Today [Tomorrow] is the feast day of John Donne.
From the Lectionary:
"All mankind is one volume. When one man dies, one chapter is torn out of the book and translated into a better language. And every chapter must be so translated. God employs several translators. Some pieces are translated by age, some by sickness, some by war, some by justice. But God's hand shall bind up all our scattered leaves again for that library where every book shall lie open to another."
In light of the previous discussion here about the Alpha Series and in light of the fact that I am a retired librarian, you can guess that these words of Donne speak to my heart.
I like this from James Kiefer:
...he saw in his wife Anne (as Dante had earlier seen in Beatrice) a glimpse of the glory of God, and in human love a revelation of the nature of Divine Love. His poetry, mostly written before his ordination, includes poems both sacred and secular, full of wit, puns, paradoxes, and obscure allusions at whose meanings we can sometimes only guess, presenting amorous experience in religious terms and devotional experience in erotic terms, so that I have seen one poem of his both in a manual of devotion and in a pornography collection.
Reminds me of "Song of Songs".
Of course, I can't leave off without this quote from Donne, which is also pertinant to the Alpha discussion:
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promentory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death dimishes me because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
The entire "Meditation 17" which includes the above quote is well worth reading at the Lectionary site. In the Bible readings appointed for the day, I find, once again, the beautiful words from the "Book of Wisdom":
For wisdom is more mobile than any motion;
because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things.
For she is a breath of the power of God,
and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty;
therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her.
For she is a reflection of eternal light,
a spotless mirror of the working of God,
and an image of his goodness.
Although she is but one, she can do all things,
and while remaining in herself, she renews all things;
in every generation she passes into holy souls
and makes them friends of God, and prophets;
for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.
What a feast of words for the feast of the day!
PRAYER:
Almighty God, the root and fountain of all being: Open our eyes to see, with your servant John Donne, that whatever has any being is a mirror in which we may behold you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
UPDATE: Julie+ in the comments tells me that I have jumped a week ahead in the celebration of John Donne's feast day. She is absolutely correct.
But I needed John Donne today, and God knew that. "The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:8
What are calendars to the Spirit?
And didn't I ever get the jump on everyone? Ha!
UPDATE 2: I leave you with John Donne once again on the day before the proper day of his feast, as I head off for New Orleans. Au revoir.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Alpha Series - Part 5
Last night, the topic of the Alpha video was "Why and How Should I Tell Others About Jesus?" I liked this video better than some of the others, and, this time, I did not leave feeling grumpy.
With the previous videos, I sat there listening to this gentle man talking about giving one's life to Jesus and just feeling put off by the whole experience. The others in the group seemed to like it, and Nicky Gumble said many things that were right, therefore I felt guilty about my antagonism, which, in turn, left me feeling angry and diminished in my sense of myself.
The video we saw Thursday did not have that effect. Nicky said a few silly things like giving the exact number of how many thousands of times the word "go" appeard in the Old and New Testaments, as he was talking about the Great Commission to go out and preach the Gospel. The video did not include quite so many camera shots of rapt listeners to coach us on how to react. Yes, I'm cynical.
Nicky told funny stories about his clumsiness in sharing his faith in his initial fervor, wanting everyone to know Jesus, once he gave himself to Jesus. He cautioned strongly against putting pressure on people and advised persuasion instead.
One of the difficulties that I have with Alpha may be that I grew up in the Christian faith and never had what I could call a "Come to Jesus" moment. Over the years, the fervor of my faith has waxed and waned, and my faith trajectory has not always been onward and upward to a closer relationship with God. Mine has been more like hills and valleys. I do realize that folks can't come to faith without hearing the Gospel, and I sometimes feel that I'm not really doing my part in fulfilling the Great Commission.
The discussion afterward was lively and interesting. Why was Alpha better for me tonight? I don't know really. Maybe I was different. I can't say that it's something I would want to repeat, but I'm pleased that the final experience was more positive than the others.
With the previous videos, I sat there listening to this gentle man talking about giving one's life to Jesus and just feeling put off by the whole experience. The others in the group seemed to like it, and Nicky Gumble said many things that were right, therefore I felt guilty about my antagonism, which, in turn, left me feeling angry and diminished in my sense of myself.
The video we saw Thursday did not have that effect. Nicky said a few silly things like giving the exact number of how many thousands of times the word "go" appeard in the Old and New Testaments, as he was talking about the Great Commission to go out and preach the Gospel. The video did not include quite so many camera shots of rapt listeners to coach us on how to react. Yes, I'm cynical.
