On Endings and Goodbyes:
1. Best ending of a movie/book/TV show CHEERS- same simply looking at the door and saying "Sorry, we're closed"
2. Worst ending of a movie/book/TV show Seinfeld. THe whole final episode was really kind of lame.
3. Tell about a memorable goodbye you've experienced. When I left Kids Kottage, the farewell party was truly memorable
4. Is it true that "all good things must come to an end"? WEll all human things do. Mind you as people of faith we remember taht coming to an end is not necessarily the end.
5. "Everything I ever let go of has claw marks on it." --Anne LamottDiscuss. Makes sense to me. Letting go is terribly hard after all. ANd sometimes only claw marks is a big improvement
Bonus: "It isn't over until the fat lady sings." I've never loved this expression. So propose an alternative: "It isn't over until the eschaton comes"
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Memory, wish we still had one
AT least one memory between us would be nice.
THis afternoon as we pull into town, almost to the motel, I turn to the beloved and ask "Did you put in the swimming bag?" (we always try to choose a motel with a pool for the girls to go swimming) Oops! Neither of us remember putting it in.
So we decide to head straight to Wal-Mart and get something to swim in before going to the motel. We find adult swimsuits and shorts outfits and head back to the van. Open the hatch and what does the beloved point out???
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
There, right beside the hatch is, you guessed it, the swimming bag.
Oh well, at least now we have extras.
THis afternoon as we pull into town, almost to the motel, I turn to the beloved and ask "Did you put in the swimming bag?" (we always try to choose a motel with a pool for the girls to go swimming) Oops! Neither of us remember putting it in.
So we decide to head straight to Wal-Mart and get something to swim in before going to the motel. We find adult swimsuits and shorts outfits and head back to the van. Open the hatch and what does the beloved point out???
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
There, right beside the hatch is, you guessed it, the swimming bag.
Oh well, at least now we have extras.
Meetings Remembered
Our Presbytery always holds its fall meeting the last full weekend of September. And since this year's calendar is exactly the same as it was in 2001, it was exactly six years ago to the day that I was preparing to attned my first meeting of this Presbytery, and also my first meeting of Presbytery as an ordained clergy-type-person.
There is of course always a sense of anxiety about "firsts". Will I fit in? Will I pick up on the "common knowledge"? Will I find a way to make a contribution? Will I annoy the power brokers? (this is the church after all) But as the meeting went by my anxieties were allayed, and to be honest the total anxiety level wasn't all that high.
As Presbytery meetings go this one was hardly unusual--for most people. But it will certainly be one I will remember. On Thursday evening, as I was waiting to be led to my billet, the door flew open and a "young" (remembering of course that anyone under 45 is young in church circles) woman-a lay rep from one of the big churches in the City-on-the-Lake (half the Presbytery churches are in that city)- came running in yelling "don't leave, don't leave! I'm here!". After she registered I stood and chatted with her for a while. Then we chatted off and on all weekend. Well I was chatting, apparently I was too obtuse to see what was really going on.
Saturday evening we spent the entire evening together and something started to click (hey I may be obtuse but not that bad). THen we sat together for worship and lunch on Sunday, said our "see you in February"'s and headed home.
A couple days later, as I was pondering sending an e-mail, one arrived for me. The rest, as they say, is history. 6 years after the day we met we have been married for 5 years and have 3 beautiful princesses. It was a Presbytery to remember for sure.
Oh and she had decided on THursday night what the end result of this would be--or at least so I am told.
There is of course always a sense of anxiety about "firsts". Will I fit in? Will I pick up on the "common knowledge"? Will I find a way to make a contribution? Will I annoy the power brokers? (this is the church after all) But as the meeting went by my anxieties were allayed, and to be honest the total anxiety level wasn't all that high.
As Presbytery meetings go this one was hardly unusual--for most people. But it will certainly be one I will remember. On Thursday evening, as I was waiting to be led to my billet, the door flew open and a "young" (remembering of course that anyone under 45 is young in church circles) woman-a lay rep from one of the big churches in the City-on-the-Lake (half the Presbytery churches are in that city)- came running in yelling "don't leave, don't leave! I'm here!". After she registered I stood and chatted with her for a while. Then we chatted off and on all weekend. Well I was chatting, apparently I was too obtuse to see what was really going on.
