Grace, powerful.
Who would have thought that spending an afternoon inside on such a beautiful November day would yield such results the following morning.
Putting my house in order. Dusting, yuck. Rearranging furniture, placing it so that I can work and see the outside and enjoy a fire at the same time. Stacking books in cases, adding more to that which will be sold or given away. Plants coming inside for the winter.
Readying for winter?
Came across Bishop Steven Charleston's book Hope As Old As Fire. An amazing man, God has loaned us, as the Bishop would say.
Today's reading for November 11 (12th is not included). The reason for Grace.
When I was a child I thought of God as an old man, seated on a throne, making marks by my name. When I was in my twenties, God was a comrade in the struggle, calling us into the streets to demand an end to war. In my thirties God began to morph into Spirit, a mystic force of truth. In my forties God matured, a houseolder of heaven. Through my fifties God was Grandmother, ancient shource of wisdom, constant source of healing. Now crossing over sixty, I just smile.
I have changed. God has not.
We see the God we are.
Such is the journey for me.
In my youth, I could not bear to think of God as a man, looking like my father, so God had no face. But the mark maker was always around.
In my twenties, God was struggling along side of me, trying to be all that I should be. Daughter,wife, woman, independent. Feeling the pull to the left surrounded by right.
God was Sybill.
I was a late bloomer with God as spirit. Though wanting to participate in Contemplative Prayer my mind could never quiet down, the result of being bi-polar.
I became inspired by the Celts. Nature is my nurture and God was always around me.
Transforming! The power of creating from blank canvas, the empty back yard. Sixty years later and I still get a buzz from the seasons.
So, as you re-read Steven's message, who is God for you, now in this time, in this place?
In this heart?
11/12/2012
10/29/2012
Day 1 5:40 PM
Kathryn just texted that her power is out. "let the fun begin."
I am luckier at this time.
So to make the time pass more quickly, I am watching Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter".
However, as I write the movie disappeared and CBS is showing Gov. Christie talking about all the power outages in NJ.
This bodes badly that that Comcast and the internet might disappear.
The trees are really boring and the winds are howling.
Be back later.
I hope.
I am luckier at this time.
So to make the time pass more quickly, I am watching Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter".
However, as I write the movie disappeared and CBS is showing Gov. Christie talking about all the power outages in NJ.
This bodes badly that that Comcast and the internet might disappear.
The trees are really boring and the winds are howling.
Be back later.
I hope.
Progressive Christianity
For the past decade, at least, I have realized that my take on being a Christian has not been the same as others. On Friday night, I was given the reason why.
I am a Progressive Christian.
I do not have the same view of being Christian as my mother did at the height of Main Line Christianity in 1954.
As a Progressive Christian, I am not concerned about what happens after death, but rather how to live a transformative life now. Intentionally living a spiritual life whose purpose is to be transformed now.
As a Progressive Christian, Jesus has more authority over my life than the Bible. The Bible which I interpret as historical and metaphorical. It is not the literal word of God and it is not valued over and above Jesus and what he taught.
As a Progressive Christian, there is no tension between Science and Christianity. Come on> Intelligent Design? The earth only 5,000 years old?
As a Progressive Christian I do not merely tolerate other religious traditions but embrace them not limiting God to only one tradition world wide.
As a Progressive Christian, I socially embrace inclusiveness.
As a Progressive Christian, I am not "belief-centered" nor "heaven-and-hell" centered.
So, now all of you that are family and friends, you now know why I went to Sudan, why I would go back, why I am involved in AFRECS and in Reach Academy for Girls.
Jesus said to help the homeless, hungry and those in prison. To do to the least of these, you have done it to him.
Very, very simple.
I am a Progressive Christian.
I do not have the same view of being Christian as my mother did at the height of Main Line Christianity in 1954.
As a Progressive Christian, I am not concerned about what happens after death, but rather how to live a transformative life now. Intentionally living a spiritual life whose purpose is to be transformed now.
As a Progressive Christian, Jesus has more authority over my life than the Bible. The Bible which I interpret as historical and metaphorical. It is not the literal word of God and it is not valued over and above Jesus and what he taught.
