Whistle and Fish are constant companions when I am home. They follow me from room to room, "help" me with any activity and if they cannot be in a room with me, will nap outside the door.

Fish is working on being independent. He wants to be with me but he doesn't want to sit on my lap or have me snuggle with him for more than 45 seconds.

He wants to know where I am at all times. At night, after Mr. C. and I have put on our long Winter kerchiefs and turned off the light, Fish bounds into our room wailing for me. If I whisper, "I'm here, Fish", he can't hear me through the meowing.

I think it's sweet that Fish needs to know where I am to feel secure. Mr. C, falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow, doesn't like awaking up with cat wailing.

It's not easy being a year-old ginger cat in a world of war, civil rudeness, odd Presidential powers, no stem cell research and global warming. Stress, worries and fear can make a furball anxious.

St. Casserole

Copying Mindy and Cheesehead: I do whatever they do...

'What" will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Dear Readers,

Here I am with spaghetti sticks in my hair writing a letter to you.

It's typical for me to wake up and have someone "on my mind". I pray early after getting out of bed and grabbing a cup of coffee. When I realize I've got whoever-it-is on my mind, I begin to pray for them. I may know them well or only in passing or not at all (national figures, etc.) I commend them to God's good care and move on. Sometimes, the person stays with me throughout the day.

Here's my question, O Wise Readers: do I contact the person to let them know they are "on my mind"? If it's a local or email person, I could contact them to let them know I'm praying for them.

I attempt to be gentle about prayer. I give the people I visit in the hospital the deciding vote on whether or not I pray for them by their bed. Maybe they are wild for me to get out of the room. Perhaps they want to hold on to their dignity and not cry about their situation and believe a prayer would unleash the tears. I don't know so I ask in a way that allows them to save face and tell me "no".

If I am out in the community and think a person may want prayer for their distress (illness, grief, worry about someone they love) I'll offer to pray with a gentle, "whatever you like.." so they can turn me down.

But what about the names or faces of people who jump into my mind? I pray for them but should I contact them? Geez, I hate being intrusive so this is a real issue. I can be quite the bulldog in other areas of my life so I want to be careful not to upset someone's nerves.

If someone called me up to tell me they were praying for me, I think I'd be delighted. Delighted unless they were praying that I would "get a clue" "come co-sign a bank loan for them" or that I'd come to my senses and give up the ministry because only men can be preachers. Those kind of prayers don't seem like prayers to me and appear to be manipulative.

How do you handle when the Spirit brings a name to your mind for prayer?

St. Casserole

Go here. Right now. Read all.

http://operationeden.blogspot.com/


St. C

One Year, Two Months and One day

That's how long since the Storm.

• Our request for money to finish church repairs goes to the Commission this week.
• I need a plumber, electrician and a carpenter to finish repairs at home.
• The big apartment complex in the neighborhood remains empty and dark. Will it be repaired? Torn down? Where did all the residents go?
• Several homes in the neighborhood are gone. Just gone. Rebuilding will be from the ground up.
• Homeowner insurance skyrocketed. And, each policy contains a caveat explaining (we think) if your windows are blown out or your roof comes off we will replace these items but not the water damage inside. Go figure.
• Daylight Saving Time ruins my late afternoons but at least construction workers can see in the mornings to start work.
• The Red Cross is offering grants to pay for therapy for storm victims in the affected areas. This is great!
• Rev. Hunting Dog's congregation cleaned out their gutted sanctuary a few weeks ago. Volunteers did the big work but the congregation wanted to use the ruined space for outdoor worship. After hanging the cross in the chancel, they came back the next day to find the cross and sanctuary vandalized. The copper plumbing tubing has been stripped out three times since repairs began. Vandals.
• Volunteers from around the country are here again. I adore seeing church vans from all over the U.S. driving around.
• Why did will smama have to go home? I liked having her here.
• Still plenty of places where storm debris is piled up next to the road.

St. Casserole

Actual Conversation...

This morning as I pulled up to the curb at the church and got out of my car, a visitor walked up. I welcomed her to the church and introduced myself.

"You're the pastor's wife?"

"No, M'am, I'm the pastor."

"You are the pastor?"

"Yes, M'am. I'm the pastor."

"Wow!"

Later, just minutes before the service. I walk down the aisle to the chancel. Visitor sees me in my vestments. She says, "Cute!"

Just thought you should know the effect I have on visitors....

St. Casserole

The Really Quick Version

Tomorrow's Gospel text is Mark 10:46-52, the story of Bartimaeus and Jesus.

This comforting story suggests that loud crying for help along with being willing to trust God's help, heals.

Physically and economically challenged, Bartimaeus didn't have much going for him except a loud voice, a clear idea of what he wanted ("My teacher, let me see again.") and the trust to get up and go to Jesus for help. Jesus heals him. Able to see, Bartimaeus follows Jesus.

O God, help me ask for help. Help me be loud and clear. Help me trust you to help me. Help me be willing to leave behind what hinders me. Help me follow you. Amen.

St. Casserole

Here I am with will smama. We wanted you to see us together.

We laughed. We talked. She told jokes. I got most of her jokes.

I joked. She "charity" laughed.

Thank you, God, for friends who understand, listen and laugh.

St. Casserole

Blogger Meet-Up Today!

I'm meeting will smama, one of my favorite RevGals, in a few hours!

Yippee! She's here in the Zone working with a mission group and I begged for time with her.

"Tell them you've got to do pastoral care with a local," I said.

Happily,

St. C.

Wednesday Cat Blogging

Whistle, on the white chair, takes a good nap while his brother, Fish, dreams of "getting outside", "my own food bowl" and being the coverboy for "Cat Fancy" magazine.

St. Casserole

Sir Paul McCartney and Lady Heather Mills McCartney are in divorce proceedings.

Why didn't she know that the marriage was doomed from the beginning?

She married a much older man with oodles of money, whose first marriage lasted thirty years and whose grief over his first wife was unhealed.

If only the girlfriend read tabloids at the beauty parlor.

Tabloids contain tons of info about how NOT to make life decisions.

Big money combined with money hunger causes problems.

Long-term marriage with a devoted partner followed by marrying Miss Young and Pretty won't work.

I doubt Sir Paul listened to his adult children who could have told him that he was going to be in a Heartbreak Train Wreck of Tabloid proportions.

I guess they don't watch daytime tv, either. Or read any self-help books. Or pay attention to Gail Sheely's landmark book, Passages. See the chapter on the "save your life wife".

People don't understand that being the one exception to the rule doesn't happen.

I'm sorry for both of them. Sorry their private life is tabloid fodder. Sorry I am read this junk rather than something good for my brain.

But, reading the stupid mags at the beauty parlor keeps one educated culturally and I'm all for that.

St. Casserole

Mom Jeans Recovered

Mom jeans returned unharmed!

I'm sitting here wearing my favorite Mom jeans and looking, well, rather
goofy, I mean, unfashionable.

I'm comfortable.

I followed the Evil Dr. X's instructions by putting a chocolate bar and one dollar in a pillowcase on the mailbox. Jeans were returned.

Just wanted you to know.

St. Casserole

Too tired for words.

Presbytery all day long.

Endless discussions.

Lots of talk.
Big issues deferred until next year's meeting.

No Diet Cokes allowed in the sanctuary where we met.

I spoke my mind.

I held my temper.

I had my say.

St. Casserole

No new word about the Mom Jeans crisis.

I forgot to put a dollar in a pillowcase outside of the kitchen door.

Got so anxious I ate the chocolate the jean-nappers demanded.

Can't wear shorts because the weather changed.

Waiting for further directives from Doctor X.

Missing My Stretch Waist Jeans,

St. C

My week is filled with travel, our presbytery meeting and finishing up a grant to request money to complete repairs to the church.

At presbytery, we will consider an overture to censure our denominational publishing house.
The house published a book about the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

I haven't read the book.

I use the publisher for books on prayer, worship and some church school literature.
I haven't even kept up with their catalog.

I plan to speak against the overture.

While I may not agree with the books on the publisher's list, I give them the privilege to publish what they believe will be of help to us in the pew and pulpit.

If I don't like a book I don't buy it.

The overture lacks charity. It seeks to censure, humiliate and insult.

I am appalled at the heavy-handed thrust of the overture.

If you don't like the book. Don't buy it. Low sales speak just as well as wordy overtures.

