dual personalities

Tag: Episcopal Church

February 27, 2013

A cheerful heart

by chuckofish

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A while ago I posted about the positive effects of a good cry. Well today we’ll consider the importance of being cheerful.

Every day I get an email from the Anglican monks of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist. Yesterday’s message from Br. Mark Brown was about “Hilarity”. You can read the whole thing here.

“Perhaps we could think of cheerfulness,” he writes, “a gentle good cheer, as a spiritual practice, or, at least, as a spiritual good—as a way of being compassionate to those we live with (as Paul’s words suggest). A way of bringing the light of Christ, the gracious light of Christ into the lives of others. Cheerfulness can’t be an all day/every day thing. But if we’re between the storms of life and in a comparatively neutral zone, we might be more intentional about returning to a kind of emotional baseline of gentle good cheer. Rather than merely neutral, perhaps a baseline of gentle good cheer.”

I like to think of cheerfulness as a spiritual practice. One of the affirmative laws of the Boy Scouts, as you know, is “A scout is cheerful”–in fact he “smiles and whistles”. As we also know, practice makes perfect. Sometimes that means smiling when we don’t feel like it. This sign in my kitchen reminds all who enter to do so.

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The writer of the Book of Proverbs says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine”, which is so true. We all know people whose cheerfulness is contagious and makes proximity to them a definite benefit. Likewise a smile from a stranger can greatly improve your day. So go ahead and smile! Think of it as your Lenten spiritual practice and do it intentionally!

If you are having a hard time smiling, it is a good spiritual practice to watch a funny movie. But why is it that I have a harder time thinking of movies that make me laugh than ones that make me cry? Anyway, here are some funny ones: Ball of Fire (1941), Best in Show (2000), Ghostbusters (1984), Heaven Can Wait (1978), The Producers (1968), The Pink Panther (1963), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), Annie Hall (1977), A Run for Your Money (1949), The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain (1995). What have I forgotten?

And if all else fails, try this:

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February 15, 2013

Odds and Ends

by chuckofish

It’s finally Friday. We’ve had Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, the Westminster Dog Show, the SOTU, and Valentine’s Day. Good grief, Charlie Brown.

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Seriously, that is too much for one week.

Not that I actually participated in most of it. Drunken mob (Mardi Gras)–certainly not my thing. Yes, our flyover town boasts the 2nd largest blow-out in the U.S. But no.

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I did watch some of the Dog Show, which I used to enjoy. But it is a bit over the top these days with its freaky display of weird breeds–I mean what is an Affenpinscher anyway? (This Affenpinscher reminds me of Michael J. Fox in Teen Wolf.)

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Not to mention traditional breeds that look freaky because of their blow-dried locks. I mean how embarrassed was this poor sheepdog?

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Remember when they looked like this?

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To top things off, today is the 249th birthday of my flyover hometown. Founded in 1764 by Pierre Laclède and Auguste Chouteau, it became a major port on the Mississippi River after the Louisiana Purchase. According to Wikipedia, “its population expanded after the American Civil War, and it became the fourth-largest city in the United States in the late 19th century. It seceded from St. Louis County in March 1877, allowing it to become an independent city and limiting its political boundaries. In 1904, it hosted the Louisiana Purchase Exposition and the 1904 Summer Olympics. The city’s population peaked in 1950, then began a long decline that continues in the 21st century.” I always say, we peaked in 1904. Sigh.

Here is an ironic photo of "The Captain's Return" statue on the flooded riverfront.

Here is an ironic photo of “The Captain’s Return” on the flooded riverfront.

Well, we still have these guys:

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Anyway, I think we’re all due for some quiet time this weekend, don’t you? Here’s a Quaker thought from here.

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By the way…I did not get long-stemmed roses from my husband for Valentine’s Day. Merci beaucoup.

Godiva chocolates, a book and Pilot pens (blue)

Godiva chocolates, a book and Pilot pens (blue)

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February 13, 2013

Praising my savior all the day long

by chuckofish

Frances Jane Crosby was the most prolific writer of hymn texts and gospel songs in the American evangelical tradition of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. She wrote more than eight thousand sacred texts in addition to other poetry.

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Born in Putnam County, New York, on March 24, 1820, she lost her sight as an infant as a result of complications from a childhood illness. At the age of fifteen, she entered the New York Institute for the Blind where she would later teach for a number of years. In 1858, she married Alexander van Alstyne, a musician in New York who was also blind. Crosby was a lifelong Methodist.

