RGBP Friday Five

Friday Five: Hot Town, Summer in the City...

...or town, or suburb, or hamlet, or burg, or unincorporated zone, or rural area of your choice---pretty much anywhere but the southern hemisphere, it's summer. (Australians and others, consider this an invitation to take a break from winter for a while.)

1. Favorite summer food(s) and beverage(s)Fresh vegetables from the Farmer's Market, tomatoes, peppers, squash and zucchini from church members, watermelon,snowcones,ice tea (but this is year-round for us!

2. Song that "says" summer to you. (Need not be about summer explicitly.)
any South Carolina Beach Music (or shag music for those in the know)

3. A childhood summer memory going to the Beach with my grandparents, sand in my swimsuit, swimming lessons, searching for golf balls outside the C.C. fence to sell back to the pro, running around the neighborhood, going to the mountains with my family

4. An adult summer memory Neshoba County Fair, Hurricane watches and warnings, children out of school, wearing flip-flops, being with LLS and LSiL, sailing with Mr. C., watching LD at swim meets, eating outside, reading novels for no purpose other than pleasure

5. Describe a wonderful summer day you'd like to have in the near future. (weather, location, activities) cool enough to be outside, bug-free picnic to somewhere with great picnic food...cold fried chicken, potato salad, coleslaw (without any sugar), my father's NC barbecue, lemon ice box pie, sweet tea or, just a burger on the grill outside

Optional: Does your place of worship do anything differently in the summer? (Fewer services, casual dress, etc.) I wear sandals and light weight clothing under my summer alb. I encourage those who want to dress casually to do so and encourage those who wish to dress up to do that, too. I'd like us to be accessible to whoever visits. I crank down the A/C when no one is looking, too.

Thanks to Reverendmother for this. See more at revgalblogpals@blogspot.com

Actual Conversation

Why do you think the new TV shows are about people with super human skills?

Because we feel powerless in the face of all the stuff going on.

In No Particular Order

I need these things:

a chipper/shredder
electric hedge clippers
somewhere to put these and other yard work tools

a Scottish fold kitten, from good stock

a plumber
a carpenter
an electrician

time with my friends
another great dinner with Mr. C like we had last night

no hurricanes until I'm 76 years old
money to repair Little Church from the hurricane damage
someone to show me how to re-wire and wire lamps (I just need to see someone do this in front of me, videos on the 'net don't seem to help)

for my preacher group to heal and be kind to one another again
for consistent internet accesses
for my children to keep their cell phone fees below the national gnp of small countries

I need all this.

St. Casserole, waiting

At our Fall geographic cluster of churches, we voted to allow those who wish to leave our denomination to take their property with them. I asked, as did others, that my vote against this be recorded by the stated clerk.

At a called meeting on Monday, we adopted guidelines for how we will release churches to other denominations. We discussed the importance of handling each case on it's own merits, without a blanket plan, as well as the need to have agreed upon guidelines on how we would divorce one another.

I cannot express the grief I feel over these developments.

I cherish the holy mystery of the Body of Christ. To see the Body divide, fracture and disperse grieves me terribly.

While I think I understand why various congregations wish to move to other denominations, I do not like it.

I hope, for them, that they find the perfect denomination in which to live out their corporate faith in Jesus. I mean this.

Our larger geographic cluster of churches came down to meet with us (not me, but the powers that be) to let us know that we are acting outside of our covenant with the larger church. A letter will be sent to us sometime. I hope I get a copy.

At the Monday meeting, a brother in the Lord said he had copies of the letter for us to see but I couldn't catch him quickly enough. He then suggested that we might, as a geographic cluster of congregations, consider removing ourselves as a group to another denomination.

I am sad.

St. Casserole

LD is home! Now, time to pray for traveling mercies for LLS and LSiL as they vacation Way Up North.

Glad to have my baby home,

St. Casserole

LD flies home from Aunt Camp today. I pray her flight will be uneventful, that no one will treat her as though she is older (she looks it!) and that she will be surrounded by traveling mercies until she returns home.

Ever the Mom,

St. C.

Fish is in Sister the Dog's Cargo carrier. We use the giant dog carrier when we evacuate for storms so all the animals are running around screaming for batteries for their ipods, flashlights and, for Sister, for her manicure kit.

There is no storm in the Gulf.

Instead, Fish is in the carrier with a small litterbox, some books and his turtle hiding quilt. I feel sorry for the wee cat. He shrieks meows to get out.

Whistle is anxious to hear Fish's meows. Sister feels helpless to comfort Fish.

I'm not happy, either.

The screen printer called to O.K. Whistle's order for 40 black t-shirts with large white letters reading "Free Fish". I agreed to this to hush Whistle but I don't think the message will mean the same to everyone. I understand yard signs with the same message are next.

Getting the call from the local newspaper reporter asking about the "Free Fish Movement" startled me.

I feel so sorry Fish whose leg must rest to heal.

Rather worn out with the emotion of it all,

St. Casserole

8 Random Facts about Me

Tagged by several of you. Here I go...

1. Even as a child I valued solitude so I spent time hiding under the dining room table. That table is in our home now but I'm too tall to hide under it.

2. I detested yard work for years, now I love it. You should see how we've fixed up since the hurricane!

3. I seldom wear costume jewelry, not because I'm snooty, but because I find sterling, 14kt. etc. at garage sales for less than costume jewelry prices.

4. Our home survived Camille in 1969, Katrina in 2005, two house fires and being flooded. It's great to live in a Garp-ed home!

5. I asked Mr. C. to marry me. He told me, "I'll think about it." I'd known him less than 6 weeks. I knew he was a Prize the first time I saw him.

6. I've been questioned about a murder by a representative of New Scotland Yard.

7. I have perfect dancer turn-out. Lot of good this does me.

8. I have done the following while preaching: burst out crying, burst out laughing, sneezed, coughed, choked, snorted and considered fainting. My listeners are greatful I didn't do all these at once.

Digging it up,

St. Casserole

*being curious about everything has it's downside. I'm reading from the PCA G.A. report on the federal vision, new perspective and auburn avenue theology. Hadn't a clue what these phrases were about. Last year, I read the PCA stuff to understand their issue of "subscription". I suppose all church groups have discussions about stuff other people find moot or picky.

*hot here. not talking about the weather anymore. that's it.

*both children are out-of-town. Mr. C. and I are dancing in the kitchen, singing old songs out loud and whooping it up.

*little church hasn't received any of the PDA 23 million yet and we want a very small portion of that to finish hurricane repairs.

*gals, you get points off if you cover chipped pedicure toes with the wrong color. just saying.

time to go work on capitalization,

st. casserole, on summer time

Fish

Fish went to see his pawodedic vet yesterday. She put a new cast/splint on his leg.
He spent hours waiting, without breakfast or his morning coffee, to get the new splint.

Vet says he is running around too much. We'll slow Fish down by putting him in my study (a small room) with Calvin's Institutes as assigned reading.

I'm adding a tablespoon of yogurt to his breakfast for extra calcium. He prefers shrimp flavored yogurt, but Dr.Vet said "plain".

Dragging a splint around slows a kitty down. He needs four good legs.

When I pray for him, I put my hand on his cast and ask for healing. Are you surprised? I want to ask you to pray for him, too, but I am unsure if I can be this vulnerable with you.

He was the highest jumping cat I've ever known before the injury. Now he drags his leg in the splint waiting for his body to heal the fracture.

St. Casserole

As I ponder weak and weary,
the sermon that is bleak and dreary

Here's some comfort for you preachers this morning: Dr. James Forbes, newly retired pastor of NYC Riverside Church, gets criticized for his preaching. See today's NYtimes.com for the article.

