EVERY day it seems one hears of people "exploiting" others. We have the Center for Missing and Exploited children. To exploit has come to mean to defile, to rape, to pillage. How dare anyone exploit!! This is what happens when we let people dick with the language for their own purposes (and ironically they are precisely exploiting the language when they do this).
If we did not mine coal and/or drill for oil and gas, we would all freeze in the dark. But these activities are demonized by calling them "exploitation of natural resources"; as if energy producers were rapists of pure virgin Mother Nature. The exploiter is evil, in the modern lexicon. And those who promote this usage do so using among other things the talents of poets and musicians.
But the poet and the musician are themselves exploiters. They exploit their own talents AND the desires of others to be entertained. In fact, everyone is an exploiter of one stripe or another. The workman exploits his employer's need for help quite as much as the employer exploits the worker's need for the wherewithal to have a living.
The leftist agenda to pervert the neutral meaning of the verb "to exploit" is clear. The oilman and the miner are no better than the molestor and rapist, to hear them talk. And those among us who use others are indeed exploiters of a very bad sort and are properly called cheats, con-men, molestors, robbers, swindlers, scoundrels, rogues and that sort. But there is nothing wrong with exploiting natural resources or human talent to a good end.
WHAT NEWS???
Earlier this month the financial muckety-mucks declared that we had been in a recession for some time. Thanks, idiots. We already knew it.
Always some blithering clump of idiots goes on the news to announce statistics about the last two or three months to explain what is happening NOW. "Sales were down in the quarter just ended". Well DUH. And everone gets all out-of-sorts, even though the only "Leading Economic Indicator" that counts - which is how things are right NOW - might show improvement. Listening to these idiot newspeople is like looking out the back window of the car and seeing a city and expecting traffic to get bad. Which it may if you are headed into another city; but just as likely you are going to be getting into open country where you can move. What has been, we already know. And what will be cannot be reliably gauged by what happened two months ago (or more) when, by the way, we knew it was happening in the first place.
Always some blithering clump of idiots goes on the news to announce statistics about the last two or three months to explain what is happening NOW. "Sales were down in the quarter just ended". Well DUH. And everone gets all out-of-sorts, even though the only "Leading Economic Indicator" that counts - which is how things are right NOW - might show improvement. Listening to these idiot newspeople is like looking out the back window of the car and seeing a city and expecting traffic to get bad. Which it may if you are headed into another city; but just as likely you are going to be getting into open country where you can move. What has been, we already know. And what will be cannot be reliably gauged by what happened two months ago (or more) when, by the way, we knew it was happening in the first place.
Great conversation on Independent Sacramental Christian issues
Although Alexis Tancibok of Grace Catholic Church mentioned several times that his blog had moved, and had even prodded me into updating my link to his blog on this blog, I somehow neglected to update my RSS feed, and yesterday, I was puzzled to see several entries show up from the old blog address about how to be an entrepreneur. I emailed Alexis, and while waiting for Lyngine and Carol to arrive for Christmas Mass, got his reply that his blog had moved, and was delighted to find a very interesting conversation about OC/IC/ISM/EIEIO issues, to which Lyngine had contributed some quite insightful comments. When she arrived 15 minutes later, and I told her all of this, she was very amused.
Anywho, I encourage you to read this thread. I am mulling over the issues to make some comments of my own, either here or there.
Anywho, I encourage you to read this thread. I am mulling over the issues to make some comments of my own, either here or there.
Merry Christmas!
Charles celebrates under the Christmas tree:
Allie journeys with the Magi:
The three of us wish you a blessed Christmas!
Allie journeys with the Magi:
The three of us wish you a blessed Christmas!
WELL here it is Christmas. Most all the shops and restaurants and such are closed and it is somewhat difficult to even find gasoline. But here and there is a restaurant or tavern with an established clientele, and they are open to serve those whoare not only customers but friends.
STILL it is probably the one day of the year most like an old-time Sunday when the Blue Laws - "Sunday Closing" or "Sabbbath" laws for you who are too young to remember - were in force. There is a preturnatural peace in the air. Everyone who is still in town is gathered at home with family and friends.
