Continuing Home

Annual Parish Meeting

2012-01-27T13:17:00.000-08:00

Well, it's that time again when we assess the past year and prepare for the new. This time last year I was writing my little piece about the KAIROS Prison Ministry, in which I have been active since 1990. Our parish has been a steady and strong partner in this endeavor for many years. Last year I asked for a financial commitment and was very pleased when little St. Bartholomew's and the Anglican Church Women came through. It takes courage and vision to step beyond our comfort zone, yet Scripture exhorts us to visit the sick and those in prison, and to take care of widows and orphans. Having recently become a widow I can attest to the comfort I have received from many in this church I have called home for over 28 years. I am grateful for the people of St. Bartholomew's who stepped up and freed me to participate in this life changing program. I have written an updated report which will be available in the booklet at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 29.

Father Davis asked me to prepare two additional reports for the booklet: Webmaster and Blogger. These are a legacy of love from my late husband, William (Bill) Swan. It was a difficult undertaking as I do not possess Bill's talent for writing, nor his gift for things technical. This year, after Bill went home to God, Neil Eney stepped forward and volunteered to assume the webmaster responsibilities. I am grateful to Neil for his support and will continue working with him during the transition. Please welcome and support Neil in his new capacity. I have retained the blog, but am willing to yield it to another if the Spirit moves.

Please pray for our parish as we move forward in sustaining and encouraging growth.

It's Christmas Eve Again

2011-12-24T00:05:00.000-08:00

The frantic pace of life has come to something of a halt as Christmas Eve is near dawning. Christmas was one of Bill's favorite times of year. He would take out and set up the tree, gently and purposefully decorating it, stopping from time to time to consult with the kitchen dwellers who were preparing supper and baking in advance of Christmas Day. It was a time of joy and family togetherness that filled his heart with peace. We carefully avoided any talk of upcoming travel and focused rather on the ineffable gift the Father gave this sad and tired world: Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of our souls, the King of all Creation, the tiny, vulnerable newborn whose first cries were heard by nearby shepherds and whose lullaby was the flutter of angels' wings. This year we will pause and give thanks for Bill's quiet, worshipful spirit and do our best to emulate him as we decorate the tree, listen to Christmas music on the stereo, remembering how much it meant to him to be home at this time. Bill is now at peace, home where he belongs in the heavenly choir. I can almost hear him singing: "Adeste Fideles." For unto us and child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulders. And His Name shall be called: Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. And He shall reign forever and ever.

Selah - again.....

2011-10-02T22:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends, It has been a long time since I last posted here - still hurting from Bill's absence. I had great plans to post photos from his memorial service but I have not managed to get them processed or in some kind of order. There have been major changes at St. Bartholomew's, mostly involving redecorating the nave and the narthex - paint, new flooring, a set of rescued 100 year old mahogany pews.... Please, those who have taken photos allow me to post them here. Thank you. I don't know how to carry on what Bill did here for those of you who depended upon him for guidance in choosing a church to visit when out of town.... he really got around, didn't he? I am far less mobile than he was - but feel free to check the archives - he posted from all over the world. Gratefully in Christ, Kathy

Memorial Service and Celebration of Life

2011-06-28T02:45:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 at 11 a.m. we will gather at St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church in Woodinville, Washington, to remember William Orr Swan, III (Bill). Let us thank Almighty God for giving us such a precious gift in this dear one and honor his memory by carrying on his work in the church.

To be absent from the body is to be present with Christ

2011-06-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

Dear ones in our Lord, It is my sad duty to inform you that Bill has gone to be with Our Lord - he slipped away on Saturday morning at 9:09 am. I will inform you when memorial plans have been made. Finding someone to take his mantle is going to be extraordinarily difficult. Your prayers for our family are appreciated more than mere words can express. -Kathy

On the side lines for now...

2011-05-31T18:06:00.000-07:00

Dear readers, I am guest posting because Bill cannot. He is in the Critical Care Unit at John Muir Medical Center in Concord, California. Bill fell ill during our trip for the annual Diocesan Synod in Lafayette and was taken to hospital. Bill is on life support and has not regained consciousness. A meeting is planned for tomorrow with his medical team. We hope to learn more about his condition and prognosis. Stay tuned, and please P R A Y. We need it! Gratefully in Christ Jesus, Kathy

A time of travel

2011-05-08T08:27:00.001-07:00

If the blog seems to be moving slow these days, there's a reason: I'm not home much, at least until sometime in June. My spring travel season started out looking fairly light, but filled in with a lot more travel than anticipated. (And it's not just me -- on some teleconference last week one of my colleagues was complaining about the travel one of our technical efforts has caused.)

Last Sunday I missed Tanaya's baptism and the ability to report on it -- I was on a plane to San Francisco, for a week of meetings of one of my technical committees.

The good news was that I was able to get away Wednesday evening for Evening Prayer and Mass at St. Thomas', or at least most of it. It took over an hour to get there from downtown by bus so I arrived in the middle of Evening Prayer, but at least I got there.

It looks like the Spring meeting of this committee (we meet quarterly) will now be held in San Francisco instead of in Maryland, so I may get to visit St. Thomas once a year about this time.

This Mother's Day morning I am back at St. Bartholomew's but will miss next Sunday's service because I will be again on an airplane, on final approach into SeaTac airport and home, from Germany and Paris.

Some "Triduum" photos

2011-04-23T21:24:00.001-07:00

Not having much to say at this point, I thought I'd just post some photos of the altar through the Triduum so far, Maundy Thursday through Easter Even. This was not exactly a well-planned set, since I couldn't even remember from one day to the next what angle from which I'd taken previous photos. And if I had been really serious about this I would have set up the photos to get a fairly close color match between the photos (even though the lighting changed considerably, as the originals show). A pity I was serving and not able to take photos this evening -- I was unable to capture a dramatic shot of Geoffrey extinguishing the candles while sunlight streamed in through the incense haze (it's been suggested we take the nickname "Smoky Bart's," but we really don't use it that often or as heavily as a certain church in Texas).

Update 4/24: Easter photo added.

Palm Sunday

2011-04-17T17:34:00.000-07:00

I would have loved to title this posting "Balm(y) Sunday," but it wasn't to be. Especially for such a late Easter, this is a cold one. After my tour Sunday afternoon London turned gray and chilly for the rest of the week, but it was apparently even chillier here. So it was that this morning when I woke up it was snowing. Not much, and unless things got worse it wasn't going to stick, but it was snow regardless. A little hint of sun and blue sky soon after the service, but that was all. I hope the forecast Fr. Davis had for later in the week, of warmer weather, bears out. Otherwise it will still look and feel a bit like winter.

Still, we celebrated Palm Sunday in our traditional fashion, beginning with the Blessing of the Palms downstairs in the Parish Hall. The sharp-eyed frequent reader will note a change in the color of the walls -- yes, Rhonda and some of the youth repainted the Hall week before last. I had a photo ready for a blog entry about that, but there was no time in London.

Then we processed up to the Nave for the service -- spared by the snow, sleet, hail and other precipitation we often enjoy -- welcoming several local Lithuanian/Lithuanian-American guests on our celebration of the anniversary (by our church Ordo Kalendar year) of our first service with the Lithuanian-American altar from St. George's, Cleveland. (See last year's posts.) As I reported in private conversations today, we have received not only an altar but its history and that of St. George's, now intertwined into and recorded with our own parish history.

And thanks to Vilia, a few of us attended a party where eggs were being decorated according to Lithuanian customs. The basics seem simple enough, though a bit more work than American childrens' custom, and impressive results from those with more skill at planning and execution. It's been suggested we have a party/class to teach this Lithuanian skill next year at St. Bartholomew's. I am guessing this will be of interest not only to the children!

Not quite as planned

2011-04-11T04:52:00.000-07:00

My tentative plans for when I arrived in London were to check in at the hotel (at the airport) then, if I were up to it, to take a train to St. Mary's in Goring-by-Sea (which I had visited before) for their 9:30 AM service. But alas, it was not to be.

My flight from Atlanta was delayed a couple of hours by equipment trouble, so we arrived at Gatwick about 9:30 AM instead of 7:10. All that remained for me, it seemed, was to go into London proper and tour. But while crossing the airport looking for the hotel, I heard an announcement, generally directed at the passengers of a couple incoming flights, for a short Anglican service in the airport chapel at 10:30. I checked my watch and it seemed I would have just enough time to make it after checking in at the hotel, and I did!

It was (unsurprisingly) not a well-attended service; the minister, another fellow who read the Gospel (I guess a regular), and myself to begin with -- we were joined by a fourth a bit later, who made the comment about how this must have been "the old mens' service." But at least I was able to make Mass, if not how and where planned.

Laetare (or Rose) Sunday

2011-04-03T16:56:00.000-07:00

Today is the Fourth Sunday in Lent, known as Laetare (or Rose) Sunday, and also as Mothering Sunday. The altar was decorated with rose (or pink) flowers, and Fr. Davis came as near to wearing pink (or rose) vestments as he ever will, he says.

But he also noted that from here on things will become a bit more stark.

Found on camera

2011-04-03T16:40:00.001-07:00

I sat down a few minutes to take of some online business after finishing some preparations for next week's trip (little things like finishing the powerpoint for my talk), including a new entry in this blog. The first thing was to look at the pictures on the camera from this morning, but there I found a picture from last Sunday taken for a blog entry -- and forgotten the entire week following, even though I had the camera with me the whole time (and never used). Of course, really early-morning flights mean I should head to bed early and I guess there just wasn't time to post this this last Sunday.

