MITCH LANDRIEU BY A LANDSLIDE

New Orleans had more good news that was eclipsed by the Saints mania. The voters elected the best man in the mayoral race.

From the Times-Picayune:

Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, son of a former mayor and brother of a U.S. senator, beat five major challengers in Saturday's mayoral primary, riding a sense of regret among voters who rejected him four years ago and extraordinary biracial support to claim an unprecedented first-round landslide victory.

When he takes office May 6, Landrieu will become the city's first white chief executive since his father, Moon Landrieu, left the job in 1978. Early analysis shows that Mitch Landrieu's victory is owed to widespread crossover voting by African-Americans, who make up two-thirds of the city's residents.
....

"The people of the city of New Orleans did a very extraordinary thing today," Landrieu said minutes after he entered to a chorus of "Who Dat!" from the crowd gathered in a Roosevelt Hotel ballroom. "We decided that we were going to stick the pole in the ground and strike a blow for unity, strike a blow for a city that decided to be unified rather than divided, a city that understands that where there is equal opportunity, there is equal responsibility. It is a city that really understands that we are ready to move beyond and into the next generation."

I predict that Landrieu will be a good mayor for the city. Perhaps he can get the murder rate down. His father, Moon Landrieu, was one of the best mayors New Orleans ever had, and if Mitch is half the mayor that his father was, he will be head and shoulders above the present failed Mayor Ray Nagin. All the good news coming within such a short period overwhelms.

WHO DAT SAY DEY GONNA BEAT DEM SAINTS?

NO ONE GONNA BEAT DEM SAINTS!!!!

NOT EVEN CLOSE - 31-17!!!

UPDATE: For All the Saints Who From Their Labors Rest

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thanks to Paul (A.). Sing along here.

You know, I've said again and again, that winning the NFL championship and the Superbowl is about much more than a football game. The Saints team win is a sign of hope for the full comeback for the city of New Orleans and south Louisiana. The victory helps us to believe in ourselves again.

"HOWAY THE LADS!"

Cheers for the Saints all the way from Newcastle upon Tyne in Merrie Olde England. You see a new face (Moi!) in the Saintsations lineup, along with Ormonde, who "helps" the dancing girls' coach.

To hear the music that goes with the picture, click on over to Newcastle for a listen.

SAINTS MANIA SPREADS TO ST. JOHN'S

 

Closing hymn and beginning of Second Line. The rector's wife follows him with the umbrella. Click on the picture to see the close-up of the alternative hymn book for our closing hymn. What else?

 

Second Line continues.

 

Our rector poses in his special chasuable.

 

Rear view of the chasuable showing the fleur-de-lis, for which the NFL attempted to claim copyright. LOL!

 

More Second Line.

 

Our greeter all dressed up in her Saints outfit with her umbrella. Ain't she sweet?

SAINTS MANIA IN FULL SWING

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees

This game is about a devastating hurricane and a city's inspiring recovery.

It's about a franchise that has struggled to get here for more than four decades, and a loyal fan base that has kept the faith.

It's about the hometown hero, Peyton Manning, who now rides into this game wearing the "black hat, " hoping to lead the other team to victory.

It's about Manning's legacy and Drew Brees' legacy, and Sean Payton's legacy and Jim Caldwell's legacy. And it's about the Indianapolis Colts cementing their place in history and the New Orleans Saints changing their reputation forever.

But when Super Bowl XLIV finally kicks off this evening inside Sun Life Stadium, more than anything, it will be about football.

This game will be about the two best teams in the NFL doing what they do best for three hours inside their own little bubble on the game's ultimate stage.
....

Brees said he always has some level of nerves or butterflies leading up to a game. And he said, "If you don't have any of that, it may be time to get out."

But he said the more he prepares and visualizes the moment, the more those nerves become replaced with confidence.

"It's really about getting past all that (pregame) stuff initially and being able to get to the game, " Brees said. "You have to say to yourself, 'It's football. It's another game, and we know how to go out and play well and win these types of games
....

The Saints came up with a team mantra to start this offseason, one that has been repeated often as they've learned how to dominate the fourth quarter and find ways to win. But that mantra has never been more fitting than it is right now:

"Finish Strong."

"Sounds good to me," says she who knows very little about football.




Yeah. CRAAAZEEE!

From NOLA.com.

Win or lose, there will be a Saints parade Tuesday.

The New Orleans Saints Super Bowl parade scheduled for next Tuesday will begin at 5 p.m. on Poydras Street in front of the Superdome, according to the New Orleans Police Department.

