conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

weekend in review

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 4:5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 4:6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

-Phillippians 4:4-7

I hope this finds everyone well. It was a good weekend here at Chateau Ouilmette. Busy...but good. Things started with Trish appearing on the cover of the Friday section of the Tribune. Hell in a Handbag was featured in an article about misfit holiday shows. Their Rudolph the Redhosed Reindeer was given a favorable mention and the paper ran a picture from the show for the article. Sadly, they have not posted the picture online. Here is the link to the article. I bought two copies. One for us. One for the church. I know. Trish calls it enabling. The secretary (All Hail!) clipped out the half-page picture and posted it on the bulletin board with the words "Open Minds" at the top. People chuckled at the placement. I was a dork and even pointed out to the concessions guy at the train station where I purchased the paper that my wife was in it. He thought it was cool...or at least convinced me he thought so. And really, does anything else matter.

My wife is cool.

Saturday a few of us from Reconciler went to the ECUSA ordinations at the cathedral in Chicago. St James is a lovely place and the Episcopalians know how to use the smells and bells. Wow. Laura, Deborah and Robert were seminary acquaintances who were ordained to the priesthood with three other people I do not know. Laura has been called to serve at Reconciler. There are a few more hoops through which we must jump, but things are looking good at this point. Keep us all in your prayers.

Ordinations are tremendous things. Congratulations to all.

Saturday afternoon was spent rehearsing the Saint-Saens piece that I spoke of in the last entry. Wondrous. I stayed home that night to relax and tweak my sermon notes for Reconciler. It was a good night as well. Trish has an early show, so she was home shortly after nine o'clock. It is good to see the wife on Saturday nights. Rare...and good.

Sunday morning went well. The Saint-Saens made for a wondrous sermon. Heh. I enjoyed singing with the choir. If you work at a smaller church but have a few good soloists in your choir, a small church with a small choir can do this piece. Check it out. We only had three or so voices per part and it went swimmingly.

I spent the afternoon tweaking my sermon for Reconciler. It went well. I'll post it later this week. I am a bit too weary to muddle my way through the notes right now. Suffice it to say that I spoke of Joy. Gaudete Sunday and all...Gaudete! Gaudete! Cristus est natus ex Maria Virgine. Gaudete! Fun. The cantor and I even sang through the old hymn once or twice before the service.

Last night Trish baked cookies. I fixed dinner. We watched The Devil Wears Prada. All in all it was a good weekend.

Peace and all good things to you!

P.S. I sang this hymn at all three services this weekend, the ordinations, and both Sunday services. If you know it, sing out!

1. People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.

3. Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.

4. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.

5. Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.

Have a great day.

Posted by tripp at December 18, 2006 08:48 AM