Seeking Authentic Voice

Songbird over at RevGalBlogPals offers this Friday Five: 1) Will you be watching? If so, is this your first royal wedding? I am watching, and yes it is my first royal wedding. When Diana married I was in my 20's and not interested in getting up early to watch the event. I do remember my mother getting up to watch it, making me feel as though I have become my mother (LOL). 2) The bride has chosen as her wedding cake a fruitcake. Where do you stand on this pastry? I think their wedding fruitcake will be delicious...I hear thay are also going to have a chocolate cake, which would be my preference. 3) The dress code for royal weddings has not seen the same sad decline as that for most other weddings. If you could design your own royal wedding hat, what color would it be and what special decoration would it feature? I'd probably wear a subtle shade of pink or ivory, with a fun ribbon and floral trim. 4) Any chance the Archbishop of Canterbury is using a Sustainable Sermon ...

A year ago around this time I flew to Tucson to pick up my car, the fated VW Passat, that had the engine sludge. If you are an owner of a 2000-2004 VW Passat you know what I am talking about, because you are part of class action suit which is about to be settled. The engine in our Passat died in December of 2009, launching us into some intense negotiations with VW. In the end we paid over $5,000.00 to have the engine replaced. When we moved in February of 2010 we were still negotiating arguing with VW and left the car at the dealer. By the end of April we forked over a large chunk of change and had it fixed. But, then I had to go get it. Last spring was warm and dry. Day after day of sun. The leaves on trees unfolded in April, instead of the middle of May, which is the norm around here. So unlike this spring, with day after day of relentless rain. My trip to Tucson led to a wonderful drive back to Chicago. I picked up my son, who was with friends in Phoenix, and his dog (little mi...

My earworm this morning is Joni Mitchell, "Woke Up It Was a Chelsea Morning" - which means I need to listen to this song on my iPod. Joni Mitchell was a favorite of mine when I was in high school back in the 1970's. I haven't listened to her since then, until I recently when I loaded a couple of her albums into my iTunes library. Anyway, the sun is not shining, it's another rainy chilly day, which seems to be the new norm for this region. I don't mind though. I still have a fair amount to do to organize this new residence where my husband and I live. We arrived here a week ago, our belongings arrived the next day. And, now, we are mostly unpacked, just a few boxes of odds and ends remain. Today I anticipate hanging our artwork. And also I give thanks that everything made it here safe and sound, following a move from Arizona, a year in storage, and then the move here. I am especially relieved because my husband and I packed everything, and he drove the (monst...

Mystery open us to your mystery of love. Open us as you  were opened for us in love. God of all being Reaching out your hand in love May we take the hand extended, open for us. And may we offer the same extended love, all. Amen. Crossposted on RevGalBlogPals and A Place for Prayer

Am I a stone, and not a sheep, That I can stand, O Christ, beneath Thy cross, To number drop by drop Thy Blood’s slow loss, And yet not weep? Not so those women loved Who with exceeding grief lamented Thee; Not so fallen Peter weeping bitterly; Not so the thief was moved; Not so the Sun and Moon Which hid their faces in a starless sky. A horror of great darkness at broad noon – I, only I. Yet give not o’er But seek Thy sheep, true Shepherd of the flock; Greater than Moses, turn and look once more And smite a rock. - by Christina Rossetti

I have learned that the Rev Terry Jones is planning a visit to my new home town. And, as if all of his recent behavior hasn't been in bad enough form, as it he doesn't reflect the worst of Christianity, he has chosen Good Friday as the day of his visit. Here is a quote from an email I received: "Jones seems to have been joined by an interesting crew. The protest won't be in front of the Islamic Center of America but they intend to hold a press conference on Good Friday between 5 and 8 pm. They will be discussing jihad, sharia and the radicalization of 'Moslems' (their spelling) in America. Participating in the press conference will be: Ahmed Abaza of The Truth TV who claims to be a former Muslim who has found Jesus, Rabbi Nacham Shifren of L.A. - right wing, West Bank settler type, and Frank Fiorello, the founder of the Order of the Dragon. They say: 'We are holding a demo about the middle east the peace process by exposing some lies about Israel/Palest...

Up early this morning to find that the rain has turned to snow. We have an accumulating snow storm, with about an inch or so and it is still snowing. It is beautiful. But a bit frustrating since I have packed everything - even my winter coat - presuming I'd be ok with several layers of fleece. After all, today is moving day, and I will be active. We spent the weekend packing, with only last minute things to pack today. I begin my new job on Monday, May 2, so I'll be in transition for awhile...and I don't want to offer many details because some folks from my new community and parish stop by this blog. (Hi! Looking forward to meeting you in real life). The congregation is in a transition of its own - toasting and celebrating the good work of their interim and this transition time. Endings are an important part of transitions - I want to stay under the radar until it's time for me to enter the picture in early May. I'm also thinking about Holy Week and wondering ...