PLEASE PRAY...

...for JCF's father:

Also, would all please pray for my dad (and myself)? He fell yesterday (natch, he didn't tell me till today >:-/). The ER xrays were inconclusive on his wrist, but it's splinted, and we'll go for further evaluation tomorrow.

He's not in too much pain (I think!), but I'm feeling the after-effects of the ~STRESS~.

Thank you.

...for David@Montreal on the loss of his cat, Georges:

the cat pic on your blog was wonderful- and purrfect timing as when i got home from family Christmas night it was to find that Georges- my old orange tabby had passed on. Georges' decline was relatively sudden, and thankfully appeared to be painless.We had been together at least 12 years and he had previously been with a Canadian soldier who gave him up when she was posted to Afghanistan.

...for Gracie, Fran's family dog, who is doing poorly, and for Fran, her husband, and her step-daughter. The family have suffered loss lately, and another loss will be hard on them.

...for members of my family who will face difficult days today and tomorrow.

...for Lee (Caminante) to find a place to live SOON and a parish that needs her.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfil now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

'DREW BREES BREAKS MARINO'S RECORD; SAINTS 45, FALCONS 16'

Drew Brees and all da Saints are da best! Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints? Who dat?

From NOLA.com:

So the 27-year old NFL passing record falls, and so did the Atlanta Falcons.

The New Orleans Saints, behind Drew Brees' 307 yards passing and four touchdowns, beat NFC South rivals Atlanta 45-16 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Brees broke the NFL single-season passing mark of 5,084 set by Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins in 1984. Brees has 5,087.

The Saints won the division with the win and are at worst the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. They can get the two seed with a win against Carolina next week at the Dome, and a loss by the San Francisco 49ers, who play the St. Louis Rams.

I'm a fair weather football fan. When the team is on a roll, I start to pay attention. Drew Brees is a class act.

MY SON'S CATS WHEN THEIR HUMANS ARE AWAY

 

Stormy and Wendy wait by the window for my son, granddaughter, and grandson to return home.

Brilliant ballooning by MadPriest.

ON THE FEAST OF STEPHEN FROM DAVID@MONTREAL

A Blessed Feast of St. Stephen, beloved Giants of Faith & Practice

the following text (see below)just came across my desk and I couldn't help but pass it on
i would also ask your prayers for the people of northern Nigeria, where several churches were bombed on the feast of the Incarnation.
and for the people of Syria, as things threaten to get even more violent with the arrival of the investigators from the Arba League

love always- always Love

David@Montreal

Letter Written by Fra Giovanni

I am your friend and my love for you goes deep. There is nothing I can give you which you have not got, but there is much, very much, that, while I cannot give it, you can take.

No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven!

No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present little instant. Take peace!

The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within our reach is joy. There is radiance and glory in the darkness could we but see - and to see we have only to look. I beseech you to look!

Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by the covering, cast them away as ugly, or heavy or hard. Remove the covering and you will find beneath it a living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power.

Welcome it, grasp it, touch the angel's hand that brings it to you. Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or a duty, believe me, that angel's hand is there, the gift is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing presence. Our joys, too, be not content with them as joys. They, too, conceal diviner gifts.

Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty - beneath its covering - that you will find earth but cloaks your heaven.

Courage, then, to claim it, that is all. But courage you have, and the knowledge that we are all pilgrims together, wending through unknown country, home.

And so, at this time, I greet you. Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you now and forever, the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.

This letter was written by Fra Giovanni Giocondo to his friend, Countess Allagia Aldobrandeschi on Christmas Eve, 1513.

Born in Venice, Giocondo would become a priest, a scholar, an architect and a teacher. He was indeed a true 'renaissance man.'

In 1496 Giocondo was invited to France by the King and made royal architect. If you've ever been to Paris and walked across the beautiful bridges Pont Notre-Dame or the Petit Pont -- both of these were designed by Giocondo.

Thank you, David, for passing on the beautiful letter from Fra Giovanni.

Please pray for the people of Nigeria, especially those in the North, where most of the violence is centered.