So here it is, a picture of Schola Cantorum at practice after the service. I don't know what all of their plans are, but I gather it includes the Maundy Thursday service as all as Easter.

Sunday Traffic Alert

2011-03-27T19:31:00.000-07:00

Paul reminded us in the service that I-405 through Bellevue will be closed this coming weekend. People who come to church that way should consider an alternate route.

About the "Stations"

2011-03-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

Fr. Davis has been deciding on a week-by-week basis whether or not to have the "Stations of the Cross" Friday nights, at least in part uncertain of turnout. Apparently the interest is high because they've been every week -- until this week. But there is a conflict with something happening in Bremerton this Friday --I forgot to write down what it was-- so we won't have it this week.

Unable to report

2011-03-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

Between travel and illness, I don't have much to report. It was looking like a relatively light travel regime this spring, but more trips popped up and I'll be away away a significant amount of time until late-May. Yesterday morning a trip to Germany wound up on my schedule, and I don't know if it will end up overlapping Synod -- and won't until next week.

And if that weren't bad enough, I returned last night from the first of the series of trips ill, maybe just a bad cold but also leaving me without much energy. So not only will I be missing all but maybe one of the Lenten Wednesday evening Bible Studies, but probably tomorrow's Stations of the Cross (though I did make that last Friday).

Voces in Silvae

2011-03-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

It looks like St. Bartholomew's choir, FKA(?) Schola Cantorum will rise like a phoenix once again -- maybe not a good analogy because we're rising not so much from ashes as rust, and maybe not even that; it's just never quite taken wing. But I think it requires more effort than the Rector can regularly provide,

So I'm quite pleased to see our organist Scott (who today added his voice for a special First Sunday in Lent) also take on choir leadership -- and has he done so in a big way! Not only in signing up volunteers and seeking to fill under-represented elements of the choir, but adding Internet communications of significant value through his new blog, Voces in Silvae, or "Voices in the Forest." What name could be more appropriate!

Take a look. You'll also learn about the new Johannus Opus 17 organ coming to St. Bartholomew's. (And there will be more to follow, but that's for future times.)

They're safe!

2011-03-13T18:33:00.000-07:00

Soon after I learned (Saturday morning) about the earthquake and tsunami, I sent an email inquiry of concern to my friend and colleague in Japan, Takeji and his wife Kyoko, who visited us five years ago. And later asked that they be added to today's prayer list, particularly after seeing a video of the earthquake in Yokohama.

Not long after we got home this afternoon we received an email from Kyoko and Takeji, reporting that they and their home (and by extension, some and daughter-in-law) are all fine. The note concluded with a quote from scripture:

Who(You) through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.(1 Peter 1:5)

Shrove Tuesday

2011-03-08T20:17:00.001-08:00

I can only plead illness/low-energy for this photo from the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper this evening. I had positioned myself to get some good photos, but every time I took a shot something went awry. This was the best, though it doesn't show many sitting further back.

But regardless, we had a good turnout for Evening Prayer, with more showing up later. (In part this is due to Seattle traffic; rush "hour" is a difficult time to get around.)

And our chefs Gordon, C.J. and Bob (assisted by Geoffrey) were in usual good form serving up plain, apple, blueberry and (at a certain person's request, echoed by the kids) chocolate pancakes! With a choice of maple or Mrs. Butterworth's syrup. Bacon and sausage as well.

Kathy brought the syrups and was shocked at the price of maple syrup this year, but I seemed to recall they are having trouble with sugar maples -- some kind of root fungus? (Maybe next year I'll order some light and sweet Michigan maple syrup for the Michiganders in our midst.)

Kathy was also the first on the answer to Fr. Davis' question: "What is 'Shrove' in Shrove Tuesday?"

I ducked out a bit early because I really need more rest, but it was a good time regardless. And things seemed to be still cranking up at that point.

But tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and we'll be into Lent.

Looking ahead

2011-03-06T15:12:00.001-08:00

I was out ill so I missed today's service. Reports are that the church was pretty full, despite some notable absences -- folks ill or away.

But we ramp up a bit this week with Shrove Tuesday and the Pancake Supper (my stomach hurts already), two services on Ash Wednesday (but not at noon, so I can't break away from work that), and what I assume are regular Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent.

No "Truth Project" this Wednesday evening, but I am told we'll finish it next Wednesday. Starting the following Wednesday evening (the 23rd) we'll be having Bible Study again. I don't have my flight itinerary in mind (there are three trip packets on my desk at work, and this week I will probably be submitting a travel request for a fourth trip) but I think I will be getting in from... Atlanta... a bit too late for that.

A Time of Changes

2011-02-27T16:24:00.000-08:00

This blog entry was exceptionally difficult to title, mainly due to an embarrassment of riches. But if I posted every item independently there would be three, four, or maybe more entries just for today. So I will combine them all under the general topic of changes.

It's hard to pin any one point as the beginning of changes when in fact St. Bartholomew's has been generally in change from day one (for me). Sometimes slower, sometimes faster, but always something. So I will arbitrarily pick a point 11 months ago tomorrow, when we conducted our first "facility" change on Palm Sunday before the new (to us) Lithuanian-American altar.

Since then we have seen steady growth, perhaps and hopefully most recently as an Anglican family new to our locale visited us for the third time today. During the announcements Father Davis noted that point, addressed them by name (I'm simply terrible with names, one reason I should never be a priest) with a clear jest to the effect that "on the third visit, you're set! You are one of us." It's funny, but for us it was our third visit that clinched it so long ago. We had been looking for a good Episcopal church home and visited St. Bartholomew's by accident... and we're still here.

But I'm seeing St. Bartholomew's getting to the point where we may need two Masses on Sundays. Nice for the early-risers (like me) but not for night-owls (like my spouse). The only downside of such is that, like the church wherein I was raised which had three services, at parish meetings one has multiple groups of parishioners equally devoted to the parish but who barely know each other! I cannot imagine such at St. Bartholomew's.

And this growth element showed up again two weeks ago with the delayed Welcome Party for Tanaya. During announcements that day Father Davis was going to say we were welcoming the newest member of the parish, but recognized that Don & Jan (I hope I have that right -- did I say I was poor with names?) had joined us after Tanaya's arrival from India.

Don and Jan: they went up for blessings today and we all thought "wedding anniversary." I saw an unusual little bit of discussion at the altar rail, and it turned out this was for birthday blessings: one birthday today and the other Tuesday! They were also all ears when, during announcements, Kathy talked about support for the upcoming (in three weeks) Kairos Prison Ministry weekend in the womens' prison in Purdy, WA. It appears they know others who have been involved in or led Kairos locally.

And finally I return to "facility" changes. Last Sunday Father Davis talked about the "Organ Donor" program, hoping it would be the first and last time. St. Bartholomew's organ is apparently on its last legs. I know it loses its stops settings every time the power goes out, but it seems the (gold-wire?) contacts are going too. My ears haven't heard anything, but several others more attuned to the organ have, and we apparently have a professional assessment on this. It is a ca. 70s organ and the second "real" organ we've had. (I am not including the WWI Army field or the 1888 parlor organ we used for a bit, in the early days.)

It appears the call has been met and soon after Easter we will have a (truly) new organ, built to our specifications and shipped from the Netherlands!

Cancelled

2011-02-23T17:58:00.000-08:00

Tonight was to be, I believe, the 11th installment of "The Truth Project" video. But with significant snow in the forecast, I was watching the weather radar all day and all I could say about the forecasts was "I don't know." High winds, unsettled weather, snow flurries in clear sun, everything was up in the air -- this household already decided to stay home. Whatever hits Woodinville, it could be much worse here.

A couple of minutes ago Claire phoned to say the evening is cancelled. Sure enough, checking the traffic cams linked from the church website, just north of the church there is significant snow sticking on the roads. A few miles south, not yet. But better safe than sorry -- Seattle traffic conditions can (though they don't always) deteriorate amazing quickly when snow comes in. It's nothing at all like the Midwest.

Return to St. Mary's?

2011-02-22T16:33:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe it's only been a little over three years since I wrote about "The Trees of St. Mary's, from Goring-by-Sea in Sussex, England. But I am now making arrangements for my return to the U.K. in April and thought of visiting them again, this time to attend a service.

The situation is not ideal: I am scheduled to arrive at London Gatwick at 7 AM on a Sunday and experience says I'm fairly wiped when I arrive in Europe (always in the morning). But functional enough to clear Immigration, catch a second flight if necessary, and still get to my hotel however I get there: whether by car, train, or taxi. Also not sure yet if Gatwick has showers so I can clean up & dress up -- I'm definitely not at my most presentable when I arrive in Europe and I'm sure their dress code is a bit higher than my travel regime, though I rarely if ever travel wearing jeans. Slacks, nice shirt, jacket... walking shoes or maybe dressier slip-ons (with orthotics).

By early afternoon Sunday I'll be pretty much trashed and will need to be in a hotel so I can adjust my body clock for the days ahead.

But it looks good. Their "Sung Eucharist" is at 09:30, map services says it's only a 45 minute *drive* from Gatwick Airport, and the nearest train station is only 3/4 kilometer from the church. (I don't have to bug my co-worker there for a lift.) I think I can get there in plenty of time, walk on over, participate in "Sung Eucharist" (will they be "higher church" than St. Bart's? stay tuned), catch the train back to LGW, have lunch, check in at the hotel and crash.