This calm does not extend to the newspapers and radio stations, where dire predictions and strories of tragedy pour forth. A man dressed as Santa Claus, angry over a divorce, shoots up a family gathering, sets the house afire, and kills himself. Care and woe and grief know nor respect any season. Wars large and small rage on uninterrupted, corrupt and barbaric dictators repress their people, and famine and pestilence do not pause to hear the merry carollers; but these exact their toll of misery, suffering and death on those unfortunate enough to come under their sway. Still, as the Poet said:
STILL it is probably the one day of the year most like an old-time Sunday when the Blue Laws - "Sunday Closing" or "Sabbbath" laws for you who are too young to remember - were in force. There is a preturnatural peace in the air. Everyone who is still in town is gathered at home with family and friends.
This calm does not extend to the newspapers and radio stations, where dire predictions and strories of tragedy pour forth. A man dressed as Santa Claus, angry over a divorce, shoots up a family gathering, sets the house afire, and kills himself. Care and woe and grief know nor respect any season. Wars large and small rage on uninterrupted, corrupt and barbaric dictators repress their people, and famine and pestilence do not pause to hear the merry carollers; but these exact their toll of misery, suffering and death on those unfortunate enough to come under their sway. Still, as the Poet said:
"I heard the Bells on Christmas Day,
Their old familiar Carols play
And loud and strong, rang out the Song
Of Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men
And in Despair I bowed my Head,
"There is no Peace on Earth", I said,
"For Hate is strong, and mocks the Song
Of Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men"
THEN PEALED THE BELLS MORE LOUD AND DEEP:
"GOD IS NOT DEAD, NOR DOTH HE SLEEP"
"The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail,
With Peace on Earth, Good will toward Men
Merry Christmas To All!
EBENEZER SCROOGE WAS A LIBERAL!!
That's right folks. Old Scrooge was a claasic modern Liberal. Sounds unlikely?? Well, consider that:
If Bob Cratchit had tried to join a union to improve his working conditions and pay, Scrooge would have canned his ass so fast it would have made Cratchit's head swim. You say that doesn't sound very Liberal?? Well, friends, let me point you to Nancy Pelosi, our current and Liberal-to-the-very-edge-of-treason "Speaker of the House". Liberal Nancy Pelosi runs a vineyard operation where she refuses to employ Union labor. JUST LIKE EBENEZER SCROOGE!!
Not only that, but when approached by members of a private charity, Scrooge pointed out his belief that taxpayer-funded (and wholly inadequate) government programs were the proper solution to matters of poverty. This is of course a classic Liberal stance. Liberals, like Scrooge (or should I say Liberals like Scrooge) will give the poor the shirt off someone else's back.
And of course Scrooge like the good Liberal he was disapproved of Christmas. Why just last week the pack of morons here in Alexandria who call themselves our "City Council" lit the "Holiday Tree" in Market Square, just outside the historic City Hall where part of the Revolution was plotted. The damn thing is hung with those damn white lights that have become too common; because the symbolism of certain colors may upset this or that group. And I will warrant you that on our City Council there is not a Conservative among them , nor even a moderate but that they are Liberal fools to a man and woman all.
Happily though, Scrooge had an epiphany and became a good God-fearing Conservative; investing in his man Cratchit so as to get a better return and spreading his wealth by buying from people with it. And though the story does not go further, it is likely that Cratchit either founded his own company and produced yet more wealth or at least sent Tiny Tim to a good school where he could learn how to produce and increase wealth.
I only wish those same three Spirits would visit Pelosi, Reid, and Obama. Maybe after I get my wish of World Peace; but I've been waiting for that since I was nine at least, and it hasn't happened.
NONETHELESS it is the Season of Hope, among other things; and so I shall continue to do so; and as Tiny Tim said in the story so let us all say to one another:
GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE!!!
A very very Merry Christmas to all, even you Liberals.
If Bob Cratchit had tried to join a union to improve his working conditions and pay, Scrooge would have canned his ass so fast it would have made Cratchit's head swim. You say that doesn't sound very Liberal?? Well, friends, let me point you to Nancy Pelosi, our current and Liberal-to-the-very-edge-of-treason "Speaker of the House". Liberal Nancy Pelosi runs a vineyard operation where she refuses to employ Union labor. JUST LIKE EBENEZER SCROOGE!!