As a Progressive Christian, there is no tension between Science and Christianity. Come on> Intelligent Design? The earth only 5,000 years old?
As a Progressive Christian I do not merely tolerate other religious traditions but embrace them not limiting God to only one tradition world wide.
As a Progressive Christian, I socially embrace inclusiveness.
As a Progressive Christian, I am not "belief-centered" nor "heaven-and-hell" centered.
So, now all of you that are family and friends, you now know why I went to Sudan, why I would go back, why I am involved in AFRECS and in Reach Academy for Girls.
Jesus said to help the homeless, hungry and those in prison. To do to the least of these, you have done it to him.
Very, very simple.
Day 1 2:30 PM
Well, I have just initiated a little test.
At the Diocese of Delaware we have recently decided to utilize ACS in the Clouds or ACS On Demand. ACS, Automated Church Systems, has been utilized for accounting since April 1994.
After some of the major hurricanes that affected all along the Gulf Coast, our insurance company, Church Insurance, suggested that disaster plans be put into effect. The first part of that was the accounting system.
About a week ago, we lost power in the offer until around 1:30 PM. The thought of moving over to Trinity Parish to log in utilizing their WIFI was not met with smiles. However, it was determined that we should go over during a non-crisis to try out the system.
Well, we did not have enough time for that. So, I decided I would try it today.
It was widely thought that we would just need the internet access to log on.
Nope.
Today, I found ACS on Demand and quickly discovered that it was not so. I needed to download a program onto my laptop.
I have successfully downloaded and then access the system.
And, personally, I went into the clouds in August so that everything is saved up there.
I am grateful to have been pointed into the clouds.
Now, back to the weather channel.
Stay safe all my friends along the shore and into the Marsh Lands in Delaware.
Stay safe, Kathryn and Nick and family.
I love you.
At the Diocese of Delaware we have recently decided to utilize ACS in the Clouds or ACS On Demand. ACS, Automated Church Systems, has been utilized for accounting since April 1994.
After some of the major hurricanes that affected all along the Gulf Coast, our insurance company, Church Insurance, suggested that disaster plans be put into effect. The first part of that was the accounting system.
About a week ago, we lost power in the offer until around 1:30 PM. The thought of moving over to Trinity Parish to log in utilizing their WIFI was not met with smiles. However, it was determined that we should go over during a non-crisis to try out the system.
Well, we did not have enough time for that. So, I decided I would try it today.
It was widely thought that we would just need the internet access to log on.
Nope.
Today, I found ACS on Demand and quickly discovered that it was not so. I needed to download a program onto my laptop.
I have successfully downloaded and then access the system.
And, personally, I went into the clouds in August so that everything is saved up there.
I am grateful to have been pointed into the clouds.
Now, back to the weather channel.
Stay safe all my friends along the shore and into the Marsh Lands in Delaware.
Stay safe, Kathryn and Nick and family.
I love you.
Day 1 of Sandy at 1 PM
Well, this reminds me a lot of the possibility of no electricity while in Sudan and to rely on the blog to keep people knowing that I am safe and hanging in there.
It has been raining all day. I went out driving in Tweety around 8:30 AM scouting an open Starbucks to hang out and read within community. No such luck. However, Dunkin Donuts was open so I sat with iced coffee and did some reading. I headed home around 9:45 AM and have been home since then.
It is now steadily blowing and gusting to around 45 mph. Since our power lines are underground in my neighborhood, any falling trees will not impact that. However, this is true for only new neighborhoods. The older established neighborhoods in and around wilmington, that is not true.
My bedroom front windows face north so the blowing will be coming from that direction until the early morning when it will switch to SSE.
I will keep everyone posted.
Stay safe friends.
It has been raining all day. I went out driving in Tweety around 8:30 AM scouting an open Starbucks to hang out and read within community. No such luck. However, Dunkin Donuts was open so I sat with iced coffee and did some reading. I headed home around 9:45 AM and have been home since then.
It is now steadily blowing and gusting to around 45 mph. Since our power lines are underground in my neighborhood, any falling trees will not impact that. However, this is true for only new neighborhoods. The older established neighborhoods in and around wilmington, that is not true.
