Obituary Troubles New Series!

I read obituaries. I read to be aware of pastoral needs and lately, for entertainment. The "good" obit is a thing of beauty, an art form but here in the Sticks, we have odd things happen when we rhapsodize our dead. For example, the "Ken" of this story is 47. Assuming that his partner is around his age, is it fair to think that the remaining years of her life will be spent burning up time to join him on his heavenly fishing boat? What if his partner heals from his loss enough to love again?

"Please envision Ken floating above us in a great boat with a feisty fish on the line, cheering for the LSU Tigers, reunited with all the adoring pets who passed before him, smiling and patiently waiting for his wife Alice, the "love of his life and best friend", to join him on board to resume their life together on the best journey ever."
Turning a steel eye toward others,

St. Casserole

Take a seat. I'll get to bloggage after I finish a load of busyness.

Rapidly,

St. Casserole

P.S. This bench reminds me of the old dorm furnitue at CTS. Who knew this style would make a come back?

Home

Safely home from beautiful Ireland. Tired. Sleepy.

More later,

St. Casserole

I'm in Dingle, County Kerry. So beautiful here! The Covenant Group travels well together although having a Flower Foundation "Companion" can be awkward.

I ate a cream filled pastry this morning. Wasn't hungry but felt you all wanted me to eat my way across Ireland.

More later, I'm at an Internet cafe with a line behind me.

I'll be home late, late tomorrow. I sure missed you!

Love,

St. Casserole

Pre-Travel Musings...

Went to bed at midnight. Woke up at 4 a.m. Ride comes at 8 am. Plane leaves at 1:10 pm. Two hour wait in Philadelphia. Hours later, arrive Shannon Airport.

Jittery, here.

Cats and dogs are delighted to get an early breakfast and have ear scratches, cooing and snuggles. Dubby keeps following the cats hoping for someone to play with him.

Sitting here in the dark, with the computer monitor as the light source, a moth flew to my screen then dived into my coffee cup. I am very grateful I saw this as I would have sipped moth...

I've packed as much as I think I need. LD loaned her North Face fleece (the #1 Choice of High School students here) and R. sent over a packable Gore-tex jacket. I did not pack any cute shoes unless you think the bluefish Sperry's are cute. I bought those to stomp through rainy days with comfy feet.

See that Hello Kitty suitcase? I'm traveling with the giant Go-Across-the-Big-Water suitcase I bought at a garage sale months ago. LS took it to France and if it can survive traveling with Mr. Rough and Tumble, it will do fine with me. I put a bright pink tassel on it so he could find it quickly. The tassel survived and will lead me to it in Ireland.

It seems that the three other preachers traveling with me are having fits, too. I spoke with each several times yesterday and they sound frayed, tired and anxious.

Thank you, LLS for your sweet call. Hey! NJ Girl? So glad to hear from you! And, my wild Epis. priest buddy from the Young Clergywomen's Conf. called to say she'd begun blogging even if she hasn't posted yet! Yippee! NJ Girl: get a blog. I want both of you to become RGBP's. LLS, you'd be a great RGBP, too and your kitties could blog!

Songbird, I'll miss talking with you everyday. It will be weird to not tell you all the goofy details along the trip.

If you didn't call me yesterday, it's because you couldn't get through. I was on the phone ALL DAY LONG.

I'm going to be brave today and travel over water to Ireland. I commend my family and friends and Little Church to God's good care. I will be sweet to my traveling buddies (not difficult but they are TESTY)and drink plenty of water.

I wish I was neurotic about Post-Industrial European Studies rather than leaving home. It would be easier.

Brave and trying to be Tall and Commanding,

St. Casserole

Dear Aunt Bostick

Dear Aunt Bostick,
I'm flying to Ireland tomorrow. Everyone is happy for me. I'm not very happy, though. Why do I fret and fester before a trip?

Your Niece,
St. Casserole

My dear, how nice to hear from you again. I'm pleased that you will go to Ireland. Your Uncle, now in the Church Invisible, traveled to Ireland once to sell grass seed. He loved the country, the people and the pubs.