Fanny Crosby is honored with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America on February 11, even though none of her hymns are included in either the 1940 or 1982 Hymnal. Go figure.

Here is an excellent rendition of one of her most famous hymns, Blessed Assurance, performed by Third Day. Listen to the whole thing and start your Lent on a positive note.

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January 7, 2013

The Wise Men do their part

by chuckofish

Epiph

Yesterday at Grace we had a Lessons and Carols with Holy Eucharist for Epiphany service complete with three little boys decked out in glittery kingly garb bringing gifts for the Christ child (see picture above sans boys). The only problem was, as usual, no one had bothered to tell the assigned lay readers that there was a change in the service which would affect them. I was a lay reader and this annoyed me, which in turn made me feel like a grumpy old lady, which contrary to popular opinion, I do not enjoy.

Once I recovered from my initial consternation, however, I was able to enjoy the service, which is a treat reserved, I guess, for when Epiphany actually lands on a Sunday. Anyway, it included the singing of many of my favorite hymns: We Three Kings, In the Bleak Midwinter, As With Gladness Men of Old, and The First Nowell. Also the wee bairns in the training choir sang and they are always adorable.

I was the first reader and read the first lesson:

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I love being a lay reader, because I love the scripture. This is what keeps me going to church despite constant reservations and disagreements with all forms of organized religion. Also it was good to go to church on Epiphany and be reminded that epiphanies happen every day. Our task is not to MISS them!

It was also a great lead in to watching 3 Godfathers (finally).

This movie never disappoints. I was also reminded of the time back in the day when daughter #1 and the boy were shepherds in the “Christmas in St. Louis” parade. They rode on the float with Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus and some sheep. That year there were also three wise men on real camels! One of the kings was our new daughter-in-law’s grandfather who was right out of central casting in the part of king/wise man. I wish I had a picture of him on his camel, but I’ll have to make due with this one of my children.

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Little did that King on a camel know that his granddaughter would marry that little shepherd one day. Well, wise man or shepherd, we try to do our part.

We try to give Him our heart.

6 Comments
December 17, 2012

Bumpuses!

by chuckofish

The airport at this time of year is a fun place to people watch. There are lots of happy people picking up college students and relatives etc. There are people with balloons!

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Daughter #2 arrived on time and toting a 50-lb. suitcase. Yikes. We moved on, as is our custom, to Hacienda and margaritas.

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The boy came over and put the tree up in its stand (step 1) so that the branches could come down before decorating it the next day.

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The tree, although there was an alarming amount of needles on the floor (zut alors!), turned out to be quite satisfactory.

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I finally watched Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and A Christmas Story (1983).

I am looking forward to watching more Xmas flicks this week and another trip to the airport to pick up daughter #1 on Thursday. In the meantime…

keep calm

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December 12, 2012

This little babe

by chuckofish

I was listening to Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols while I drove to work yesterday. It is good stuff. There is even a harp.

But I cannot hear any of it without being instantly transported back to my high school days in the school choir in the second soprano section. One of my friends was every bit as funny as, say, Ellen DeGeneres. Funnier really. She could do an “opera voice” better than anyone, and many of these Britten tunes really begged for it. She could really get us second sopranos going–and by that I mean giggling, not singing. I’m sure we were the bane of several super-serious choir directors we tortured over the years.

This little Babe, so few days old,
Has come to rifle Satan’s fold.
All hell doth at his presence quake
Tho’ he Himself with cold doth shake.
For in this weak unarmed wise
The gates of hell he will surprise.

Oh. Yes.

Here is a sample of Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols sung by the boys’ choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral. It was written, of course, for trebles (boys), but we girls did pretty well, giggling aside.

Gives you chills, doesn’t it?

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December 10, 2012

Weekend update

by chuckofish

Oh, weekends in December! So busy and filled with seasonal activities such as buying Christmas trees ‘n such.

On Saturday the husband and I hopped in the Subaru and headed over to our local Optimists lot where the fellas are very friendly and helpful. We picked out two trees (one big and one small) and as my husband disappeared into the trailer to pay, I moseyed over to talk to….yes! Santa!

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I asked if I could take his picture and then one of the guys directed me to sit on Santa’s knee. I demurred. He insisted. Santa admitted to having a titanium knee. Hilarity ensued.

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Then one of the guys said, “Oh that’s a terrible background. Let’s move some trees over there…”

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More picture-taking, even less flattering than the first batch, so I will cease and desist at this point to share any more. You get the picture.

I am telling you, we are well on our way to December 25th! I put up the little tree.