St. Casserole

I feel as if I know John Shelby Spong, retired Bishop of Newark. My grandmother taught him in Sunday School when he was a little boy.

He's speaking at Millsaps College today. http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061014/FEAT04/610140309/1022

I'm positive his views will upset many. I doubt people understand that Spong is trying to get a conversation going about what being Christian in the 21st Century means. At 75, I'd say he's amazing for wanting dialogue about the future.

Whether you agree with his questions or not, he's a gift to us. People seem to give up asking questions when they move into old age. Maybe they become tired searching for answers or lose their imagination. I hope it doesn't happen to me.

Here's to Spong who asks questions!

Happy Saturday to you all. I'm off to rummage sales,

St. Casserole

Friday Cat Report

The door blew open. One cat got out. The other cat meowed the alarm.

Fish roamed around the yard. Whistle howled with jealousy.

Fish meowed to come inside. Whistle popped him on the head in rebuke.

St. C

Day 2: Mom Jeans Held Hostage

No word from jean-nappers.

St. Casserole, wondering why waist high jeans upset the young people....

Dateline: Backwater, Former Pine Grove.

Missing from closet of St. C. are two pairs of thrift store Mom Jeans with elastic waists. Worn often, too often according to reports.

The jeans were last seen in the dirty clothes basket several days ago. St. C. asked around about the jeans only to receive a mysterious text message suggesting that for $1, some info might be given
.
No one claims responsibility for removing the jeans to a hiding place.

St. C. mopes around wearing shorts which, according to sources, look even worse than the Mom Jeans.

More details as events unfold...

DANG! FASHION PATROLLED IN MY OWN HOME!!!!

St. Casserole

Church Conflict

Our presbytery is caught up in the glamour and newness of departing our bounds.

This is made possible by the recent G.A.’s vote on the Peace, Unity and Purity Task Force report. Within our bounds, we’ve meowed and rustled papers about the National Church for years. When the PCA formed in 1973, many of our churches jumped ship. As late as 1981, when I was received as a pastor, a vote to depart the denomination occurred within three months of my reception. I was not the cause, although perhaps my faulty gender as a woman added to the upset. The decison was made before I appeared, happy and eager to serve.

What people on either side of the debate over the future of the denomination over look bothers me terribly. People get hurt when churches conflict. People get hurt when pastors spend time in the pulpit, in classrooms and over hospital beds discussing leaving the denomination. People get hurt when the focus of their church turns away from worship and mission. Before you suggest that one side or the other has turned away from worship/mission and that this is the very reason for conflict, recall that if you are part of the conflict, you are hurting someone.

Every congregation has fragile members. Some are coping with new diagnosis of catastrophic disease and want more than anything for a "normal" worship experience. Others are drowning in conflict in their homes or businesses or neighborhoods. Where can they go to find a place of peace and reassurance that faithful adults are working for understanding? Can’t find this in a conflicted church.

Our country is at war. Our church is at war. People die from more than enemy fire in war. People become wounded from church troubles.

That’s a fact, Jack.

Today, I laid down my hope for our committee who builds presbytery groups. The moderator told me weeks ago that it made sense to get people from the big churches because if we didn’t, we wouldn’t get donations for the work of presbytery. Didn’t I understand this, he wondered?
I responded that our purpose is to include all congregations, large or small, wealthy or struggling to the work of presbytery. Part of our mission is to represent all of our churches in our processes.

I was told that I need to be realistic.

Today, when the committee met, I didn’t go. I've been faithful for years and years, seldom missing a meeting.

I’m no better than any coward hiding in a bunker afraid of being wounded or who stops attending worship because the conflict hurts emotionally. I laid down my hope in a faithful presbytery this morning and I’ve been depressed all day long.

In the coming days, I’ll lose more because I see both sides of the issue. I listen and hear the fear behind the anger, the worry over losing power, the relief from boredom which building a new denomination will bring.

I feel sick.

Oddities in the Sept.2006 ATLANTIC

Hanna Rosin, a smart writer, in an article about Rudy Giuliani learning to speak "evangelese" on p.39 top left column, end of paragraph writes, " Or they might just tap into a candidate’s general sense of optimism and contentment— a belief, rooted in Genesis and coloring all of life, that things happen for a reason. ‘Creationism Lite’, you might call it—an affirmational creed that carries it’s own emotional and intellectual style of thinking and speaking."

We get our sense of "things happening for a reason" from, primarily, Creationism?

Oops....

Following page 40, an advert for Capella University, shows a woman setting a table for a meal. She puts the dinner knife on a napkin on the WRONG SIDE OF THE PLATE! She may be learning a great deal from her online Ph.d program at C.U. but she hasn’t mastered table setting.

St. C.

Suz, the GREATEST GARAGE SALE SHOPPER IN THE WORLD and I ventured out Saturday morning to see what was shaking with garage sales.

She can find anything. I mean it. A genuine David Yurman bracelet in a pitiful house with
nothing but Tupperware lids for sale? She found it.

On our route is the Mean Ladies Church. These gals put on a sale twice a year or more.
We go with reluctance. MLC breaks all the rules for a successful church rummage sale.

First, they are crabby and disorganized. They put out the same stuff every sale. Instead of getting money while the sale is on, they keep the same prices. After the sale, they box up leftovers for the next sale. Don’t do this. Get your money while you can. Sell if off. Leftovers don’t make your money. They operate from a spirit of scarcity.

They’d do better if they sold everything for .50 a bag the last hour of the sale. Then, they could ask for congregational donations to replenish their merchandise. If your church has regular sales, people know to donate whenever they clean closets, etc. The MLC put raggedy moldy stuff back into roach infested boxes to store at the church for the next sale. Yuk. The church is in temporary quarters after the hurricane so it makes no sense to keep junk. Sell it! Create good will as a generous church sale.

It’s like selling old bras and drawers. What’s the point? If you see anyone looking at a table of old underwear, give it to them. If people are buying used underwear, they need underwear. Give it to them. The Kingdom still has a chance to come in whether you make .25 on a worn out bra or not.

Basic Concept (write this down): Every time a person enters your church, you are given an opportunity to welcome them to your community of faith. Having a rummage sale? Be SURE to have information about your faith community available. Times of service, children’s programs, mission opportunities, how to contact your pastor—put all this in visiting hands.

We Presbyies have mixed feelings about rummage sales. One groups says that regular tithes and gifts pay for all programs. Particular programs are financed by the entire congregation through holy stewardship. Another group says, "let the kids raise money for their programs with rummage sales and spaghetti suppers." I say, fully fund youth ministry so that kids can attend conferences and concerts. If the kids want to give money to Heifer International or Habitat, have them earn the money at home.

The MLC holds on to stinky clothing, moldy Reader’s Digest books and tupperware lids month after month. They don’t lower prices, they don’t welcome shoppers and they take forever to add your money so you can run to the next sale.

St. Casserole

I'm moving slowly this morning. The cats played kitty races all night long. The dog ended up roaming the house instead of being put to bed. I think LD's radio kept me dreaming of country and western tunes most of the night.

So, it's time for things you need to know....

If you participate in the cultural construct of leg shaving and wish to shave your legs but have no shaving cream, use hair conditioner. It works and keeps your legs soft.

When preparing to polish your sterling flatware and hollowware, do not line your kitchen sink with tin foil and then soak your sterling there. This bad advice ruins good sterling. If you have "bad" sterling, who cares but sterling is inheritable. Why pass on your lazy mistake and damaged sterling? Use Maas or one of the polishing creams. Use that stinky petroleum based wading if you want a greasy patina. Yuk. Stay with a good polish.

Paula Dean of The Lady and Sons restaurant suggests that pouring a can of real Coke (not Diet) into a china toilet, waiting an hour then do a gentle scrub. Clean toilet! This news confirms what I've worried about with my Diet Coke Drinking Habit.

A good pedicure is a thing of beauty. OPI's "What the el" (or something like that) is the new preferred Fall/early Winter toe color of choice for clerical toes.

Try to learn the difference between tapestry, needlepoint and counted cross stitch. If nothing else, you'll save me time scouring eBay for vintage needlepoint.

A "bangle" bracelet is closed; a "cuff" bracelet is open. "Cuff" means like a shirt cuff which opens. A "bangle" makes a jangly sound when worn with other bracelets. Wear your bracelets in groups of odd numbers: one or three or five.

When preparing your sermon, try not to spend all your time doing exegesis and going off into wonderland with Greek or Hebrew word games. (Note to self: REALLY pay attention to this).