Is there hope for the rest of us if this wonderful homiletician has church members who don't like his preaching?

Whoa. He's one of my favorite preachers on the planet. I heard him first, in the 70's, at Columbia Seminary and to this day, I can recall what he said. He's a native North Carolinian (why is it that so many great preachers are from NC?)whose sermons are a wealth of intelligence, love of the Gospel and prophetic witness.

What do those crabby Riversiders want? A lock-jaw speaking, thin-lipped dry preacher?

Puleeze! Let's just say that we all may take comfort when even Jim Forbes has detractors.

I'm off to Little Church in a few hours. God willing, my sermon will come together before I cross the town limits,

St. Casserole

How to Prepare Your Child(ren) for the Coming of a Sib

I take as my text this morning, how my mother prepared me for the birth of LLS. 1When a new child will be coming to the family, let your child pray for the new baby. This can happen easily during bedtime or family table prayers.

When your pregnancy begins to show, let your child feel your tummy. Feeling the kicking baby, later on, will entertain your child. You can tell your child, "you can feel the new baby and when the baby is born, you can tell the baby that you felt the baby kicking BEFORE the baby even met you!!!"

If you are given a baby shower, make sure that you have a gift for your child or have a friend bring your child a gift. I recall that LLS got many baby shower gifts but that I got gifts, too, because I was the older sister.

Convey no fear about your going to the hospital to give birth. Be as matter of fact as you can treating the birth as no big deal. How does the baby come out? The answer is: God made Mommies bodies so that they can have babies. 2
Spend time with your child after the baby comes so that the child feels comfortable with the new baby. Somehow, I never felt left out or

I loved LLS from the first time I saw her. She was a tad gross with nasty diapers and a scab on her navel, but cute and snuggly. I felt my prayers helped get her to us and I felt that my mother's pregnancy was a normal time for our family. I was a brand-new 6 when LLS arrived.

We prepared LS for LD's birth as best we could although unlike a bio pregancy, with adoption you aren't always quite sure when the baby will arrive. He did a bit of acting out when LD arrived but mostly took pride in his sister, especially when people commented on her. 3


Footnotes: 1) Old-preaching used this phrase.
2)Tell your children whatever you wish about how the baby comes out of your body. I like the discretion of my Mother being at ease that "God created Mommies this way".
3)Remember, I am not a parenting expert and am parenting still a teen and older teen.I thought about writing on this topic while recalling that my older sister seemed to resent me throughout my childhood and may resent my presence to this day. Maybe Mother learned from the sour reaction of my older sister and so prepared me for LLS's birth in a different manner.

Yours,

St. Casserole
(Next topic: Why is Blogging a Post Easier than Finishing My Sermon?"

Yuk Yuk Yuk

Little Church is in a small town with a large agricultural festival. Thousands of people drive in to buy the ag product, hear stories, music and buy crafts. Townspeople participate or hide in their homes behind locked doors.

I attended the festival years ago before I knew Little Church. The weather sweltered with humid heat.
Two times in my life I believed that I would die of heat: at the Neshoba County Fair during a National election year political speech fest and at Ag Fest.

I suggested we open the church for the festival during my first year there. No one seemed interested. No one. Turns out that the crowds would overwhelm our antique plumbing and no one wanted to stand around and watch this happen.

A laughing church member just called to say she was sorry but she couldn't find where they were doing the "Dunk the Preacher" booth this year. She asked around but no one seemed to know. Maybe I was off the hook this year, she said.

Like I'd go there to be dunked. First, it's not dignified. Second, it might cool me down but nope, and, third, like I'd get on a bench to be hit by a softball.

I'm serious about minstry in the community but not that serious.

Yuk,Yuk,Yuk,

St. Casserole, dignified as ever

A. my computer is running faster after the Computer Guy realized that LS laptop takes all the bandwidth when left on. doesn't sound quite right to me, but that's what CG said.

B. Fish's fracture IS healing and he'll get a new cast Monday. Our vet got my firey letter about Dr. Awful, D.V.M. but didn't apologize for my rough treatment from the relief vet. I don't suppose our vet knows how to do this.

C. I miss LD who is up at the sacred (at least to me) Presbyterian conference center in N.C. where at least one adult leader thinks Katrina damaged New Orleans and no where else.

D. Temps are in the 90's here. Hotter than hot this morning at 5 a.m. Yuk. Pass the ice tea!

E. I'm glad to be back online. I've forgotten all the Pulitizer quality blog posts I thought up while I couldn't use my study computer.

As ever,

St. Casserole

Friends, something is wrong with my desktop computer. I feel my fingernails growing in the time the computer takes to go from site to site.

The Computer Guy comes Friday morning to pour Diet Coke into the hard drive. I hope this works.

I miss being with you but I'm having tech probs.

Yours,

St. Casserole

In a small group at the denominational conference center in Western, NC, the leader asks the group about their fears. LD says that after Katrina, she got anxious when she heard big thunderstorms or saw torrential rain. The adult leader said, "You're from Gulfport, aren't you? Katrina damaged New Orleans." Then, the adult leader moved on to the next kid.

Urghhh,

St. Casserole

Yoo Hoo! I'm over here in Ft.Morgan, Alabama for a Flower Foundation Grant Retreat with my Preacher Group! We met with a fine fellow from the McFarland Institute to discuss spiritual autobiography, worship, pray and eat.

Outside on the condo balcony this morning, I watched beach rats run around. Is this good for tourism? Pelicans in packs fly around while a few demented pigeons sit on the fence. Pigeons? Aren't you guys lost?

If you need me today, I'll be traveling back to the Coast. I'm stopping at Burris for fresh veggies and maybe another shopping op if I feel the Alabama economy needs me.

Hope all is well with you. May you be aware of a full measure of God's grace today,

St. Casserole

RevGalBlogPals FRIDAY FIVE

1,Think back to the time you left High School, what were your hopes visions and dreams for your life/ for the world? I dreamed of a large world but wasn't sure how to find it. Curious about everything, I wanted to KNOW, especially about people.
I didn't envision much future for myself. My visions were interior because I was shy and hesitant about asking for much for myself. Going to college opened up the world for me in great ways.

2. Have those hopes visions and dreams changed a lot, or are some of them still alive and kicking? (share one if you can)
By the time I was mid-way in College, I wanted to know theology. Interest in theology and people continues to this day.

3. Hebrews 11:1 " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. " Comforting, challenging or frustrating?
Comforting. I don't mind thinking into the future without practical evidence; don't mind if things are open-ended.

4. If resources were unlimited, and you had free reign to pursue a vision what would it be?
I would junk pick everyday.
I would re-purpose junk into art everyday.
I would be a gardener on an private English estate.
I would read 6 hours everyday.
These are solitary pursuits mostly. I might not like them if I could clone myself to do all of them all the time. I love family life and when the family noise over takes me, I like to think of this list (and more) as a mental get-away.

5. Finally with summer upon us- and not to make this too heavy- share your dream holiday....where, when and who with...
LH and I go to New Zealand for 6 months.

This is a picture of Pearlington, Ms. hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. A group from Kansas came to Pearlington to help rebuild the town. Got that? This group lives near the tornado devastation in Greenburg, Kansas. They came to help us.

LS and Lovely Friends left yesterday afternoon driving to Greenburg, Kansas to build a house for a family left homeless by the tornado. The new house will be wind strong to 200 mile an hour wind, highly insulated to lower heating/cooling costs, quiet and termite-proof. The home is made of green materials. Lovely friends are donating the home.

I love this example of what goes around comes around. We are connected in mysterious ways to strangers who become friends. I see God working.

Love,

St. Casserole

Let's welcome a RevGalCatPal blogger, Fish the Kitten. Go read his latest post here.

St. C

Cheesehead? This one is for you....

