Thought for the day
by chuckofish
“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.”
–C.S. Lewis
“Angel of the Lilies” by Louis Comfort Tiffany in the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst
dual personalities
Tag: Episcopal Church
February 10, 2015
February 4, 2015
Way Back Wednesday: we are but flowers
by chuckofish
Little Mary in Worcester, MA, circa 1931
These are thy wonders, Lord of love,
To make us see we are but flowers that glide;
Which when we once can find and prove,
Thou hast a garden for us where to bide;
Who would be more,
Swelling through store,
Forfeit their Paradise by their pride.
–George Herbert, from “The Flower”
February 3, 2015
“O hear us when we cry to thee For those in peril on the sea”*
by chuckofish
Today is the annual “Four Chaplains Day,” established by an act of Congress in 1988. It is also observed as a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church.
Four Chaplains Panel–Sacrifice for Freedom Window, Washington National Cathedral
Who, pray tell, were the The Four Chaplains you ask? Sometimes referred to as the “Immortal Chaplains” or the “Dorchester Chaplains,” they were four U.S. army chaplains during WWII who gave their lives to save other civilian and military personnel as the troop ship USAT Dorchester sank on February 3, 1943, having been torpedoed by a German U-boat. They helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their own life jackets when the supply ran out. The chaplains joined arms, said prayers and sang hymns as they went down with the ship.
The Four were Lt. George Fox, a Methodist minister; Lt. Alexander Goode, a Jewish rabbi; Lt. John Washington, a Roman Catholic priest; and Lt. Clark Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister. Although their backgrounds, personalities and faiths were different, it should be noted that Goode, Poling and Washington had all served as leaders in the Boy Scouts of America.
They died for God and Country and we salute them. You can read more about them here.
Holy God, who didst inspire the Dorchester chaplains to be models of steadfast sacrificial love in a tragic and terrifying time: Help us to follow their example, that their courageous ministry may inspire chaplains and all who serve, to recognize thy presence in the midst of peril; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who livest and reignest with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
*William Whiting
January 30, 2015
WWDD
by chuckofish
How is it that I missed this wonderfulness?
And this:
Do you have big plans for the weekend? My only scheduled event is an annual church dinner which raises money for the youth mission trip in June. It is billed as “The Elegant Italian Dinner,” but it is anything but that.
Last year’s big event
They hang twinkly Christmas lights around Albright Hall, turn the lights down very low and serve lasagna. The youth group members wear bow ties and are the waiters. The cool dads serve as the bartenders. (This is an Episcopal Church–there is always a bar.) You get the picture. But it is always fun and the OM even goes.
I’m sure Dolly would too.
Besides this special event, I will be forging on with the basement clean-up. The OM cleaned off his workbench last weekend. Onward and upward.
Friday Movie Pick: Last night TCM featured movies starring Rod Taylor who died earlier this month.
They showed The Time Machine (1960), The Birds (1963), The Glass-Bottomed Boat (1966) with Doris Day, and a few other movies of his. My favorite Rod Taylor movie is, of course, the original 101 Dalmations (1961).
Rod Taylor was the voice of Pongo! I loved that movie! My friends and I in kindergarten “played” it during recess for a long time. Everyone wanted to be Pongo. I would watch it tonight, but I only have a VHS copy!
Oh well. I have a solution. Rod, who was good friends with John Wayne, made one movie with him: The Train Robbers (1973).
Rod is the one in the red kerchief.
It isn’t a particularly great movie, but it works for me! (And, yes, I have it.)
Have a great weekend, y’all!
January 16, 2015
Friday movie pick: “I once was lost, but now am found”
by chuckofish
Considering that this is the long MLK weekend and we will be celebrating the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, I think an appropriate film to watch tonight is Amazing Grace (2006)–a really good movie about the wonderful British saint William Wilberforce, who headed the parliamentary campaign against the British slave trade for twenty-six years until the passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807. (I have blogged about him previously here.)
Directed by Michael Apted, it stars a bevy of British hotties, including Ioan Gruffudd as Wilberforce, Benedict Cumberbatch as William Pitt and scene-stealing Rufus Sewell as Thomas Clarkson. Former hottie Albert Finney is John Newton, who, you will recall, though once the captain of a slave ship, experienced a spiritual conversion, became an evangelical Anglican priest, and wrote the much-loved hymn “Amazing Grace.”
I watched it again the other night and was quite impressed with the screenplay, the beautiful production values and the acting. It is a rare movie where the Christians are the good guys!
P.S. It is interesting to note that everyone–from Alan Jackson to Celtic Thunder and everyone in between–has recorded the hymn “Amazing Grace.” I like it played on the bagpipes myself.
We had a piper at my mother’s funeral and he played “Amazing Grace.”
Have a good weekend!
January 15, 2015
“I’ve seen the promised land.”
by chuckofish
Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant led your people out of slavery, and made them free at last; Grant that your Church, following the example of your prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of your love, and may secure for all your children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Martin Luther King, Jr. is remembered as a martyr on the calendar of the Episcopal Church with an annual feast day on the anniversary of his death, April 4, but his birthday is commemorated liturgically today.
King’s oldest daughter Yolanda was a classmate of mine at Smith College. She was a theater major, however, so I don’t think our paths crossed. “In life,” she said, “I had to be prim and proper and poised — the King daughter. But acting, I could be zany, silly, sometimes the foolish person that I am. I could let the rough edges show.” (NYTimes obit, 2007) I get that.