Still have to research a few elements of this, but it seems the Wandering Anglican just might get to visit St. Mary's again.

(An alternative is to skip all this, take the train into London, tour it again this time including Lambeth Palace if it's open on a Sunday, and be off-schedule/jet-lagged for my meetings.)

Got off easy?

2011-02-20T06:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the first Mens' Breakfast & Fellowship (and work party) I've been to in some time. Partly because it's not every month anymore, and partly because I've usually been away. So I looked forward to this one, even though we were asked to "bring rakes" because the latest windstorm had once again left the parking lot full of debris from the trees.

During breakfast, following Morning Prayer, Fr. Davis mentioned that Larry was going to be bringing a list of additional things to be worked, given him by outgoing Junior Warden Paul (I am guessing that Larry is our new Junior Warden). But Larry didn't arrive, for whatever reason.

So we raked the drive and lot, and (I) went home. Just as well; it had been an extremely difficult week at work and I really needed some rest, though I wound up replacing the thermostats on the water heater instead -- it was delivering scalding hot water.

Today I will read the Epistle. It's nice being back into the swing of things, though trouble (as in yet more travel) is looming in the world of work.

Welcome (again) Tanaya!

2011-02-13T20:10:00.000-08:00

It's been about 3 months since she finally arrived in the U.S., but the youngest (though no longer newest) member of our parish was "officially" welcomed today with rather a bit of a party after Mass. Marissa and Genevieve decorated the Parish Hall (Fr. Davis "warned" us about this during Announcements) -- it was a delight, even if balloons kept getting entangled with people and dragged everywhere.

We had a number of visitors too, including Tanaya's adoptive grandmother from Chennai (I've been to India twice on business, loved it, and really want to see more of the country), plus a family of Anglicans moved to the local area from elsewhere near Seattle. (I hope you liked what you saw -- but for reasons I've modified the photo slightly to hide faces, such is the sad state of Internet affairs these days.)

But Tanaya herself? It was clear she was having a great time!

Delegate to Diocesan Synod

2011-02-12T15:27:00.000-08:00

I'm so far behind on things I just now read the announcements on the back of last Sunday's bulletin!

I see there, among other things including retired and new Vestry members (congratulations, Nancy and Larry), I was elected again as a delegate to Synod in May. Guess I better mark that on my work calendar. But my flight at least will be paid by my employer, since two days later I have committee meetings right in the area.

Unsettled

2011-02-09T20:52:00.000-08:00

Don't know how well I'm going to sleep tonight. Last night we watched the file "Iranium" at a nearby church. Although I'm a little more sensitive to events in Iran than most (in part due to having a number of Iranian-American friends -- Sunday we will join them at a memorial for Dr. Daryoush Homayoun), the picture painted by this film is profoundly disturbing when the dots are so believably connected.

Then tonight it was the 9th lesson of Focus on the Family's "The Truth Project":

Of all the social spheres, the state, to which God grants the power of the sword for the punishment of evil and the preservation of the good, has the greatest potential to go awry if it oversteps its authority. The civil magistrate must always remember his place under the sovereignty of God – otherwise, havoc will ensue.

Now I've missed most of the series so far; this is only the third one I have attended. Next week's will be interesting also (if I don't get too much homework from next week's training class), and it looks like I'm home for the last three.

But tonight's lesson, "The State: Whose Law?" was disturbing in its own right. Much like the situation in Iran, not that there was anything particular new about the events and trends (and there was a lot not mentioned tonight), but like most people I've not connected all the dots, whether through inability, lack of time, or distraction.

All I can do is pray, as we did in Evening Prayer this evening: "O Lord, save the State," and "O Lord, save thy people."

The Society of Anglican Techies

2011-02-08T12:47:00.000-08:00

We had visitors in church Sunday. I was a bit embarrassed to not have recognized one, because he's been a friend going at least back to 1987, though this was only the second time I'd seen him, the first time being around 1997.

Sometime around 1987 David and I were working on similar projects: being able to send and receive e-mail on our CP/M computers (old even then, but still useful). E-mail was fairly primitive then; you had to directly specify the routing path from computer to computer to the destination, what we called "bang-routing" because a path to "Bob" would look like "sigma!uw-beaver!tikal!ihnp4!plugh!bob," with a few computers such as ihnp4 carrying the long-haul traffic, instead of simply typing "bob@plugh.com" (the latter, domain-name routing, was just starting to come into use).

E-mail to Australia was even more fun. Messages reached some computer where all outgoing messages were spooled up onto magnetic tape, then flown to Australia where they were read off the tape and sent on their way. Return e-mail worked the same way. But I digress.

David lived back East at the time, as I recall, but we had a number of conversations on the Usenet CP/M forums. He and his wife showed up at St. Bartholomew's one Sunday about 1997, a day when I was home sick, but I got up and joined them for brunch at a restaurant a block away from home. It's then that I learned that he was a member of the APCK too.

The news this Sunday was very happy; he's taken a job nearby! Until his relocation to the area is complete we won't see a lot of him. But it will be great to welcome him into our growing band of Anglican techies. (It's only too bad the Anglican Geek and his family aren't here, but I know it's a LONG haul for them.)

Speakers

2011-02-08T12:38:00.000-08:00

It's a hastily-taken picture so it doesn't show the grill very well, but the "rumor" that the organ speakers were finally going to be relocated from the floor beside the organ into the space over the Narthex turned out to be true. The sound was definitely improved!

And our new organist Scott started also. It looks like the music program is headed to even greater heights!

Whispers

2011-02-05T20:04:00.000-08:00

Little by little, news of St. Bartholomew's has been filtering in to me during my two weeks' absence due to travel.

Lots of it centers around the organ: we have a new organist who starts tomorrow, there is apparently activity around finally getting the organ speakers off the floor and back above the Nave where we'll get better sound, and apparently something about a new organ!

Fr. Davis' newsletter a few days ago (which I only caught up with today) about the Annual Parish Meeting was most encouraging, though it also hints at challenges ahead.

And other small items, too little to note here. It will be good to return tomorrow and catch up.

AND begin what is hopefully another extended stay home. Although my next trip is now probably the week of March 21st (followed by the already-scheduled trip the week of the 28th), it looks like I have dodged one that should have been called for next week or the week following, any time after that being too late.

"One more said Mass,"

2011-01-23T16:51:00.000-08:00

announced Fr. Davis today. It seems we have a new organist starting in two weeks (when I am back, beginning another "extended" month and a half stay at home).

He announced the dates for this year's Diocesan Synod, May 18-21, same place as last year. Interesting -- I have committee meetings nearby starting two days later. My employer will pay for my airline travel for the meetings, but attending Synod and a Saturday night stay might cut the cost. We all win.

Absent again

2011-01-19T18:29:00.000-08:00

Tonight (right about now!) the next session of The Truth Project begins, and once again I'm not present. We must be about half-way through this very interesting set of DVDs, but between travel and illness I've made it to only two sessions. I really wanted to see the second half of Part 5 on the evolution debate last week, but was home sick.

Tonight, Fr. Davis had noted Sunday, we would set out on the history series of the project. But my wife is now ill with what I had last week, only far worse; the doctor said it's something going around. So I'm staying home tonight. The next two Wednesdays I am traveling, and there just won't be much left in the series after that, even though no new trips have come up between my return home early February and next trip late March. (I was looking at going to Frankfurt again mid-March, but fortunately that's not going to be necessary -- though one of my next two trips across the Atlantic is going to be extended somewhat instead.)

It's hard to report on things when you're not there. I'll be away during the Annual Parish Meeting in a week and a half -- but I look on the bright side: nobody's asked me to stand for the Vestry this year. (grin)

Seattle Seahawks Sunday

2011-01-16T15:09:00.000-08:00

It is not true, as Fr. Davis confirmed before today's service, that the altar was dressed today in green in honor of the Seattle Seahawks, our local football ("American football") team playing in the playoffs starting about the same time as Mass.

It is not true that there was a Seahawks flag in the Sanctuary.

It is also not true that we had a said Mass so people could run off to watch the game against the Chicago Bears. At least I'm pretty sure that's not true; Kathy was a bit under the weather.

It does appear that we don't have any "12th Men" (Seahawks fans) or, if we did, their priority was to be at church instead of the TV because the pews were again full.

But during Coffee Hour Geoffrey did tune in to the game on the radio, set up in one of the Sunday School rooms for those interested.

Instead my wife and I went out for Sunday lunch, finding a restaurant with the game on TV screens and (unlike the Redmond pubs) with seating. Given the amount of Seahawk fervor I'd heard, finding this was surprising. (Though it had a LOT of "12th Men" present.)

But the Seahawks lost. Oh well. I guess it's a bit late now for a prayer for victory.

Back on the Bench

2011-01-09T18:17:00.000-08:00

Kathy was back on the bench today, filling in until we find a new organist. She admits her training was on piano (and guitar and harp and...), not organ, and maybe we've been a bit spoiled by professional organists, But along with Fr. Davis I too appreciate her contribution.

This made for a very busy weekend for her. She spent the day yesterday at the womens' prison in Purdy WA, as part of the Kairos prison ministry program. And after the service it was off to an afternoon memorial service with Iranian(-American) friends.

In the meantime I have been enlisted by a fellow parishioner to help what looks like a several-year art project: in my international travels to collect print items in different languages, different scripts, different papers. Given that my only international trips this year are anticipated to be London, Saarbrücken (Germany) and Rome, I'm not going to have much to contribute. But maybe I can mine my folders of previous trips for material from Seoul, Beijing, Shenzhen, New Delhi, Bangalore, and a number of European cities.

