Episcopal Church | dual personalities

March 29, 2018

A science snippet and a reminder

by chuckofish

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The full Moon that shows up for a second time this month (March 31) is known as a “Blue Moon.” This full Blue Moon is also known as the “Paschal Blue Moon” and it has a special connection to Easter. The first Sunday after the Paschal Moon is usually designated as Easter Sunday, as will indeed be the case this year (April 1).

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The last time we had a Paschal Blue Moon was in 1999. In that year, that second March full Moon fell on a Wednesday, so Easter Sunday fell on April 4. If you’re wondering when the last time Easter Sunday fell on April 1, that was in 1956!

Here’s another “Blue Moon” for you; watch the whole thing…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hkngjEgHgk

Suddenly I feel like having a

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How about you?

I will have to wait, however. I have a busy day at work and then I am reading at the Maundy Thursday service this evening,

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followed by my one hour waiting “in the garden” with our Lord. I won’t be home ’til late I’m afraid.

Tomorrow is Good Friday. Time to get our act together.

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

– Collect for Maundy Thursday, Book of Common Prayer

Blue Moon information from The Farmer’s Almanac 2018; Last Supper painting from the Ottheinrich Folio.

2 Comments

March 12, 2018

Restore thou those who are penitent*

by chuckofish

It was a busy weekend filled with chores–going to Target and other shopping, doing laundry, cleaning up the kitchen, vacuuming–the usual weekend to do list. I don’t mind. I got some of my bunnies out since it is that time of year.

And I did a little spring cleaning in the Florida room, but I may have jumped the gun on that.

I went to church on Sunday and I was the first lector. My passage was from Numbers, the classic scene where the Israelites are grumbling–“Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?”–and the Lord punishes them by sending poisonous snakes. They repent and He takes the snakes away. This leads nicely into the gospel lesson, “Jesus said, ‘Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world…”.

It was raining when I left the church and soon it was snowing, really coming down like soap flakes in a movie. It was pretty to watch.

iPhone cameras can never capture snow falling! It was coming down in giant chunks!

I also started to pack for my trip this coming Friday to visit sweet daughter #2 back east. We have a little road trip planned to Virginia where we will stop in for a few days to see my oldest/dearest friend who lives in Norfolk. Can’t wait to get out of Dodge!

Meanwhile the boy’s BFF (and the wee laddie’s godfather) was ordained to the diaconate at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC.

imagejpeg_0 We are all very proud of him.

Ah, sunrise, sunset…swiftly flow the years!

Speaking of which, the wee babes are now 15-months old! They came over for dinner on Sunday night. They had fun playing with vintage toys.

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After they went home I watched The Robe (1953)–the first of my Lenten movies!

Were you…out there?

I enjoyed it immensely.

*BCP, General Confession, A Penitential Order, Rite I

5 Comments

February 27, 2018

He that throws a stone at another, hits himself

by chuckofish

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Today on the Episcopal calendar of saints we celebrate the life of George Herbert, English poet and parson (1593-1633). Best known for his wonderful poetry, he also wrote a volume for parish clergy, A Country Parson. Here is section XXVIII, The Parson in Contempt, which seems very apropos today:

The Country Parson knows well, that both for the general ignominy which is cast upon the profession, and much more for those rules, which out of his choysest judgment he hath resolved to observe, and which are described in this Book, he must be despised; because this hath been the portion of God his Master, and of Gods Saints his Brethren, and this is foretold, that it shall be so still, until things be no more. Nevertheless, according to the Apostles rule, he endeavours that none shall despise him; especially in his own Parish he suffers it not to his utmost power; for that, where contempt is, there is no room for instruction. This he procures, first by his holy and unblameable life; which carries a reverence with it, even above contempt. Secondly, by a courteous carriage, & winning behaviour: he that will be respected, must respect; doing kindnesses, but receiving none; at least of those, who are apt to despise: for this argues a height and eminency of mind, which is not easily despised, except it degenerate to pride. Thirdly, by a bold and impartial reproof, even of the best in the Parish, when occasion requires: for this may produce hatred in those that are reproved, but never contempt either in them, or others. Lastly, if the contempt shall proceed so far as to do any thing punishable by law, as contempt is apt to do, if it be not thwarted, the Parson having a due respect both to the person, and to the cause, referreth the whole matter to the examination, and punishment of those which are in Authority, that so the sentence lighting upon one, the example may reach to all. But if the Contempt be not punishable by Law, or being so, the Parson think it in his discretion either unfit, or bootelesse to contend, then when any despises him, he takes it either in an humble way, saying nothing at all; or else in a slighting way, shewing that reproaches touch him no more, then a stone thrown against heaven, where he is, and lives; or in a sad way, grieved at his own, and others sins, which continually break Gods Laws, and dishonour him with those mouths, which he continually fills, and feeds: or else in a doctrinal way, saying to the contemner, Alas, why do you thus? you hurt your self, not me; he that throws a stone at another, hits himself; and so between gentle reasoning, and pitying, he overcomes the evil: or lastly, in a Triumphant way, being glad, and Joyful, that he is made conformable to his Master; and being in the world as he was, hath this undoubted pledge of his salvation. These are the five shields, wherewith the Godly receive the darts of the wicked; leaving anger, and retorting, and revenge to the children of the world, whom another’s ill mastereth, and leadeth captive without any resistance, even in resistance, to the same destruction. For while they resist the person that reviles, they resist not the evil which takes hold of them, and is far the worse enemy.