Saturday evening we spent the entire evening together and something started to click (hey I may be obtuse but not that bad). THen we sat together for worship and lunch on Sunday, said our "see you in February"'s and headed home.
A couple days later, as I was pondering sending an e-mail, one arrived for me. The rest, as they say, is history. 6 years after the day we met we have been married for 5 years and have 3 beautiful princesses. It was a Presbytery to remember for sure.
Oh and she had decided on THursday night what the end result of this would be--or at least so I am told.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
WCS/Thanksgiving Liturgy
October 7 is Worldwide Communion Sunday. In Canada it also happens to be Thanksgiving Sunday. Wanting to be ahead of the game (since Monday may be spent recovering from Presbytery) I did up the Order of Service early. Here are some Liturgy bits should you want them. We will be using the Deuteronomy and John passages for Thanksgiving Day with Psalm 137.
CALL TO WORSHIP
From street to street, town to town, nation to nation,
God’s people gather together in praise and worship.
In familiar surroundings and in foreign surroundings,
God’s people gather to sing and pray.
In a changing world,
We gather to give thanks to God who is constantly there.
OPENING PRAYER
God of harvest, God of life, we gather here to say thank-you for many things.
God of presence in times of change and times of stability, we gather here to seek the comfort of knowing you are with us.
God of bread, product of seeds scattered over the fields, fill us with hope in this hour.
God of the cup, fill our souls with the Spirit of Life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
PRAYER OF CONFESSION/ASSURANCE OF PARDON
God, you challenge us to give thanks throughout our lives.
But sometimes we find it hard to remember what we have to be thankful for.
As the world changes we find ourselves strangers in a strange land, more ready to lament than to sing songs of praise and thankfulness
Forgive our short-sightedness, our tendency to focus on what we have lost, our blindness to our abundance.
…time of reflection…
God has gifted us with many things. One of them is great, free-flowing forgiveness. We are reminded always of God’s ever-present and all-forgiving Love.
Thanks and praise to God! Amen.
COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
Here we have eaten and drunk, here we have been reminded that God is present.
Now we go out refreshed and energized to share God’s love with all we meet.
As you move from worship back into the world remember that the Triune God: Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, is with you always and all ways.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP
From street to street, town to town, nation to nation,
God’s people gather together in praise and worship.
In familiar surroundings and in foreign surroundings,
God’s people gather to sing and pray.
In a changing world,
We gather to give thanks to God who is constantly there.
OPENING PRAYER
God of harvest, God of life, we gather here to say thank-you for many things.
God of presence in times of change and times of stability, we gather here to seek the comfort of knowing you are with us.
God of bread, product of seeds scattered over the fields, fill us with hope in this hour.
God of the cup, fill our souls with the Spirit of Life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
PRAYER OF CONFESSION/ASSURANCE OF PARDON
God, you challenge us to give thanks throughout our lives.
But sometimes we find it hard to remember what we have to be thankful for.
As the world changes we find ourselves strangers in a strange land, more ready to lament than to sing songs of praise and thankfulness
Forgive our short-sightedness, our tendency to focus on what we have lost, our blindness to our abundance.
…time of reflection…
God has gifted us with many things. One of them is great, free-flowing forgiveness. We are reminded always of God’s ever-present and all-forgiving Love.
Thanks and praise to God! Amen.
COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
Here we have eaten and drunk, here we have been reminded that God is present.
Now we go out refreshed and energized to share God’s love with all we meet.
As you move from worship back into the world remember that the Triune God: Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, is with you always and all ways.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Note to Political Pollsters
Calling and asking me directly "Can So and So count on your vote?" will never gain my support.
ANd when I say I haven't decided who to vote for, continuing to push the issue is just going to turn me off more.
IF you want to encourage people to vote do that. If you want to gauge the amount of support your candidate has find a much more subtle way to do that.
ANd when I say I haven't decided who to vote for, continuing to push the issue is just going to turn me off more.
IF you want to encourage people to vote do that. If you want to gauge the amount of support your candidate has find a much more subtle way to do that.
Go Read This!
If the church were a cellphone commercial what would it be? What could it be?
TOday's post on this blog has a suggestion. And I have to agree.