A flyer in German for Frankfurt's "Ebbel-Wei Expreß" (named for a local "Apple-wine")?

And lest you think the Germans have no humor, here is one entrance to Frankfurt's "U-Bahn" subway system.

Prayers up

2011-01-05T20:36:00.000-08:00

Fr. Davis did read a couple of prayers at the end of Evensong tonight, for the people of Persian descent and for Iran (and not leaving the U.S. out of the prayers as well).

Prayer request

2011-01-04T16:39:00.000-08:00

We know many Iranian ex-pats --Muslim, Christian and Bahá'ís alike-- and I know for a certainty today's news of the death of Prince Alireza Pahlavi, younger son of the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi is devastating to our friends. Please pray for them in their grief.

Cribbing from the Prayer Book:

O GOD, Almighty and merciful, who healest those that are broken in heart, and turnest the sadness of the sorrowful to joy; Let thy fatherly goodness be upon all that thou hast made. Remember in pity such as are this day in sorrow, uplift those who are cast down. Cheer with hope all discouraged and unhappy people, and by thy heavenly grace suffer them not to be distressed, save them from despair. Grant this, O Lord, for the love of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

I will ask Fr. Davis for a prayer during tomorrow's Evensong.

A cappella

2011-01-02T16:28:00.000-08:00

I was surprised by the turnout today -- St. Bartholomew's was full to capacity, with even the front pews filled. Not that we were all on time; even though it's been four days since the snow fell road conditions dictate caution in places.

But this was our first Sunday without our former organist. She took a new position MUCH closer to her home in Seattle -- and avoiding the impending tolls across the SR-520 floating bridge.

So the bulletin's "Hymnal" column was bare. And the Hymnboard almost so: only Hymn 198 "Meditation", sung a cappella for the Kneeling Hymn. Fr. Davis decided that apparently with a bit of trepidation, but I guess he hasn't tested us that way before. It might not have been concert quality, but we have done this often enough and he was clearly pleasantly surprised.

2011: 400 years of the KJV

2010-12-29T16:58:00.000-08:00

A friend pointed out today that next year will be the 400th anniversary of the publication of the Authorized or King James Version of the Bible. I gather this tidbit has been floating around some circles, but only today did I become aware of it.

A bit of research shows that the year is as close we can come to publication date -- and it appears to be unknown whether it was finally authorized or not. But thanks to Fr. McGrath several years ago I read "God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible" by Adam Nicholson, a very interesting read.

(Now if I could only find an Android app for the AKJV with Apocrypha, not to mention the 1928 BCP...)

Broken links

2010-12-26T18:35:00.000-08:00

It is surprising at times to see how this blog "gets around." Ranjit asked this morning if I had posted something about snow being in our forecast, having heard something to that effect from someone else. (After our White Christmas two years ago folks are still on edge.)

I had to think about it a bit, then remembered the White Christmas? posting last week. I assured him it was okay, and suggested that if nothing else he could check the weather & traffic link from the church website to see about conditions.

Although we have no scheduled events for a few days, we might get snow midweek that could last for a couple of days according to current forecasts (plenty of time for things to change either way). So I thought I'd double-check the weather page and to my horror, the links were broken -- both Washington Dept. of Transportation and King County had changed their traffic camera websites.

A half-hour of reworking their links into a simple presentation on the weather page results in something hopefully useful for those making a decision on driving in based on road conditions near the church.

It was a dark and stormy night...

2010-12-24T22:41:00.000-08:00

...and it really is. Heavy rain set in about the time I left for this evening's service, and all the way to St. Bartholomew's it felt like one of the darkest nights I've ever seen in Seattle. I really just wanted to be staying at home. But once arrived, I was glad I hadn't stayed home -- even though in the confusion of departure I'd left my pen and camera home.

And confusion too was what I found there. Sacristy packed full of readers, acolytes, Thurifer, Master of Ceremony and Fr. Davis. I had had some difficulty because I couldn't find the appointed Epistle, not noticing there was an alternate for Christmas and that was what we were using. And my preparation for the second lesson of the five -- well, Deacon Miller wasn't coming so I wound up reading the first instead. (Paul Jr. wound up reading the second.)

Somehow we skipped the Decalogue, but things went pretty well. Fr. Davis did a great job of integrating a set of readings alternating with carols into Holy Communion -- we seem to be blessed with a series of great liturgists (or maybe our seminary is teaching this well). My favorite hymn, 197 Picardy (Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent), was the post-communion hymn; I just wish I could find a recording of it that I like -- should be simple, male choir or soloist singing it a cappella and straight, to the setting in our Hymnal 1940. But it's not.

A very touching moment before the carols ended: Kavya leading her new little sister Tanaya up to the table-top creche, where Tanaya reached waaay up to place the infant Jesus in the manger. One of those things visually recorded only in the mind's eye.

It was still very dark and stormy coming home, but no longer so bleak.

Merry Christmas, dear reader.

Carols and Communion

2010-12-24T09:26:00.000-08:00

Somehow I missed until this morning the email that Fr. Davis sent out yesterday to the Lay Readers, noting that readers were needed for the service (and it looks like we're all "signed up"). It included the bulletin for the service, and what I see from this is that the Carols and several lessons have been integrated into the service. It looks like it will be a very nice service!

It being Christmas Eve our tree is finally up, and a happy old mountain dulcimer Christmas LP (yes, vinyl -- Jean Ritchie, if you want to know) is playing. A nice antidote to what I heard in the stores.

Christmas blast

2010-12-23T18:15:00.000-08:00

Before we entered into Advent, Fr. Davis asked us to observe Advent.

Okay, maybe not the first we've heard this admonition, but he was a bit clearer on what this meant. Leave the "Christmas" things until Christmas -- this didn't mean avoiding Christmas parties (aka "Holiday Luncheon and Gift Exchange" at the office) or Christmas gift shopping, but that in our personal lives we'd live the "lesser Lent" and prepare for the coming holiday in humility. The household decorations don't go up until Christmas Eve, for example.

Well, here in the Pacific Northwe(s)t we need every protection against the grim, grey weather that is well-known to cause depression, resulting in folks moving away after a few years. So our outside lights were turned on at the beginning of Advent and will remain on until Twelfthnight.

But other old family traditions remain. We're not going out to chop down or buy a Christmas tree tomorrow -- last year we bought a fake tree. (Local prices coupled with the fact that nearly all local vendors are shut down *before* Christmas Eve dictated that move.) It will be erected, decorated, and presents placed beneath it tomorrow.

But all of that is an aside.

With the approaching Christmas gift-exchange tradition I've worked on it in advance. But for me some of it requires visiting actual stores.

So on Tuesday, being on holiday from work (and uncertain what I did Monday except wind down), I headed out to the local stores to look for "lesser presents." My first stop was a housewares store, and to be frank I wasn't there to look for gifts but to look for three small items to fix/improve the household.

Now I've been traveling a lot, and family have tried to insulate me from the "Christmas shopping," but the instant I entered this housewares store completely overwhelmed me with its loud blare of Christmas music, Christmas displays, and Christmas wares (which I don't think you will see the rest of the year). The music and displays... all I remember is wandering through the store looking for the non-Christmas items I sought (didn't find them), looking briefly at their "Christmas"offerings" (no sale) and moving on and out in a complete daze.

Fully observing Advent hasn't been easy, especially this last week. Maybe I will appreciate Christmas, beginning to end, all the more -- I certainly hope so!

The elusive right combination

2010-12-23T10:17:00.000-08:00

Over the years we've had many changes in service times for Christmas Eve, trying to find the right combination. The first, at 3 PM in the afternoon (Christmas Eve, 1986), doesn't count because the building wasn't finished, we didn't have lighting (or heat) and the fire marshal wouldn't let us have candles.

But since then we've held combined Carols and Holy Communion, an earlier children's service (as early as 6 PM if I remember correctly), and Holy Communion at various times, including Midnight Mass (starting at 11 PM). At least one or maybe two years the services were close enough that it was better to have a parish supper, rather than have people drive all the way and back again -- some live quite a ways away.

The one problem with Midnight Mass is that it is difficult to leave at half-past midnight or so, drive home, sleep too few hours and be up and back for the 10 AM Mass.

So this year we're holding Carols at 8 PM, followed by Holy Communion.

White Christmas?

2010-12-22T09:01:00.001-08:00

When I woke up this morning I checked the weather forecast on the cellphone -- and to my dismay it called for snow. White Christmases look nice, but can make a real mess of things here, as we learned a couple of years ago.

So it was with some relief (and puzzlement) that I checked two reliable weather sites and found only rain in the forecast, and temperatures well above freezing. But the phone still showed snow. On investigating, I found it was set to give a Chicago forecast, not local. Whew!

St. Thomas

2010-12-21T20:28:00.000-08:00

A small group of us turned out for 10 AM Holy Eucharist. Fr. Davis told us a little in advance about St. Thomas, including the cathedral built in southern India. I thought I had been there, but when I researched the matter, I realized I was wrong.

Where have all the photos gone?

2010-12-20T16:07:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago Bob asked me for a photo of the altar. No problem, I thought, because I had some going back to when it arrived. But they have disappeared.

It's not like they've been misfiled -- the photo filing system is very simple and they should have been in one or more folders named something like /2010/2010-03-28-StB/ but there's nothing there. Only 2010-02-Paris/ followed by 2010-04-Frankfurt/. True, pictures taken explicitly for the blog are put elsewhere, but they're not there. And sometimes they'll be placed in a similar location on the work laptop (particularly when traveling), but that looks the same as the home machine.