After all your sermon prep, remember that it is your love for your people which communicates. Study, study, study. Write, re-write then write again. Finally, love your people.

Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling Me to Get Going,

St. Casserole

Today is the Second Anniversary of St. Casserole Blog

Where I come from, we celebrate anniversaries by placing a shiny cookie on a rabbit's head. This recalls the spiritual walk of St. Stafu, the Tongan holy man who began the practice.

Happy Blogiversary to this blog!

Happy am I to know all of you!

Happy I'll be to give you all a shiny cookie for your rabbit's head for your anniversary.

I suppose this picture should be used for all RGBP anniversary posts. Ya think?

Love,

St. Casserole whose life is richer for knowing you

I asked a fellow member of the Preacher's Coffee Group to discuss the problems she has with me. We were in the group surrounded with people who know us both and love us. She glared at me, stood up, left the room then returned to tell us that she had problems with all of us. Then she left.

I am sorry about this. I assumed that we would work out our differences and go forward.
Instead, she did the Alexis Carrington* stomp out of the room when conflict happens.

I'm just telling you about this because the PCG can't stop discussing this. I'm sorry she responded to me and us this way, realize it doesn't have much to do with me and hope she will return.

Conflict can increase intimacy. The church is full of conflict. Dealing with conflict is a frequent activity for pastors.

I'm thinking about all of this. Haven't told you many of the details but perhaps you have something to add?

St. Casserole

*dated reference to long-ago television show called "Dynasty". No one listened to anyone else. Everyone got angry before hearing all the information. People blasted in and out of rooms if they got anxious, angry or scared.

Every morning, I read our local newspaper, the state paper and the NY Times.
I did a search in the NY Times for "rev." and discovered that we reverends are either getting in trouble or doing weddings.

Going for more coffee. Right. Now.,

St. Casserole

RevGals Friday Five: Groups

Reverendmother asks these at the Mother House revgalblogpalsblog.blogspot.com

1. Tell us about any groups you currently belong to:
I'm not so groupy these days. I belong to a preacher covenant group meeting weekly. Other than that, I'm only grouped in church.
2. Do you feel energized or drained by being in a group situation.
I'm an extrovert so I energize around people. As the only Presbyie in the Preacher group, I get weary of their denominational chat but I'm mostly perky. If you talk to one of the gals in the group, I'm terrifying. Sorry she sees me this way.
3. Is there a role you naturally find yourself playing in group situations?
I'm comfortable leading or following these days.
4. Handsakes vs. hugs: discuss
Is there anyway we can stop hugging everytime we see each other? I don't want to shake hands either in a social situation. May I remind you that a man shakes hands with a woman only if she offers her hand first and that women do not shake hands with one another in greeting. And for gosh sakes' do not shake my hand while I'm trying to eat a meal.
5. Ice breakers: a playful way to build community in a lighthearted manner, or a complete and utter hell of forced fun and awkwardness?
Can't think of a good ice breaker this morning. When I use an icebreaker I attempt to design one that doesn't upset the introverts.

Thanks, RM, I think I need to go find more interest groups. With all the disaster relief meetings, church meetings and kid's stuff, I am weary. A fun group might be just the thing.
Is there a group for Junk Pickers Who Like Oreos and Diet Cokes somewhere? Might join...

St. C.

We Protestants understand saints quite differently than do our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters. For us, saints are believers not special or distinctive and so we believers are saints. None of us is worthy of adoration (..."only God is good").

I live in a Roman Catholic area so I've become interested in Roman saints and the practices I see here. One of my fascinations is reading about Roman saints. The various names fascinate me: Anne, Expeditus, Perrigrine...

I purchased three saint gizmos at a charity shop on my trip. All three are the same and picture a tonsored robed man holding a cross and a skull. I don't know his identity but he must have significance to someone and I'll find out.

Some of you who know me have seen my collection of religious piety items. I collect broadly so I have Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Buddhist, Jewish and Muslim items. I refer to my collection as "Piety items" because each is a way for seekers to attempt contact with God as they understand this process. For the one who spins a prayer wheel, or touches a mezzuah or wears a scapula to the hospital for comfort, all these things are contact points for piety.

As a Presbyterian, I've determined that we have only two piety items and would NEVER refer to these as items of worship. They are our Bibles and casserole dishes. Bibliolatry is making the Bible more significant than it's contents, false God thinking that we apprehend or capture God for ourselves when we handle and read a Bible. The casserole dish as symbol pokes fun at our constant eating at church. Hence, my name, "St. Casserole".

Having said all this, (I do blather on), I'm thinking this morning of which saints I'd include if I built shrines to hold Protestant saints. Please don't mention this to M. John Calvin. I don't want to find out he's spinning in his grave.

I'd have Calvin, Knox, Bill Cashatt, my Mother, John Leith, Lillian, Margaret Townsend, Wendell Berry. Several are living, most are dead. I'll be adding to this mental list.

What about you? Who would be on your saint list of those whose influence on you is immeasurable?

Piously,

St. Casserole

Hope

"Our hope is in the Lord who made heaven and earth... "

Tell me again, where is your hope? Hope is best when shared, so what fills you with hope?

What makes you hope-full? What and who reminds you of hope?

Thanks,

St. Casserole

Years ago, I purchased one Portulaca plant from the nursery. Portulaca is a suculent able to thrive in poor soil in wicked Deep South conditions. I bought a yellow variety and stuck the plant in a pot in a curve in our front driveway.

From one plant, many grew. In my biography, this season of my life, this particular summer, is known as the Summer of Portulaca.

Everywhere the wind blows seed even where there is little good soil, the yellow flowers bloom. In cracks with only enough dirt to make a mouse with allergies sneeze, flowers grew up to bloom. Between weeds, underneath where LS parks his car, backyard, side yard, in the grass Portulaca does just fine.

Mid-Summer, I began to panic. My attempts to take each plant and place them in pots became a daily job. Portulaca plants out-numbered my pots. I dug back in the mess of the falling down green house for pots.

To plant Portulaca in my micro-climate, take your finger and stick it in dirt to make a hole. Place the plant in the hole and begin looking for another place to plant more Portulaca.

At a nursery up the road, I asked for a piece of red Portulaca. The nursery woman* glared at me but because I was buying several plants, she agreed. From the one red piece, I have loads and loads of bright red blooms among the yellow.

I think I have the perfect environment for Portulaca. Right here. Right now. Without special soil or tools or technique, I grow large pots of the stuff. In quiet moments, I stare at the pots all over my courtyard and placed in Mr. C's Hot Pond (spa) area. I notice how the seed pods emerge after a bloom falls and when the time comes, the tiny black seeds fall to the ground.

In the midst of my renewal, plants grow.

Blessings to you and yours,

St. Casserole

*Not Faye, my best nursery woman. Faye's greenhouse is rebuilt, business is brisk and her dogs and cats are fine.

Have you heard of certified lay pastors wearing clerical collars and registering at Presbytery on the page for ministers?

Just wondering,

St. Casserole

Cheesehead did this. I copy whatever she does. My new official seal. This is it.
Get one for yourself!

St. C

I feel like this.

Haven't felt jubilant in months.

Thank you, God, for time away.

BTW, are YOU taking enough time for yourself?

Ministry is tough work. You gotta take care of yourself.

Love,

St. Casserole

O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing!

First song of the morning, this Sabbath, this day of rest and praise!
I'm home after two days of driving South through beautiful green tree-d states.
Someone kind is preaching for me today.
I am having a Sunday as others do without the press of preaching.

Mr. C and LD are glad to have me home. Whistle, Fish, P.P. and Andy welcomed me with cat kisses and dog smiles.

It's great to go away for awhile and to return home.

Glad to see you, too.

St. Casserole

RevGal Friday Five Boo Boo Alert

The Friday Five for today concerns boo boos (little physical hurts). I can't cut and paste the questions here because I'm a guest computer user. And, I have the memory strength of a dead leaf. So, here are my answers as best I can recall:

I am a big baby about my own boo boo hurts. I, too, sprained my ankle falling off a sidewalk edge wearing Birkies. Yikes! I was in rotten pain, went to the ER, got crutches and swore off rigid flat-bottomed shoes until the next time I put them on.

Seeing my own blood makes me sick. Seeing your blood pushes me into action. I am a good boo boo nurse.