Cheesehead doesn't chat about cats much. Like. Not. At. All.

She heard cat chat from 1-4Grace, Inner Dorothy and me at the Fest of Homies.

Cheese, you are a good and patient friend.

Love,

St. Casserole

What does the preacher do when she wakes up on Sunday morning? What if she feels like staying home with the newspaper and fresh coffee until noon?

Even worse, what if the preacher knows she cannot stay home because there is worship to lead and the Word to give to hungry hearts in the pews?

When the sermon feels like stone, her heart distracted by detritus and her body not enthused about Pentecost, what does she do?

As Anna Florence Carter reminded us at the Homie Festival, preaching isn't about US.
Not about me. Preaching is about God.

But, I'm moving slowly this morning without a sense of the power of Pentecost. Nada. Nope.

But....

I'll be at Little Church on time. I'll be asking for God's help for my ministry. I'll be there.

I'll pray on the way, as I have this morning, for God's full measure of grace to turn a rocky sermon into a pathway for my listeners. I'll pray that whatever is going on in me will not interfere with what God has in store for worship and my people.

Maybe I'll reflect on the mystery of God's call to me, the most ordinary of women, to be a part of God's Church in this place.

Whatever else is going on, I'm glad, deeply glad, that I am invited.

St. Casserole

It's been a quiet week at Festival of Homies.* Inner Dorothy, I-4Grace, Cheesehead and I had a late supper last night at a swinging restaurant.

We got back late to the Good Hotel. By this morning, everyone flew home except me.

Homies provides great worship and powerful preachers. You should go next year.
The preaching blew me away. Worship was a mixed bag because some of us are thrilled by laptops on the Communion Table and others are not. I wish you could hear 1600 preachers singing hymns or see Lilly Lewin as she read the St. Patrick's Breastplate prayer.

I think of Merrily Watkins in the Phil Rickman books when I hear St. Pat's prayer because Merrily says it as she prepares to enter a scary place.

I'll be home with my people tonight. I am homesick. I miss my people.

Thinking of you,

St. Casserole

*Not really quiet. I made that up.

Traveling mercies for us as we travel to the 2007 Festival of Homiletics.

I'll be wearing a long khaki cotton skirt with Birkies and socks. I cut the sleeves out of my RevGalBlogPals t-shirt to wear as a head dress. LD says I look like I've got a pair of whitey tighties on my head. I'm wearing a purple clerical shirt with a 5" by 5" cross on a leather string.

I hope you can recognize me.

As usual, I'm going through all my miseries over leaving my family. Oddly enough, they are so. ready. for. me. to. leave. What's with them?

Packing my Save the Whales tote,

St. Casserole

I love birds. I love cats.

I hope the bluejay Andy the Cat left as a love gift for me was half-dead from old age before becoming a love offering.

Even in death, the bird is beautiful.

Awed by the Creator, sad for the death,

St. Casserole

P.S. Mr. C? Get the shovel, please. Look near the courtyard garden hose. Thanks.

Sorry I haven't posted. I'm busy preparing for the Festival of Homies by reviewing my wardrobe so I will be well-dressed like my roomie, Cheesehead. I'm not sure the Beverly Feldman rhinestone sandals will do for a preacher conference but I believe they are competitive "cute" shoes.

Trying to lose 20 lbs. before Monday,

St. C

Oh the joy! Oh the relief!

This week is just about over!

Our boy is home from France safely!

Our hurricane disaster work is changing directions for the better!

I have workers here fixing my roof and fence and etc!

Can you believe that? Workers! Here! Repairing hurricane damage!

We may even find a plumber to repair the gas leak outside at the old greenhouse!

I am very happy! See me dancing!

Jubilate,

St. Casserole

Stinky Cheese Man

Our children loved this book, The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales.

Our son returned from France with a gift of Very Stinky Cheese for us. My refrigerator smells like a Frat House Frig when opened. Ewwww!

The cheese, however, is delicious!

Rewrite time: look for "The Stinky Cheese Gift and other Fairly Stupid Tales".

Wearing a Clothespin on My Nose,

St. Casserole

P.S. LS called French food "bland" and was delighted to share the Tabasco sauce brought by the two Texas students. I am stunned.

That's What I'm Talking About....

It will take years,

St. Casserole

He's Home!

LS arrived at the N.O. airport on-time and happy! We are happy, too!

Sorry for the delay in letting you know of his safe arrival. Big church meeting yesterday with all the other churches consumed yesterday. I sat through the meeting fighting sleep and listening to our Big Cheese (lovely sermon, peaceful presence) and visiting with colleagues.

I sew stuffies at Big Church meetings. Makes people wonder what I'm up to but it keeps my hands busy and, I hope, restrains my comments.

We had tough issues before us and then the pleasant task of receiving new preachers into our fold.

I'm fine and hope you are the same,

Yours,

St. Casserole

Today, LS makes his way back home from France.

Would you pray, with me, for traveling mercies?

Always A Mama,

St. Casserole

According to the NYTimes, the Riverside Church in Manhattan is looking for a new senior pastor. James Forbes, one of my favorite American preachers, retires June 1.

I'm available for the senior pastor position.

I believe that I have a unique perspective to offer Riverside.


I'll be sitting by my phone,

St. Casserole

Behold, I am drinking a new thing...

Right this very minute, I'm drinking a Diet Coke Plus, the just released vitamin and mineral enriched member of the D C family.

I burst out laughing at the grocery when I saw the boxes!

Oh yeah, let me drink gallons of Diet Coke AND get my strength up!

Yours,

St. Casserole

Guest Blogger: Fish the Cat to Meleeh the Cat

Dear Meleeh,

Thank you for the beautiful card you made for me. I chewed on the ribbon. Thank you for sending a pic of yourself. I won't hiss at you much if you come to see me. I know what you look like. You are beautiful like Andy. He has black stripes just like you!

I'm doing just fine. My ortho paw ic doctor says that she'll x-ray my leg next week and "clean-up" my splint. I do my best to keep the splint clean by licking it. Can you see my pink toes sticking out of the end of the splint?

I spend hours under my turtle quilt. I think deep cat thoughts there.

I wrote a poem about my splint:

I hate my splint
It stinks. I hate it.
Step-step-step-drag.
Don't call me Gimp!
I hate my splint!

Like it? I'm really good with poetry. Everybody says so.

Your Pal,

Fish the Cat

Dear Sheryl Crow,

You don't know me but I heard that you want us to use one square of toilet tissue when we go to the loo.

Thanks a bunch.

I believe you would encourage us better by following my method.* First take all the paper trash in your home (mail, cereal box paper, Kleenex) and place in a large Sun Tea Jar. Let the water warm over several days and turn the paper into mush. Do not use paper with glue until you've licked off all the glue or removed it with a knife. Compost the glue residue from boxes, etc.

Pour the water out of the Sun Tea Jar. Take the paper mush and squeeze out the water until you can roll out the mush into sheets. Let these sheets air dry with solar energy.

Next, take the empty bag from a breakfast cereal box and fill with rainwater. Empty out the water and let the bag air dry. Tear old t-shirts into 6" squares. Place the clean wax bag from the breakfast cereal and the t-shirt squares into your purse.

When nature calls you to give back to the earth in a profound and elemental way, use the t-shirt squares to freshen yourself. Place the soiled squares into the cereal bag. Put back into your purse.

When the bag is full or people notice that you are carrying a bag of soiled torn up t-shirt pieces, take out the squares and soak them in a soapy water mixture in a large glass jar. Let the sun warm the soapy water. Agitate the jar when you feel like it. After several days, add the soapy water to your compost heap. Take out the squares and dry them in the sun.

Take the mushed dry paper and write a poem about out doing Sheryl Crow.