My bedroom front windows face north so the blowing will be coming from that direction until the early morning when it will switch to SSE.
I will keep everyone posted.
Stay safe friends.
9/23/2012
Prayers of the People 9/23/12
We gather in prayer, offering our thanks to God whoe trnsforming love sets our herts on the pth to everlasting joy.
In thanksgiving for the peacemakers, especially Barack our President, who sow seeds of reconciliation throughout the world, and who waits with faithful patience for the harvest to appear.
We pray that we may embrace our children with God's unconditional love, and receive tfrom them the freshness of word and spirit that enlivens the community of faith.
That our seminaries may prosper as they begin a new year of forming priests, religious educators, missionaries, and evangelists.
That a spirit of simplicity may prevail throughout our culture, leading to changes in our use of financial resources, the purchase of goods and services, and a responsible use of natural resources.
That we may put aside actions that speak of evny and self ambition and embrace virtues that honor the presence of God in every person.
That the eternal Christ will welcome into the arms of his mercy all who have died unloved and un-mourned, without family and friends.
For this we pray.
Hear us, O Spirit of Truth.
In thanksgiving for the peacemakers, especially Barack our President, who sow seeds of reconciliation throughout the world, and who waits with faithful patience for the harvest to appear.
We pray that we may embrace our children with God's unconditional love, and receive tfrom them the freshness of word and spirit that enlivens the community of faith.
That our seminaries may prosper as they begin a new year of forming priests, religious educators, missionaries, and evangelists.
That a spirit of simplicity may prevail throughout our culture, leading to changes in our use of financial resources, the purchase of goods and services, and a responsible use of natural resources.
That we may put aside actions that speak of evny and self ambition and embrace virtues that honor the presence of God in every person.
That the eternal Christ will welcome into the arms of his mercy all who have died unloved and un-mourned, without family and friends.
For this we pray.
Hear us, O Spirit of Truth.
8/13/2012
Where Have I Been?
When you are working on the communication budget for the diocese and your blog is linked and you see that the last time I wrote was in June - where have I been?
Well, some of the time I have been ignoring my laptop at home. I hate the keyboard and so I stopped writing.
I did not stop noticing phrases, or songs, or sermons, or people. I wrote them down with the greatest intentions about being faithful.
However, I really hate that keyboard.
More times than not, I would have written a great deal, hit the enter key and my pinkie really hit the back arrow key.
Argh! as Linus used to say.
Imagine my surprise as I was gripping that I could actually buy another key board and use it with my lap top.
What?
Where has my mind been not to have thought of that myself?
Well, it has been involved with my daughter living in New Jersey, and dating a wonderful young man by the name of Nick.
I have been working with the Reach Academy for Girls plant expansion.
I have been working with Sts. Andrew and Matthew on welcoming some folks from The Cathedral Church of St. John.
I have been gardening, and more gardening.
I have been relaxing in the pool.
I have been reading.
I have attended the wedding of my dear friends Lloyd and DL.
I have been hanging around work a lot.
So no more excuses. It is August.
I better find the time between visiting my daughter, the pool, the garden, work, Reach and work to communicate a little bit better.
Well, some of the time I have been ignoring my laptop at home. I hate the keyboard and so I stopped writing.
I did not stop noticing phrases, or songs, or sermons, or people. I wrote them down with the greatest intentions about being faithful.
However, I really hate that keyboard.
More times than not, I would have written a great deal, hit the enter key and my pinkie really hit the back arrow key.
Argh! as Linus used to say.
Imagine my surprise as I was gripping that I could actually buy another key board and use it with my lap top.
What?
Where has my mind been not to have thought of that myself?
Well, it has been involved with my daughter living in New Jersey, and dating a wonderful young man by the name of Nick.
I have been working with the Reach Academy for Girls plant expansion.
I have been working with Sts. Andrew and Matthew on welcoming some folks from The Cathedral Church of St. John.
I have been gardening, and more gardening.
I have been relaxing in the pool.
I have been reading.
I have attended the wedding of my dear friends Lloyd and DL.
I have been hanging around work a lot.
So no more excuses. It is August.
I better find the time between visiting my daughter, the pool, the garden, work, Reach and work to communicate a little bit better.
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