Papa handled my boo boos. He pained animal shapes with mecurachrome (what is that word???) over my scraped knees, cuts and miseries.

I love decorated bandages like Hello Kitty designs, action figures and flowers. So did our children who begged for more and more bandages when they got hurt. I recall LS having six or eight bright bandages even if his boo boo required only one bandaid.

I hate paper cuts on my hands. Remember that.

ER experiences for me? I got dropped off at the ER by LH years ago. He couldn't stay with me because we had no one to take care of the children. I wasn't getting the service I needed so, copying my fellow waiting patients, I began to wail loudly. Got service quickly.

I'm traveling home today, beginning this afternoon. If you have my number, call me. I get lonely on the road. Please pray for my safety.

Boo Boo Free,

St. Casserole

Why St. Casserole Loves Mr. Casserole*

See comment in previous day's blog entry.

Happily,

St. C

*After many years together, this is just one reason I love the man, but this is a good example.

Here I am with a tad of internet access!

I'm where the mornings are cool, the streets clean and the trees are undamaged.


Thank you, Lord, for a few days away.

I miss my people but Mr. C. assures me that he is "taking care of bidness" on the homefront.

Thinking of you,

St. Casserole

My New Look

How do you like it?
I'm wearing a new blog facade and feeling mighty good about it.
Makes me feel good to change my look after years of polka-dots.
You are back on my blog roll aka. casseroll after months where my blog roll
vanished.
If I left you off, I want to know.
Many thanks to my designer who searched until she found something
wonderful for me and even found bloggage with a cat on it!

I'll be off to meditate for the next week. Unless I can pry the laptop
from Mr.C's hands, I'll be off-line.

Blessings to you as you lead or attend worship tomorrow,

St. Casserole

Brushes with Greatness RGBP Friday Five *

Reverendmother asks:
David Letterman used to have a feature on his show called "Brushes with Greatness." Members of the audience would share stories of encounters with famous people.
And so...

1. Tell us about a time you met someone famous. I met Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) at a Mardi Gras Day Party at Biloxi City Hall. Sen. Cochran is charming, accessible and was just there without an entourage. We chatted and I was impressed with his people skills.

2. Tell us about a celebrity you'd like to meet. I'd like to meet Dolly Parton. She seems to be a person of depth and I admire her courage.

3. Tell us about someone great who's *not* famous that you think everyone oughta have a chance to meet. I wish everyone could meet the Headmistress at the Tiny School in our neighborhood. She's so very bright, creative and skilled with children. I'm proud to know her. I doubt you'll meet her though because she would never think of herself as "famous".

4. Do you have any autographs of famous people? Barbara Brown Taylor wrote a note to me and I've kept the note. I think I'll frame it for my study wall. She has careful, feminine hand-writing.

5. If you were to become famous, what would you want to become famous for? I do not want to be famous. I want a quiet life in a small place.

Bonus: Whose 15 minutes of fame was up long, long ago? I find the idea of "fame" so intriguing that I'd hate to take it away from anyone who pursues it. I wish people who didn't want attention could 'turn it off'. Craving big media attention must be a hard way to live. Our attention spans are short. Who wants to be a "Where Are They Now" years later?

St. Casserole

*Not Whistle and Fish, not our toilet. Just great ginger cats looking out at the interesting world.
(obligatory ginger cat reference #598)

New pastors like to enter ministry on fire. Ministry demands energy to write sermons, visit members and visitors, manage staff and get to know the congregation. You have to gather your get-up-and-go to do the work. Ministry, as I know it, is for self-starters who know how to motivate themselves and others.

But...there is no need to create work for yourself. You aren't going to bring in the Kingdom of God with your energy. Don't be looking around for something to do. If you have something to prove, prove that you are faithful, not the New Jesus.

We've been through the age of programs, where using the latest teaching technique or study book or whatever to add programs is ministry. Now we are growing disciples which involves the more difficult work of intuition, listening and allowing people to change as the Lord leads. It's harder work to be with people instead of handing them a book or showing a video presentation.

Experienced pastors suggest starting slowly in a new ministry setting. Don't make big changes for 12 months or so. Learn the folkways of the congregation and community before you announce how they "should" be living.

Mercy Me! This is very difficult for new pastors. She graduates from seminary and has ideas of how and when and why and all the dreams of ministry ready to be offered to the Glory of God and her congregation RIGHT NOW!

Stop. Unless you are doing new church development (called "church planting" in some traditions) you are entering an established community where people are familiar with the worship styles of your predecessor and traditions of the church. Your energy is great, we are glad you are here but learn about the ethos first, then consider what changes are needed.

Pray, think, do.

Slow down. Pay attention to the the background music of the congregation. Spend time with the leaders and shadow leaders. Listen to them.

You don't have to agree with them or get co-opted into their plans. Take mental notes of what is said, done and not done. Listen to your intuition or if that's not your style, be very observant.

I wish I could offer you transparent churches where what is said is what is really meant and that the only people skills you need for loving ministry is your good intentions.

If it irks you to plan your strategies then think of the time you spend observing as the virtue of patience.

If you are busy with tasks, slow down. Be with people. Learn to work better not more.

None of this is easy but it can be wonderfully creative.


Thinking of you and grateful for your ministry,

St. Casserole

Dear Aunt Dorothy...

Dear Aunt Dorothy,
Thank you for sending us gifts, cards and cat breff mints. I knew it was you! I tried to tell St. C and Whistle but they didn't listen to me! I did everything except pull down a flow chart to make them understand but they were busy or something.
I don't get to blog much because Whistle is 'gressive with the computer. It's all about him or so he thinks. Just because he stands up and does tricks for cat cookies doesn't mean he's all that. I don't like to stand on my back legs and do tricks for cookies. I like to eat out of St. C's hands or have the cookies put on the floor so I can eat them.
If I grow up to be a homiletician, I'm going to preach a sermon on different gifts used ad majorem dei gloram. God created me to be myself, not like Whistle. I'm just as special to God as Whistle is.
I like to hide under covers. I like to meow and sing. I like to jump. Whistle likes other stuff.
What I'd really like is my own litter box.
Thank you for sending me birthday gifts. I send cat salutations to my cousins far, far away.

Your Friend,

Fish the Cat

If You are Happy and You Know it...

View of backyard with giant dead azaleas gone! The hurricane trees killed off my large plants.
Landscaper (in big hat) discussing pruning with worker.
Semi-obligatory Elivs image in Southern Backyard. Poor whirly-gig survived Katrina but has "issues". Still, Elvis has NOT left the building as you can see.
Big truck with cherry picker to prune trees!
Backhoe. Strong people to do work. I AM HAPPY. Stump grinder coming. Pitiful greenhouse to right about to be torn down and replaced!

I am happy. Look at these pics of our backyard. Big machines! Workers! A landscape architect!
Piles of dead branches! Is this GREAT or what???

I found matching shingles for the three little holes in our roof which went unnoticed until I heard a lead in our shower light fixture.

I see progress. Progress means change. Change means hope. Hope is good!

Yours,

St. Casserole

Six Weird Things A Meme from Dr. Moose

Tagged by Dr. Moose www.me19four.blogspot.com, I respond:

Once you are tagged you MUST write a blog entry about your 6 weird habits/things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose the next six people to be tagged and list their names.

To my surprise, there ARE those who think I'm quirky. Therefore, I have no idea if the following are weird or not...

a) I really do care if you wear white shoes and accessories after Labor Day.
b) I know more about sterling silver than most preachers do.
c) I seldom miss an estate, jumble or garage sale.
d) I read mysteries and spy thrillers but hate violence in books, tv or movies.
e)I chat with cats.
f) I think you'll have to ask my friends to list my quirks because I can't think of a sixth.

I tag for this meme the next six people who want to play.

Happy Labor Day,

St. C

I've had a good week.

Monday LH and I went to New Orleans. I worshipped with the community on Tuesday. By Wednesday evening I'd gotten several tasks finished. Thursday I puttered around the house waiting for workers who never came. My car was repaired (the car dealer FINALLY understood the prob!). Yesterday I wrapped up work I need to finish along with seeing friends for lunch. In the meantime, LS surprised us with a visit home from Big U.

This week felt normal. Thank you, God!

Ordinary week in Ordinary Time. Is that great or what?

My sermon thoughts blew into sentences yesterday but changed again when syllables hit paper.
I'll be ok by this afternoon.