PRAYER

O God, you have bound the inhabitants of Nigeria together in a common life. Help all your people in the country to confront one another without hatred, bitterness, religious strife, or violence and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect to bring peace to their land. Amen.

FEAST DAY OF STEPHEN, DEACON AND MARTYR

ANGELICO, Fra - "The Stoning of St Stephen" - 1447-49
Fresco, Cappella Niccolina, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican

Acts 7:51-60

‘You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are for ever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.’

Who wants to hear such a sermon? As Padre Mickey says, "Stephen was quite a preacher. His sermons brought folks to repentance and to seek baptism, but his sermons could also really anger those in authority. One day he went too far and was stoned by a mob who had become enraged by his sermon."

When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.

Forgiveness again. Lovely as an ideal, but not easy to put into practice. Lord, forgive my unforgiveness.

Collect of the Day: St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer)

"Good King Wenceslas" - York Minster

Image from the Web Gallery of Art.

IN THE SPIRIT OF PEACE AND GOOD WILL?

The Most Rev Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
United States of America

Thursday 15th December 2011

Dear Bishop Katharine,

Advent greetings to you in the name of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It is with a heavy heart that I write you informing you of our decision as a House of Bishops to withdraw your invitation to the Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS). We acknowledge your personal efforts to spearhead prayer and support campaigns on behalf of the ECS and remain very grateful for this attention you and your church have paid to Sudan and South Sudan. However, it remains difficult for us to invite you when elements of your church continue to flagrantly disregard biblical teaching on human sexuality.

Find attached a statement further explaining our position as a province.

(Signed)

--(The Most Rev.) Dr. Daniel Deng Bul Yak, Archbishop Primate and Metropolitan of the Province of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan and Bishop of the Diocese of Juba

Peace and blessings to you in the spirit of the holy season, Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul.

Most dioceses in the Episcopal Church will very likely continue their relationships with dioceses and parishes in Sudan. By doing so, they will witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Initial responses from dioceses in the Episcopal Church may be found at The Lead.

H/T to Simon Sarmiento at Thinking Anglicans.

I WALK BY NIGHT

Above you see me modeling one of my Christmas presents, an orange reflector vest. The purpose of the vest is to keep me from being run down by a car when I take my nightly walk.

As you see above, the reflector vest works. I'm not sure what the drivers will think I am, but perhaps not knowing is best, because they may avoid me because I could damage their cars.

UPDATE: A more ethereal view from my daughter-in law. LOL!

THE LOUISIANA GANG IN TWO PARTS

 

The two younger generations.

 

The youngest and the oldest generations.

CHRISTMAS 2011

STORY OF THE DAY - SUCCESSFUL HOLIDAY

Rules for a successful holiday: 1. Get
together with the family 2. Relive old
times 3. Get out before it blows

From StoryPeople.

Pictured above are my grandchildren from holiday gatherings in the past.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE!

UPDATE: The bald-haired man is not my grandchild.

O HOLY NIGHT!

CORREGGIO - Nativity (Holy Night) - 1528-30
Gemäldegalerie, Dresden

The Collect

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Isaiah 9:2-7

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness--
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Psalm 96

Sing to the LORD a new song; *
sing to the LORD, all the whole earth.

Sing to the LORD and bless his Name; *
proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations *
and his wonders among all peoples.

For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; *
he is more to be feared than all gods.

As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
but it is the LORD who made the heavens.

Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *
Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!

Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples; *
ascribe to the LORD honor and power.

Ascribe to the LORD the honor due his Name; *
bring offerings and come into his courts.

Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; *
let the whole earth tremble before him.

Tell it out among the nations: "The LORD is King! *
he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity."

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
let the sea thunder and all that is in it; *
let the field be joyful and all that is therein.

Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
before the LORD when he comes, *
when he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness *
and the peoples with his truth.

Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Luke 2:1-14(15-20)

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

[When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. ]

O Holy Night: Kings College Choir, Cambridge

I WISH YOU ALL A BLESSED AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

MAY THE LIGHT OF CHRIST, THE NEWBORN KING, PIERCE THE DARKNESS AND FILL YOU WITH JOY!

Image from the Web Gallery of Art.