The entire Saints team and organization will be on a series of floats donated from various Carnival krewes across the city.

There you go. We don't have enough parades parading right about now. One more will round things off.

BLIZZARD IN MID-ATLANTIC

From Reuters:

A blizzard producing heavy snow and powerful winds pummeled the U.S. mid-Atlantic on Saturday, causing at least two fatalities and paralyzing travel in the region.

Snowfall totals of 20 to 30 inches (51 to 76 cm) are forecast from Virginia to southern New Jersey by Saturday evening when the storm is expected to move out to sea.

Up to 28 inches 71 cm) of snow had fallen by 11 a.m. EST (1600 GMT) in suburban Washington, D.C. Local weather forecasters said the storm could bring the heaviest snowfall in 90 years to the Washington area.

The National Weather Service declared a 24-hour blizzard warning for the Washington-Baltimore region until 10 p.m. EST Saturday/0300 GMT Sunday.

Winds were strong, especially along the mid-Atlantic coast, with gusts recorded up to 40 mph (64 kph).

Elizabeth Kaeton is at her cottage at Rehoboth Beach and lost power for a while, but now has electricity once again. Read all about her adventures at Telling Secrets.

Pray for those who have lost power or in in any kind of trouble during the severe weather.

From JimB:

That is not tears of concern in my eyes -- nasty infection. I am getting treatment but as a diabetic, I am only terrified when something threatens my sight. Prayers gratefully accepted.

FWIW
jimB

BISHOP ALAN LOOKS FORWARD TO GENERAL SYNOD

Bishop Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham, reflects on the approaching General Synod of the Church of England. Bishop Alan blogs at - well - Bishop Alan's Blog.

From the Guardian:

General Synod ahoy! Sadly for aficionados of genteel custard pie wars, bishops' gender is not slated for major discussion next week, although fans of turf – and astroturf – wars will take note of a private member's motion about a US dissident former Episcopalian group. Connoisseurs of murder at the vicarage may find some tasty morsels in the debate on terms and conditions of service for members of the clergy.

That would be Lorna Ashworth's motion:

“That this Synod express the desire that the Church of England be in communion with the Anglican Church in North America”.

"The church's parliament" it may be, but the General Synod's house of laity is democratic in the pure ­Athenian sense that only a tiny proportion of the ­punters get a vote. A while ago I questioned this aspect of the setup, but gilded ones who sit in the tearoom and make our futures told me that, even using the internet, it would self-evidently be ludicrously costly and ­bothersome to have ordinary Anglicans voting. So there.

Think of it! All of the members of the church, all us humble pew warmers having a vote on the issues! Well, surely the implementation of such a practice would be "ludicrously costly and ­bothersome", but Bishop Alan is way out in front for even having the thought.

What I wish for this General Synod, however, and the next one, is something the Rule of Benedict describes as the great work of any Christian leader – to order all things in such a way that the strong have something to inspire them, and the weak nothing they need to run away from.

Let us pray for the members of General Synod, who will be meeting beginning on February 8, 2010.

The comments to Bishop Alan's column are particularly and viciously anti-religion, although I agree with the commenter who states that the CofE bishops should be out of the House of Lords.

WHO NEEDS A BABYSITTER?

 

 

 

 

Within the heart of every stray
Lies the singular desire to be loved

Thanks to Sue for "the sweet pictures of little kids and their pets. Enjoy!"

SIGNS IN MALAYSIA

Click on the picture for the large view and then, don't ask, don't tell!

Thanks to Wade, who says that he's been looking for funny signs for me in Malaysia, but "most Malaysians speak far better English than is common in the US!" I don't doubt it, but apparently his compliment does not apply to absolutely EVERYONE.

OUR SUPPER TONIGHT...

...included dearly-priced boiled crawfish, the first of the season. Crawfish are not yet plentiful because of our extended cold weather this winter.

With the crawfish we had boiled fresh artichoke. We pull the leaves off and dip them in a dressing of olive oil, red wine vinegar, black pepper, and a dash or two of Tabasco. When we get down to the heart and stem of the artichoke, we break them up and dip into the same dressing. Mmm-mmm good!

WEST VIRGINIA TRAFFIC STOP

A man in West Virginia had a flat tire. He pulled off on the side of the road and proceeded to put a withered bouquet of flowers in front of the car and another one behind it. Then he got back in the car and waited.

A passerby rubbernecked the scene as he drove by and was so curious he turned around and went back. He asked the fellow what the problem was.