Had some phone calls to cheer me up. Found out good news about good friends. Grieved with another friend but saw her get guidance later in the week. I pulled weeds until my elbow screamed.

All in all, lovely week here.

Easy to entertain and glad of it,

St. Casserole

The Best First Birthday EVER!

Dear Aunt Songbird:
Your Salmon Cat Treats are great! We ate some. (Fish? Pass the Breff Mints! I think I need one.) The Treats are so GOOD that we bit the hand that fed us! Look at me now! We chewed the leg off the green frog toy, too! Excited! Many thanks from your Southern Kitties, I mean "CATS"!

Love,
Whistle the Cat

The Power of Friendship

I survived THE ANNIVERSARY. I fought off the media satellite trucks, the microphones, the Prez's visit and more.

Going to a community worship service with long-time friends helped. The preacher, an Episcopalian, preached a powerful and appropriate sermon. As Rev. Hound Dawg said, "I know I can count on the Episcopalians to get it right". He meant that we would'nt be forced to listen to an explanation of WHY the Hurricane destroyed our land, homes and people.

Sitting with my brothers and sisters, I felt nascent hope for our future along with joy that we shared faith through the year past.

After all the sorrows, I want to thank you, RevGalBlogPals.

You prayed for us, sent books, wrote emails, made phone calls and Songbird came to see us. Cheesehead offered to room with me for a week at the G.A. You wrote devotions for Advent and dedicated the book to me then gave the sale proceeds to disaster relief. Others of you came to tear out damaged sheet rock, move debris and hold our hands at work camps around the Coast. You are the power of friendship in my life.

Life goes on in a sweet way. Consider yourself hugged and smooched.

Love,

St. Casserole

I thank God for all of you. I feel your prayers on bad days. I enjoy your humor all the time and I know I can call on you if I need you.

Guest Blogger: Whistle the CAT

Dear Pastor of Many Colors,
You are our new Best Friend for sending us the great Birthday Gifts! However, I do have a question for you. Aren't these breff mints for my brother? I do not think I have bad breff but I am SURE that Fish the Cat has terrible Cat Breff. I ate one of the Pit'r Pat candies and would like another but our Mom says we can only have "one at a time".
You meant these for Fish didn't you?

Love,
Whistle the Cat

I saw Ray Nagin, Mayor of New Orleans yesterday in Metairie. This excited me so much that I had to call LsiL to tell her. Since she hadn't heard from me by phone for months, I am sure she thinks I'm nuts.

We drove over to N.O. for a building expo thing to see what is offered for re-building after Katrina. With so much commercial, civic and private property destroyed, now is a good time to use new tech building materials.

Nagin was standing on the curb of the exhibit hall waiting to be picked up by a big black vehicle. We passed so quickly I couldn't identify his ride and thought it might be a mighty Hummer. We saw several Hummers decked out with satellite equiptment and other big stuff.

In the exhibit, I spoke with an interesting German engineer to explained that the Hamburg area floods, gets hurricane-like storms and that his firm designs barriers, etc. to protect the ports and river areas. Every time I speak with a European, I get angry because I'm limited by my English. It doesn't matter that over my life I've studied French, Spanish and German. I'm still a Southern English speaker with no bi-lingual skills.

Many exhibitors displayed wood built home proto-types. Who wants to build stick construction in an area with monstrous wind? Who wants to cope with mold, mildew and the Formosan termite when newer materials can solve all of these problems? I don't want wood anything except as decorative material . I looked at crown molding done in some form of plastic so I don't even want wood crown molding anymore. We have the wood molding in our home now but if I build a home, I'll be gluing plastic molding up.

Seeing the big exhibit hall filled with bright displays reminded me that re-building is Big Bidness and that everyone from everywhere wants a piece of the action.

The Australian Government had a display area in hopes of attracting bidness.

Everyone comes to the Disaster Area wanting to sell or do something. We'll see.

I filled my exhibit bag with free pens, compasses, candy, note pads and a flashlight. My children taught me how to grab freebies at conventions.

One of my favorite conversations happened with an exhibitor from San Diego who launched into a speech about how fabulous Mississippians are with our resilience, hard work and great attitudes. We inspired those who came to help us. The entire country thinks we are the greatest. I thanked him profusely and tried to move him away from comparisons with New Orleans people. Our situations are different, no need to be stinky about it.

Eventually, I dragged LH away from the excitement and we had dinner with charming people from Vermont and Alabama at a very good restaurant. I ate dessert to keep my strength up for the Anniversary.

The Anniversary is today.

Happy Birthday Whistle and Fish!

Look! We Have Gifts Presents Treats Toys! It's OUR BIRTHDAY!!!
Many Colors Pastor and OK by Us sent us presents!!!! First picture is us looking at a thing like a mouse that moves by itself, makes noises and we-don't-know-exactly-what! Second and third pictures are Fish who said, "What is it???" He's wearing his blue collar with the sterling fish charm. Our Mom does this kind of thing to us, makes us wear bells, collars and sterling.....
Fourth picture is of a BOX WITH CRINKLY PAPER AND BALLS TO CARRY AROUND.

Our party is this afternoon! We get cat treats! The P.P. Puppy and Andy get presents, too!

Our Mom is rather impressed we received gifts. Our Aunt K. over the water sent our Mom something about us, too.

No longer kittens,

Whistle and Fish

Sorry to be so silent here. The Computer Guy came to "help" and so I have very little internet access. I do not know why having a expert makes everything difficult.

Thinking of you,
St. Cass

Guest Blogger: Whistle the Kitten

We got a present! Already! All the way from Way Far Away Up North! Not even in this country!

As soon as I can get the camera, I'm taking pictures! I'll show you!

Excited, and almost 1,

Whistle !!!!!

Grace to you and peace.

Sunday morning before sunrise here in the Pine Grove. Only the pets and I are awake. Kitty kibbles served, water lapped up and sounds of purring begin the morning. I'm drinking coffee while staring out the french doors of my study. I'd like to be thinking deep thoughts about the worship service later in the morning but instead I'm counting my blessings.

My recent post upset some and made the rest of you worry about me. What I meant to tell you is that my pastoral "wall" is damaged. I've had this happen before but never had my sensitivities to other's sorrows last as long as this time. God will help me heal and renew the "wall"

Pouring ourselves out without boundaries sounds good and loving but isn't as far as I can tell.
People come to me for help for themselves, not to hear my stuff or watch me get overwhelmed.

Quiet time alone in prayer and reflection helps. I've spent time with LH talking. I cleaned out the pantry. I read several Psalms over and over again. I talked with LLS. All these things help and because I told you, I'll pay more attention to my healing.

Grace is what God does for us that we cannot do for ourselves. Peace is hearing God in the stillness despite the situation around us. (I know grace and peace are larger concepts than one sentence! I'm saving my world-shattering insights for the book...)

Light is breaking slowly outside. I'm waking up. The kittens ran back to our bedroom to stare at LH. P.P. Puppy snorted. I'm thinking about worship and the ordination I'll attend this afternoon. I pray for the young ordinand and recall my ordination years ago.

Grace and Peace to you,

St. Casserole

When I think about the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, it's easier for me to write blog entries about the kittens. I dread the anniversary date. I don't think I'm healed "enough" so I wonder if something is wrong with me.

This is how I feel:

"Grief, pain, misery, torture, trauma, anybody's became as real for her as her own. Her suffering was boundless and so was everyone else's , and it merged and melded like a torrent without clear origin but with immeasurable power. To hear about suffering no longer meant merely bearing witness to it, but literally bearing it, and she found herself physically incapable of bearing too much of it on any one day."

---The Passion of Reverend Nash, Rachel Basch. 2003. Norton

I'm tired of being like this. I wish I had the inner strength I felt before the Storm. Assuming I get the "inner strength feeling thing" back, it will be different, I know.

I want a familiar interior life again.

The word on the street is NBC's renting of 81 hotel rooms at the IP for the Anniversary.

We will be covered in national and international media on and around August 29.

St. Casserole

August 17, 2006 Anniversary of Camille

Thirty-seven years ago, Hurricane Camille blasted the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
People died. Homes were blown away. Business stopped. Schools closed.
In hot, sticky weather, people came out of their shelter to clean up fallen trees, building debris and the drowned dead.

Mr. C grew up here. He remembers walking from his home to his Aunt's home crawling over piles of storm rubble. As he approached her street, he saw that her home was gone. He climbed over piles in the road and, looking up, saw a man high in the branches of a lone tree. The man lashed himself to the tree to keep from being pulled by the storm surge. When he saw Mr. C, he hollered out, "Do you have a cigarette?"