I had to revisit this blog's archives to persuade myself that I took them.

I wonder... I think I burned a CD for Fr. Davis. Perhaps I accidentally deleted them then? I'll have to ask.

As Bob noted, it's worrisome when things like this just disappear. What else might have vanished undetected?

Near oops

2010-12-19T14:48:00.000-08:00

Got up feeling pretty tired -- no wonder because I was awake for hours in the middle of the night. Coupled with an upset stomach I almost didn't go this morning. But it's Advent IV and we were going to do the Greening of the Church (decorating for Christmas) today and I didn't really want to miss that, so I went.

I'd barely sat in the pew, just minutes before the service was to begin, when Larry came up and said, "You're signed up to read today." I was? I had completely forgotten about it. So I went to the Sacristy and vested, while Deacon Miller held his prayer book open so I could preview the Epistle.

Fortunately it was a short and easy one. With the line Fr. Davis mentioned a Sunday or three ago: "Let your moderation be known unto all men."

But after, between my stomach and tiredness, I went home just as the Greening began. So I won't see the work until Wednesday, probably.

Missed again

2010-12-18T17:06:00.000-08:00

I missed the Mens' Breakfast once again today. For once not due to travel, but rather to sleeping until noon. Mostly it's wind-down into the vacation that started when I left the office yesterday afternoon. I'll return January 4th.

I'm usually useless for the first three days of vacation -- and I didn't really get one this year. In fact, I probably left a number of days of unused vacation on the table, but since I'm not filling out online (or any other kind of) time-sheets anymore I don't know. (Why I'm not doing them anymore is beyond the focus of this blog.)

Still, it's a bit sad I missed this fellowship and another opportunity to re-engage with some of my parish family. But I have 5 to 6 weeks yet at home before my next trip, and the coming week will see lots of activity around the church.

I am so happy to BE Home, however humble it is!

I recommend "Dawn Treader"...

2010-12-12T17:31:00.000-08:00

...but only you're not a purist. The movie makes changes from the book; not all were necessary for adaptation to film. But it was fun to watch, and I think the best use of 3-D I have seen yet -- no "object in your face" silliness, and more 3-D than "Avatar." My opinion.

It's the best of the Narnia series I've seen so far. So it was kind of sad to watch it in a nearly-empty theatre this afternoon. If we had all sat in one row we might not have filled it. (Was it the heavy rain and flooding? "Tangled"? Over-hyped? I don't know. The folks working at the theatre said so far it has been a disappointment in turn-out.)

Not many movies gather applause at the end. This one did.

I can't wait...

2010-12-10T16:06:00.000-08:00

...well, maybe I can seeing as how our youngest turns 21 tomorrow. What a story that was, involving a difficult nighttime journey through freezing fog leading a train of automobiles... but that's a story for private conversation.

I just read a review of The Dawn Treader movie --warning, it's a spoiler but I just re-read the book (after so many decades)-- and it looks good. The reviewer said, it's two hours of fun! (Plus a bit to think about, of course.) After the mild disappointments despite enjoyment of the previous two movies, I hope the producers have hit their stride. This should be as good as Harry Potter (which has become rather dark) and Lord of the Rings (waiting for The Hobbit remake if only to finally erase Ralph Bakshi's half effort from memory, and I forget who else attempted it).

Some of us will have lunch in the Parish Hall Sunday and then head out to the theatre together. Parish outings are always fun and this one, well, I can't wait... well, maybe I can, seeing...

Vilia got the job!

2010-12-08T20:54:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I asked for prayers for Vilia, who was interviewing for a job that looked perfect for her. After Evening Prayer tonight she announced she got the job! This is happy news indeed!!

Re-engaging

2010-12-08T20:44:00.001-08:00

It hasn't been the best of weeks at work, and I really got no time to unwind after the trip, so I was pretty tired and down when I arrived for Evening Prayer followed by supper and "The Truth Project" video and discussion -- and enough so that I declined to read the lessons for Evening Prayer.

The turnout for Evening Prayer was relatively small, with more folks showing up afterwards (sometimes just a necessity, given Seattle traffic) and on into the video. (The Parish Hall became rather crowded, more so than in this picture, and by the end I realized the forced-air heat doesn't serve the Parish Hall -- the CO2 levels, to which I am sensitive, had to be quite high. I had to leave early.)

But for all that it felt good to be back, re-connecting with the Parish. I am home! (For seven weeks or so.)

An Advent Calendar for the Geeks among us

2010-12-03T17:25:00.000-08:00

I should have just arrived in Minneapolis on my way home, but they canceled the flight due to weather (snow) there. I'm re-booked for a 6:45 AM flight tomorrow morning, but with snow arriving here in Chicago in the morning... who knows? Nevertheless, I have a little time to catch up on the world after a very busy week at a conference and ran across a reference on Slashdot to this gem:

Perl Advent Calendar 2010

Warning -- you need to be a geek to understand this!

Advent I

2010-11-28T14:54:00.001-08:00

It's the beginning of a new year -- The First Sunday in Advent. And I was so glad to be home for that, and to read the "wake up" Epistle. Laughing at Claire's remark that I was probably the only one there who could read the "chambering and wantonness" part; I don't think so.

Preparing for the last trip of the year I see I'll not be far away from one of our churches, in Bolingbrooke IL, but I think my conference's meetings run late Wednesday evening so I probably won't be able to attend their service.

Vendor Fair and Craft Sale

2010-11-27T15:08:00.000-08:00

The St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church Womens' Vendor Fair and Craft Sale is going on right now in two sessions: 1 to 4 PM and again 6 to 9 PM (to allow folks to have dinner in between). This is quite different from past sales in that other vendors are present; perhaps this is the reason it's being held in a private house instead of the Parish Hall, with overflow into the Sunday School.

After setting up the lights outside (to be turned on when it becomes Advent tomorrow, my one pre-Christmas decoration -- it helps offset the winter gloom outside) I went over this afternoon to take a look. The instant I stepped in the dulcet tones of her cello told me Ruby is back from college!

The layout was interesting, with various crafts and vendors spread throughout the main floor of the house. Silver jewelry, stamps and so much more.

I had never heard of Tomboy Tools before, but their offerings were tools that seemed unusually well thought-out in terms of features (I liked the nail-setting hammer; I'd never seen one like it before but what do I know, many of my tools are older than me) -- but also very pink, which seems to be effective in keeping guys' hands off the tools.

Tupperware, of course. A shock to see there a toy our daughter played with a quarter-century ago. (Now with her Master's in Mechanical Engineering, maybe she'd like some Tomboy Tools for Christmas?)

And so much more.

At the last minute (poor planning on our part) I donated a few framed photos to the cause. One, the square in front of the Cathedral in Strasbourg, resonated with one of the vendors who'd been raised close by. Not how we'd planned to test the waters of selling photographs, but oh well. If you're in the area, come on by.

Thanksgiving Mass?

2010-11-25T07:49:00.000-08:00

It's funny what you can learn from a search engine. My browser's "home page" is Dogpile Web Search which, when you go there, lists the latest six "Favorite Fetches." A day or two ago one of the Favorite Fetches was "Seattle Weather" or something like that and it's true: The snow made a mess of things here as it always does -- hills and icy roads do not make for good driving conditions.

So we were looking forward to the rain forecast for today, to start melting and washing away the snow. But it's snowing instead. There's a short Mass at 10 AM, but I don't think we're going to make it. And our guests for dinner... well, we'll see.

A blessed Thanksgiving to you all!

Please pray for Vilia

2010-11-21T21:25:00.000-08:00

Monday she goes for a second-stage job interview. The job seems about perfect for her, combining her skills as an accountant with her heart for the less well-off. The name of the outfit describes their work, though I have managed to forget it completely while dealing with other issues this afternoon.

Nevertheless I bid your prayers, dear reader.

Wandering Home

2010-11-21T17:57:00.000-08:00

The threat of snow didn't seem to keep too many people away today -- it was good to see so many of our parish family today, now that I'm home every Sunday until late January, when the spring travel season kicks into high gear. Not that the fall travel season is done but I have only one more trip more, 4 days to Chicago the week after Thanksgiving. Maybe I'll get to feel a little less the visitor at home over the next couple of months.

Good to be home for the end of the church year, and the beginning of the next next Sunday, the First Sunday in Advent. Today, of course, is the last Sunday of the old year, aka Sunday Next Before Advent, also known as "Stir Up Sunday" for the Collect appointed for today:

STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And Fr. Davis talked about Advent in his sermon (including an ancient liturgical use of blue for the season, something to research online), and what our approach should be to this "mini-Lent." I admit I don't like the ever-advancing early "Christmas" -- I was annoyed on Thursday, November 11th (!) to encounter a Salvation Army bell-ringer in front of a store. At this rate folks will be "Christmased-out" even before we get to the beginning of Christmas (already, around here, some trees are taken down and set out before sundown on Christmas Day!).

Lots of activities coming up, so the Announcements took an unusual amount of time. Somehow the Pledge Drive got started late and will commence next Sunday. A 12-week study called The Truth Project starts Wednesday next week (I will miss the first and a couple of the last sessions for being away). The ACW Vendor Fair & Craft Sale will be this coming Saturday, 11/27, from 1 - 4 PM and 6 - 9 PM at 19122 NE 155th Street, Woodinville.