Not only that, but when approached by members of a private charity, Scrooge pointed out his belief that taxpayer-funded (and wholly inadequate) government programs were the proper solution to matters of poverty. This is of course a classic Liberal stance. Liberals, like Scrooge (or should I say Liberals like Scrooge) will give the poor the shirt off someone else's back.
And of course Scrooge like the good Liberal he was disapproved of Christmas. Why just last week the pack of morons here in Alexandria who call themselves our "City Council" lit the "Holiday Tree" in Market Square, just outside the historic City Hall where part of the Revolution was plotted. The damn thing is hung with those damn white lights that have become too common; because the symbolism of certain colors may upset this or that group. And I will warrant you that on our City Council there is not a Conservative among them , nor even a moderate but that they are Liberal fools to a man and woman all.
Happily though, Scrooge had an epiphany and became a good God-fearing Conservative; investing in his man Cratchit so as to get a better return and spreading his wealth by buying from people with it. And though the story does not go further, it is likely that Cratchit either founded his own company and produced yet more wealth or at least sent Tiny Tim to a good school where he could learn how to produce and increase wealth.
I only wish those same three Spirits would visit Pelosi, Reid, and Obama. Maybe after I get my wish of World Peace; but I've been waiting for that since I was nine at least, and it hasn't happened.
NONETHELESS it is the Season of Hope, among other things; and so I shall continue to do so; and as Tiny Tim said in the story so let us all say to one another:
GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE!!!
A very very Merry Christmas to all, even you Liberals.
Always Be Prepared
I have learned a lesson this week. In my hurry to visit family for the holidays, I decided to leave the laptop at home. The semester is done, I really wouldn't need it, right? Wrong!! It happens that in talking with a pastor friend, he asked me to preach this Sunday at his church. I brought no commentaries, laptop, or preaching preparation aids of any kind. Thankfully, the public library is open for a little longer and I've been able to access some fine online helps.I will be preaching on the gospel text in Luke 2 on Jesus' presentation in the temple. Unlike myself, Anna and Simeon were prepared. They waited faithfully for God to fulfill his promise of a Savior and Messiah with hearts open and ready for whatever God planned.
Several things have struck me in reading the text. The first is the evident work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Simeon and Anna. Look at this snippet from the text regarding Simeon's watchful attitude, "...looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple..." Advent is a time of watchful waiting, preparing our hearts for Christ. Even in old age, Simeon still held on to the promises of God.
Anna too was elderly. She too had not given up hope. Regarding her, the scripture says, "...then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem." Without that heart preparation, how could she know that who she was seeing was not merely an ordinary baby? What Mary and Joseph were doing, was the very same thing any other pious Jewish couple would do. There was nothing extraordinary in that. But Anna recognized something special that was happening because she was a woman connected by faith, fasting, and prayer to the living God.
The godly examples of Anna and Simeon loom large in my thoughts. They were privileged to participate in God's redemptive history because they were there, because they were in tune with God's program. Though unprepared physically for the task of preaching, perhaps this has helped me to be better prepared spiritually.
I do not know the people of my friend's church, but it is a small, rural congregation--much like my teaching parish at Rural Lutheran. Their pastor tells me he is emphasizing evangelism. Certainly evangelism grows from relationship with the living God...the kind of relationship we see embodied in Anna and Simeon.
flickr pictures
OOPS
In my last post I said excersise of the second amendment was primary to this blog. Sorry I meant the FIRST AMENDMENT; although I am a pretty big supporter of the Second as well. I participate in a few gun forums but really I shouldn't mix up my amendments. Sorry!
Hi Everybody!!!
In American military patois, "Poop" is information coming from whatever source. Of course most people think of poop as being what loads a baby's stinky diapers. Most of us poop daily, and some spoiled leftie brat calls his blog "The Daily Kos" so the title of this blog is a direct mockery of that young treasonous idiot weenie.
I really don't know technologically what I am doing but the appearance of this blog is secondary. The excersise of the Second Amendment is primary. And just as freedom of the press attaches to the owner of the press, freedom of the blog attaches in this case to me. If I don't like what you say I will dump it. But you will have to be either really stupid or downright outrageous before I do that. Or boring.