All of us feel a twinge about traveling from home. Leaving those we love best to board airplanes (subsidized by your govt.) where one is packed like a tinned fish with people who either reek of dry cleaning fluid or athletic activities is no fun. Once those cute young people stopped working the flights to be replaced with normal looking staff things changed with air travel. Travel becomes a physical endurance test instead of a flying party.

You'll go ahead with your trip. God will be with your family here. Your friends will be here when you return. You'll see new things in an world without hurricane debris or damage.

Just a few things: when drinking in pubs, do not wipe the froth off with your sleeve. Be kind to everyone and speak slowly. I'm not sure the Irish have an ear for your accent. If your feet hurt, your back aches or you do not care for your luncheon, keep this information to yourself. No one likes a complaining traveler.

I'll keep you in my prayers while you are away. When you return, please let me know why in God's name you got another cat.

Lovingly,

Aunt Bostick

If I do not get it done or packed today, it will not be handled before I leave for Ireland and will not be in my suitcase or carry-on.

The clock is ticking away.


Yikes!


St. Casserole

Amazing! We have COOL temperatures here! It's in the 60's!

Taking my coffee mug outside to stare, as I do every morning, I felt cool air!

Stunned and Happy,

St. C.

Not the CCL!

Dear Grace and all those who are wondering if I am becoming the Crazy Cat Lady,

I discussed the issue of multiple cats and the effect on CCL with Songbird who has assured me, in two separate phone calls, that four cats does not a CCL make.

I am not at all defensive about the suggestion that I am a CCL. Not.One.Bit.

Nada.

No way am I defensive.

Really.

You can see that the CCL Action Figure has seven cats. I have four. Just 4.

Not defensive. Not the the defense-inator. Nope.

Yours,

St. Casserole

Now that I am Older...

Now that I am older...

...I realize that is not necessary for everyone to know what I think of them.

...When you engage me in conflict, I will not tell you all I know about you because I care about you. I want to continue the relationship in the future so I will not put your back against the wall verbally.

...I realize that it is well nigh impossible for the young to realize that the world does not revolve around them, even those who are in their 30's.

...I understand that I never won when I took on the Senior Pastor. I wasn't the associate to correct the HoS or run the congregation.

...I know that most stuff isn't personal, it's just stuff. If we can't figure out how to redeem it now we can pray that our situations and relationships may be redeemed in the future.

...I look for kindness in others more than the excitement of their chaos.


Yours,

St. Casserole

Press Release from St. Casserole's Cattery

Welcome, Dubbie!

Dubbie, the Bookstore foster kitten joins Andy, Fish and Whistle in the St. Casserole household. He is a native of St. Casserole Town and was born in extreme circumstances then abandoned. Discovered by a kind-heart, Dubbie, along with his three brothers, was bottle-fed and loved until old enough to become a pet.

St. Casserole said, "He's a dear boy and we are delighted to have him with us." LD added, "He's my kitten and I love him already." Andy, Fish and Whistle had no comment. Sister, Fish and Whistle's Nanny admits that she's a bit surprised to have another cat under her care but is ready to bring Dubbie up as she has the Ginger Brothers. Mr. Casserole appeared stunned when he realized that Dubbie joined the household.

Dubbie, a polydactyl kitten, is white with a saddle and toupe of grey striped fur. He has all pink toes 'cept one black hind toe. He's sweet natured and glad to be with people. He will be enrolled at Prof. Whisker's in the next few weeks for Cat School. He's interested in learning to type and create web pages since he has "cat thumbs".

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

My radiologist (a friend) told me that local Irish women do not go to pubs and that I will not be welcomed until I speak and show myself to be an American. Interesting!
I will spend time in pubs next week in Ireland. I will be a pub visiting, ale drinking woman.

I intend to drink ale. I will drink ale. I will be cautious because I am an infrequent drinker and don't enjoy alky hall much, but I will drink ale. I won't be responsible for driving and I'll be in a safe group. And, I won't overdo. I wouldn't mention this but I am not a social drinker or closet drinker. People think I'm being pious but it's a personal taste kind of thing rather than a discipline.

Pictured is the Fitzgerald Bar from the fabulous BBC series, Ballykissangel.
Put the series in your Netflix que.

I hear we will have cool temperatures in Ireland. So looking forward to cool weather!