The man replied, "I got me a flat tar."

The passerby asked, "But what's with the flowers?"

The man responded, "When you breaks down they says to put flares in the front and flares in the back! I doesn't understand it neither. But, you stopped, so, I guess it works! You got a extry spar?"


DO NOT blame me, especially if you're from West Virginia. Blame Paul (A.).

PLEASE PRAY

Please pray for my cousin Marylynn who has throat cancer and is probably close to the end. She is conscious but cannot speak, and her whole body is quite swollen. Pray that she may be free from pain and at peace in this last stage of her life.

Please pray for healing for my friend of 60 years who has colon cancer, with spread to nodes. She had surgery to remove two thirds of her colon and is receiving chemotherapy now. So far, she is not ill from the chemo. Please pray that the chemo will do its job and that she will continue to feel well.

SCG's friend Charlotte had a set-back in that she had to return to surgery for breast cancer to have more tissue removed because the margins of the section that was taken out were not clear. She says that she feels as if she's on a roller coaster. She's right. I remember. That's exactly the feeling. Details at Wake Up and Live.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!!!

When the sun rose in the valley of Megiddo and shone off of the gleaming spears of the Egyptian army of Thutmosis II (at the first recorded battle in human history) the King of Kadesh and his assembled Canaanite allies looked at each other and said....

When the South Wales Borderers of the British army of Lord Chelmsford heard the thunder of the assegais pounding on the buffalo hide shields of the approaching Zulu impis below Isandalwanna they said...

When the Germans in the trenches at Ypres in 1916 heard a strange rumbling and clanking coming from over no-mans-land they looked out from over the tops of their trenches and thought....

Custer and the Seventh....well, you know....

WHO DAT?

Having more fun than the law should allow ;-)

The silliness continues. Don't blame me. Blame my Florida (not Miami) friend.

TIMES ONLINE SUPPORTS WHO DAT NATION

Click on over to the site of the Times Online to read the article and watch the video of the Brits who support the Who Dat Nation against the NFL.

Thanks to my Florida (not Miami) friend.

GOOD NEWS FOR GENERAL SYNOD OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND

From Simon Sarmiento at Thinking Anglicans:

Readers may recall this General Synod motion (See below) which is being debated next Wednesday. And there is this amendment (See below).

A paper rebutting the claims made about the Episcopal Church, compiled by me, has been issued to General Synod members.

That paper can now be read in full here.

The motion proposed to General Synod by Lorna Ashworth reads:

“That this Synod express the desire that the Church of England be in communion with the Anglican Church in North America”.

The ACNA motion amendment reads:

The Bishop of Bristol (the Rt Revd Mike Hill) to move as an amendment:

Leave out everything after “That this Synod” and insert:

“(a) recognise and affirm the desire of those who have formed the Anglican Church in North America to remain within the Anglican family;

(b) acknowledge that this aspiration, in respect both of relations with the Church of England and membership of the Anglican Communion, raises issues which the relevant authorities of each need to explore further; and

(c) invite the Archbishops to report further to the Synod in 2011”.

My heart beat faster when I read the list of persons whom Simon consulted in writing his paper.

In compiling this note I have consulted David Booth Beers, Chancellor to the Presiding Bishop and Mary E. Kostel, Special Counsel to the Presiding Bishop for property litigation and discipline. I have also been assisted by: the Revd Tobias Stanislas Haller BSG, the Revd Scott Gunn, and Ms Susan Erdey of the Church Pension Group.

Simon's paper is a clear and concise refutation of erroneous claims and charges now circulating amongst the members of General Synod of the Church of England against the Episcopal Church, which demonstrate misunderstanding or ignorance of the polity of the Episcopal Church. Thanks be to God that one Englishman understands the governance of the Episcopal Church! (I'm joking, of course, because other Englishmen besides Simon understand the polity of TEC.)

Of course, all of the leaders of the Church of England could have consulted with the same persons. I wonder how many took the trouble.

Simon's final paragraph in his paper reads:

Natural justice requires that people take responsibility for their actions. No one has forced individual clergy or laity to leave the Episcopal Church — and they do have the right to do so if their consciences are wounded by the decisions of that church. It is, however, a matter of both church and civil law — and natural justice — that they do not have any right to retain property given in support of the church when they choose to leave it.

Do I hear an "Amen!"?

BAD NEWS - GOOD NEWS

The bad news:

The bullying by classmates and taunts of "homo" only got worse after Jacob began dyeing his hair and wearing eyeliner in eighth grade. One student scrawled "I hope you die" on his shoe, he said; another drew a pocket knife on him.