I on the other hand will say whatever I damn please. Say what you will, and I hope you will. Let's have a nice big knock-down - drag- out arguement; or maybe a love fest. Who knows where this will go??? One thing is certain: EVERYBODY needs a Daily Poop.
I really don't know technologically what I am doing but the appearance of this blog is secondary. The excersise of the Second Amendment is primary. And just as freedom of the press attaches to the owner of the press, freedom of the blog attaches in this case to me. If I don't like what you say I will dump it. But you will have to be either really stupid or downright outrageous before I do that. Or boring.
I on the other hand will say whatever I damn please. Say what you will, and I hope you will. Let's have a nice big knock-down - drag- out arguement; or maybe a love fest. Who knows where this will go??? One thing is certain: EVERYBODY needs a Daily Poop.
Purpose Driven Nonsense
Last night, I posted a rather intemperately-worded Facebook status update expressing my anger at President-elect Obama’s choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration. I was angry. I still am, but want to note, more temperately, several things in light of what people posted.
First, we have freedom of religion and freedom of speech in this country, and these are very precious things which I support with every fiber of my being. People have the right to practice their religion in ways I find abhorrent, and to say things that I find unconscionable. I will defend to the death their right to practice their false religion and to say horrible things.
However.
Freedom of religion and freedom of speech do not grant immunity to criticism, as many seem to think. Rick Warren is free to believe that bigotry against gay people is mandated by God and to spread the lies about gay couples that he does (equating them with child molesters, for example). But people of good will are also free to condemn him for these things, and our freedom of religion and freedom of speech guarantee our right to do so. And in exercise of my free religion and free speech, let me say that I do not believe that Rick Warren has a genuine relationship with God, and I believe that he is an enemy of the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ. My saying that does not infringe on his freedom to practice his religion, and I do not think his church should be shut down, or that he should be muzzled in any way. And his freedom to practice his religion also should not extend to taking away my freedom to practice my religion, as Proposition 8 has, by imposing Roman Catholic, Mormon, and Southern Baptist beliefs on marriage on my church and other religious groups, such as the United Church of Christ, the Unitarian Universalist Association, and Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism, which do not share those beliefs but whose marriages may not be recognized by the state.
But the point of my post was not to criticize Rick Warren, but rather to criticize President-elect Obama for asking him to give the invocation at his inauguration. By asking him to do so, Obama is implicitly endorsing Warren’s agenda of denying gay people civil rights. As someone who claims to support inclusive values and relative equality for gay people (he does not support full equality since he opposes same-sex marriage), this is a very bad move that troubles me and makes me worry that his support will be mostly rhetorical. I hope I’m wrong, and his term of office may be the flowering of civil rights for gay people on the federal level. But Bill Clinton ran a very inclusive campaign, and he did more to eliminate civil rights for gay people on the federal level than any other president in US history, signing the so-called Defense of Marriage Act into law and establishing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, wasting millions of tax dollars to expel gay soldiers from the military. And although George W. Bush was in most respects a horrible president and certainly waged a rhetorical war against gay people with his support of a federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and probably contributed greatly to the passage of many state anti-gay constitutional amendments, he actually signed the most pro-gay law ever passed on the federal level, the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which allows gay couples to inherit tax-deferred annuities without the draconian penalties once assessed. (The law does not specifically mention gay couples, but in fact extends this provision beyond civilly-married spouses to any person – and that is the key to Republican support for gay civil rights – as long as it only benefits gay people as a by-product and not as the primary purpose of the law, they are willing to support it.) So I don’t actually take the words of politicians very seriously, only their actions.
Some think that he is being “inclusive” by including Rick Warren, reaching out to conservative Christians – but I think if we compare it to other historically disadvantaged groups, this analogy falls apart. If a white president were to ask a minister who supported segregation and the denial of civil rights to black people to give an invocation, no one would talk about including racists – they would quite rightly denounce this move. But intolerance of gay people is still tolerated in ways that intolerance of other groups is not. And that is troubling. (And before anyone starts talking about how intolerance of homosexuality is supported by historic religious beliefs while racism is not, let me point out that the denomination to which Rick Warren belongs and in which I was raised, the Southern Baptist Convention, split from the Northern Baptists [now the American Baptists] specifically to teach that the Bible condones race-based slavery. My parents – my father a Southern Baptist minister -- believed and attempted to teach me as a child that inter-racial marriage is wrong and against biblical values.) By inviting this man to pray at his inauguration and implicitly condoning his successful attempt to take away my civil rights and those of other gay Americans, he is sending a message of exclusion and intolerance.