Soberly,

St. Casserole

Thinking about Grace

I woke up early thinking about Hurricane Humberto. Humberto passed us by on the Central Gulf Coast but headed inland toward Houston. I hope our pal, Quotidian Grace, and all Houstonians and Texans fared well through the hurricane.

The threat of hurricanes, tropical storms and such get on our nerves this time of year. In the old days, we didn't worry about big storms by mid-September. Now we worry about storms until the end of September.

I do not live in a flood zone but have flood insurance. I didn't lose my home but have Katrina damage still because I can't find workers. It takes a long time to recover from hurricanes.

I hope all is well for our Grace and her fellow Texans.

Thinking of her,

St. Casserole

Well, hey...

I'm preaching on the Jeremiah passage. Luke will be taking a break this Sunday.

A gallery in BSL took three of my boxes. These are the mixed media retablo type things I've been making for months. It is an odd feeling to move from the privacy of my opinion of my work to what others may think.

All my work materials are boxed now. The kitchen counter is clean (is granite the best work surface ever?)with all the glue scraped up. I'm moving toward my next calendar project.

I'm going to Ireland with the Preacher Group on the 18th. Yep, the flower foundation is funding the distressed hurricane pastors trip to the green green world of Ireland for a week. We'll listen to story-tellers and meditate in pubs to try to make sense of what happened two years ago.

So, pals, what do I pack for a mid-September trip? It's hot Summer here. Can I even imagine that I might be chilly or cold?

Suggestions?

St. Casserole

Guest Blogger: Whistle Interviews Andy

Whistle: Andy, I'm interviewing you for the blog.
Andy: Blog Smog! Shut-up!!!
W: Andy, Mom said you had to be nice to me.
A: Be Quiet!
W: You are in the confinement pen in Mom's Study. Can you tell us why?
A: Big hole in my gut. Had surgery, emergency surgery, on Monday.
W: How's it going?
A: Hate it! I'm an outdoor cat. Can't stand being confined.
W: You have a litter box in there.
A: Don't talk about that! Litter boxes are for prissy little indoor cats! I haven't used one before.
W: Is that why you didn't use it for almost two days? We saw you with your back legs crossed...
A: Do Not Write About This!
W: OK.
A: And don't put a sappy picture up either!
W: OK, I won't. How long do you have to stay in the confinement pen?
A: Doc says two weeks. I say until I break out of here.
W: You have stitches and an e-collar. Just like Fish did.
A: Stitches come out today. I pulled off the e-collar. Do not tell!
W: I won't tell. Andy, you are a Katrina Survivor, aren't you?
A: Yeah, I came back with the Casserole Men three days after the Storm. They needed me. I rode in the rental truck with water, ice, food, chain saws and generators. I kept watch over the home while they helped people. Trees were down everywhere! I walked on trees instead of climbing. I had to eat what they put down for me except for a few squirrels and some birds I caught. I felt badly about eating the yard animals, no sport in it. The animals were dazed and sick. That Storm about killed us all. You were less than a week old then. You don't know anything about hurricanes!
W: OK. Mom says you picked out us as a family...
A: Not you or your brother! I found this house several years ago. I became the apprentice to Rusty the Great Cat. He taught me everything I know.
W: He's the cat Mama talks about and then gets all wet eyed about?
A: Yeah, She loved him and he loved her. He was Great.
W: She loves all of us. We love Sister our Nanny and you.
A: Stop it! My pain meds are wearing off! I'm not talking anymore to you!
W: OK.

For those in the path of the hurricane and other storms, Lord have mercy.

From NOAA 8pm. Sunday Night

HURRICANE FELIX SPECIAL DISCUSSION NUMBER 10
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL062007
800 PM EDT SUN SEP 02 2007

