILY CAMP IS ON!

Happy News: received word from Fr. Davis today that Family Camp is still on! Some of the reserved block has been let go but there is still room for late registrations.

Crater Lake, here we come!

Oh, yes...

I remember. My surmise as to when the Rector's Forum would resume/conclude was wrong. It's this Wednesday evening. Topic: Postmodernity.

Forgetfulness

Rather embarrassed to have arrived minutes before the service only to find out -- I'm reading today! Oops.

I guess I was so focused on possibly leading Morning Prayer the following Sunday I forgot this signup. It's sad if I am going to have to enter these engagements into my Outlook calendar just to remember them. (But that's what cellphones are for, no?) Then again, my reading engagements are now infrequent enough due to the number of Lay Readers we have, PLUS the short-term uncertainty of whether I'll be home or traveling any particular Sunday, maybe I just have to resort to Outlook.

At least today's Epistle was a pretty straightforward read. Fairly simple sentences that don't run on for a full paragraph and touch on four or five topics before reaching the end. A quick read-through and I was ready to go.

There was something else I was going to comment on, but I forgot what it was. Oops.

Close call

Somehow the word went around the servers today that Deacon Miller was not well so we'd be doing Morning Prayer tomorrow. Fortunately Fr. Davis was brought into the loop and said we'd be celebrating Holy Communion as usual.

It's been a while now, but I've led Morning Prayer before (including much of the time between Fr. Hoare's departure and Fr. McGrath's arrival), but I'm relieved it wasn't a last-minute thing.

Hm. Servers... we need a new picture of St. Bartholomew's Clergy and Servers. Need to talk with Larry about arranging this sometime this summer when I am (mostly) home. At least per existing plans.

Visitors

We had several visitors today. The first I met were Cynthia's parents, who drove out all the way from Arkansas. (3-1/2 days on the road; I am not sure I could take such a long haul anymore but these days it's probably better than flying.) I know they're enjoying our Seattle summer: bright sunny day yesterday, and maybe even our return to rain today. It's a summer rain -- that means it's a warm rain. But though it's uncharacteristically humid it's a mild 60F outside. I hope they'll stay on through next Sunday so we can visit more then.

(Bill keeps tabs on St. Bartholomew's through this blog and the website. Hi, Bill!)

Ranjit's sister Anuvinda (I hope that's right) and her daughter were here too. Ranjit pointed out the connection: the last time I was in Bangalore I visited the church where she was raised. St. Mark's Cathedral; a beautiful church.

Now she lives in New Delhi, not far from the Qutb Minar (this picture does not even show the incredible carvings on its walls). Some time I will have to take Kathy there, to see the incredible sights of New Delhi and Bangalore, for starters -- not to mention visit with Anuvinda.

(We had another visitor, but I did not get to meet him.)

Family Camp cancellation?!

I just read an e-mail from the diocese -- the Diocese of the Western States' 2010 Family Camp is at risk of being canceled due to an insufficient number of registrations! I don't know if this is because the camp is further north than usual (to accommodate our new Oregon brethren) and some of those from California decided not to come, or the economy, or the size of the campground, or what... but this would be a tragedy.

For the several years now it's been conducted DWS Family Camp has been a lot of fun, and a good time spent with folks from other churches from all across the diocese.

This year's is to be held at what looks like a campground with lots of recreation right there and close by, not to mention that it's not far from Crater Lake.

The signup deadline is Monday, June 7th: only a few days away.

I hope we make it.

Rector's Forum cancelled

Last evening was supposed to feature Evensong, light supper and Fr. Davis' Rector's Forum (topic: modernism). I wasn't exactly looking forward to it because of exhaustion --I've been a bit tired after all the travel-- but wasn't expecting it to be canceled because Fr. Davis was under the weather! Hope it was short-lived, Father, and that you're back on your feet by now.

No doubt it will be held this coming Wednesday when (you guessed it) I'll be on the road again.

Oh well.