My former Garden Club holds a service remembering Faith, Hope and Charity, the three unnamed, unclaimed still, women found after the storm. Our former Civil Defense Director, Wade Guice, placed a headstone on the grave. The service is held under a green funeral tent in the swelter of an August day. Members of the Garden Club attend along with a reporter and perhaps the television station. After so many years, the service got smaller and smaller.

I haven't heard about this year's service.

Camille set the standard for which homes were safe in a storm. If your home survived Camille, you were doing great. Camille was the worst storm anyone knew.

Then August 29th came to the Gulf of Mexico. People who felt safe in a Camille-surviving-home perished when Katrina blew in.

People say Camille killed again in 2005 by giving people a sense of safety. Who knew? The human mind can hold only so much imagination for where water can go. We live in a 100 Year Flood area and our neighborhood lost home after home to wind and water.

Still unclaimed are the identities of Faith, Hope and Love, the Camille symbols of death. Unclaimed, too, are the dead of Katrina whose real names and families are not yet found.

Remembering,

St. Casserole

Reprint for the 1st Anniversary of Katrina

Rewriting the History of August 29th : A Prayer
Thank you for letting me understand homelessness,
living without power, without television ,
without cool air in the heat.

Thank you for letting me understand hunger,
the pleasure of dry clean clothes
and the relief of place to sleep.

Thank you for letting me understand
the deep and overwhelming sadness when forces,
beyond our personal control,
take the loved, the familiar, the usual.

Thank you for my needfulness
andThank you for my newfound empathy
for those were homeless before the storm and homeless now,
for those hungry anywhere,
for those in need everywhere.

Thank you for the opportunity
you provided to help my neighbor,
to be my brother’s keeper,
to serve food, to patch roofs, to clear yards,
and to start mending that which was broken.

Thank you for the chance to change ourselves,
from a reprieve from the normal commercial day,
for teaching us to make do, to get by, to improvise,
for drowning our conceit, complacency, callousness
for silencing the noise ,
for stopping the clock,
and for the chance to act our best when the worst occurred.

Thank you for the people who reached in pulled out the living,
cradled the dead, comforted the broken and torn apart,
wept for the splintered and uprooted.

Thank you for the people who didn’t wait
who came right away, who opened their homes,
who emptied their shelves, their closets,
who cleaned, fed , healed, held us,
who told us our spirit was amazing,and who keep on coming.

Thank you for people who measure
their faith by their actions,
and measure their action
by its consistency with their faith.

Thank you for all the people we have met,
who are new friends, new loved ones,
new brothers and sisters, new neighbors.

Thank you Katrina.
Not for wind,not for water, but for the appreciation
of the things no storm can shatter,
no water can wash away,
no wind can move.

---Written by R. and Mr. C

If you wish the correct attribution, email me and I will respond.

St. Casserole

ON NOTICE

Here is in the Backwater, we don't get ol' Steve but I get the point anyway. Want to make one of your own? Go here: http://www.shipbrook.com/onnotice/

St. C

Monday

We took a step forward as a congregation yesterday. We hosted a shower for a soon-to-be first time granny. I suggested the party then asked if anyone wanted to help with food and decorations. A crowd helped and a very successful party resulted. I came home loaded down with leftover party treats. It's important to give the preacher a car full of stuff she doesn't want to eat and her family shouldn't eat. Somehow, in a mysterious way, all the party food will be gone by tonight. What a surprise...

My wee church is moving forward step by step into the community. Our ties with presbytery grow. Our new presbytery ex. asked if he could come preach for the congregation. We are thrilled. The previous ex. didn't know we existed despite our proximity to his home. Elders are attending presbytery events and discussing the issues there.

I enjoy church redevelopment very much. I love the work I'm called to do. I've seen my preaching change because I'm settled into a congregation instead of changing weekly as a "roving evangelist". I'll begin my fifth year soon.

Our hurricane repairs continue. We have new decking for the front porch, new columns to support the roof and new windows (Lord have mercy! This is expensive!). The repairs look good for the historic building which makes me very happy. I cannot stand cheap windows in a building, especially one with historic interest.

It's Monday morning and time for me to check the lectionary texts again for Sunday's worship.

See you later, Alligator

St. Casserole

Sunday Morning Cat Blogging

Whistle the Kitten, sleeps with his paw tucked under.
Fish the Kitten (blue collar) gives a good head lick to Whistle.
Fish wonders if People Will Ever Stop Taking Pictures and yapping about how cute he is.

Orange Bug on Plant Mystery

See that orange bug?
What is it?
Mr. Orange with White Spots on His Back and Black Legs is enjoying a sunny day.
I don't recall seeing him/her before.

St. C

About our birthday presents.... neither this nor that, ok?

Like we'd wear wool jackets. AHAHAHAHAHAHA!

22 days 'til our birthday!

Hoping for Really Good Stuff,

Whistle and Fish the Kittens

Really, I am going to do better...

Dear Friends:
It is just 6 a.m. ish here. I should be touching up the rough edges of my Communion meditation for this morning's worship service. I should be in prayer for my people as Sunday, the Lord's Day dawns. I should be thinking deep theological thoughts.

Nope, not me. I've been blog browsing and spent time over at Peacebangs http://beautytipsforministers.blogspot.com reading her essays on pastoral dowdiness. As one who prides herself on "fixin up", I stand convicted that I have descended into slumpiness.

Peacebag is correct that wearing only flat-soled birkies (even if the leather is smooth and dyed silver), baggy clothing (even if it is pressed) and caring more about being cool (as in not a sweaty lump) is NOT the way to appear to one's congregants and general public.

I confess that I have run to the grocery store this summer looking like road debris. I wear linen big shirts which could be used as roof shade for a beach cottage. My hands, right this minute, are stained with jeweler's polish from cleaning sterling last night while LD and I watched "Legally Blonde" for the umpteenth time. My nails need a filing. My polish is chipped.

I looked down at my hands and thought, "I'm serving the sacrament in a few hours! These hands look as if they've been out hand-weeding in the front yard, polishing sterling and standing at the kitchen stove over a hot burner blindfolded." Yeech.

So, I will do the following:
1) manicure before worship.
2) return the big linen shirts to the thrift shop from whence they came.
3) search for an outfit which fits and looks like I want to look pretty.
4) continue to laugh at Peacebangs' expressions. See "jungle pouch" for flubby stomach hang.

Really. I am going to do better.

As always,

St. Casserole

Birthday Reminder.......

Here is a picture of Whistle the Kitten on the bath mat outside the shower. Often he drops off for a long snooze right here. He's dreaming of his birthday party. ONLY 21 MORE DAYS. He says "Don't get ME a present! Give a BIG gift to Fish!".

I'm telling ya, he said that.

Love,
Fish the Kitten

PS. We are registered at Kittens and Beyond, Cat Stuff Inc., Mice, Birds and Bugs, Catnip Corners and Tiffany's. Just thought you should know...

Rats and Double Rats!

It looks as if T.S. Chris is dead. The NOAA site suggests that the lower East Coast may see rain from the downgraded-to-a-blowhard storm but for us, here on the Gulf of Mexico, nothing.

We aren't ready for another storm. People aren't back into their homes yet. The grant money promised to arrive last week hasn't. Insurance companies are playing out their satanic rituals with people's lives and one hears horror stories of incompetence and cruelty often.

I visited in a FEMA trailer on Sunday and noticed that when the mid-sized dog walked from the tiny "living area/kitchen" into the "miniature bedroom" the trailer shook. How can families live with shaking trailers, noise, no privacy, little protection from enemies or weather and a bathtub the size of a footbath? How?

We have one shelter in Harrison County. One place for the homeless to go. Nothing else.

Dillard's, our best department store, closed with storm damage. We lost our McRae's (ok, but not all that great) when it became a Belk (most ordinary of stuff, makes me depressed to even go into a Belk). If one is going for retail, can't the retail at least be well-made with some style?

So, Dillard's is closed still. Do you think that Big Dillard's writes to all of us charge customers telling us when they will re-open and offering us coupons for internet shopping or for going to a Dillard's in Mobile, Hattiesburg or Jackson? Nope. Nothing. I'm not sure I will ever feel the same about Dillard's.

A few more stores re-opened in the neighborhood shopping area. Each time I see a repaired store I feel pleased.