Speaking of saints, we don’t need to remind you that Dolly Parton is awesome, but this is very cool.

Have a good day!

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February 16, 2018

“For I acknowledge my faults; and my sin is ever before me.”*

by chuckofish

So how is your Lent going so far?

Screen Shot 2018-02-15 at 4.53.26 PM.png Here’s a little book –“A Few Words About Lent”–that may interest you. It was written in 1861 by Charles Todd Quintard, whose feast day is today on the Episcopal Church calendar. Charles was an American physician and clergyman who became the second bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee and the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of the South.

Mighty God, we bless thy Name for the example of thy bishop Charles Todd Quintard, who persevered to reconcile the divisions among the people of his time: Grant, we pray, that thy Church may ever be one, that it may be a refuge for all, for the honor of thy Name; through Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Anyway, it is finally Friday. The OM and I are planning to road-trip to Columbia this weekend. On Saturday we will tour our state capitol with daughter #1. We are living in the fast lane, right?

I am pretty excited to see the old river town. I have not been there since I accompanied daughter #2 and her fourth grade class on a field trip to Jefferson City back in the day.

Screen Shot 2018-02-15 at 1.33.26 PM.png Jefferson City is on the northern edge of the Ozark Plateau on the southern side of the Missouri River in a region known as Mid-Missouri. The Jeff City website proudly announces that Jefferson City was chosen by Rand McNally as “America’s Most Beautiful Small Town!” However, it does not say when that was. [I searched around the internet and it was 2013!]

When we get back on Sunday, we’ll hopefully get to see the wee babes. Last weekend little Lottie was sick with an ear infection, so only the wee lad and his dad came over.

Here they are reading quietly together. Such book worms!

Here they are in their Olympics-watching outfits–remember the 1980 Miracle on Ice? Eruzione’s goal against the Soviet Union to clinch the “Miracle on Ice” victory is one of the most iconic sports moments of all time.

But did you know that ESPN officially recognized it as the No. 1 greatest sports highlight of all time and Sports Illustrated has named it the No. 1 sports moment of the 20th century? I did not know that. I remember watching the game in the living room of the St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, VA, when I was on hall monitor duty that night. It was, indeed, rather exciting. I seem to remember a lot of screaming, my own included.

If you need a break from the 2018 Olympics, you might want to watch Miracle (2004), starring Kurt Russell as the U.S. ice hockey coach, Herb Brooks. It is pretty good and worth it to see Kurt Russell rock the (terrible) 1980 fashion and hair.

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Have a good weekend!

*Psalm 51: 3

BTW: the painting at the top is Saint Catherine of Siena besieged by demons (Anonymous). St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, VA, on the other hand, is named after Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of young women.

5 Comments

January 29, 2018

Lord hear our prayer and be our guide

by chuckofish

We had more lovely warm weather this weekend and everyone was out and about. I even got the OM moving. (He usually hibernates in January.)

I also went to the church annual meeting…

…and the dedication of our new labyrinth in Albright Hall. The labyrinth is pretty cool. You will recall that the labyrinth in Christian parlance is a spiritual tool for prayer, a metaphor for your own spiritual journey–taking the next step with God. There is a famous one at Chartres Cathedral in France and they have one at Grace Episcopal Cathedral in San Francisco.

We used to have a portable labyrinth on a large piece of fabric which we would haul out from time to time. It finally wore out and, when we needed to renovate the floor in Albright Hall, someone had the bright idea of building a permanent one. Pretty clever.

Speaking of floor coverings, I rescued an amazing handmade needlepoint rug at the most recent Link Auction–for $10!

How great is that? The amount of work that goes into a needlepoint rug is beyond, you know, my comprehension. I also picked up a copy of the Women’s Exchange cookbook (Memphis, TN) from 1966 in my travels this weekend. What a classic! The recipes are all like: “Punch (My Mother’s)” with the notation that “one quart of champagne may be used instead of ginger ale.” My kind of ladies. Plus they all have names like Mrs. Stovall Jeter and Mary Chism Roberts and Mrs. Shelby Foote. There are also quotes sprinkled throughout (“Coquetry whets the appetite, flirtation depraves it” in the appetizer section). Fun to read and who knows, maybe I’ll make some of Mrs. Lucius McGehee’s Rum Mousse. I will not, however, try Mr. Johnny Jacobs’ recipe for Barbequed Raccoon.

