Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
St Francis
I've just about got everything done for Sunday. I will not be back in Chicago for the service, but it is in good hands. I have a layperson preaching. Do any of you veteran pastors do that? Or do you always get a supply preacher? I think it is great that a layperson is willing to stand in the pulipt...priesthood of all believers and all that. There will be a couple of good Thanksgiving hymns. It should be a nice service. All I need to do today is write a couple of letters and get ready for this evening's community Thanksgiving service. If you are in the neighborhood at 7:30, swing by Wilmette Lutheran. It should be nice.
Well, in the spirit of the sabbath, I won't get a chance to blog until Friday. And then only if I wake up before my mother does. I might sneak onto the computer, but likely not. It should be a good break from the ether.
So, I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. I'll be eating turkey, venison, ham, homemade mac and cheese, and all sorts of other goodness. I so love these visits home. And, since all the boys will be gathering, I may even get in a round of golf. A couple of years ago all twenty or more of "us menfolk" played 36 holes of golf before dinner! It was wonderful...and insane. I'm looking forward to another chance at breaking a three wood. Yep, I did. Tore the head right off the thing. I like to think that my game as improved that much at least.
In the spirit of Turkey Day, I offer this gratitude list. Feel free to leave your own contributions.
...in no particular order...
My wife...her humor and patience, the little red car, Community, the kindness of my deacons, kind e-mails from friends, hot cocoa, bluegrass, Reconciler, Xena, Warrior Princess, saints... bad movies, frets, cookies, 20 oz. mochas (oh yeah), guestrooms, breakfast, mentors, sobriety, worship...you.Posted by tripp at November 21, 2006 05:56 AM
Hey Friend
Have a good Turkey Day!
Tell all your family hi for me.
See you later
Drive safely; I'll try not to call you every 2 hours. Justin, you guys have a great turkey day; don't let the puppy have any turkey bones!
Posted by: Mom at November 21, 2006 09:55 AMSafe travels! I'm glad you and Trish get to be with family at Thanksgiving.
But why is golf a single-sex event in your world?
Posted by: Megan at November 21, 2006 11:19 AMGolf: Yeah. I dunno! There are a few women here who play, but it seems to be a segregated sport along the gender lines. Curious.
Posted by: Tripp at November 21, 2006 11:28 AMHello Tripp!
I am sitting in front of a fireplace with my Cousin Kim with a view of Smith Mountain Lake in back of me. It has been a wonderful day.
Hope your trip to Virginia is just as lovely.
I am glad you enjoyed the CSO. I did also.
I am still experiencing music reverb on my insides from some of the delightful sounds we experienced that evening.
I just wish I would have had more time in Chicago
so that I could have seen both you and Trish and
spent a little more time with you guys.
Give Trish a big hello and hug from me! As well as the cats.
Three things I am currently thankful for: My wonderful boyfriend; the fact that I just got THE lead role of the year as "Jane Eyre" in... you guessed it... JANE EYRE;and wonderful friends like Tripp. Schmatlzy, but true. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Trish!!
Posted by: Miss Bliss at November 21, 2006 08:13 PMDo I allow lay people to preach? Um . . . no. I will write a sermon for one of my lectors to deliver, but they don't preach on their own.
Posted by: Reverend Ref at November 21, 2006 08:33 PM(O)
Since we are Eucharist (almost) every Sunday I have to pay a supply Priest. Lay Preachers in our Diocese have to be licensed by the Bishop, rarely done.
When it's Morning Prayer (couple times a year), I do not write a sermon for them to read. That actually makes no sense to me. I cannot imagine anything more boring, for one thing, than for someone to stand up and read a sermon written by someone else. Secondly, the preaching act is so much more than the words on the page, if a manuscript is used, that I think it is cheapened when such manuscript is read by anyone other than the author. So my folks get out pretty early on MP days (like I said, only once or twice a year).
The ECUSA has lay preachers though - its a licensed category of lay ministry, just like LEMS. I even know some.
Posted by: Susie at November 22, 2006 03:33 PMSmall Church had a tradition of using lay preachers during summer vacations when I arrived, and we still do to some extent, although the pool was thinning even then. I like the idea in concept, but in practice it's hard to find someone who has both the confidence and the time to prepare.
Safe travels to you this Thanksgiving!
You tore the head off a three wood? What wer eyou doing. Anyhoo, hope you do get to play and that it is fun and relaxing. Happy thanksgiving. Lovely gratitude list.
Posted by: revabi at November 23, 2006 09:26 AMHappy Delurking Week. (o)
Posted by: LutheranChik at November 25, 2006 03:12 PM