The advocates for the poor down here are exhausted. I wish a fresh group of advocates would come down here and give the non-profits and community groups a break.

The pendulum of depression and post traumatic stress syndrome is rolling over the communities again. I hear stories everyday of new divorces, deaths from storm stress and suicides. Lord, have mercy! I ate at the lunch counter at the pharmacy today. I greeted the woman sitting to my left and spent my lunch hearing her sad story of post-storm life. I felt like crying. She's brave but things are not going well. Another stranger, this time in the Post Office line, told me about losing her home then 4 weeks later her husband dropped deadfrom a heart attack.

Granted I have one of those faces that invites people to tell me everything but the sad stories down here are endless. God bless us.

The evildoers (hey! I'm a preacher and I talk like this!) are assailing us by working behind the scenes with our voting districts. What do you do when a district is empty because there is no housing and most of the residents are poor?

The thieving contractors preying on the desperate should rot in hell. If anyone asks you how I feel about this, tell them.

School started today. No one knows who will show up. Who begins school on a Thursday? Only us because it will take until Monday or Tuesday to see who will be in class. What a waste of time for the LD! She wore a hoodie sweatshirt to school today. Temps are in the '90's. What's with this lack of body fat? A hoodie with long sleeves? Oh my!

Want to see a physician down here? Sure hope you don't need to see a specialist. And, the doctors want to be paid some kind of bonus or compensation for staying down here because their usual amenities are gone. Oh, puleeze. Isn't medicine about healing or is it about Hummers?

I'm reading a new book about returning "delight" to the crafting of sermons. Sounds like just the book for my crabby self.

Spared from T.S. Chris and grateful,

St. Casserole

A Morning Nap....Together

"The Peaceable Kingdom exists! Picture Proves it!"

Dateline: Diminished Pine Grove. For Immediate Release.

Whistle the Kitten and P.P. Puppy take nap within five feet of each other.
**********************************************************************

P.S. Yes, the messy area is in my house but I'm sure this is unusual. Or something like that.


Dazed by a Glimpse O' Glory,

St. Casserole

Just Stuff

*The Preacher Coffee Drinking Group met here at our home this morning. Hunting Dog Pastor went fishing with his daughters so we moved the meeting here. R. brought lunch for us because she is a thoughtful clergygal. We have two new members of our group. One will stay with us until we get on her last nerve; the other won't come much longer because we are no-holds-barred preachers and he is pious. Three of us were absent. Two without explanation. We've started holding hands and praying at the end of the coffee drinking. I like this because I can't get enough of being prayed for and praying for others.

*Public school begins on Thursday. LD has her high school schedule, school supplies and new backpack.

*You know how cats have little or no facial affect? I realized today that LD reminds me of the cats. I'll be glad when she loses the "too cool for this life" face and looks like herself.

*Rain came for several days so the frogs are celebrating by singing love songs. Last night, we thought the frogs were indoors with us but we know the Mighty Kittens wouldn't allow even one frog to survive. The singing got so loud it reminded me of a dog barking in the night. Really. The crickets are in love, too.

*This Cuba business is very interesting. My knowledge of Raoul Castro might fill a thimble so I'll be studying up him. The radio pundits wonder if Fidel is dead. I wonder how the U.S. will respond to what may be a big change in our relationship with Cuba.

*I heard about T.S. Chris today. Damn.

*Have any of you read the book with Rev. Jordanna Nash? Can't recall the title. It's been on my bedside table two months at least. So far, so good.

*No matter what Peacebang of "Beauty Tips of Ministers" says, I'm not going to wear neutral polish on my toes. I'm back to a vibrant color and much happier. I tried to follow her suggestion about quiet color when wearing sandals and bare feet in the pulpit area but I failed.

Yours,

St. Casserole

Early Sunday Morning Reminders

Preach the Word in and out of season.

Bend down (from the pulpit) and love them.

Rules without relationship create rebellion.

Love them.

Love them.

Love them.

Kitten Birthday Countdown!

Today, tomorrow and Monday!!! Then, count to August 28th!
It's OUR BIRTHDAY!!!!

Whistle and I will get new big cat Cat Food. No more kitten chow for us! We will be ONE! Big cats! Really, really Big Cats!

Whistle said it's rude to remind you of our birthday. He said it sounds like a "gift grab" to him. So what?

Our party will be great! You can come to it!

No stupid party hats, ok?

Sincerely yours,

Fish the Kitten

Playing the RGBP FRIDAY FIVE HOT HOT HOT

Reverendmother asks the Friday Five Questions.

I know this subject!!!

Many areas of the United States are having a heat wave. Global warming, anyone? Look on the bright side of melting glaciers and enviro-destruction by taking a crack at the Friday Five:

1. What's the high temperature today where you are?
High 90's

2. Favorite way(s) to beat the heat.
Stay inside in the air conditioning drinking cool drinks. Take a cool shower. Station myself under the ceiling fans.

3. "It's not the heat, it's the humidity." Evaluate this statement.
Dry heat just messes up your skin. Humidity makes you feel sticky. I guess I prefer the humidity but only because I'm familiar with it.

4. Discuss one or more of the following: sauna, hot tub, sweat lodge, warm-stone massage.
I have NO interest in these except on the coldest day of winter.

5. Hottest you've ever been in your life
At the Neshoba County Fair where we listened to stump speeches and visited. I thought I was going to faint and die. Dusty, hot, buggy, and full of happy Mississippians visiting.

Non-temperature related bonus: In your opinion... who's hot?
All the volunteers to come to the Hurricane Zone to help.

As always, let us know if you play--and those of you who are linking directly to your posts? You're hot. And cool.

RGBP Meet-Up!

While you all were eating dinner, watching re-runs of "Andy Griffith" and loading the dishwasher, I was eating dinner with Purechristianthink near Pearlington. We left the dreadful mess of an isolated, unincorporated village to drive to Nearby Town. We found a place to eat and sat down to visit.

PCT is kind to come to the Zone, find the most pitiful place (East Biloxi would be next or BSL) and help do whatever needs to be done to restore housing and hope. And, she brought friends.

When I say "isolated", I mean it. On my first drive there yesterday, I couldn't believe how "back in the woods" the village sits. I recall hearing that Pearlington received help after Katrina only after emergency workers realized the place existed. PCT reminded me that churches were the first to arrive to help. One of our denominational sites is there with pods for housing workers, showers and a kitchen.

Having dinner with a RGBP thrilled me. We talked and talked, ate and ate. I'm proud to know her and hear about her ministry far, far away.

She suggested that the denominational site needs a cat to patrol for mice. She saw dogs running in the village but no cats. If it is safe for cats there, I'll find out about placing one.

Here's the ad for the Cat Times:

Wanted: Stalwart, mature cat to handle mousework at a disaster site in the woods. Ideal candidate would speak Dog and have diplomatic skills to work in isolated area with a high population of dogs. Hunting skills a must. Must enjoy attention from people such as ear scratching, lap-sitting and ability to purr when handed cat treats. Dry and hot napping areas abound. Wifi not available at this time. Send application to....

Yours,

St. Casserole

St. C? Where You At?*

I am busy with many things. I am fine and happy. I'll be back to bloggage when I think of something to say.

Your,
St. Casserole

*Add this phrase to pet peeve list.

Happy Anniversary to Us! RevGalBlogPals!!!!!!

1) What is your first memory of the RevGalBlogPals?
Mr. C thought up the first version of our name. Songbird perfected it.

2) Have you met any of the other ring members in real life?
I've loved meeting Songbird, Cheesehead, Reverendmother, Stacey, Rev. Mommy, Chaplain Lydia, Not-Shy, Rev. Abi, and who did I leave out? I am meeting Purechristianthink next week! What a gift you all are! Every one of you!

3) Of those you haven't met, name a few you would love to know in person. I want to meet Quotidian Grace because our lives sound rather similar and I want to meet ALL OF YOU! Every one of you!

4) What has Ring Membership added to your life? I belong to a group of interesting people who understand ministry and more! Every one of you!

5) Describe a hope for the future of the WebRing. I'd like for us to have a conference/retreat together. I'd like us to speak at conferences across the ocean, too. Could we have a group bracelet? Could we sponsor a conference for seminarians? Could we go on a cruise? Can we make Cajun Shrimp our RevGalBlogPals official toenail polish? (see original post for this info over at www.revgalblogpals.blogspot.com)

Thank you for making my world larger, getting me through the trauma of the Storm, laughing at my jokes and being so very dear with your support.