TOday's post on this blog has a suggestion. And I have to agree.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Communion Prayer
Inviting
As the seed which was scattered to all corners of the field comes together to make bread on our table,
So God’s people gather from all corners of the world to share the great Banquet of thankfulness and hope.
At God’s table there are no divisions. At God’s table all are welcome to share in the bounty of abundant life.
Here at God’s table we join with all who seek to follow The Way. Here we taste the grace eternal. Here we know that God is Good.
Great Thanksgiving
The Spirit of the Living God be with you all
And also with you.
In this harvest season we pause to give thanks to God.
It is a good thing to give thanks for all God has given us.
God of growth, God of harvest, God of gifts, here we pause to give thanks for the abundance of our lives.
For the fruit of the earth, for the food on our tables, for the love of our brothers and sisters in faith around the world.
For the promise of hope in a world given to despair, for the possibility of peace in a world torn apart by violence,
For these, and many other, things we offer our thanks and praise.
We remember the stories of our forefathers and mothers in the faith,
People like Sarah and Abraham, Miriam and Moses, Peter and Mary,
Prophets and leaders and all who have proclaimed Your hope over the centuries.
We raise up the countless saints who have gone before us to teach about the possibilities of being your people.
And so we lift our voices in song, singing together the praises of ages (MV #203 tune: Kingsfold)
Remembering
In the middle of our thankfulness we give special thanks for a man from Nazareth, Jesus, the one we call Christ.
Child of Mary, child of grace, he came to teach about the wonders of Your love. He came to break down the walls of division among Your people.
As he ate with the despised and the least of his world he showed us what the Glorious Banquet of life could be like.
We give thanks for his witness and commitment to The Way. We give thanks for his healing of broken spirits and broken bodies.
We give thanks for his life, his death, and his resurrection.
Here, now, as we gather at the table to which Jesus calls us, we remember another table long ago and far away.
At that table Jesus gathered with friends to tell again the ancient story of liberation from bondage.
And then at the end of the meal he took bread, blessed it, broke it, and passed it among them saying:
This is my body, broken for all. Take, eat. And whenever you eat it remember what I have taught.
Then he took a cup of good wine, blessed it and passed it to them saying:
This is the seal of the new covenant. Take and drink and remember.
And so, God of Cross, Empty Tomb, and Banquet, we eat and drink and remember.
Giving thanks for the Love Jesus poured out on all he met: Jew and Gentile, sinner and saint, healthy and broken.
And in our remembering we sing the mystery of faith (MV #204 tune: Kingsfold)
Transforming
God, you call us to sing the songs of faith in places both familiar and strange. You call us to share the Banquet of faith with long time friends and new acquaintances.
Pour out your Spirit on this table and these people. AS we eat and drink may we feel the wind of the Spirit in our hair, the fire of the Spirit in our bellies, and the love of the Spirit in our hearts.
May the presence of the Spirit make this meal an occasion of transformation for we who gather to eat it together. Amen.
God of the Banquet that is and is to come, on this day we gather with people all around the world to share this meal.
Creator, our Source of Love; Christ, Love Incarnate: Spirit, Love’s flowing power be praised, now and forever.
And the people all sang: (MV #205 tune: Kingsfold)
Breaking, Pouring, Serving
The Bread we break is the Bread of Life.
The Cup we Share is the Cup of Love.
These are the gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Come and eat, the banquet awaits.
Closing
We have eaten, we have drunk, we have tasted your goodness. May this meal we have shared here today fill our souls with Love. May the meal we share with all the world fill the world with Hope. May we leave this table refreshed and replenished, ready to be recipients and agents of Grace. Amen
As the seed which was scattered to all corners of the field comes together to make bread on our table,
So God’s people gather from all corners of the world to share the great Banquet of thankfulness and hope.
At God’s table there are no divisions. At God’s table all are welcome to share in the bounty of abundant life.
Here at God’s table we join with all who seek to follow The Way. Here we taste the grace eternal. Here we know that God is Good.
Great Thanksgiving
The Spirit of the Living God be with you all
And also with you.
In this harvest season we pause to give thanks to God.
It is a good thing to give thanks for all God has given us.
God of growth, God of harvest, God of gifts, here we pause to give thanks for the abundance of our lives.