Sincerely,

St. Casserole

*I made this up.

It's been one year, seven months and 30 days since the storm.

We don't have reliable t.v. service.

I can't watch Saturday Night Live while I wait for Mr. C and LD to return from the Jazz Fest because we can't get NBC.

It's hard to realize what it means when the infrastructure is destroyed in such a large area.
At least, we don't have the bombs and guns of the War Zone. Just the destruction.

Not really happy at this moment,

St. Grumpy, I mean, Casserole

The Real Reason We Got A Large Pasta Bowl 2

Andy, the greatest indoor/outdoor cat in the State resting.

Curb Day

We're having a community-wide clean-up this month. Of course, I can't recall the exact dates but this morning struck me as a great day to heave up the rest of the greenhouse detritus. Losing the greenhouse wasn't much of a loss because the old building stood upright barely. Losing the storage space isn't easy.

We are starting a hot trend of displaying lawnmowers, weed-eaters, rakes and shovels as PORCH DECORATIONS.

At least we don't have several cars up on blocks, an old sofa on the front porch and a broken refrigerator in the front yard. Before the storm, people littered their yards with junk out of je ne sais quois and lack of storage. After the storm, stuff just blew where it blew. So there.

Our Mayor's wife declares that IT IS TIME to clean up the debris. She's correct. I'm with her on this. You wouldn't believe how much construction material trash, giant trees and other mess remains here. The gov. paid for clean-up several times but if the insurance people aren't forthcoming with claim payments and people are old/tired/poor/depressed, then how can all the debris be out by now? No way.

I put my stuff out by the street hoping those who want it will grab it. I've had two folks load up already.

Years before the storm, I picked up a gorgeous rug for my study off of a trash pile. I stopped my car to investigate the rug when I saw it thinking it must be pet defiled or burned. Nope, spotless and perfect for my study floor.

So, I'm passing along my junk. What's left will be piled for the community clean-up.

The orange warning cloth on the right is scant protection for a giant hole left by falling trees and a crushed drain. Come on, City, fix it.

Recycle, kids, recycle.

Happy,

St. Casserole

Actual Conversations

*Mr. C. forgot his cellphone so he borrowed a colleague's cell. Looking through the phone list, he saw "Scumbag".

Mr. C: Who is Scumbag?
Colleague: The guy who stole my truck.


*Driving to yesterday's meeting, I stopped for a cinnamon roll at the bakery in Tiny Town.
After paying, I thanked the owner for making great rolls.

Bakery owner: You are from the Ghost Coast?
St. C: Yes, I'm from the Ghost Coast...

Thanks for your comments on the previous post. I'm doing better this morning.

St. Casserole

Never, Never Give Up

Three days before Hurricane Katrina, I strolled into Steinmart to see if they had something I wanted. I looked through the clothing but found nothing. None of the jewelry tempted me. Wandering into the home accessories department, I found a sign, which said "Never, never give up."

Not realizing that we were facing a Category Five in your Hurricane Hit Parade, I bought the sign and drove home.

The sign interested me because I admire the tenacity of Mr. C. who does not give up. He may pivot to re-assess his focus, he may study the situation looking for a solution but he does not give up. His parents started over from scratch twice in their marriage. The 1947 storm (before hurricanes had names) wiped out their boat repair business. The other start over is family lore and not to be told here. His people just keep going forward.

I feel like quitting this afternoon. One more time, I explained to the powers why the current head of an important governing body group should be given a plaque and a party so he can go home. While the current head is capable in many areas, he is not good with people.

Months ago, when I realized that his behavior was harming those around him, I prayed about the situation and went to see him. I shared my observations about his behavior and the consequences to those around him. He was unmoved and explained that he knew what he was doing. I let time pass until I heard again of an action which hurt someone to the quick. I went to see him again. He was unmoved.

Praying more about the situation and wanting, with all my heart, for this to be worked out, I took an elder with me to speak with the man. The elder agreed with my assessment having witnessed unkind behavior. Time passed. We went to see him again.

Four times, I spoke as gently and clearly as I know how to this man about his bad treatment of others. He was not moved.

I spoke to him in our committee meeting about situations I was spending more and more time trying to fix so that those harmed could regain their dignity and go forward. Nothing changed. At the next meeting, I explained the problem to the committee with the man present.
Nothing happened.

The larger governing body attempted to intervene as I am not the only person troubled by this situation. Conference calls, emails and meetings took place so that everyone who wished might say how they felt about the man's behavior. I learned that worse things went on that I hadn't known about. I felt heart-broken. Where a few acts of kindness from the man would have turned him into a hero, he stomped on people.

Today, the larger group met with the smaller group to discuss the situation (and two other issues which need to be addressed but cannot be resolved until the man steps down). No one discussed the big elephant. The chair suggested that he would not proceed unless people spoke up. People did not speak up. People who needed to be heard were absent from the meeting.

I spoke up.

Nothing happened.

I want to give up. I tell myself that I have plenty of things to do and that I have spent hours upon hours since the storm trying to affect change, reconciliation and progress. Nothing I do seems to impact the situation for the better. Nothing.

Mr. C. says for me to let it go. I say I don't like to see meanness without speaking up to change it.

What would you do?

Very discouraged,

St. Casserole

Guest Blogger: Fish the Kitten

Here I am. I am on my who man beans bed under a cover with turtle print.

I don't feel happy or good or anything.

I am going to the orthopaw this afternoon to check my splint. I

f your splint slips, you are in big trouble.

I don't know if I have a slipping splint.

I hate it.

I dislike it strongly.

I will not send a Christmas card to my splint.

I vote my splint "a fierce, bad thing".

You can have my splint.

If anyone asks you how I feel about my splint, tell them I think my splint is despicable.

Yours,

Fish the Kitten

Marshall Ramsey, editorial cartoonist of The Clarion-Ledger, gets it right. How would you do with a 90% increase in your homeowner's insurance?

Worried about my people,

St. Casserole

P.S. When is someone going to figure out that the insurance industry decides our medical care, work and home lives? Should any industry control our lives as the insurance industry does?

The Real Reason We Bought This Giant Pasta Bowl

St. Casserole

Guest Blogger: Fish the Kitten

Thank you to Molly, Tillie, Mindy, Cub and Angus my RevGalDogPals for your kind words.

My nanny, Sister the Dog, sends you a internet dog cookie!

Thank you, Littlemankitty, Callie, Lucy, Teddy the Pirate Cat, Truffle and Ouzo my RevGalCatPals for being nice to me and not hissing.

I know I'm better off than most cats. My leg will heal. I have Sister, my dog nanny and my brother Fish to keep me company. My who man beans are kind to me, too.

I'm thinking today about the pets of the Virginia Polytech Institute tragedy whose lives are disrupted and who cannot find their favorite people. I'm thinking about the pets whose homes flooded Up North, soldier's pets and pets in war areas.

I think we need a world where every cat and dog is as well-treated as we are.

Fish the Kitten

I look over the classified section of our local news on Friday mornings. Any estate or garage sales of interest going on this weekend?

When I began this blog, I thought I'd write about my interest in "material recycling", ie. junking.
It may be fun to find junk but it seems silly to write about it.

If I reflected on the travels of each antique piece through the first owner to me, or why this tertiary market interests me, perhaps it would be fun for you to read.

Maybe I feel silly writing about going through junk. Many people can't tolerate the idea of "old" things, others don't want anything but new. Then there are those whose material wants are so few that the idea of acquiring junk "just because I like to look at it" is repugnant.

Hello. My name is St. Casserole and I am a Junker.

Guest Blogger: Fish the Kitten

Dear Friends,

I may call you friends because on the Internet we are all Ginger cats. I am getting along with my hind leg splint rather well. I can jump on and off of the Who Man Beans high bed, get to my cat crunchies and water bowl.