Nicky told funny stories about his clumsiness in sharing his faith in his initial fervor, wanting everyone to know Jesus, once he gave himself to Jesus. He cautioned strongly against putting pressure on people and advised persuasion instead.
One of the difficulties that I have with Alpha may be that I grew up in the Christian faith and never had what I could call a "Come to Jesus" moment. Over the years, the fervor of my faith has waxed and waned, and my faith trajectory has not always been onward and upward to a closer relationship with God. Mine has been more like hills and valleys. I do realize that folks can't come to faith without hearing the Gospel, and I sometimes feel that I'm not really doing my part in fulfilling the Great Commission.
The discussion afterward was lively and interesting. Why was Alpha better for me tonight? I don't know really. Maybe I was different. I can't say that it's something I would want to repeat, but I'm pleased that the final experience was more positive than the others.
Psalm 95
O come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
Psalm 95:1-5
From the Lectionary.
Thanks be to God for a good report from my doctor on my mammogram yesterday. It's been 21 years since my encounter with the big C, but I still get quite anxious each year when I have to be tested.
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
Psalm 95:1-5
From the Lectionary.
Thanks be to God for a good report from my doctor on my mammogram yesterday. It's been 21 years since my encounter with the big C, but I still get quite anxious each year when I have to be tested.
Our Lady Of The Driveway - Part 1
Athenae and Scout are already in New Orleans. We leave after lunch today to meet them. (See my post Tripping Out) Go to First Draft to see Athenae's picture of Our Lady Of The Driveway and other pictures from the city.
UPDATE: Statues of Mary stand in the front gardens of houses all over New Orleans and south Louisiana.
UPDATE: Statues of Mary stand in the front gardens of houses all over New Orleans and south Louisiana.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Madcap Lifestyle
KJ, in the comments to my Tripping Out post said:
Slow down, young lady! Talk about your madcap lifestyles!
KJ, my dear, I'm forced to request that you not pre-categorize my day, because your pre-categorizations COME TRUE!
Today I took my granddaughter to a counselling session around lunch time. The city workers are resurfacing a main street in my town, therefore, I am directed to detour through traffic, traffic, traffic in order to get across town to the school. My granddaughter misses the school lunch, so we pick up her lunch at a fast-food outlet, which she then eats in the car and in the counsellor's office. Today, instead of food from the uncrowded Golden Arches, she wanted to go to Wendy's, which is located near the university and the hospital, on the other side of town. Bad mistake. The car line was out in the street, so I decided to go inside to order and turned in. Whoops! I'm in the EXIT drive! "Too bad, too bad, people, get out of my way!"
I parked and we went in. Long lines inside too. We took our place in the maze and waited our turn. By the time we reached the counter to order, we were late to the counsellor's office. Whoops, again! I don't have her number. I called my son, in all the din, and asked him to call and say we'll be a little late. We finally got our food and headed to the office, where I let my granddaughter out to go in.
I found a place to park, but, alas, I had to parallel park, which skill I have never learned in all my 72 years. I didn't have to do it in my one and only driving test 50 years ago, and I have never learned. I have learned avoidance of parallel parking, but today it was not possible. There was a line of cars waiting behind me, so I pulled in front end first instead of doing the proper backing in maneuver. It was back and forth, back and forth, 8 or 10 times or more, trying to get close enough to the curb. Finally, I just quit, got out, and locked the car. It was sticking out into the street too much, so I said a prayer that no one would clip me while I was in the office. No one did. Thanks be to God.
All I have left to do today is pick up my grandchildren from school, stay with them until their father comes home from work, and head to church for Evensong, soup and sandwiches, and Alpha.
Madcap? Yes. Thanks, KJ.
Slow down, young lady! Talk about your madcap lifestyles!
KJ, my dear, I'm forced to request that you not pre-categorize my day, because your pre-categorizations COME TRUE!
Today I took my granddaughter to a counselling session around lunch time. The city workers are resurfacing a main street in my town, therefore, I am directed to detour through traffic, traffic, traffic in order to get across town to the school. My granddaughter misses the school lunch, so we pick up her lunch at a fast-food outlet, which she then eats in the car and in the counsellor's office. Today, instead of food from the uncrowded Golden Arches, she wanted to go to Wendy's, which is located near the university and the hospital, on the other side of town. Bad mistake. The car line was out in the street, so I decided to go inside to order and turned in. Whoops! I'm in the EXIT drive! "Too bad, too bad, people, get out of my way!"
I parked and we went in. Long lines inside too. We took our place in the maze and waited our turn. By the time we reached the counter to order, we were late to the counsellor's office. Whoops, again! I don't have her number. I called my son, in all the din, and asked him to call and say we'll be a little late. We finally got our food and headed to the office, where I let my granddaughter out to go in.