Jacob's grades dropped, and he missed school from fear. His father tried repeatedly to get school officials in their working-class village in upstate New York to help protect his son from harassment. The response by the Mohawk Central School District, according to a federal lawsuit, was to do "virtually nothing."

The good news:

The 15-year-old might soon get a measure of satisfaction. The lawsuit filed by Jacob and his father against the school district with the New York Civil Liberties Union could be close to settlement, according to both sides.

The negotiations come as the U.S. Department of Justice seeks to intervene in the case, citing the "important issues" it raises in enforcing federal civil rights laws.

"There is a growing recognition across the country that schools need to take harassment based on gender expression and homosexuality seriously," said NYCLU attorney Corey Stoughton. "If there is a settlement in this case, that's an affirmation of that principle."
....

Mohawk School Superintendent Joyce Caputo said the district denies allegations in the lawsuit, but she stressed they are working with the NYCLU and the Justice Department to settle the suit in a way that benefits everyone.

Well, it's about time Ms Caputo. Nothing like facing a lawsuit with the feds involved to get the powers moving. And it's way past time for the Title IX antidiscrimination law to be applied to harassment of gays.

From the AP.

TODAY AND YESTERDAY

Good morning all. Today's weather begins miserably - chilly, rainy, dark. I'm thankful that today's weather did not come early as my schedule yesterday was rather full:

9:00 AM - Grandparents Day at my granddaughter's new school. Grandpère and I were quite impressed with the school.

11:15 AM - Leave the school and head to one of our two Mexican restaurants for lunch.

2:00 PM - Go to audiologist for a check-up to see if my new hearing aids are working right. She tells me that I have cotton in my right ear.

3:00 PM - Pick up my granddaughter at school, because she had to stay after school to take a math test, but the test was postponed. Race across town to her house for her to be home for her younger brother's arrival on the school bus.

3:30 PM - Back across town to the doctor's office for removal of cotton from ear, which turns out not to be cotton, but a fungus.

4:15 PM - Back to the other side of town to stay with my grandchildren until my son gets home from work.

7:00 PM - Drop off prescription to treat fungus.

7:10 PM - Back home.

This morning, we just now received a call from my granddaughter asking us to pick her up from school, because she is not feeling well. She has a headache and is a little freaky, because she is almost never sick and takes it quite hard the few times that she becomes ill.

The picture above is of the chairs in El Paso Restaurant here in Thibodaux. The purpose of the picture is to cheer me up and to cheer you up, too, if you need cheering up. The waiter informed us that the chairs and tables in the restaurant were made in Guadalajara. They're bright, playful, and - well - cheerful.

The rain is now a downpour.

"WHO DAT?" GETTING OUT OF HAND?

This judge found in favor of the Who Dat Nation.

On Wednesday, Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Michael Bagneris ordered a Feb. 1 jury trial delayed in light of the New Orleans Saints' historic trip to the 2010 Super Bowl.

"The court takes judicial notice that Saintsmania permeates the city of New Orleans," Bagneris wrote in a one-paragraph ruling in an asbestos lawsuit, filed in 2005 by Dano Paul Becnel against Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Inc., and about 20 others
....

"Many prospective jurors for the parish of Orleans, several attorneys involved in this litigation and court personnel plan on traveling to the promised land -- the Super Bowl in Miami, Florida," wrote Bagneris, a 17-year veteran of the Civil District Court on Loyola Avenue.

"The court recognizes that this pilgrimage enhances the chances of the Who Dat Nation to acquire the long sought-after Holy Grail: the Vince Lombardi trophy."
....

Reached at his office Wednesday afternoon, Bagneris said that he won't hold any jury trials next week because of the Saints making their first-ever Super Bowl appearance.

"After the victory, everyone will be in a really good mood," Bagneris said. Asked if he expects the Saints to beat the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 7, the judge nearly scoffed.

"How could anyone doubt that, after watching such a divine intervention on Sunday," he said, referring to the Saints' win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Bagneris set a new trial date for Feb. 9, exactly one week before Mardi Gras.

I dunno. A week before Mardi Gras? If the trial goes into the height of the Mardi Gras season....

Realists know that between Thanksgiving and the beginning of the Lenten period, there's no good time to do business in New Orleans or south Louisiana.

Thanks to Paul (A.) for the link.

A SONG TO INSPIRE...

Ormonde at Thrugh the Dust posted a song to inspire the Saints to victory in the Superbowl.