Snow. Just got home a few minutes ago after a full day out, and there was still snow on the trees and a little on the ground, with more coming in tonight. Perhaps Fr. Davis will finally get to experience the joys of a Puget Sound snowfall, with hopefully not too much of its treachery.

Missed again!

2010-11-21T08:26:00.001-08:00

Got home about 1:30 AM yesterday morning and, as I expected, awoke too late for this month's Men's Breakfast and Fellowship. Oh well, I expected that. At least I have no plans to be away on Sundays until late January. It's snowing right now but it's pretty light here so we'll likely be heading off to church in a bit. I'm trying to remember if I'm on deck to read the Epistle this Sunday, but I think I signed up for next Sunday, the First Sunday in Advent.

A stranger at home (St Stephen's, Clifton Forge)

2010-11-16T13:31:00.001-08:00

I almost didn't make it; certainly it felt like things were conspiring against this Wandering Anglican. Despite an early departure from the conference hotel a half-hour away, a combination of things including inaccurate maps and being misled by road signs led to my finding St. Stephen's, Clifton Forge VA with bare minutes to spare. (Their sign helped,) Maybe it was the relief, but I've never felt so much at home visiting another Anglican church - it seemed to reaffirm the communion between our respective jurisdictions (ACC and APCK). 1928 BCP, 1940 Hymnal (I have never seen a non-harmony version before) and solid teaching from the pulpit - priceless.

Confirmed

2010-11-09T15:47:00.000-08:00

This Wandering Anglican hits the road again tomorrow on a trip a bit more complex than usual because it involves flying to West Virginia and driving to Virginia, returning to West Virginia on Sunday to fly to Atlanta, and then on Friday flying home. But I dropped all choices of conference leisure activities Sunday morning for one that is not on the list -- attending Holy Communion (first stop on my way to the airport) at a church in the area.

Caitlin suggested I double-check the service times; not all churches keep their websites sufficiently up to date. So I sent off an e-mail to the Rector and received confirmation of the

Meeting and worshipping with other Anglicans, when it happens, is one of the nicer parts of my travel. I come away with little vignettes of conditions elsewhere, and it's almost always good.

Welcome, Tanaya!

2010-11-08T16:18:00.000-08:00

The long-awaited day finally arrived and we got to meet and welcome the newest and youngest member of our parish family: Tanaya.

No, not a new-born, though she's tiny; she's about two years old, and just adopted from an orphanage in India by Ranjit and Meyya. And Kavya is clearly enjoying her new role as big sister.

It has to be a difficult time for her: a cold, a strange new environment full of strange people speaking a strange language (maybe at her age that's not an issue), not to mention the time shift of nearly a half-day. She seemed a bit overwhelmed.

But we were happy to welcome her.

(I just remembered -- she's the second orphan adopted by parishioners.)

"They also serve..."

2010-11-07T15:00:00.000-08:00

I can't remember when I last read the Epistle AND served the altar; it was probably sometime last year. I arrived this morning expecting only to read, but Geoffrey (the Crucifer) sat on the Gospel side after the procession it sort of sank in that I was going to have read, ring the bells and serve the altar.

There were opportunities for things to go wrong. I decided to check the Epistle against the bulletin -- and discovered they were different! Checking with Fr. Davis I learned I'd prepared the Epistle for Trinity XXII, not XXIII. Fortunately there was time to read today's Epistle in advance, and it was relatively short and straightforward (Phil 3:17-21).

During the sermon I heard rustling in the Sacristy and decided to investigate (fortunately the Sacristy lights were off so opening the door was less distracting to the congregation). I found Larry preparing the thurible for censing the altar before the preparation of the Elements; he warned me that as a result I'd have to wait a bit before serving the altar. So warned, I was prepared.

Yet they still noted that I was standing by the Credence Table for a while, waiting.

Not a problem. It was just a joy to fully serve again. I have missed that.

And I jumped at the chance to claim the First Sunday in Advent on the roster. Even if I fly out again the following day.

Spanish Pre-School is open

2010-11-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

In September I mentioned the possibility of the Spanish Pre-School opening in our facility. I just learned this afternoon that it's been up and running for a bit.

Autumn Feast

2010-11-02T17:16:00.000-07:00

Sunday was definitely a great day to be home and able to attend Mass. A gorgeous sunny autumn day, even if it felt a bit chilly after a week in Atlanta's "heat" wave. It had been promising to be a dull autumn in the Seattle area, but upon my return it appears to be winding down with a fair amount of color and plenty of sunshine mixed in with the rain.

Sunday was also Trinity XXII (winding up towards the end of the church year and then Advent -- where has the time gone?) and, more importantly, the Feast of Christ the King back in its proper place (after last year's mix-up) on the last Sunday of October. As Fr. Davis explained this is a relatively new addition to the calendar: it's only 80 years old, and so it's not even in our Book of Common Prayer (1928). The Propers were from the Anglican Missal instead.

I'm home until midweek next week (Larry took the opportunity to twist my arm into reading the Epistle next Sunday, but to tell the truth I'm needing the practice) and then gone for a week and a half (Hot Springs VA and Atlanta). Looking at the schedule I thought I'd make the Mens' Breakfast this month (11/20), but then remembered I arrive at SeaTac airport somewhere around 12:40 AM.

Forgot the Men's Breakfast!

2010-10-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

I missed the Men's Breakfast & Fellowship this morning!

I was up around 3:30 AM PDT -- a good time to be awake because that's when I have to get up tomorrow for my early flight out, and it means I'm more or less still on East Coast time where I should be arising around 6:30 AM EDT. But a couple hours later I crashed again for a few hours (I needed the rest to try to get a bit better) and woke up at 9:30 or so. I blissfully took care of some things online, then about noon we headed out to join daughter & boyfriend for a movie. Never made it because the car's engine failed, but that's another story.

Soon after we left the house I realized I'd forgotten the Breakfast... but in retrospect it was just as well. I needed the rest, Fr. Davis knew I wasn't that well, and better the car failed where it did rather than on the way to church, miles from any auto service.

Dinner with Tent City IV

2010-10-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

Several years ago our parish became involved in reaching out to the residents of Tent City IV, an encampment for people who are temporarily homeless. The city moves quarterly to different locations around King County, usually a church with a large enough parking lot that will accommodate the platforms and tents. The community provides a meal each evening for the residents. Local groups and faith communities share in the ministry. It was our turn last night and the experience from this guest blogger's point of view was amazing. But more on that later.

Last Sunday, an older Asian gentleman visited our service. What was remarkable about him was the glow on his face as he stood worshiping. I saw it as I returned from the communion rail. I assumed that he was an acquaintance of our organist, but later learned that he had heard of our church through Tent City IV. (Our youth group and supporters had previously prepared and brought dinner in August.) The visitor came down for coffee hour after Mass and spent time conversing with several of our parishioners. When I approached him his face was still glowing as he expressed his gratitude for our ministry at Tent City IV. It reminded me of the time when Jesus healed the ten lepers and one returned to give thanks.

Last night at Tent City IV I saw his face again and the glow was still there. He came through the line to receive supper and the smile he gave just warmed my heart. It is said that one can never out give God - that is true. Last night I learned that in giving one often receives a great deal more in return.

Welcome new blogger Caitlin!

2010-10-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

Last night did it. I was home, having arrived in the wee hours of the morning, but tired and with a the cough returned, but had to beg off even on going out to get the story on feeding Tent City IV last night, their last dinner there before today's move to a new location. On hearing the stories after, I decided to add a new blogger who can also post these vignettes of the parish life of St. Sartholomew's even when I can't.

Please welcome Caitlin.

On the road again

2010-10-11T08:32:00.000-07:00

When this posting appears on the blog I should be back up in the air, this time on my way to Minneapolis. Unfortunately, the following two Sunday mornings will find me back at SeaTac airport, beginning trips to D.C. ("the other Washington") and Atlanta. I can't say I'm happy about this because flights to the East Coast always eat up a day and I need to leave early, but it's part of the job.

At least last week and this I'm able to fly out on Mondays. But I could almost ~~wring the neck~~ (Lord, please give me grace) of the guy who scheduled a conference with meetings beginning the Monday after Thanksgiving! And my attendance is mandatory. I am thinking of flying out Saturday just to avoid the horrible Sunday airport crush.

But in mid-November I have a week and half trip to Hot Springs VA and Atlanta (again), but the Sunday I'm away I should be able to take Communion in an ACC church. It was very nice to find links to the ACC and UECNA websites from our website. I mentioned that to Archbishop Provence this morning, and he responded, "Yes, while the State Department is busy telling us where it's not safe to go, our website tells you where it is safe for you to go (and take Communion)!" What can I say but, "Amen."

Confirmations & Receptions

2010-10-10T14:18:00.001-07:00

As I noted in the previous posting, this was a big day at St. Bartholomew's. (Arch)Bishop Provence was here to conduct five confirmations including our youngest daughter (she was so excited -- and now has her own copy of our "standard" book: a 1928 BCP plus KJV Bible with Apocrypha signed by the bishop!) and a couple who joined us this year. Fr. Davis introduced each in turn, they knelt and were confirmed.

And Bishop Provence received into the province a Lithuanian lady who had arrived in Seattle the same day as the Lithuanian altar we now use, heard about it two days later, visited soon after -- and remained ever since.

All that, and he blessed the altar too. (The story of the altar is here on the blog.)

Update: I nearly forgot to add: for one of our confirmands (Sandy, shown here) this day, 10/10/10, was a "perfect 10" -- it's also her birthday!