I spend many hours reflecting on my life under the bed covers. This quiet retreat allows me to consider important questions and revise the outline of my novel. I am not depressed. I am keeping body silence so that I may heal. I do nap, from time to time.

My balance is not as good as it was before the fracture. I clawed into the sole of Mr. C's foot last night as he slept when I wanted to get off the bed. He didn't care for this. I dipped my splint foot into the water bowl. These things happen.

Whistle cannot restrain his kitten humor. He calls me "gimpy", "tripod" and "dragster." I forgive him because She gives me more cat cookies than he gets. I'm enjoying her sympathy.

Keep those cards and letters coming. I return to the pawopedic doctor on Monday.

Very Truly Yours,

Fish

The New Yorker April 16, 2007

Just for fun, look at the Saks Fifth Avenue ad on page 3. Is Tyke Darlington wearing a seersucker jacket with a red cloth skirt with plaid and fringe?

Skirt. Not shirt. Skirt.

Just wondering,

St. Casserole

Honesty

I'm listening to Alexander McCall Smith's The Right Attitude for Rain as I drive around. This is the third book in the Sunday Philosophy Club series with Isobel Delahousy.

Isobel is discussing theft with her niece Kat's deli employee. Coffee bags have gone missing from the deli again. Isobel muses on the subject, with careful deliberation, as she does on every subject.

I began to consider honesty, too. We aren't to take what isn't ours. There is no excuse for stealing. Stealing is violent; stealing is disrespectful; stealing takes a bit our our souls away when we take something that doesn't belong to us, etc.

After a few minutes of reflection, I reached into my purse to get a lipstick. As my hand moved around in my purse, I pulled out a ballpoint pen. Not recognizing the feel of the pen, I looked at the pen. Taped carefully to the side of the turquoise plastic pen was a neatly written note, "Do Not Remove".

I don't know whose pen it is. Where did I pick up this pen? Bank? Water Department? Office?
Can't return it. Don't know where the pen belongs.

Over the years, I've noted the synchronicity of my ranking/blasting/pontificating against something only to find myself guilty of the offense, too.

Human here,

St. Casserole

Goodnight, Mr. Fish

After a tiring day of being in the orthopawdic vet clinic, Fish the Kitten settles down for a long cat nap in his bedroom.

Please, no calls tonight. Let the poor kitten rest.

St. C.

Press Secretary for Fish the Kitten

My friend, Little S., works with Virgina Tech students.
I left a message for her. Haven't heard back as yet.
I am so sorry for everyone in Blacksburg, the parents of students there and anyone connected with VT.

Lord, have mercy.

St. C

Diagnosis: Fracture Above the Knee

Fish the Kitten has a fracture! His orthopedist confirmed that Fish has a fracture right above his knee, a rarity for cats. No bruising, punctures or anything showed up around the injury so the ortho has no clue how Fish hurt himself.

Fish will be wearing the red splint for 8 weeks with weekly orthopedic visits to check the splint.
He will drop out of "Dancing With the Cat Stars", bottle cap soccer and his Tai Chi classes for the duration.

We hope he will learn to be content with the awkward splint and not become depressed as athletes do when required to refrain from activity.

Send your notes and cards to: Fish the Kitten, 3145 A. Washington Avenue, Gulfport, MS, 39507 and these will be delivered to him.

Thank you,

St. Casserole
Press Secretary for Fish the Kitten

Fish the Kitten limps. He does everything as usual but he limps. I can't find a lump, a bump or anything. Mr. C moved his hind leg a bit and only when Fish's hip joint moves several degrees do we hear a wee meow.

He's on an antibiotic.

When asked about his limp, Fish said, " I have a fashionable sports injury because I am a dancing cat. Please buy a case of Greenies Cat Treats (the fav cat cookie of Sportif Kitties) and let me sit in the open box..."

Ever the Mom,

St. Casserole

Talking with Widows

All of us in pastoral ministry visit widows. Church is filled with widows.

As a young pastor, I thought that being a widow wasn't too much of a big deal. Men die before women so if you live long enough, you lose your husband. Women must know this, I thought, so they are prepared.

At that time, I didn't know anything about long time love, like being married for decades. Didn't know a thing about the loving meld of a committed relationship.

I didn't intend to be dismissive of widow's grief. I knew nothing about it.

I will have lunch soon with a recent widow. J. died just a few weeks ago. His wife, T., is a friend of many years. Both were in their 70's (is this the New 50's?) with a 50 year marriage.

Pastoral care means visiting with the family before a death occurs, if you can. Then, visit the dying and their family. When you get word of the death, go visit as soon as you can. You may be planning a funeral for the family so you'll want to talk with the wife, children and any family who come to grieve with her. Ask those funeral planning questions.

What I didn't know as a young pastor, and what I know now from observation is the disruption caused by death.

When a spouse dies, the survivor loses the most significant character in their life Story. One day, identity is assured; the next day, all is up for grabs.

Our part of this is to allow the spouse to tell her story as often as she wishes. Some think that bringing up the dead spouse in conversation may be too painful. Denial of death makes grief more horrible. We talk about our spouses and then we are to be silent about them?

Widows don't know themselves after their spouse dies. Some of course are relieved and we must acknowledge and affirm this with them because every death makes someone happy. Perhaps the decedent's physical pain, now ended, causes joy. Or, the spouse was a creep and the widow is free of him.

One of the charming things I observe is how at death, a widow can turn a spouse she complained about every moment becomes A Great Saint. Why not? As long as she is able to heal from death, we may need a few saints. Yep, I said that.

I dread the day I lose Mr. C. His life means all to me and I've been grateful for his presence in my Story from Day 1. At this point, everyone says, "well, he wasn't perfect" and I say, "of course not! who'd want to be married to a perfect human?" When my Story is told you'll hear about Mr. C because, by God's Grace, we've had a love match.

Blessings to you,

St. Casserole

Several Things

• You've read here about how much I miss seeing trees against the sky. Well, guess what? It's all a matter of perspective! If I move to my back porch and look to the North, I see enough trees against the sky to satisfy me!
• "Flake" The South's Original Potato Chip Dill Flavored are the worst chips we've ever eaten. No wonder Mr. C was so cordial about handing me the entire bag. Yuk. I like dill pickles but these chips are despicable.
• Fish the Kitten is limping still. I took him to his Vet on Monday who checked out his right hind leg without finding anything. He's taking antibiotics and pain relief without much success. He's going back to see the Vet tomorrow if I don't seem improvement. He's eating, litter-boxing, and drinking fine but favors the hind leg.
• Early this morning, the moon was quarter phased and the sky a canopy of stars. Beautiful.
• I'll be at a church meeting uppada road this morning. This means I'll have to shop on the way home. Really. Several stores up there are prime.
• LD goes for a church retreat weekend with the Methodists. I hope she enjoys it because her last church retreat wasn't fun for her.
• If the Clutter Patrol pays a surprise visit to my home, I will win a prize! I sent P. home with a load yesterday and my car trunk is full with bags to donate but still...

Blessings,

St. Casserole

What I Am Reading Today...

"Everywhere I go, I meet people, old and young, from all over the world, and they tell me about their lives, their relationships, broken families, their addictions, shame, guilt, failures. You'll never be able to speak into their souls unless you speak the truth about your own wounds. You need to tell them what our Lord has come to mean to you in the midst of your disappointments and losses. All ministry begins at the ragged edges of our own pain," he said.

I couldn't figure out who Thomas knew about my relationship with my father, much less that I was a pastor trying to fool people into believing he was perfect. For years I'd felt this pressure to convince everyone that I had the leadership skills of Bill Hybels, the pastoral gifts of Henri Nouwen, and the teaching acumen of John Stott. I'd never thought sharing my brokenness with people was an effective church-growth technique.