For the fruit of the earth, for the food on our tables, for the love of our brothers and sisters in faith around the world.
For the promise of hope in a world given to despair, for the possibility of peace in a world torn apart by violence,
For these, and many other, things we offer our thanks and praise.
We remember the stories of our forefathers and mothers in the faith,
People like Sarah and Abraham, Miriam and Moses, Peter and Mary,
Prophets and leaders and all who have proclaimed Your hope over the centuries.
We raise up the countless saints who have gone before us to teach about the possibilities of being your people.
And so we lift our voices in song, singing together the praises of ages (MV #203 tune: Kingsfold)
O holy holy holy God,
O God of time and space.
All earth and sea and sky above
bear witness to your Grace.
Hosanna in the highest heav’n,
creation sings your praise.
And blessed is the One who comes
and bears Your name always
O God of time and space.
All earth and sea and sky above
bear witness to your Grace.
Hosanna in the highest heav’n,
creation sings your praise.
And blessed is the One who comes
and bears Your name always
Remembering
In the middle of our thankfulness we give special thanks for a man from Nazareth, Jesus, the one we call Christ.
Child of Mary, child of grace, he came to teach about the wonders of Your love. He came to break down the walls of division among Your people.
As he ate with the despised and the least of his world he showed us what the Glorious Banquet of life could be like.
We give thanks for his witness and commitment to The Way. We give thanks for his healing of broken spirits and broken bodies.
We give thanks for his life, his death, and his resurrection.
Here, now, as we gather at the table to which Jesus calls us, we remember another table long ago and far away.
At that table Jesus gathered with friends to tell again the ancient story of liberation from bondage.
And then at the end of the meal he took bread, blessed it, broke it, and passed it among them saying:
This is my body, broken for all. Take, eat. And whenever you eat it remember what I have taught.
Then he took a cup of good wine, blessed it and passed it to them saying:
This is the seal of the new covenant. Take and drink and remember.
And so, God of Cross, Empty Tomb, and Banquet, we eat and drink and remember.
Giving thanks for the Love Jesus poured out on all he met: Jew and Gentile, sinner and saint, healthy and broken.
And in our remembering we sing the mystery of faith (MV #204 tune: Kingsfold)
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen,
Christ will come again!
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen,
Christ will come again!
Christ will come again!
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen,
Christ will come again!
Transforming
God, you call us to sing the songs of faith in places both familiar and strange. You call us to share the Banquet of faith with long time friends and new acquaintances.
Pour out your Spirit on this table and these people. AS we eat and drink may we feel the wind of the Spirit in our hair, the fire of the Spirit in our bellies, and the love of the Spirit in our hearts.
May the presence of the Spirit make this meal an occasion of transformation for we who gather to eat it together. Amen.
God of the Banquet that is and is to come, on this day we gather with people all around the world to share this meal.
Creator, our Source of Love; Christ, Love Incarnate: Spirit, Love’s flowing power be praised, now and forever.
And the people all sang: (MV #205 tune: Kingsfold)
Amen, amen, O Holy One!
Hosanna and amen!
Amen, amen, O Holy One!
Hosanna and amen!
Hosanna and amen!
Amen, amen, O Holy One!
Hosanna and amen!
And now, as beloved children of a loving Parent, we pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…
Breaking, Pouring, Serving
The Bread we break is the Bread of Life.
The Cup we Share is the Cup of Love.
These are the gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Come and eat, the banquet awaits.
Closing
We have eaten, we have drunk, we have tasted your goodness. May this meal we have shared here today fill our souls with Love. May the meal we share with all the world fill the world with Hope. May we leave this table refreshed and replenished, ready to be recipients and agents of Grace. Amen
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Pumpkin help wanted
WE had a pumpkin plant this year. And it grew a good sized gourd, not a record breaker but big enough for Halloween. Unfortunately the vine got frost nipped before the pumpkin turned colour.
ANyone have advice on how to help encourage it to go from dark green to orange?
ADD: I have been reminded that daughter #2 had an answer. Apparently the problem is thqt she has only painted it green, she hasn't painted it orange yet.
ANyone have advice on how to help encourage it to go from dark green to orange?