I am reminded today that my son’s poem “Stop the Violence” was awarded 1st place in the MLK poetry contest at his elementary school (or was it the school district?) back (circa) 1994 when he was in the second grade…I wish I had a copy of it to share with you, but it is lost in a dusty pile of memorabilia. I think he was given a medal.
I remember telling my children that Dr. King was a Baptist minister who believed that we are all God’s children. It is a good thing for all of us to keep in mind.
Martin Luther King, Jr. statue over the west entrance of Westminster Abbey, installed in 1998.
January 5, 2015
Arise, shine, for your light has come
by chuckofish
Well, what a two weeks this has been! It has been filled with trees, lights, decorations,
trips to the airport,
multiple church services, social events, family,
friends and guests,
dance parties, and way too much food and drink.
But I took very few pictures. I will try to do better as I return to my routine. I am a routine person after all. Meanwhile, it is back to school today! Arise, shine–the days are getting longer after all. Thank goodness.
December 22, 2014
“Who in these latter days was born for blessing to a world forlorn”*
by chuckofish
Advent Four. In the gospel lesson Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel, who says, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” Mary, not surprisingly, is perplexed by this and “pondered what kind of greeting this might be.” Our assisting priest, who gave the sermon, informed us that the word “ponder” is only used twice in the gospels, both times referring to Mary. He advised us to do more of our own pondering, but not to worry when the Big Questions remain unanswered. He reminded us that we don’t have to wait for complete understanding to act in faith. I get that.
I will miss our assisting priest–who is technically retired–as he heads off to Florida for several months. His sermons actually make sense. C’est la vie.
Since daughter #2 came home on Friday, I have been busier than probably in the entire prior four weeks (combined).
Best friends since Vacation Bible School
No kidding. Well, I expect to be busy when we have a full house at this time of year. And that’s okay.
I will do my best to fit in some ponder-time during the twelve days of Christmas, but I ain’t makin’ any promises, y’hear? There will be plenty of time in January for pondering.
By the way, I just finished a ponder-worthy book: Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel.
A.S. Byatt described it as “a terrible and swirling horror comedy about a very fat medium on the perimeter of the M25, haunted by mean and nasty spirits veering between damnation and the trivial.” Mantel really is a genius and this book is pretty disturbing. She reminds me of Shirley Jackson–brilliant and slightly cracked and a great, great writer. I highly recommend it.
* Hymn 63
December 15, 2014
Sleepers, wake!*
by chuckofish
Advent Three. The second lesson was I Thessalonians 5: 16-24, which you will recall I blogged about last month.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. (NRSV)
You would think that it would be easy to rejoice during this particular holiday season as we await the birth of our saviour. But it isn’t, is it? We feel harried and under the gun. We try so hard and no one seems to notice. We aren’t included causing us to feel left out and once again like our 8th grade personas. We miss our loved ones and feel lonely. Sigh.
Well, I say turn off Facebook and turn to your prayer book (or Walt Whitman) instead. Take a walk. Give thanks that you can. Have a glass of wine. Give thanks in all circumstances.
It’s all good.
*Hymn #61
December 10, 2014
This and that
by chuckofish
Our grandmother Catherine Cameron 1966
Remember when people received so many Christmas cards in the mail that they could use them as a decorative device at home? Well, times have certainly changed, haven’t they? I get fewer and fewer every year. As of 12/10/14, I have received five.
Mine are ready to go in the mail. Maybe I’ll get a few in response. Some people seem to wait and see who sends them before they return the favor. Please. Oh well, c’est la vie, but I like getting cards! Don’t you?
Here’s a link to an interesting story about Billy Graham and Louis Zamperini, the hero of Unbroken, the bestselling book by Laura Hillenbrand. You won’t see anything about Billy Graham in Angelina Jolie’s movie adaption of the book, but he was the guy who saved Zamperini’s life after he survived WWII. I knew when I read the book that this would be the case. Hollywood would never tell the whole story.
Indeed, Zamperini survived the war and years of incarceration in a Japanese prisoner of war camp against incredible odds, but he was a broken man when he returned to California. He was angry and bitter and could not get back on track. The happy ending came, however, when he went in 1949 to one of Billy Graham’s first revivals and literally had a come-to-Jesus moment.
On the night of Oct. 23, Zamperini heard Graham say: “If you suffer, I’ll give you the grace to go forward.”
Hillenbrand, drawing on more than 70 interviews with Zamperini for “Unbroken,” tells how he recalled all the miraculous moments when his body might have broken and yet did not.
But on that night, Zamperini’s broken soul was touched. He walked down the sawdust aisle toward the Graham.
Over the next six decades, hundreds of thousands heard those words and did the same.
“God has spoken to you,” Graham said then, and ever after. “You come on.”
Zamperini became a devout Presbyterian and spent his life “giving back” and working with young people. What a made-for-Hollywood ending! But, of course, Hollywood no longer sees it that way. Perhaps that is why no one goes to the movies anymore.
And for all you LEGO nerds out there:
LEGO Christmas tree in Sydney, Australia
Pretty cool, eh?
And to wrap up this and that, here is a good prayer for the Feast Day of Karl Barth, which was yesterday, December 10:
Almighty God, source of justice beyond human knowledge: We offer thanks that thou didst inspire Karl Barth to resist tyranny and exalt thy saving grace, without which we cannot apprehend thy will. Teach us, like him, to live by faith, and even in chaotic and perilous times to perceive the light of thy eternal glory, Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who livest and reignest with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, throughout all ages. Amen.
Have a good Thursday!
dual personalities 