Love you,
St. Casserole

Our Birthday Portraits Gone Wrong

Here we are with our best friends, LD and her best friend. We are not happy. We are almost one year old and our mom put hats on us and said, "Hold the kittens!" Not words we want to hear when tiny straw hats are involved. Maybe not ever.

We look really great even if we are wearing lil straw hats. Fish has a bandana with cats printed on it. He took it off as soon as we were free.

Have you bought our birthday presents yet? The party is on August 28. Location and attire TBA.

Yours,
Whistle the Kitten

Rewriting the History of August 29th : A Prayer

Thank you for letting me understand
homelessness, living without power,
without television , without cool air in the heat.

Thank you for letting me understand
hunger, the pleasure of dry clean clothes and
the relief of place to sleep.

Thank you for letting me understand
the deep and overwhelming sadness
when forces, beyond our personal control,
take the loved, the familiar, the usual.

Thank you for my needfulness and
Thank you for my newfound empathy
for those were homeless before the storm
and homeless now, for those hungry
anywhere, for those in need everywhere.

Thank you for the opportunity you provided
to help my neighbor, to be my brother’s keeper,
to serve food, to patch roofs, to clear yards,
and to start mending that which was broken.

Thank you for the chance to change ourselves,
from a reprieve from the normal commercial day,
for teaching us to make do, to get by, to improvise,
for drowning our conceit, complacency, callousness
for silencing the noise , for stopping the clock,
and for the chance to act our best when the worst occurred.

Thank you for the people who reached in
pulled out the living, cradled the dead,
comforted the broken and torn apart,
wept for the splintered and uprooted.

Thank you for the people who didn’t wait
who came right away, who opened their homes,
who emptied their shelves, their closets,
who cleaned, fed , healed, held us,
who told us our spirit was amazing,
and who keep on coming.

Thank you for people who measure
their faith by their actions, and measure
their action by its consistency with their faith.

Thank you for all the people we have met,
who are new friends, new loved ones,
new brothers and sisters, new neighbors.

Thank you Katrina. Not for wind,
not for water, but for the appreciation
of the things no storm can shatter,
no water can wash away,
no wind can move.

---Written by R. and Mr. C

Hot enough for you?
	No. I'm studying Life in Hell for a research grant.
	I don't know. How hot does it have to be?
	It's Summer! What Do You Expect?
	Hot? This is NOTHING compared to when I was a kid!
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Some Things I Believe....

I believe these things to be true:

a) When a new pastor comes to a church where the former pastor has been gone for a good while will find that she/he will handle a high number of funerals in the beginning months. It seems that people save their deaths until the pastor arrives. This is similar to how people wait until after a major holiday (Christmas, Easter) to die. Many a pastor gets to know her/his congregation through leading funerals. In churches with younger congregants, the pastor seems to be through with her/his "honeymoon" and accepted as the pastor when the first normal (not an accident) death happens.

Not to put pressure on you but the congregation is watching to see if you can be trusted with their deaths.

b) What people want from a religious leader is authenticity. Be you.

c)The practice of ministry is an art. Keep this in mind as you do church administration.

I'm proud of you all. I thank God that you heard God's call and responded.

St. Casserole

A year ago today, I went to the SMHS and picked out two kittens, Assumpta and Dibley. Rusty, my dear companion in cat fur, died on July 5 and I felt bereft. Cats fill a place in my heart that no other creature can nurture. As a small child I loved cats and this affection hasn't changed.

The cat counselor at the humane society suggested that Dibley, a tiny orange domestic shorthair would be happier with his sister staying with him. A two-for-one cat special on neutering was in effect and fees would be waived if I took both kittens. I was delighted! A beautiful little black and white girl kitten could be mine, too. Assumpta and Dibley came home with me after I asked Mr. C. to go meet the kittens.

A hurricane threathened the Coast right after the little kittens came to our home.

The kittens grew into bigger kittens. They played with each other and took naps with me.

Then, a nasty storm developed in the Gulf, blew through Florida before it strengthened into Katrina. We packed up the kittens into their carriers (along with older cat, Andy) and evacuated to safety.

After the storm, Mr. C. and LS returned to the Coast with Andy. LD and I took the kittens to LLS and LSiL's home. Assumpta and Dibley met Cousin Bea and Uncle Lewis. The kittens loved being with the older cats and after a few days of hissing and territorial battles, they were welcomed into a new home. After I left, the kittens stayed to comfort LD who was then enrolled in school there.

LD returned to us after her first semester but Assumpta and Dibley stayed. Uncle Lewis joined the Church Invisible for cats, Bea became enamoured of Assumpta and Dibley learned to go outside to explore.

This week I wrote a medical release for Assumpta and Dibley so they may continue to have care under LLS's name instead of mine up there. I felt I was signing a relinquisment of parental rights although I know I was not. I stared at the paper over a twenty four hour period unable to put my signature to the paper. The kittens are happy where they are. Their home is with LLS and LSiL, not here and it would be traumatic to move them into our home again. They are loved and enjoyed in their new home.

The damn storm affected so many things on so many levels. I'm talking about cats here and getting worked up. Imagine how it is for families who are displaced, spouses separated by the storm so jobs can be gotten and for all the grandparents who moved away forever after the storm. We are dealing with traumas on all levels. We are dealing with loss, grief, frustration and fear of the future.

You recall that I have two new kittens, Whistle and Fish who make their home with us. I love them. Having said that, no cat replaces another one you've lost as no person replaces one you've lost. Love expands but grief remembers.

Yours,
St. Casserole

Last night I heard the froggies sing,
Their songs of love and prowess.
They sang so loud that I could hear
them inside my how is.

The crickets rubbed their tiny legs
to join the froggie chorus
In praise of God who made us all
I heard them singing for us.

Inside my house the teens made noise
of slamming doors and music
No wonder I woke with not enough sleep
A headache and a facial tic.

St. Casserole

RGBP A Short Friday Five Meme

A Short meme for what was for many a shortened week:tell us about five noteworthy Short things in your life.(Be liberally imaginative.)

Short People : I am the "short people" in my family. The LH's tall gene reigns around here.

Short Hops: My children hope my dancing around the house is cut short. I make them laugh.

Short Stories: Mouse Basketball, Vole Vaulting, Runway Modeling School for Sparrows

Short Lists: Items I'm willing to pay full price for in stores

Short Stops: "Mom!, let me run into Walgreens! I'll just be a minute!!!"

Short Truth: Short people have more fun.

A Good Day with Good News

Good news! Our plumber came by today to fix a leak! We need him to dig up the water lines in both the front and back yard and check for leaks and replace pipe broken with the hurricane trees fell. He did one small repair but having him here made me happy.

You may wonder why ALL of our storm repairs are not finished this long after Katrina. We waited our "turn" so that others who were in trailers or displaced could get their repairs done. Even now, it is very difficult to find someone to do repairs. I've called our plumber to ask for his help every week except the two I spent out of town (Homie Fest and G.A.). He came today out of compassion rather than being available.

Our roof will get an estimate tomorrow and I assume this carpenter will do the work. One never knows if an estimate even gets your name on the List.

The door man made an appointment with me for 11 am. today but didn't show. Maybe next week. If I had a call from someone wanting 10 French doors replaced, I'd hustle over for the business but since I don't want all my interior doors and windows replaced, my order is small.

The plumber went up $15 dollars on his per hour charge. This happens all over the storm zone.
Materials go up; workers (if you can get them) charge more. The insurance industry plays with the idea of compensating homeowners more but I don't have the name of any homeowner for whom this has happened.

Surprised that the world is a crap zone down here? I suppose you are. I am 80 something miles east of New Orleans. I live just east of where the Big Girl hit.

It's time for Anderson Cooper to come down here again. The local newspaper says your President is considering his "11th" visit but those visits take our police off the local watch, cost the cities and towns money and, well, nothing happens. As we say down here, "it's a waste 'o time".

My new favorite expression here in the Zone is "I've run out of give a damn".

The hospital is putting on programs around the area to help parents with parenting in a disaster zone. The speaker is a big deal from Harvard who we are delighted to have visit us. He knows something about trauma and will bring some of his students. I love how people have come to help us! He'll do several lectures around the area and will speak to trauma issues for all of us. I hope to hear him tomorrow morning.

Yours,
St. Casserole