WHO'S INTERESTED IN A BILLBOARD?

Love the pic.

Thanks to Paul (A.).

EXERCISE FOR PEOPLE OVER 40

I tried it; I liked it--you will too!!


The older we get the more important it is to incorporate exercise into our daily routine. This is necessary to maintain cardiovascular health and maintain muscle mass.

If you're over 50, you might want to take it easy at first, then do more repetitions as you become more proficient and build stamina.


Always consult your doctor before starting any exercise program!


SCROLL DOWN.............











NOW SCROLL UP..

That's enough for the first day. Great job.

Have a glass of wine.


Don't blame me. Blame Doug.

WHO DAT?™ WEDDING AND HONEYMOON

From the Daily Comet:

A lot of couples dream about their wedding, but Jaime Davis Triche and her new husband, Jamie Triche, have been dreaming about a Saints Super Bowl. The couple were married Jan. 22, and there was only one way to spend their honeymoon: cheering the Saints to victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

The Houma couple, who have been together eight years, have spent much of their time together enjoying a shared passion for the New Orleans Saints.

Both Jaime and Jamie say they've been Saints fans since they were children.

The Triches spend most Sundays cheering on the Saints at Spahr's Seafood restaurant, where Mr. Triche is known for doing cartwheels around the restaurant every time the Saints win a game.
....

Many of their wedding guests, knowing the couple's intense Saints' fever, gave them housewares decorated with fleurs-de-lis. But Mrs. Triche said her stepfather had a special gift to start their life together right: tickets to the next day's playoff game, when the Saints would play the Vikings to determine which team would head to the Super Bowl.

Congratulations Jamie and Jaime. May you have many more happy years together cheering on the the Saints.

You, my readers, are probably tiring of the endless Saints talk. I freely admit that I may have who datted™ my blog nearly to death right about now.

ABOUT DA NFL AND WHO DAT?

Attorney General Buddy Caldwell said he had a conference call with the NFL's general counsel to discuss cease-and-desist letters some Louisiana T-shirt makers received from the league. The letters demanded they stop selling shirts featuring the phrase that's part of a popular cheer by Saints fans, citing trademark infringement.

"They've conceded and they've said they have no intention of claiming the fleur-de-lis, which would be ridiculous, or the 'Who Dat,' which would be equally ridiculous," Caldwell said in an interview. The fleur-de-lis is a traditional symbol of New Orleans that's featured on Saints helmets.
....

Lauren Thom, owner of the Fleurty Girl T-shirt shop in New Orleans, said she's changed the product description of her "Who Dat" shirts after getting a letter from the NFL demanding she quit selling them. She's sold out of her stock and is now managing back orders.

"Yes it disrupted business, but it's been kind of great as well. We've had lines of people waiting to buy our merchandise," Thom said. "One lady told me she wanted to buy anything in the store that was not NFL-licensed. I told her 'that's everything in the store!"'

"What started out as a letter that scared the bejesus out of me, has turned out to be the best thing ever for my business," she said.

Seems that a good many folks shared our desire - no official NFL stuff. The shop in Jefferson Parish where we purchased the items in the picture above was doing a brisk business while were there. We purchased our yard sign at the shop, along with a T-shirt for Grandpère and a pewter butter dish with a fleur-de-lis handle on the cover for me.

Story from the AP. Thanks to Ann for the link.

ABOUT THAT $3 MILLION "BRIBE", JIMMY...

Appearing on Fox News' Hannity following his arrest for charges relating to an alleged plot involving Sen. Mary Landrieu's phones, James O'Keefe repeatedly falsely suggested that Landrieu had received a $300 million bribe in return for a vote on health care reform legislation. In fact, Landrieu did not receive $300 million; rather, the Senate version of the health care bill included a provision that could give $300 million to Louisiana Medicaid to deal with the fallout from Hurricane Katrina.

Pipsqueak James (The Pimp) O'Keefe is getting on my nerves. Who would ever believe that he is a pimp, anyway?

Republican Senator David Vitter said:

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said Landrieu's actions and the controversy that followed it hurt the merits and prospects of state congressional members to securing future federal Medicaid dollars.

"I'm afraid that legitimate arguments in favor of the Louisiana hurricane-Medicaid fix will never be focused on now because of the deal-making over the Obama health-care bill," Vitter said.

Republican Governor Bobby Jindal said:

Without Landrieu's language, Louisiana's federal assistance for Medicaid will be cut because the state's post-Hurricane Katrina economic surge temporarily drove up average income in the state because of government aid and high-paying reconstruction jobs. The federal share of Medicaid aid is higher for states with lower average incomes. State officials have argued the state shouldn't be penalized for an artificial, temporary per-capita income boost.