I found a place to park, but, alas, I had to parallel park, which skill I have never learned in all my 72 years. I didn't have to do it in my one and only driving test 50 years ago, and I have never learned. I have learned avoidance of parallel parking, but today it was not possible. There was a line of cars waiting behind me, so I pulled in front end first instead of doing the proper backing in maneuver. It was back and forth, back and forth, 8 or 10 times or more, trying to get close enough to the curb. Finally, I just quit, got out, and locked the car. It was sticking out into the street too much, so I said a prayer that no one would clip me while I was in the office. No one did. Thanks be to God.
All I have left to do today is pick up my grandchildren from school, stay with them until their father comes home from work, and head to church for Evensong, soup and sandwiches, and Alpha.
Madcap? Yes. Thanks, KJ.
A Franciscan Blessing
May God bless you with discomfort ... at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger ... at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears ... to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough Holy foolishness ... to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done! Amen!
May God bless you with anger ... at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears ... to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough Holy foolishness ... to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done! Amen!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tripping Out
On Friday, my husband and I will be heading to New Orleans for a blogger meet-up with two bloggers from the mighty First Draft and others. My computer is large and sitting on a desk, so it will not be going with me. I will very likely be silent until Sunday night or Monday morning. (Do I detect sighs of relief?)
Athenae and Scout Prime from First Draft will be in our group and will blog our visit. Although she is from Wisconsin, Scout has taken up the cause of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast as though she were a native. We owe her a huge debt. Check in at FD if you want to monitor my antics in New Orleans. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
It won't be all play, as we'll spend Saturday gutting a house under the guidance of ACORN. I am ordered to wear jeans and work boots for the work day. I don't have work boots. I have garden boots and dress boots and athletic shoes. I will throw the garden boots in the car and see what happens.
ACORN will provide respirators. I don't know how much knocking down of walls I will be able to do, but I'm told that I can go get the lunch and carry water, if I fail at everything else. I can do that.
Friday night we'll go to a crawfish boil and then to hear some music. Saturday is the work day. Saturday night is a bloggers dinner, no doubt including the great New Orleans bloggers, whose names you can find in the blogroll at First Draft. Sunday we'll take the bus tour to view the devastation which still remains, of which there is much to see.
I'll give you my version of the weekend when I return.
Athenae and Scout Prime from First Draft will be in our group and will blog our visit. Although she is from Wisconsin, Scout has taken up the cause of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast as though she were a native. We owe her a huge debt. Check in at FD if you want to monitor my antics in New Orleans. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
It won't be all play, as we'll spend Saturday gutting a house under the guidance of ACORN. I am ordered to wear jeans and work boots for the work day. I don't have work boots. I have garden boots and dress boots and athletic shoes. I will throw the garden boots in the car and see what happens.
ACORN will provide respirators. I don't know how much knocking down of walls I will be able to do, but I'm told that I can go get the lunch and carry water, if I fail at everything else. I can do that.
Friday night we'll go to a crawfish boil and then to hear some music. Saturday is the work day. Saturday night is a bloggers dinner, no doubt including the great New Orleans bloggers, whose names you can find in the blogroll at First Draft. Sunday we'll take the bus tour to view the devastation which still remains, of which there is much to see.
I'll give you my version of the weekend when I return.
THE GUIDING LIGHT OF ETERNITY
Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet
O God, who broughtst me from the rest of last night
Unto the joyous light of this day,
Be Thou bringing me from the new light of this day
Unto the guiding light of eternity.
Oh! from the new light of this day
Unto the guiding light of eternity.
From the Carmina Gadelica.
The Carmina Gadelica is a collection of prayers, hymns, charms, incantations, blessings, runes, and other literary-folkloric poems and songs collected and translated by amateur folklorist Alexander Carmichael (1832–1912) in the Gaelic-speaking regions of Scotland between 1855 and 1910.
From Wiki.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Controversy In Colorado Diocese
From CBS News online:
Colorado's largest Episcopal church was left in chaos after leaders voted to leave the denomination and the bishop responded by dismissing the parish's leadership.
The controversy at Colorado Springs' Grace Episcopal Church and St. Stephen's Parish is the latest to roil the Episcopal Church following the national denomination's acceptance of homosexuality.
....
But Bishop Robert O'Neill rejected the move, dismissing the local leaders and saying the Colorado Springs parish would remain part of the Episcopal Church.
"The fact is people may leave the Episcopal Church but parishes cannot," O'Neill said in a statement.