The wee babes came over for dinner with their parents on Sunday night and we had tortellini–always a popular choice–although the wee laddie preferred the organic cheese ducks (like Pepperidge Farm Gold Fish).

I had cleaned up an old Fisher-Price horsie we found in the basement (from the 1980s) and the wee babes loved it.

Good times. (Thanks to the boy, once again, for the pictures of the babes.)

Have a good week!

7 Comments

January 23, 2018

A prayer for today

by chuckofish

O God:

Give me strength to live another day;
Let me not turn coward before its difficulties
or prove recreant to its duties;

Let me not lose faith in other people;
Keep me sweet and sound of heart, in spite of
ingratitude, treachery, or meanness;
Preserve me from minding little stings or
giving them;

Help me to keep my heart clean, and to live so
honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure
can dishearten me or take away the joy of
conscious integrity;

Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see
good in all things;

Grant me this day some new vision of thy truth;
Inspire me with the spirit of joy and gladness;

And make me the cup of strength to suffering
souls; in the name of the strong Deliverer,
our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

–Phillips Brooks

The Episcopal Church remembers Phillips Brooks, priest and bishop, annually on January 23, the anniversary of his death. He is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery–the first “garden cemetery” in America–in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Edwin Booth is buried there too, as is Louis Agassiz, geologist, zoologist; Mary Baker Eddy, “discoverer of the principles of Christian Science”; Fannie Farmer, who wrote the cookbook; Isabella Stewart Gardner, whose home is a museum now; Oliver Wendell Holmes, essayist; Winslow Homer, painter, Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the words to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”; Henry Wadsworth Longfellow…and many more.

Boston is not high on my places to visit, but who knows? I would like to take a look at this cemetery.

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January 15, 2018

“Speak, for your servant is listening.”*

by chuckofish

Visit then this soul of mine, pierce the gloom of sin and grief!

Fill me, radiancy divine; scatter all my unbelief;

More and more thyself display, shining to the perfect day.

–Charles Wesley, hymn #7

Boy, do I love a three-day weekend! Don’t you? Daughter #1 stopped overnight Friday on her way to Indianapolis to meet up with some old college friends who also had had exciting careers in NYC and then moved back to the midwest. Then she stopped last night on her way back to central Missouri. How fun is that? We watched The World of Henry Orient (1964)–“an Upper East Side” movie and one of our faves. It is by far my favorite Peter Sellers movie and the girls in this film are dear to my heart.

(Like all trailers, this one does not quite convey the true idea/flavor of the movie.)

In between I met with my girlfriends to plan a bridal shower in March. Bells are ringing (again)! I puttered around the house putting stuff away. This is what I do and this is what brings me joy.

We had a guest preacher at church on Sunday–the Bishop’s Deputy for Gun Violence Prevention. I thought, oh brother, are we in for it, but he actually preached on MLK (his feast day is April 4, whatever) and tied it into the OT reading. Okay, then.

The wee babes came over on Sunday night for dinner and to show us their new haircuts.

That face!

Their mother loves to take them to have their locks shorn–I’m not sure why and neither are they.

But mine is not to reason why. They are adorable regardless.

Here are a few things from the internet:

This was interesting. #6 is particularly true–especially for those of us with scary RBF**: “Remember to smile. It will brighten your aspect and your voice, and serve as a corrective to the inevitable facial droop.”

I couldn’t agree more with this. Bravo.

Have a great week.

Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which Thou has given me, for all the pains and insults which Thou hast borne for me, O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and brother, may I know Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, and follow Thee more nearly, day by day.

–St. Richard of Chichester

*I Samuel 3:10

**Resting Bitch Face

3 Comments

January 5, 2018

Brrrrrrrr

by chuckofish

The Mississippi River freezes solid in February 1905.

Il fait froid! There are ice chunks in the ol’ Mississip today, but I don’t think one could walk across it. I certainly wouldn’t want to try! Here are some interesting historical photos of our frozen river through the years.

I plan to stay warm at home this weekend packing up Christmas decorations. But I also have two birthdays to celebrate, including daughter #3’s, so I’ll be out and about.

I saw a fox run through our back yard early on Christmas Eve morning. Maybe he’ll be back.

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Thus by the snow I was made aware in this short walk of the recent presence of squirrels, a fox, and countless mice, whose trail I had crossed, but none of which I saw, or probably should have seen before the snow fell. Also I saw this afternoon the track of one sparrow, probably a tree sparrow, which had run among the weeds in the road. (Dec. 14, 1855)

–Henry David Thoreau, A Writer’s Journal

Since it is Epiphany,

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it is time to watch 3 Godfathers (1947)–an all-time favorite.