"Do you know the story of Rabbit Zusya? he asked. "he was a Chasidic master who lived in the 1700s. One day he said, "When I ge to the heavenly court, God will not ask me 'Why aren't you Moses? Rather he will ask me, 'Why aren't you Zusya?'"

Thomas let that thought hang in the air for a moment, then continued, "Churches should be places where people come to hear the story of God and to tell their own. That's how we find out how the two relate. Tell your story with all of its shadows and fog, so people can understand their own. They want a leader who's authentic, someone trying to figure out how to follow the Lord Jesus in the joy and wreckage of life. They need you, not Moses," he said.

from Chasing Francis, A Pilgrim's Tale by Ian Morgan Cron NavPress 2006

I'm only to page 77 and the reader can tell that this is a first book but so far, I'm entralled.

St. Casserole

Easter

Happy Easter to all of you.

Mr. C. and LD went to Little Church with me this morning. Mr. C. drove and I pointed out where to look for the fallen pecan orchard, the goats in the field, the Brahmin cattle, the Buffalo herd and the field of lambs. He noticed these but commented on the hurricane debris piles along the road and in the pastures as well as the damaged homes yet to be repaired. When he saw the McMansions built by fleeing City People he couldn't believe it.

We had a big crowd in worship, as I expected. Whole families arrived with kin I don't see except on Big Holidays. Our cute every-other-Sunday organist who looks like a 16 year old brought her two enormous boys. One of my members tried to introduce her husband's sister's cousin's nephew to LD thinking that LD was an adult. When I announced LD's upcoming 15th birthday, the member turned green. This was a hootin' church experience for LD who was charmed by the introduction.

Perhaps the highlight for everyone present, not counting the second hymn which no one knew (and after hearing it I don't want to know it), as a grand gesture of inclusive holy prayer, I knocked my water glass off the pulpit into the offering bowl.

Faithfully,

St. Casserole

I am thinking about:

Holy Week

how hot it is early in the morning already (70's today at 5:30am!)

signs of Spring in our yard

LD's birthday next week

Phil Rickman's new Merrily Watkins' book, The Remains of an Altar

my covenant group and the Lilly project

how I don't wear white dress shoes even after Easter

my LLS and LSiL

prayer and hope


What's on your mind?

St. Casserole, always thinking even if I look half-asleep

What I Am Reading Now

Getting on Message, Challenging the Christian Right from the Heart of the Gospel
Rev. Peter Laarman, Editor 2006.

St. C

From our local obituaries:

"Henry was a devoted and loving husband and caring father, a voracious reader, naturalist, consummate fisherman, gardener, and avid apiarist. His family and friends grieve his loss as do his plants and bees. Trout and redfish, however, rest easier."

It's good to live here.

St. Casserole

Hurricane Katrina blew through here one year, six months and 26 days ago.

We were fortunate that our home survived (and Hurricane Camille, too!) but we sustained roof damage when a neighbor's tall pine fell on the corner of our home.

A carpenter came yesterday to begin repairs before he discovered that the job is beyond his experience.

I want a repaired roof. So far, we don't have leaks but the corner of the roof is dented and the sofit/fascia needs repair.

We are better off than many, many people here.

But, I need a capenter. And, a plumber to discover the gas leak in the back yard.

The sod truck came today with 12 pallets of sod for for our yard. THIS is progress. C., the landscaper, is doing beautiful work for us.

Just tellin' you,

St. Casserole

Shopping with Listing Straight

Listing (left) and St. Casserole go shopping at Carr Mill. We bought identical outfits. We believe this is very goofy but we each liked the linen top and trousers. I said "trousers" just to sound sophisticated.

Listing found several outfits whereas I found this one. When I got back to LS and LSiL's, my LSiL said she wanted the identical outfit, too.

Listing is way fun so I'm sorry she lives far away.

In fact, why do all of youse RGBP and others live so very far away?

I'm meeting Cheesehead at the Festival of Homies in Nashville in May. We hope to recall our glory days of rooming together at the General Assembly. Whoa! Mebbe she picked out a GOOD SAFE HOTEL this time....

Thinking of you all,

St. Casserole

P.S. I think my linen trousers are a white/black thread blend where LS's are blue.

Spring is here! The azaleas are blooming along with the Bradford pear tree, gerber daisies and a few hibiscus plants.

I'm home. I miss LLS and LSiL along with those great sabbatical cats, Bea and Assumpta.

If you need me, call. I'll be doing catch-up laundry and re-arranging furniture. It's amazing how much time a gal has when she isn't writing a sermon.

St. C

In trying to explain the current issues of my denomination to LLS and LSiL, both of whom belong to the UCC, I've struggled to understand the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. It's difficult for me to see the charm of their denominational stance in several areas.

The EPC doesn't view the ordination of women as an essential to the faith.

Gosh. How original. Let's move back to local option where if you want a clergy woman to answer her call to ordination in the ministry of the Word and Sacrament you may. If you don't, so what...

How do they baptize little girls in the EPC? How do they discern which ones to baptize? Does the session stare at the toothless baby girl and guess whether or not the infant will hear the call to preach?

If you don't want women preachers, don't baptize them and for their sake, don't raise them up in the church.

If the little baby grows up in the nurture of the church and hears lessons on obedience and faithfulness to God, what will she do if God calls her to preach?

I'm reformed and I see no impediment Biblically to the ordination of women.
Ordaining women as preachers and church officers is not "just another option" for congregations of believers.

You heard it here first,

St. C who takes her call very seriously as a gracious gift of God and as a demand on her soul.

*I'm still in NC with my people. I'll drive home tomorrow while you are preaching.

*I'm rested (still have a cold) and happy.

*I've enjoyed fabulous meals.

*My familar rich dreamscapes returned. I must be backed up with dreams because vivid dreams came back while here.

*LLS and I recalled the details of both grandmother's homes, room by room.

*Miss Fannie Lou Bingham and "Hattie Pots" references make me laugh.

*7 stuffies came to life here from two boiled wool jackets and an Irish sweater given to the "cause" from LLS. The Irish sweater"s provenance delights me because it was purchased in Ireland by a tiny 19 year old and was her first credit card purchase. These woolens jumped into my hands from the "give away"basket and after hot water/soap wash with heated drying became stuffie fabric.

*Books, books, books.

*Again, this loving home is the best place for rest, fun and reflection.

Love,
St. Casserole

For Today

Go forward in faith, not fear.

St. C

Having a great time. Wish you were here...

I'm relaxed, in a different visual context, rested and well fed.

Why did I get a cold?

I'm snooty and can't get the temperature to be warmer then colder.

Guess I'll spend the day in the den on the sofa with Assumpta, the traveling tuxedo kitty.
We'll finish Songs of the Gorilla Nation then work on the black boiled wool felted cat stuffie.

In an earlier post, I suggested that you get my comments up. I meant, get my visits up so I can pass 50K on my site meter. I'm doing my part to up my stats to a new round number.

I'm watching a TBS Bette Davis marathon.

What's up with you?

Devotedly,

St. Casserole

Hey! I don't get many comments per post if I blog entry more than once each day.

Hep (as we say in the South) me out by shooting my blog stats to 50K.

It can be done.....

In other news:

Since I am doing nothing, I stay up late watching TV in the guest room/best clergywoman sabbatical suite. I saw a very odd woman with long curly hair preaching. She's thin with almost to the waist thin looking hair, pulled back from her face. She may be wearing a mullet, but couldn't tell. She wears a clerical tab collar, too large for her neck along with a long man's suit.
Very odd. She waved a Bible around as she spoke then took reading glasses on and off many times. It took me a bit to catch what she was saying because her outfit is so very odd. Manly but with untended long hair. Not only did she Bible wave, she waved her glasses around while flipping her hair. I doubt she took homiletics because someone would have pointed out these distractions to her.