The church's longtime rector, the Rev. Donald Armstrong III, who was suspended for allegedly mishandling funds, said O'Neill no longer has jurisdiction over the parish.
....
The leaders of Grace and St. Stephen's voted to join the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, a missionary diocese of the Church of Nigeria led by Archbishop Peter J. Akinola.
It's difficult for me to believe that members (or should I say former members?) of the Episcopal Church want to align themselves with Archbishop Akinola, knowing all that we know about his machinations in Nigeria and here in this country. I suppose that homosexuality and same-gender sex are the greatest sins and perhaps the only sins. I'm left close to speechless for commentary on this news. I know these are not the first parishes to join the "missionary diocese of the Church of Nigeria led by Archbishop Peter J. Akinola," but, what would it take for the folks in the US to say, "Enough!" We can't do this."
UPDATE: Here's a new letter from Bishop O'Neill to the parishioners of Grace and St. Stephen's concerning the specific allegations against the Rev. Donald Armstrong III.
Hat tip to Dr. Primrose in the comments at Of Course, I Could Be Wrong.
Colorado's largest Episcopal church was left in chaos after leaders voted to leave the denomination and the bishop responded by dismissing the parish's leadership.
The controversy at Colorado Springs' Grace Episcopal Church and St. Stephen's Parish is the latest to roil the Episcopal Church following the national denomination's acceptance of homosexuality.
....
But Bishop Robert O'Neill rejected the move, dismissing the local leaders and saying the Colorado Springs parish would remain part of the Episcopal Church.
"The fact is people may leave the Episcopal Church but parishes cannot," O'Neill said in a statement.
The church's longtime rector, the Rev. Donald Armstrong III, who was suspended for allegedly mishandling funds, said O'Neill no longer has jurisdiction over the parish.
....
The leaders of Grace and St. Stephen's voted to join the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, a missionary diocese of the Church of Nigeria led by Archbishop Peter J. Akinola.
It's difficult for me to believe that members (or should I say former members?) of the Episcopal Church want to align themselves with Archbishop Akinola, knowing all that we know about his machinations in Nigeria and here in this country. I suppose that homosexuality and same-gender sex are the greatest sins and perhaps the only sins. I'm left close to speechless for commentary on this news. I know these are not the first parishes to join the "missionary diocese of the Church of Nigeria led by Archbishop Peter J. Akinola," but, what would it take for the folks in the US to say, "Enough!" We can't do this."
UPDATE: Here's a new letter from Bishop O'Neill to the parishioners of Grace and St. Stephen's concerning the specific allegations against the Rev. Donald Armstrong III.
Hat tip to Dr. Primrose in the comments at Of Course, I Could Be Wrong.
From The Episcopal Diocese Of Louisiana
A Statement from Bishop Jenkins
Having returned to Louisiana from the meeting of the House of Bishops, and in light of the statements issued by the majority of the House, I would like to share with you the following brief statement in anticipation of a more expansive reflection to the people Louisiana at a later date:
As Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana I reaffirm my commitment to constituent membership in the Anglican Communion, and to working positively and cooperatively in communion with other members of the Episcopal Church and sister Churches within the global Anglican community.
Bishop Jenkins has previously made a similar statement. I await his "more expansive reflection". He speaks of his "commitment to constituent membership in the Anglican Communion" and "to working positively and cooperatively in communion with other members of the Episcopal Church and sister Churches within the global Anglican community."
Is there a difference in emphasis or meaning in "commitment" and "working positively and cooperatively"? I don't know. Parsing the bishop's words in this manner won't enlighten me further, but, nevertheless, I try.
I have not yet received an answer to my letter to Bishop Jenkins, dated March 5, 2007, in which I asked several questions of him.
Having returned to Louisiana from the meeting of the House of Bishops, and in light of the statements issued by the majority of the House, I would like to share with you the following brief statement in anticipation of a more expansive reflection to the people Louisiana at a later date:
As Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana I reaffirm my commitment to constituent membership in the Anglican Communion, and to working positively and cooperatively in communion with other members of the Episcopal Church and sister Churches within the global Anglican community.
Bishop Jenkins has previously made a similar statement. I await his "more expansive reflection". He speaks of his "commitment to constituent membership in the Anglican Communion" and "to working positively and cooperatively in communion with other members of the Episcopal Church and sister Churches within the global Anglican community."
Is there a difference in emphasis or meaning in "commitment" and "working positively and cooperatively"? I don't know. Parsing the bishop's words in this manner won't enlighten me further, but, nevertheless, I try.
I have not yet received an answer to my letter to Bishop Jenkins, dated March 5, 2007, in which I asked several questions of him.
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