What have you got on the docket?

The OM and I are also babysitting the wee babes. Please note that the 16 lb. dynamo is now on the move for real! Keep us in your prayers.

Have a good weekend!

The painting is “Tracks in Snow” by Morten E. Solberg.

2 Comments

December 11, 2017

“Therefore we sing to greet our King; forever let our praises ring.”*

by chuckofish

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After my busy weekend I feel like the wee laddie in the photo above. Pooped. He had conked out after sitting on my lap through his mother’s graduation ceremony on Saturday morning. The wee lassie had just woken up in this picture and was a tad grumpy. If they had had a clue what was going on, they would have been very proud of their hard-working mama. Yes, daughter #3, having started an EdD degree as a part-time “night” student several years ago, persevered through her husband having cancer, the birth of premature twins and daily trips to the NICU for 100+ days, while holding down a full-time job, to finish. It can be done and she’s proof. Huzzah.

I will add that when daughter #3 went up on stage to be hooded, Lottie, who was standing on her other grandmother’s lap, said in a loud voice, “DA-DA!”

After the ceremony, the OM and I went home and I rolled up my sleeves while the OM got comfortable in his recliner. In fact, I was a whirling dervish of activity, wrapping presents to mail out of town, wrapping more presents, cleaning up, decorating the small tree,

Not the best little tree we’ve ever had, but pretty nevertheless!

setting the table (minus one leaf which went down to the basement), addressing Christmas cards…I got a lot done. We even went out to dinner with dear friends. But I was pretty tired by Sunday evening, when I had to get dressed up again and trudge over to church for Lessons and Carols.

I read the first lesson, the one about Adam and Eve in the garden when they sew fig leaves together and make loincloths for themselves. I enjoyed reading it. “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

Screen Shot 2017-12-10 at 3.51.05 PM.png We sang five good Advent hymns, including my favorite, #265, by Sabine Baring-Gould. It is in a key I can never get my voice around, though, and I always feel like I must sound like Cyril Richard as Captain Hook in Peter Pan.

Well, it was quelle busy weekend as expected, but a good one. Here’s one of our favorite scenes from A Christmas Story (1983) –It makes me glad that I don’t have to go out and do more shopping! Well…not much more shopping…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS9L8wjXBEk

Don’t bother me…I’m thinking!

*Hymn #61, Carl P. Daw, Jr.

7 Comments

December 8, 2017

“You don’t know how it feels to be me”*

by chuckofish

‘Tis the season when we all need to take a chill pill and go easy on people. Everyone is stressed out. My DP had some good holiday advice a few days ago and here are a few more things to keep in mind.

First of all, try not to think of all this yuletide preparation as a burden. If it is a burden, you have put it on yourself. Personally, I love getting ready for Christmas, especially the unpacking of the ornaments and decorations, the new and the old. For me, it is a gradual process. There are no deadlines. If something doesn’t get put up this year, so be it. No one will care or (probably) notice. And it will all be lovely.

If no one invites you to a party, have your own. We don’t have a lot of friends, but those we have will all be coming over to our house on the Saturday before Christmas, and I’m sure they are happy about that. We can get dressed up and twist the night away…at least until 8:30 p.m. when we all turn into pumpkins!

Put money in the Salvation Army red kettle every time you see one! Have your cash ready. Don’t view those bell-ringing Santas as an annoyance. The money goes to a good cause.

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Watch some Christmas movies! For me at least, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without The Bishop’s Wife (1947) and White Christmas (1954) and 3 Godfathers (1947)! Unimaginable. If Danny Kaye can’t put you in the holiday spirit, no one can.

Go to church–at least once! Remember that Jesus really is the reason for the season. The rest is all hype and advertising. We are celebrating with a Festival of Lessons and Carols at our church this Sunday evening. Check and see if there is a similar service in your neighborhood. If you can’t actually attend one, listen to the King’s College, Cambridge service which is broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 on December 24. The service is also broadcast on Christmas Day, and at various times on the BBC World Service.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

²The same was in the beginning with God.

³All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

⁴In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

⁵And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

⁷The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

⁸He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

⁹That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

¹¹He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

¹²But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

¹³Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

(John 1: 1-14, KJV)

Have a good weekend! The wee babes (and their parents) have been sick this week. We’ll see them on Saturday when we go to their mom’s graduation–she’s getting her EdD!

*Tom Petty

P.S. I had to include this photo which was posted on Facebook by my friend Carla. It is a Christmas greeting from Christ the Redeemer Church in Pelham, NY where her son is a seminarian intern (3rd from left). Episcopalians know how to amuse themselves.