Not a good way to start his presidency, and a serious blot on what ought to be a celebration of a milestone of inclusion, the inauguration of the first African American president.
First, we have freedom of religion and freedom of speech in this country, and these are very precious things which I support with every fiber of my being. People have the right to practice their religion in ways I find abhorrent, and to say things that I find unconscionable. I will defend to the death their right to practice their false religion and to say horrible things.
However.
Freedom of religion and freedom of speech do not grant immunity to criticism, as many seem to think. Rick Warren is free to believe that bigotry against gay people is mandated by God and to spread the lies about gay couples that he does (equating them with child molesters, for example). But people of good will are also free to condemn him for these things, and our freedom of religion and freedom of speech guarantee our right to do so. And in exercise of my free religion and free speech, let me say that I do not believe that Rick Warren has a genuine relationship with God, and I believe that he is an enemy of the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ. My saying that does not infringe on his freedom to practice his religion, and I do not think his church should be shut down, or that he should be muzzled in any way. And his freedom to practice his religion also should not extend to taking away my freedom to practice my religion, as Proposition 8 has, by imposing Roman Catholic, Mormon, and Southern Baptist beliefs on marriage on my church and other religious groups, such as the United Church of Christ, the Unitarian Universalist Association, and Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism, which do not share those beliefs but whose marriages may not be recognized by the state.
But the point of my post was not to criticize Rick Warren, but rather to criticize President-elect Obama for asking him to give the invocation at his inauguration. By asking him to do so, Obama is implicitly endorsing Warren’s agenda of denying gay people civil rights. As someone who claims to support inclusive values and relative equality for gay people (he does not support full equality since he opposes same-sex marriage), this is a very bad move that troubles me and makes me worry that his support will be mostly rhetorical. I hope I’m wrong, and his term of office may be the flowering of civil rights for gay people on the federal level. But Bill Clinton ran a very inclusive campaign, and he did more to eliminate civil rights for gay people on the federal level than any other president in US history, signing the so-called Defense of Marriage Act into law and establishing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, wasting millions of tax dollars to expel gay soldiers from the military. And although George W. Bush was in most respects a horrible president and certainly waged a rhetorical war against gay people with his support of a federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and probably contributed greatly to the passage of many state anti-gay constitutional amendments, he actually signed the most pro-gay law ever passed on the federal level, the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which allows gay couples to inherit tax-deferred annuities without the draconian penalties once assessed. (The law does not specifically mention gay couples, but in fact extends this provision beyond civilly-married spouses to any person – and that is the key to Republican support for gay civil rights – as long as it only benefits gay people as a by-product and not as the primary purpose of the law, they are willing to support it.) So I don’t actually take the words of politicians very seriously, only their actions.
Some think that he is being “inclusive” by including Rick Warren, reaching out to conservative Christians – but I think if we compare it to other historically disadvantaged groups, this analogy falls apart. If a white president were to ask a minister who supported segregation and the denial of civil rights to black people to give an invocation, no one would talk about including racists – they would quite rightly denounce this move. But intolerance of gay people is still tolerated in ways that intolerance of other groups is not. And that is troubling. (And before anyone starts talking about how intolerance of homosexuality is supported by historic religious beliefs while racism is not, let me point out that the denomination to which Rick Warren belongs and in which I was raised, the Southern Baptist Convention, split from the Northern Baptists [now the American Baptists] specifically to teach that the Bible condones race-based slavery. My parents – my father a Southern Baptist minister -- believed and attempted to teach me as a child that inter-racial marriage is wrong and against biblical values.) By inviting this man to pray at his inauguration and implicitly condoning his successful attempt to take away my civil rights and those of other gay Americans, he is sending a message of exclusion and intolerance.
Not a good way to start his presidency, and a serious blot on what ought to be a celebration of a milestone of inclusion, the inauguration of the first African American president.
Light at the End of the Tunnel...
and it's not an oncoming train!This is the last week of the semester and I have one thing left...study for and take one exam!!!