Autumn Lilies

2010-10-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned before the difficulties of keeping the blog updated when I'm away so much. This posting turns out to be an example of same. Last Sunday we observed with surprise that last Easter's lilies, subsequently planted in the garden, were again in bloom. Now I'd forgotten to bring my little pocket camera (a Nikon S3) so I took pictures with my cellphone, but was so busy while away for a conference I never offloaded them.

But because today was a big event, I had the "big" camera with me. (It's only a Canon S3 IS with additional lenses + CHDK firmware, but it's far more versatile than the bigger Nikon D70 dSLR -- which failed, was fixed under warranty, failed the same way a few weeks later but then they wanted $350 to fix it. Not ready to spend the money to have it fixed again... for how long? Besides, I am really beginning to like Canon.) So here's the evidence, shot just an hour ago.

Update

2010-09-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

Now I know I've been too busy (traveling) when I went to update the church website just now, embarrassed because it hadn't been updated since August 22nd, and discovered that I had actually updated it on this computer September 5th but for some reason (forgotten during the two trips since) it was never uploaded.

A little extra pressure to update came this week with the delivery via e-mail of the latest Christus Rex, the Province's newsletter. Always an enjoyable read, it contained a funny from St. David's Summer Youth Retreat -- I suspect from the dimensions that that's a combined Book of Common Prayer (1928) PLUS the King James Bible (with Apocrypha) in her hoodie. A book no American Anglican should be without.

Also noted in the Christus Rex was a Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Provence to the province last August. Apparently I missed it somehow; he notes therein that for the time being he has taken some of our Canadian Anglican brethren under his wing until they can organize their own provincial structure. They likely have an uneasy and difficult time ahead; please pray for them.

Prayers for Fr. Davis' recovery

2010-09-26T15:44:00.000-07:00

Dear reader, please say a prayer for Fr. Davis' recovery. He returned Wednesday, from a regional clericus in Portland OR, a bit under the weather and canceled Wednesday evening's Rector's Forum (which I would have missed anyways, being on an airplane at the time). Things have gotten worse: apparently he'd contracted a quite virulent flu, which he characterizes as bringing on "fever, chills, coughing, aches, sneezing, dizziness, congestion, etc." Needless to say he was still quite ill today, and we had that rarest of Sunday morning services: Morning Prayer. Rather a bit of stumbling, we are now again so out of practice, and the to-me-abhorrent response to "Here endeth the Epistle" (drawn from the '79: "Thanks be to God" -- its undertone being "the Epistle has finally ended, thank God!"*) appeared after the conclusion to the First and Second Lesson. But Fr. Davis plans to catch up with an extra session soon and the one I would have missed, on Anglican church history, I just might be able to attend. At least if it is held this week, because after that I am away most weekdays until December.

* Yes, on this issue I am a grump.

A Prayer for Healing.

O ALMIGHTY God, who art the giver of all health, and the aid of them that turn to thee for succour; We entreat thy strength and goodness in behalf of this thy servant, that he may be healed of his infirmities, to thine honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Black&White Sunday

2010-09-26T15:39:00.001-07:00

Where I work we have a very long-standing joke (back into the 90s) that when several of us wear shirts of the same (or similar) color, one will say to another, "I see you got the message, today is [say] purple shirt day." Something of the sort happened today when several of the ladies showed up wearing black & white. (One is actually navy, but so dark it might as well be black.)

Mapping the APCK, ACC and UEC

2010-09-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago a guest requested a photo of the map I had mentioned, showing where our communion of APCK, ACC and UECNA churches are located. I took a photo the following Sunday but (and I hope I will be forgiven) things got crazy after that and I only just got the photo off my camera this afternoon (along with a LOT of other photos including my trips to St. Louis and Lucerne). So here is the map, "enhanced" so the pushpins stick out more. Blue represents APCK churches, white UECNA, and red ACC. This map is one or two years old, so it is likely to be a little out of date. (Click on the photo to see a larger version.)

Touch and Go

2010-09-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

It's not quite as bad as the last time(s) I used this title but still... I got home from a week of meetings in St. Louis late last night, with less than 32 hours home before I'm back in the air(planes) for a couple of days of meetings in Switzerland.

But still... I left on the last trip with Sunday's bulletin in my pack so I could update the website and perhaps add a blog entry or two during the week but between meetings, limited Internet access and work, there was no chance. I have no illusions that things will be better between departure and return. But I've left the bulletin there regardless, and maybe I'll get an e-mail update from Fr. Davis...

It's Kathy's Birthday

2010-09-13T01:01:00.000-07:00

I've just used/abused the Blogger capability to delay postings to announce that today is Kathy's birthday.

How many? Well, less than mine. And in less than a handful of hours into it she will be dropping me off at the airport from which I will go away for a few days, with a very brief return followed by another trip, this time overseas.

Do post a note here to wish Kathy a happy birthday. I know she would appreciate it!

Tent City 4

2010-09-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

Fr. Davis announced today that the anticipated St. Bartholomew's dinner for the homeless of Tent City 4, currently just down the road on Avondale Road, will be held October 22nd, their last night before they move to a new location (St. John's Vianney, Roman Catholic?).

It's not clear whether I will be able to be there to report directly; I've missed previous dinners due to travel. Right now my calendar is clear... but... that's no guarantee.

15 weeks!

2010-09-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

After a night of very poor sleep (mostly travel-related I think -- the last nightmare had something to do with not being able to get to my destination for some reason or another) I did not want to get up and go to church. I really wanted to stay in bed and rest before the week-and-a-half of business travels, domestic and international, that start way too early tomorrow morning. But I had signed up to read the Epistle today so I went. And did what I could to preserve my voice (and improving physical condition).

But the shock came when I opened the particular Prayer Book from which I preview my Epistle readings: the bookmark was set at Trinity Sunday. And today is the 15th Sunday after Trinity!?! Have I really gone from when I read most every Sunday (when home, which was most of the time) to a 15-week gap?

Seems it is so, and Larry confirmed. Between my travel and illness, and St. Bartholomew's happily plenteous supply of Lay Readers these days, I truly haven't 'read' in months. It was a delight to be "back" despite the physical effort though why, I can't say: It's easier to sit in the pews with everyone else, but to serve just means so much more to me.

And I am still signed up to read for Bishop Provence's visit October 10th. I haven't talked with him much since I ceased to be Senior Warden but it will be a complete delight to serve with him.

All for nothing

2010-09-10T17:20:00.000-07:00

Working over my travel schedule for this fall I suddenly realized that the pile of travel documents for the next four trips (flight itineraries, hotel reservations and the like) was incomplete. Digging in I found it was lacking documents for an upcoming trip to speak in Las Vegas -- which I thought I had already booked.

And as it turns out, I had. Except I had the wrong travel (and check-in/--out) dates! I remember being delighted for once being able to book a Sunday afternoon flight out, but as it turns out the date was wrong. I needed to fly out (and return) later than that.

But hey, I get that whole weekend at home, instead of checking in at SeaTac airport prior to Sunday Mass.

Confirmation Class

2010-09-09T16:09:00.000-07:00

The Confirmation Class started last evening, for folks to be confirmed or received into the church. The members are all older than my class of eleven-year-olds, way back when (that church was also much larger). I probably would have gone to sit in if I had not been home feeling a bit ill.

Fr. McGrath had a practice I liked, one that worked well for the size of our classes: each session of the class was sponsored by a different parish family. The family would make the light supper (or was it lunch?) for the class, and join in the meal and the session following. Especially when we were receiving new members, it was a good opportunity for them to get to know a few of our families.

I will be away for the next two. After that, we'll see.

Spanish Preschool

2010-09-08T18:26:00.000-07:00

I had heard about this over the summer, so it wasn't really a huge surprise to see the sign for the Spanish Academy in front of the church Sunday. They have been expanding in the area and were looking at Woodinville -- and loved the situation we have with the Fr. Leen Education Center. It will be good to have more "activity" around the church on weekdays. And, it turns out, two of our young women are apparently graduates of this academy a number of years ago.

Geoffrey? He wanted to be in the picture.

Publick Baptism

2010-09-05T18:23:00.001-07:00

I guess it's the disconnect resulting from too much travel and illness that I did not know Jack's baptism was scheduled for today -- or that it was even scheduled at all. As Fr. Davis joked, he should hand me a visitor's card! (We don't have such.)

But it was a delight to see the extended family present -- great-grandparents? Some all the way from Florida?

The Baptismal service itself was one I'd never seen before, and it required a four-page addition to the bulletin for us to follow. Although I confess I prefer the 1928 BCP, though I am neither a theologian nor a liturgist, I liked this baptismal service much more than the '28 which seems more oriented to adult converts. It turns out the service is from the 1662 BCP!

Maybe we need to mine our roots further for what I think is an inevitable new version of the BCP, if for no other reason than its calendar runs out in two or three years. (If/when "we" engage in a new version may I request appointment to the group, Archbishop Provence? We need to hold the line.)

Date update

2010-08-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

It appears (Arch)Bishop Provence will be here Sunday, October 10th. And so will I -- I don't fly out until the 11th! (Unlike today, when I had to be back at the airport early in the morning.)

It appears we will have some confirmations that day, and one will get an additional birthday blessing from Bishop Provence -- it will be her birthday.

I don't know about today's celebrations (Feast of St. Bartholomew's translated), but I gather that something happened with our organist Ahra's return trip so that she was not going to be able to be here today.