I have no idea what she was saying but looked up her husband's website. She took over the television/church ministry when he died in '05. What's with this?

Shall I take over Mr.C's law practice if he joins the Church Invisible before I do?

I don't understand the tradition of inheriting churches although I know people do this. We mainline denomination people are suspicious of personality cult type relationships and do not pass congregations on to family members.

Her name is Pastor Scott if you want to check her out. I couldn't find a full length picture of her on the website so you may have to watch her show.

Women pastors aren't Jr. Men Pastors. Dressing like a man doesn't confer authority on us. God gives us the authority.

Otherwise, I'd dress like Attila the Hun for Presbytery.

St.

A Few Things...

*being with my NC family is great!

*watching Spring without the heat.

*listening to great conversations

*Seeing clergywomen: Jill, Carol, Little S., Listing Straight, Susan, Sarah- oh, the riches!

*eating mango cayanne ice cream along with ginger ice cream at JuJuBe in Glen Lennox

*eating Eastern NC barbeque (vinegar based sauce) in Burlington

*scones from A Southern Season

*good, good thrift stores with the time to see everything

*Assumpta the Cat, now a grown-up lady kitty, snuggling with me

*books! books! books!

*shopping with Listing Straight (hey girl! wore my new outfit last night!)

*trees, glorious trees, all around

*watching Jon Stewart twice a day (we don't have Comedy Central in Backwater)

*eating LLS's cooking

*watching LSiL win a tennis match


St. Casserole

This sabbatical thing is good. I am having a very good time.

I met Listing Straight uppada market for coffee and cinnamon roll this morning.
This was my first meeting with her, so I almost passed out from holding in my stomach while trying to look dignified and dour.

We talked and laughed. I forgot to hold in my stomach. She expressed sadness that I wasn't wearing mom jeans but thought my red shoes were o.k. We talked about all of you and wished we were all together for a weekend rgbp party.

Then we went shopping. I didn't find much but Listing did very well with great things for now and Spring. I'll put up our picture when I a.) learn how to load my LLS's laptop or, b.) get home and use that cable thingie for my camera.

She's fun and I'm glad to add her to my "met in person list" and to my "must-see in N.C." list.

St. Casserole

Today I saw three deer run across the road while coming home from LSiL's office.

Today I slept until 8 am.

Today I took a nap.

Today I listened to Mr. C. complain about being a Reagan National waiting for a flight home.
You can't get anywhere from where we live.

Today I worked on an odd stuffie out of green fair lisle felted wool.

Today I pulled weeds around the patio without being bitten by fire ants, seeing dollar grass or having gnats bother me. Is this heaven or what? Beautiful day.

Today I thought about all of you who prepare sermons and worship. I'll be in a pew tomorrow praying for you. Be bold! Be clear! Love them!

St.Casserole, on sabbatical

Oh, yeah. This sabbatical business is real tough. I'm getting into it now by staring out windows, eating good food and talking with my sistahs. I have time.

I have time to go to the thrift stores around heah.

Today, at Club Nova thrift store, I found a 1974 copy of the Newfoundland & Labrador
Women's Institute cookbook.

Here, for your approval, is a great recipe from the ladies:

Baked Flippers with Vegetables

2 flippers
3 slices of salt fat pork
2 onions
5 or 6 potatoes
1 turnip
1 parsnip

Remove all fat from flippers, wash and cut into serving pieces. Do not parboil.
Fry out salt pork; remove "scrunchions". Brown flippers in this fat. Then add water and simmer on the back of the stove until partly tender.
Add chopped onions and cut up vegetables except potatoes. Season and add one cup water. Cook another 30 minutes and add potatoes. Cook another 15 min, adding a little more water, if needed. Meanwhile, make this topping: 2 c. flour, 1/2tsp salt, 2 tsp. baking power, 1/2 c. shortening and enough water to make a stiff dough. Roll this pastry out to fit your bakepot when the flippers and vegetables are sufficiently cooked, top with the pastry and bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes or until browned nicely.

St. Casserole

Lovely drive up from disaster zone to quiet skies and Land of Many Trees! I'm stationed in the blue room at LLS and LSiL's home. Assumpta and Dibley are grown up kitties who love living with their Cud'n Bea.

When you go on your sabbatical, you should come here.

I'm doing fine and happy. Hope you are the same.

St. C.

Thought for the Day

"Compassion is the energy of the Kingdom" ---Wendy Miller at the Gray Center 7-12-05

P.S. Travel prayers for me today, please. I begin my pilgrimage to LLS's and LSiL's home uppda road.

P.S.S. note to self: wash my clothing first instead of catching up with laundry for family so I don't have to wait to leave while clothes dry.

Yours,

St. C

Sabbatical Sermon #1

Mr. C said, "Isn't it time for you to take your shower to get ready for church?"

Then we started laughing. I'm on sabbatical, without responsiblities to lead worship today.

I may arrive at church three minutes before the service begins, grab a bulletin and a pew without care except to pray, sing and think with the Body of Christ.

I'm thinking about the Body of Christ these days.

My geographic cluster of churches within my mainline denomination doesn't respect the B of C anymore.

They've found a better way by rebelling against the authority which ordained them. They took ordination vows to be received into our "group" but no longer believe that vows matter.

In an odd way, these preachers are dating even though they are married. Married people don't date.

This dissonance between the rebellious and their "righteousness" bothers me.

I know about rebellion against authority. Not only did my generation (and the kids older than I) question authority but we rebelled if anyone told us what to do.

I have problems with authority. I've pushed limits all of my life. I question authority everyday.

But, I've learned that there is freedom within boundaries like kids who play in a fenced school yard use the entire play yard while those without fenced play yards clump together.

In better words, the boundaries give us freedom to move and be while no boundaries confine us.

Same way with our understanding of the B of C, especially our ordination vows, give us freedom within the confines of shared committment and so on.

I made my vows and I'm sticking to them. Not because I am such a great believer, hardly so, but because I need the spiritual discipline of the boundaries to serve God.

I don't understand the mind of God. I don't know how to separate myself from the vagaries of life in the dawn of the 21st century. I don't know how to call good "good" or evil "evil" with complete truth.

I depend on the Bible, my knowledge of church history and the constitution of my denomination
to help me lead my people, live my life and attempt to honor God with my life.

I will not set myself higher than those things so I can run away and invent my own church to suit my feelings.

Just won't,

St. Casserole, writing a "sermon" even when she doesn't need to because she is on sabbatical

Praying for the tornado damaged area east of here in Enterprise, Alabama.
Five high school students were killed yesterday when the school building fell during a tornado.
More deaths in other parts of Alabama.

Lord, Lord!

Are we having more violent weather incidents or am I storm-sensitive?

St. C., thinking of the parents of the students and the community there.

Here I am.

Sorry to be blog-quiet.

Three times a year church gathering disappoints me. We decide to do whatever we wish because we don't feel that anyone can tell us what to do. We are the ones with Truth, not you. Forget the Body of Christ, forget history, our decisions now are the only ones that matter.

Makes me want to run away but I can't.

In other news, I am on sabbatical. So far, I tidying up loose ends. This morning I'm meeting with the kind young preacher who'll take over my duties while I'm gone. I'm getting my car serviced for the happy drive to see LLS and LSiL, too.

Here's a shout-out to Charles Keating, the wonderful voiced reader of P.D. James' THE MURDER ROOM on audio. The combination of James' writing with his voice sends me into fits of happiness. I pull of the road to write down bits of her prose. He is my favorite voice for audio books. She is my favorite murder mystery writer.