Then I have two weeks off! We are going to spend one of them in Rochester with my daughter, granddaughter, and friends. So, Christmas we'll be there. Then we'll go to RI for the New Year to be with Ray's family and our friends there.
We absolutely love it here at Gburg, but I am ready for a break from the studies.
When we return, I will not be the only one in school. Ray will be starting the Certificate of Theological Studies program, about which we're very excited.
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Live toTestify!
The message of today's readings is abundantly clear. Phrases from Isaiah such as, "...bring good news to the oppressed," "...proclaim liberty to captives," and "...proclaim the year of the Lord's favor," are but the beginning of the the proclamation. The testimony continues in 1 Thessalonians with "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances..." And in the Gospel of John we hear of "...the man sent from God, whose name was John." He testified and was a witness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.This morning as Pr. Steve preached, highlighting these themes, I had this song going through my mind like it was on a loop that constantly replayed.
What about us? Are such themes, proclamations, and words only for prophets and apostles to declare? In this world of pain and darkness, we too have good news to share and light to bring. God give us wisdom as to the myriad of ways we can testify to love.
Picture from Garden of Praise.
Advent Letter to Independent Catholic Christian Church
I sent this out to the members of the jurisdiction last Saturday (11/29/08) but only thought to post it here a few minutes ago.
Dear Friends in Christ,
This Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent, we begin a new church year. We remember the First Coming of Christ in the Incarnation, as we prepare to celebrate Christmas; we prepare for the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time; and we encounter Christ’s coming to us daily – in the Eucharist, in Scripture, in prayer, in community, and in the poor.
The first Psalm says of the righteous that “their delight is in the law of the LORD, and they meditate on God’s law day and night.” I would like for us, in this church community, to have as our goal for this new church year to get to know the Scriptures more deeply, so that we may be “like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither”, as the first Psalm goes on to say of the righteous.
I would like to ask each member of this jurisdiction to do three things this year:
· prayerfully read through the New Testament;
· pray the entire Psalter on a regular basis; and
· study the Gospel according to Mark, the gospel being read this year in the modern three-year lectionary (even if you follow a different lectionary).
If we become more rooted in scripture, we will find that our encounters with Christ in the Eucharist, in prayer, in community, and in the poor will become more profound, and our ability to witness to the Light of Christ within us will grow.
Please be assured of my prayers for a meaningful Advent and a joyous Christmas.+Tim
The Secret Lives of Dogs
Abby (L) Amity (R)
I've done lots of writing about Abby and Amity and posted pictures of other similar looking dogs. Now that I have a digital camera here they are! Amity & Ray
Amity is doing a fine job as a guide dog and Abby is doing a fine job of holding down the rug in retirement and loving the freedom of
being fussed over by everyone. For her it's open season for petting. And since being here at seminary where there are lots of dogs, they have boyfriends or should I say dogfriends.
The first is Gus, a huge, gentle giant of a Pit Bull. Abby met him first. After Amity joined the family, she liked him also. When the girls see Gus, their whole demeanor changes like teenagers seeing a rock star. Their faces light up, their tales start wagging. It's like they're saying, "He's here!" The problem was, both girls were vying for his attention. But now a classmate brought his dog to campus from home after Thanksgiving. His name is Magoo and he's an English Bull Dog. So, both girls like both boys. Since Abby met Gus first, we figure those two should be together and Amity and Magoo should be together.
Grace and AmityFamily Worship
Because yesterday was part of Thanksgiving weekend, I did not have teaching parish at Rural Lutheran. I love being involved there, but had forgotten how wonderful it is to simply participate in Sunday worship and not be responsible for anything in the service! I enjoyed sitting with Ray and friends.I have heard how important it is for pastors to intentionally make opportunities for worship and sabbath. Though my responsibilities on Sundays are nothing compared to Rural Pastor's, I'm beginning to have a better understanding of why I keep hearing that.
After worship, we went to lunch with a classmate and h
er parents. It was so relaxing and enjoyable.--and yummy!The day was then crowned with LTSG's annual Advent Vespers which is a beautiful, amazing service. We had a wonderful ushering in of the Advent season.
fllickr and Music Gettysburg! pictures
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