Confusion

2010-08-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

I was still not feeling well this morning, actually a bit worse, so I stayed home today. One week until my next trip, so I NEED to get over this bug!

But Kathy brought a copy of the bulletin home, with all the announcements therein. (I see I will miss the next Men's Breakfast -- I just booked my flights to Zurich, departing that morning.)

But she said the Bishop's Visit was tentatively announced for October 12th, though it would be firmed up this week. When I checked my calendar for conflicts I discovered the 12th is a Tuesday -- that can't be right. I guess I'll just have to wait, though at least that falls in a window where I'll be home on the weekends.

Proud of our kids!

2010-08-18T17:50:00.000-07:00

Fr. Davis emailed me a few photos of the St. Bartholomew's Youth Group from their planning, preparation and execution of the dinner for Tent City 4, a homeless camp currently located not far down the road from us. Sadly, for various reasons related to the current love of litigation in this country I am becoming rather more reluctant to post identifiable photos, and it just bothers me to post "masked" photos -- so I can't use them.

But looking at the photos he sent I see a fair amount of planning, execution -- and the kids themselves partaking of the same dinner they had already served to Tent City 4. (There's proof in the pudding for you!)

By every report the dinner went well for all, and our kids helped out some of the less fortunate among us.

The Dormition of the B.V.M.

2010-08-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

Today's service was rather a bit different from the usual. Instead of Trinity XI we celebrated The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Fr. Davis noted the similar term "Dormition," though the beliefs behind the two terms are slightly different). This by itself might not have been exceptional except that the Propers, and I believe the reading for the Epistle, and the Gospel, came from the Anglican Missal. Having read the Epistle for every Sunday of the year many times I instantly noted the different reading!

Happy Anniversary, Fr. Davis!

2010-08-15T14:46:00.001-07:00

Yesterday marked one year since the Davises arrived from Redding CA, so we celebrated with a cake for the occasion. It was also a pleasant surprise to see Fr. Jeffrey and Lynn Smith present this morning, on vacation and escaping (somewhat) the heat of Redding; it seems St. Luke's has a building project underway; we'll pray it goes well.

Fr. Davis announced that the Feast of St. Bartholomew will be transferred to Sunday, August 29th, to coincide the return of our organist, Ahra. Sadly I will miss the occasion due to the first trip of my unusually busy fall travel season.

Missing out

2010-08-07T16:29:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems I won't be reading after all. Not recovered enough, and maybe not enough to attend the service tomorrow. If this hit me this hard, it could be much worse for the old folks.

This evening is the dinner Meghan and the Youth Group are preparing for Tent City 4, just down the road. Hope it's something warm to offset the cool, grey, drippy day it is today. It's unusual to have rain this time of year -- not unwelcome because it reduces the chances of fires, but unusual.

Selah?

2010-08-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

Somehow I forgot to note ahead of time my absence for almost a couple of weeks. It's almost over now -- I've headed out and returned home and am just waiting to get over this illness (virus? cold?) before getting back into the swing of things. Kathy & I had a good time, visiting a number of my former haunts back in the Midwest for the first time since I left decades ago, though I did not manage to connect with any of my old church parishes.

I'm on the schedule to read Sunday, and it will be such a joy to serve again! "I Am Home!" -- if only for three weeks more before I head out on the 29th to begin my autumn travel season.

Grace and patience

2010-07-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

It seems Ranjit and Maya will have the youth group out at Jubilee Farm in Carnation this weekend. If the name Carnation is familiar, the town of Tolt was renamed a long time ago after the Carnation milk company's headquarters farm just north of town, now owned by Nestle and no longer a working dairy farm.

There's a comment on the page right now that resonates a bit:

... Farming teaches us grace; we're not always in control. Grocery stores set up strange expectations, strawberries in December from some faraway land. ...

Way back when I was always so impatient for artichoke season (and especially the artichokes!) to arrive. Actually, I still am -- do they even grow them somewhere other than California?

A new Christus Rex

2010-07-25T17:26:00.000-07:00

Dr. Stanford continues his excellent work with the latest release of the APCK newsletter, Christus Rex. I'm almost a week late with this, but plead "busy." (And at least temporarily running two other blogs isn't helping, but the other non-work-related one will end next week.)

No doubt there'll soon be a request for a story about this year's Diocese of the Western States Family Camp -- but I'm still working on my photos from the event. The downside of digital photography is the amount of control you can get over the end product, as opposed to simply dropping the film canister off at the photo shop or drugstore, and the pursuing perfection takes time.

At home

2010-07-25T16:02:00.000-07:00

We were all happy to see Deacon Ed back today. Still a ways to go on recovery, it seems, as he was sitting in the very front pew and not in the Sanctuary. Fr. Davis noted his recovery but stumbled slightly when he noted that Deacon Ed was now home -- "oops, rather, he's here at church," one could almost hear him think, but Deacon Ed saved the day by announcing "I AM Home!" Everyone laughed -- of course you are!

And welcome back.

Reunion

2010-07-25T16:00:00.000-07:00

Headed off to a high-school reunion this coming weekend. According to this map we have three associated churches in the state, but they're several hours' drive away. Oh well.

Almost forgot!

2010-07-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

Fr. Davis has had his hands quite full lately, but managed to get an e-mail newsletter/update off to the parish at... 2 AM??? (Well, okay, at camp Fr. Webb and I were clearly the early-birds, up at dawn, and I guess Fr. Davis like the rest of my household is a night-owl.) And from what I read he's even busier than I knew. Please pray that the coming transition goes smoothly.

But I'm glad for the missive because it reminded me that tomorrow is Mens' Breakfast (8:30 AM Morning Prayer followed by breakfast and fellowship, and since our Junior Warden is away maybe not too much of an outside work party on a hot day (forecast to reach 80F with, ugh, sun, but when the cat's away...). Despite my previous post, I had forgotten.

He also notes that Tent City 4 will be moving in up Avondale tomorrow. We'll be providing a couple of suppers during this stay; the first by our youth in just two weeks, organized by Meghan.

Back from camp

2010-07-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

We actually got home a bit after midnight into Monday morning, but things have been so crazy ever since I haven't even managed to fully unpack and store my suitcase, for all my usual goal is to have it unpacked and BACK IN THE CLOSET before 15 minutes have passed from when I enter the door into the house. And half the camping gear remains unstored...

There will be material to come, I promise. I was thinking "Saturday," when Kathy is away for the day for a Kairos Prison Ministry followup with the women attendees in Purdy prison, but I just remembered that that's Mens' Breakfast, Fellowship and Work Party day.

Suffice it for now to say "we had a good time!" And even when it wasn't as good as it could have been (I got little very sleep), it was good.

Preparing for camp

2010-07-13T16:36:00.001-07:00

Early Thursday we plan to hit the road to the Diocese of the Western States Family Camp. The camp blog is providing helpful last-minute information -- okay, temperatures from 50 to 90F, prepare for cool evenings. But now... bring the kayaks, the bikes? We'd need to trailer a haul all the toys. Or go spend more money on car-top rack accessories.

But some other advance prep is looking ominous. No Internet. And worse, the nearest cellphone signal is well over 10 miles away so there will be no Internet that way either. So I guess I'll just have to be disconnected from when we leave I-5 on the way down Thursday until we reach it again on the way home Sunday.

72 hours.

I can do that.

I think.

This just in

2010-07-11T16:40:00.001-07:00

A bit more news than usual during Announcements:

Deacon Ed is home; it seems the hospital couldn't do much for him but he's in good spirits.

The Tent City 4 dinner by St. Bartholomew's Youth is now set for Saturday, August 6th (the camp will be located just down the road a short ways). The parish-wide effort is set for late September or early October (and of course there a good chance that I will be away).

Fr. Seraphim Hicks is back from Sierra Leone, but this time he contracted a disease there; I bid your prayers for recovery.

And young Matthew in Redding has been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer similar to the one that took his father two years ago; the doctors give him 90 days but I'm praying for a miracle.

Bowling Night

2010-07-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

Looking through the notices in the Sunday bulletin I noticed that the Youth Group is planning to have a Bowling Night soon. Bowling. It's been many years since I last went bowling. Maybe because I could never score much above 120. But why should the kids have all the fun? You never know: we have folks with so many different and sometimes surprising talents maybe we have some bowlers in our midst too.

Touch and go

2010-07-04T17:10:00.000-07:00

When I got home Thursday afternoon I was looking forward to a long stretch at home and reconnecting with St. Bartholomew's, but I had not thought it through until this morning. At least until August I will continue to be a sometime visitor: here this Sunday and next, gone the following for the Diocese of the West Family Camp, back the next, then gone August 1st for a high school reunion back East.

After that I don't know. There are two possible business trips coming in August; one of which might impinge on a Sunday when it occurs, the other of which will if it occurs.

And come September, I'll be away a lot until December.

Prayer request for Deacon Ed

2010-07-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

Apparently after last Sunday's service Deacon Ed (I know, it's properly Deacon Miller, but the Pacific Northwest is pretty informal) was feeling some pain, and went to have it checked. They ended up checking him back into the VA hospital. He is reportedly in a lot of pain, more than the morphine can fully counteract. Apparently he is now facing a major procedure to correct the issue.

I bid your prayers this week for Deacon Ed Miller.

HEAR us, Almighty and most merciful God and Saviour; extend thy accustomed goodness to this thy servant who is grieved with sickness. Visit him, O Lord, with thy loving mercy, and so restore him to his former health, that he may give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.