Yours,

St. Casserole

S.A.B.B.A.T.I.C.A.L

I am on a sabbatical from my congregation. Amazing isn't it? The presbytery offered several of us "disaster zone" preachers up to eight weeks of time away. We may use the time as we wish with an educational or retreat experience somewhere in the mix.

I woke up this morning thrilled to be free of sermon writing for four Sundays. The rest of my sabbatical will come later this year. We all felt that we couldn't leave our people for two full months so we are splitting the time up.

I am to rest and do things differently. I'll travel a bit, get out my retablo making things, clean the gutters (I like this!), make stuffies and cook complicated meals. I have time!

When first approached about taking a sabbatical, I thought how rare this experience will be! Preachers in small churches don't get time away unless they are very ill or caring for an ill family member.

I have time to read, look, think, visit with friends, count clover and nap.

See the kitty? I'm that kitty.

St. Casserole

Today

Today is many things which may be complex. Tomorrow is big scheduled church meeting.

When you pray, would you pray for me that I might see my brothers and sisters as Christ's own, be reminded of our Hope and see the way through many broken areas?

Your friend,

St. Casserole

Oh my goodness! Has it been five days since my last posting?

I'm finished with Mardi Gras, in the midst of electrical and landscaping work, planning a sabbatical and now sitting in Lent.

Hey, would someone hold my purse? I'll be right back.

St. C.

RevGal Friday Five

From reverendmother, this week's Friday Five:

I am downtown on retreat this week. Most of the retreatants are from out of town, so I get to experience this place through the eyes of visitors. So in the spirit of tourism:

1. What is one place you make sure to take out-of-town guests when they visit? (you can be vague to preserve your anonymity if you like)

The Disaster Tour. This means driving on the beach road to show how horrific hurricane damage as far as the eye can see in both directions. My commentary goes like this:
"this is where we went to a "Toast to the Coast" in a big beautiful home and grounds. Gone. This is where I taught for two semesters. Gone. This is where my friend's home was. Gone. This is where the tennis courts were. Gone. This is where the media huddled after the storm. You can see why they chose such a devastated site. This is where they found our sailboat. Amazing that it went so far, isn't it?"
From October '05 to March '06, I got so emotionally sick giving this tour that I HATED every minute. The only time I got through it during that period without freaking out was when Songbird and I did it. She was so sympathetic, in the healing way, that I felt better afterwards.

2. When visiting another city or town, do you try to cram as much in as possible, or take it slow and easy?

If we are exhausted, we go slow. If we are rested, we go wild. If it's NYC, I go full speed, regardless.

3. When traveling, where are we most likely to find you: strolling through a museum, checking out the local shopping, or _________________?
Traveling with Mr. C. means art galleries, design stores and coffee shops. Travels with P. in NYC means we eat and shop. If I'm alone, I ferret out the thrift stores, charity shops and flea markets. Not many people enjoy digging through junk the way I do.

4. Do you like organized tours and/or carefully planned itineraries, or would you rather strike out and just see what happens?
If I want to see a general area, tours are good, at times. Otherwise, I just strike out. Getting lost is part of the pleasure.

5. After an extended trip, what do you find yourself craving most about home?
Seeing family and sleeping in my own bed. My home shower is better than any shower any where else.

You've heard about the salmonella scare with Peter Pan Peanut Butter?

We have a jar, with the correct numbers, in our pantry. Half-eaten.

LD disposed of it.

Yuk.

Coulda Been Sick,

St. Casserole

If you and your church or group plan mission trips, consider coming to help us in the Katrina Zone.

We've made progress with getting some people back into their homes but many are stuck in FEMA trailer waiting for govt. or insurance grants.

People with more money live in the few apartments or rental homes which survived.

The roads are clear but debris remains.

People have tapped out their resources. The insurance companies balk. The govt. grants are slow, even after all this time.

We need so much more help. Volunteers keep coming but we need more.

I guess people think we are back to normal now.

Not. So.

Yours,

St. Casserole

He's there and happy!

Heard from LS who says he's having a GREAT time!

Relieved!

St. C.

no word from LS yet.

delivered him to the airport on time.

sure he is ok, asleep probably.

wish we'd hear from him.

Doing great,

St. Casserole

Today I will do my best to keep focused.

I will not seep tears or stand around feeling anxious.

I will be brave.

I will focus on the tasks before me.

I am the parent of a college student. He will fly to Paris tomorrow. He will live in France for a semester. He will be thousands of miles away from his Mama.

I will not be able to grab him from danger, fix things for him or see his handsome face.

I will be brave. I will trust God to take care of him. I will be brave.

Stalwartly,

St. Casserole

Count Down to Valentine's Day

Mr. C. can hardly practice law these days because he's working on my Valentine's Day Extravaganza.

I'm ready for the Big Day for him and LD. LS will be out of the country so he's out of luck.

There's more to Valentine's Day than sweetie-pie-honey-bunch gooey lovey stuff with your Sweetie.

Valentine's Day is a great time to tell people that you appreciate them.

Today's Valentine's Warm-Up is: write notes to a few people who are on the edge of your daily radar but who make your world brighter. A former teacher would love to hear from you. That church member whose clear lovely voice you hear above congregational singing needs recognition. The vet who helped Fido through the infection, the neighbor who has a beautiful yard, the friend who lives far away but stays close in your thoughts, the cleaning staff at the children's school: all these would love to hear from you. Your note doesn't have to be a treatise on love. Write simply about what they do that you like. Take note of their contribution to your life.

Email and cell phones aren't the only way to communicate. Get out that stationery and write a few lines.

Yo Mama,

St. Casserole

Un-informed Sports Commentary

• Why in 2007 would you play a Big Game outside? It's raining, for gosh sakes!
• What's it like for the people in the stadium who paid $600 + for tickets to sit outside getting drenched?
• Is it getting on everyone's nerves to hear Peyton Manning discussed every four seconds?
• What about the other players? What are they, chopped liver?
• If Peyton's dad expressed even a teensy weensy interest in being Governor of Mississippi, he'd be elected in a heartbeat. Just sayin'...
• No Super Bowl snacks in our house. I'm missing the semi-obligatory Velveeta Melt with Canned Chili with Fritos Scoops!
• Love the Coke commercial.
• How'd they chose Prince for the Halftime Show? What's with that?

St. Casserole, not your regular NFL sportscaster

this is bothering me

as a junker, I come across good stuff to make into something else.

can you help me think of a new use for bedskirts? I find great fabrics made into bedskirts. how can these be repurposed? i don't sew 'cept for stuffies.

hep me out here

st casserole, temporarily free of caps and punc-s

Learn Something New Dept.

Furniture shopping with the young adult volunteers.

This is not a cocktail table. This is not a coffee table.

This is a BIBLE TABLE.

New concept!

St. C.

I shut down this week for two days. Didn't leave the house unless I needed to ferry LD to school and activities. Didn't think about what I could be doing. Just. Shut.Down.

My schedule allowed this because by God's good mercy no meetings glared out on the calendar.

Further, my family is busy and if I stay below the radar, I don't think they noticed except that my bathrobe got a bit musty.

Retreat at home.

Into the desert without leaving the winter tropics.

Quiet time with the kitties and Sister the Dog.

Gray winter weather for days gets to my interior. Stopping to live the quiet just helps.

Today is bright sunshine. Yippee!

Tomorrow is Souper Bowl, the Lord's Supper and our Annual Congregational Meeting. I'll be ready, happy and bright-eyed.

St. Casserole

Thank you, Molly Ivins, for making us laugh, understand and keep going.

Your life made a difference in mine.