"Louisiana only asked to stay where we were; to have the same payment schedule that we've always had," Landrieu said.

Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration and much of the state congressional delegation have publicly sought a fix to the temporary drop in federal Medicaid match money for Louisiana, though Jindal and most of the state's congressmen oppose the Democrat's health care bill.

Republican Louisiana Secretary of Health and Hospitals said:

While the Republican National Committee immediately charged that Landrieu has made a "backroom deal with (Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid for her support of the government takeover of our health care system,'' Alan Levine, Louisiana secretary of health and hospitals in the Jindal administration, said that even those who oppose the bill ought to be grateful that Landrieu used her leverage to try to fix the state's so-called "FMAP'' problem.

"Look,'' said Levine, who has been lobbying the administration and Congress on the FMAP issue for eight months, "it's good to have a senator in a position to be able to make demands like that.''

"While I don't support the bill, she is doing the best she can to help the state, and she should be applauded,'' he said.

No bribe, Jimmy. An earmark maybe, but an earmark that Mary Landrieu did right to insist upon. My necessity is your earmark and vice versa. I'm just saying.

From MediaMatters

AGING

A group of 40 year-old buddies discuss and discuss where they should go for dinner. Finally, it is agreed upon that they should eat at the Gausthof zum Lowen restaurant because the waitresses there have low cut blouses and nice breasts.

10 years later, at 50 years of age, the group meets again and once again they discuss and discuss where they should have supper. Finally, it is agreed upon that they should go to the Gausthof zum Lowen because the food there is very good and the wine selection is good also.

10 years later at 60 years of age, the group meets and once again they discuss and discuss where they should eat. Finally, it is agreed upon that they should go to the Gausthof zum Lowen because they can eat there in peace and quiet and the restaurant is smoke free.

10 years later, at 70 years of age, the group meets again and once again they consider where they should meet for supper. Finally, it is agreed upon that they should eat at the Gausthof zum Lowen because the restaurant is wheel chair accessible and they even have an elevator.

10 years later, at 80 years of age, the group meets, and once again they discuss where they should have dinner. Finally, it is agreed upon that they should try the Gausthof zum Lowen since they have never been there before.

Thanks to Doug and Ann.

WENCHOSTER CALENDAR - FEBRUARY

Feast of St Alfred-cum-Chasuble, 1902




Shown above is the official calendar from the Diocese of Wenchoster. The feast days are somewhat different from the usual Episcopal/Anglican calendar and include saints of whom I have never heard, although I'm sure they're quite worthy of honor - although I confess to a small doubt about St Bernard the Butcher.

As usual, click on the pictures for the larger view.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - JESUS SAYS "TAKE THIS BREAD..."

I've never been quite the same since I read Sara Miles' Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion. If you haven't read the book, I recommend it highly. Sara tells the powerful and moving story of her initial conversion and the manner in which she continued to grow and live out her transformation. Secular and unbaptized, Sara's conversion began when she walked into St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco and took Communion for the first time.

Of that moment, Sara says:

Eating Jesus, as I did that day to my great astonishment led me against all my expectations to a faith I'd scorned and work I'd never imagined. The mysterious sacrament turned out to be not at symbolic wafer at all but actual food - indeed, the bread of life. In that shocking moment of communion, filled with deep desire to reach for and become part of a body, I realized that what I'd been doing with my life all along was what I was meant to do: feed people.

Sara still serves at St. Gregory of Nyssa as Director of Ministry and is the founder of the Friday Food Pantry at the church.

Sara's book, which I read over a year ago, affected me profoundly and led to today's longish "Thought for the Day".

Holy Communion is the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. What human, be it the pope on down to the lowliest of priests and lay ministers, has the right to withhold the Body and Blood of Christ from another human? None! Not one! The Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ are to be freely given to all who desire them.

Sara has a new book out titled Jesus Freak. Fr Jake posted a review.

Some of you may recall our conversation a couple of years ago regarding Sara Miles' book Take This Bread.
....

I'm pleased to be able to announce that Sara has completed a new book; Jesus Freak: Feeding - Healing - Raising the Dead. It will be out next month, but you can pre-order it now.

I was fortunate enough to receive an early copy, and just finished reading it. I highly recommend it.

Read the rest of the book review at Fr Jake's. I haven't read Jesus Freak yet, but I've ordered the book, and I will read it.