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It is beautiful, isn’t it? We’ll put up the big tree next weekend when daughter #2 gets home.

On Sunday the boy and his bride came over and we went to the Service of Lessons and Carols at Grace. It was very nice, but I was distracted by the woman in front of me who went to my high school where every year the choir put on a Festival of Lessons and Carol of its own, the old school English version. This woman was a few years ahead of me (7) and was a cool-girl-hockey-player, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how she’s 63 years old now! Could it have been that long ago that we sang Ralph Vaughan Williams in the school chapel? Yes, it has. Turns out, she saw our sign out in front announcing our Lessons and Carols service and she decided to come. I told her it was great to see her and I hoped she’d come back.

‘Cause you sure as hell can’t go home again. Onward and upward.

Anyway, we are well into Advent. Blessings be upon you and yours. Here’s “Gabriel’s Message” sung by the King’s College (Cambridge) Choir to start off your week right:

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December 4, 2012

Flyover weekend II

by chuckofish

This past weekend my best Grace girlfriends and I headed out of town for our second annual flyover roadtrip.

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We stayed in the same log cabin Bed and Breakfast that we visited last year. We were greeted by some old friends.

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The honeysuckle was blooming…on December 1!

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The house was decorated for Christmas and looked lovely.

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We spent Saturday afternoon investigating antique malls and shops in Washington, Missouri, a nice old river town. I never laid eyes on a true antique, but I saw lots of fun vintage items and piles of junk. But that is the expectation. I found a Christmas present for the boy and lots of other things I restrained myself from buying, like these guys:

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That night we sat on the porch–it was 71-degrees–and enjoyed the sunset.

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We played Scattergories and attempted to play cards, but that was so much work. In other words, we had to choose between playing cards or drinking wine. It was an easy choice for me.

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On Sunday we had a wonderful breakfast

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and then went to Hermann, Missouri, another lively town on the Missouri River. We hit the Kristkindl Markt again and were as successful as last year.

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It is the beginning of December and I am in good shape (spiritually and commercially) for Christmas. I will not have to go near a mall. I can now concentrate on awaiting the birth of our Lord and Savior in the season of Advent in a relatively calm state of mind. I hope this feeling lasts!

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Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!

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November 28, 2012

Kick it off, Katie

by chuckofish

Since we have been on the subject of hymns lately, I will perk up your Wednesday with this rendition of What a Friend We Have in Jesus by The Purple Hulls. It has been recorded by everyone from Aretha Franklin to Alan Jackson to John Tesh (!), but I like this version.

The Purple Hulls are a band of siblings and that’s one reason their harmony is so great. They also do a nice instrumental version of Be Thou My Vision, which was always a favorite hymn of mine and which we sang in our school chapel (sans banjo).

(A hat tip to the wonderful Hay Quaker blog where I am always discovering new things, such as The Purple Hulls.)

And a special birthday shout out to the boy who turns 26 today!

He has always been a fine young man. This picture reminds us, to paraphrase the great Pete Townshend, that all the best cowboys have Chinese eyes.

7 Comments
November 27, 2012

A settled rest: Isaac Watts remembered

by chuckofish

Yesterday the Episcopal Church remembered Isaac Watts (July 17, 1674 – November 25, 1748), preacher, pastor and a prolific and popular hymn writer, often recognized as the “Father of English Hymnody” and credited with some 750 hymns. It is also worth noting that he was the first hymn-writer to give expression to the Reformation emphasis on a personal appropriation of the faith by using first person pronouns in hymnody.

Watts, unable to go to either Oxford or Cambridge on account of his non-conformity, went to the Dissenting Academy at Stoke Newington in 1690, and much of his life centered around that village, which is now part of Inner London.

London’s only public statue to Isaac Watts is in Abney Park, Stoke Newington.

He is honored with a memorial in Westminster Abbey.

Among his more enduring hymns are Jesus Shall Reign, Joy to the World, Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past, and I Sing the Mighty Power of God. One of my favorites has always been My Shepherd Will Supply My Need especially the last verse:

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

Marilynne Robinson (see yesterday’s post) quotes Watts in Gilead:

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

“Good old Watts,” she writes. “I’ve thought about that verse often. I have always wondered what relationship this present reality bears to an ultimate reality.”

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone…

Truly they don’t write hymns like that anymore, do they?

Enjoy! (the choir of the Washington National Cathedral)

God of truth and grace, who didst give Isaac Watts singular gifts to present thy praise in verse, that he might write psalms, hymns and spiritual songs for thy Church: Give us grace joyfully to sing thy praises now and in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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