ADD: I have been reminded that daughter #2 had an answer. Apparently the problem is thqt she has only painted it green, she hasn't painted it orange yet.
Election Choices
It's election season in this province. On October 10 we elect a new (or not so new-depending on the results) provincial government.
But there's more. We are also being asked to vote in a referendum about electoral process. Do we want to continue with the current "first past the post" system or move to a "mixed member proportional" system.
Currently there are 107 ridings in the province. In each of them the candidate with the most votes takes the seat. The party with the most seats in the Provincial Parliament then forms the government. If they get 50% plus 1 of the seats they have a majority government and are more stable If they have less than 50% of the seats they have a minority government which can more easily be brought down by the opposition parties working together. TO be honest this system is really designed for a 2-party setting. In a multi-party setting it means that a party can have a majority government with aruond 40% of the popular vote. It also means that smaller parties which may get a substantial portion of the vote are not represented in the House.
TO deal with these realities you could move to a purely proportional representation. In this system parties get an equal percentage of the seats to the percentage of votes. THe big problem with this in large jurisdictions is that local/regional voices can easily be lost. There is value to being able to hold a local rep accountable for local issues.
So we get MMP, a mixture of the two. In the proposal before us there would be fewer ridings (90 as opposed to 107), so they would obviously be bigger. THen there would be 32 proportional seats. THese seats would be used to balance the House in proportion to the vote count. ANy party receiving at least 3% of the vote would be drawn in to the equation. Each party would be asked to provide a list of candidates from which these seats would be filled. FOr more details you can check out this website http://www.yourbigdecision.ca/ or the Facebook group "Ontario is facing a Big Decision" (among others on the topic).
Now in principle I applaud the intent behind MMP. But (you had to know there was a but) there is a problem. Living in an underpopulated region of the province I see how we could be the big losers. Currently we are (by a strict representation-by-population definition) over-represented. But there are geographic limitations. HOw big a region can one person legitimately represent? Not to mention that because of our underpopulation there is a real sense that the area is treated as of secondary importance by the government "over there". AS riding numbers get dropped then what happens?
Truly I am unsure what to vote. Luckily I still have time to decide.
But there's more. We are also being asked to vote in a referendum about electoral process. Do we want to continue with the current "first past the post" system or move to a "mixed member proportional" system.
Currently there are 107 ridings in the province. In each of them the candidate with the most votes takes the seat. The party with the most seats in the Provincial Parliament then forms the government. If they get 50% plus 1 of the seats they have a majority government and are more stable If they have less than 50% of the seats they have a minority government which can more easily be brought down by the opposition parties working together. TO be honest this system is really designed for a 2-party setting. In a multi-party setting it means that a party can have a majority government with aruond 40% of the popular vote. It also means that smaller parties which may get a substantial portion of the vote are not represented in the House.
TO deal with these realities you could move to a purely proportional representation. In this system parties get an equal percentage of the seats to the percentage of votes. THe big problem with this in large jurisdictions is that local/regional voices can easily be lost. There is value to being able to hold a local rep accountable for local issues.
So we get MMP, a mixture of the two. In the proposal before us there would be fewer ridings (90 as opposed to 107), so they would obviously be bigger. THen there would be 32 proportional seats. THese seats would be used to balance the House in proportion to the vote count. ANy party receiving at least 3% of the vote would be drawn in to the equation. Each party would be asked to provide a list of candidates from which these seats would be filled. FOr more details you can check out this website http://www.yourbigdecision.ca/ or the Facebook group "Ontario is facing a Big Decision" (among others on the topic).
Now in principle I applaud the intent behind MMP. But (you had to know there was a but) there is a problem. Living in an underpopulated region of the province I see how we could be the big losers. Currently we are (by a strict representation-by-population definition) over-represented. But there are geographic limitations. HOw big a region can one person legitimately represent? Not to mention that because of our underpopulation there is a real sense that the area is treated as of secondary importance by the government "over there". AS riding numbers get dropped then what happens?
Truly I am unsure what to vote. Luckily I still have time to decide.
Friday, September 21, 2007
BEing Published...
SOme time ago (almost 1.5 years) I wrote that I had been asked to review a book.
Well it has now been published! You can read it here.
Well it has now been published! You can read it here.
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