REPORTS FROM A NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT FELIX
HAS INTENSIFIED AND IS NOW A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE. THE AIRCRAFT
REPORTED PEAK FLIGHT-LEVEL WINDS OF 152 KT...WITH PEAK SFMR WINDS
OF 142 KT IN THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT. HIGHER SFMR WINDS WERE FOUND
IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT...UP TO 163 KT...BUT THESE MAY HAVE BEEN
CONTAMINATED BY GROUPEL. A DROPSONDE RELEASED IN THE SOUTHWEST
QUADRANT LANDED IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT...AND THIS DROP YIELDED A
SURFACE ESTIMATE OF 139 KT BASED ON THE LOWEST 150 M LAYER AVERAGE.
BASED ON THESE DATA...THE PEAK SURFACE WINDS ARE ESTIMATED TO BE AT
LEAST 145 KT. AN EYE SONDE MEASURED A SURFACE PRESSURE OF 936 MB
WITH SURFACE WINDS OF 24 KT. BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME TURBULENCE AND
GROUPEL THAT THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED...THE MISSION IS BEING
ABORTED AND THE AIRCRAFT IS RETURNING TO ST. CROIX.

THIS SPECIAL ADVISORY IS BEING ISSUED TO UPDATE THE INITIAL AND
FORECAST INTENSITIES. NO OTHER CHANGES TO THE FORECAST ARE BEING
MADE. THIS SPECIAL ADVISORY IS BEING ISSUED IN LIEU OF THE
SCHEDULED INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY.

Lord have mercy on those in Felix's path.
Great, Just Great,

St. Casserole

St. Casserole Suggests........

It may be hotter than Hades here but I'm ready to change from OPI's classic Cajun Shrimp on my pastoral toes to OPI's Vodka and Caviar shown above.

I am ready to stop wearing linen and cotton everyday and dress for Fall. Our Fall temps (like below 85c) will begin in October, late in the month. We survived August's scorch. I'm ready for Fall.

Check out Vodka and Caviar the next time you get a pedicure.

Just Sayin,

St. Casserole

Monday I heard a perfect Southern man's voice. Sitting in the pew at the regional grouping of churches discussing churches who wish to depart our fellowship, a speaker's voice caught my ear. I turned around to see a tall man in a seersucker suit speaking passionately about his congregation. I don't know him. Can't recall where he's from or what he said. His voice! That educated dulcet toned Southern male voice was enough.

Accents? I love listening to regional and national speech.

Listening to the Canadian news on the 'net last night, I tried to hear the difference in the newscaster's accent. It was the "ou" sound as in "about". Very different from mine.

We don't know what our voices sound like, do we? I hear my recorded voice played back to me and cringe. Every. Single. Time.

I called LLS this week and heard in her voice mail message our Mother's voice. Lovely to my ears!

I listened to the voices at the Mission yesterday and heard speech bereft of any public education or education in English at all. The woman is a native English speaker but her use of words showed that her speech was private, that is, not used for commerce or the larger public.

The volunteers who come to help us laugh at the use of "y'all" then begin to use it. "Y'all" is a useful word and somehow sweeter than "you guys".

LD changes her accent to fit her audience moving effortlessly from high school speech to talking with parents to navigating the larger world. Some of her tones have an NC quality from her months with LLS.

We'll have dinner Saturday night with one of my favorite voices: a native Mississippian with a cultured accent who commands a room with a beautiful sound.

Our Songbird says that her Southern accent comes out when she talks with me. She sounds familiar to me, so this must be true.

I come from the South and our voices are distinctive.

Listening,

St. Casserole

Q. What is joy?

A. Joy is being free to run and jump. Joy is waking up your humans with purrs and sniffs. Joy is using the Booda litter box for the first time, just like Whistle. Joy is being out of confinement with a healed leg.


St. Casserole

Fish injured his back leg 4 months and 13 days ago. 137 days...

FISH IS HEALED! FISH IS RUNNING AROUND OUR HOUSE! YIPPEEEE!

Remembering Katrina 2007

Two years ago today, we were in Destin waiting for word about the Gulf Coast. News of the Coast was scarce because the news people couldn't get to Mississippi. We saw where Katrina's eye came ashore later in the morning. Cell phone and land line calls did not work as we tried to call our friends who stayed in their homes.

We didn't know that our hurricane preparations made no difference. Boarding up Mr. C's law firm building (an old Coast home restored and used for less than ten months) was destroyed. So many trees fell around our home that it could not be seen from the street. P. and C.'s home flooded. Our pediatrician's home flooded. Many of our neighbor's homes were flooded, broken by trees or blown away. Our sailboat ended up miles away. People died because they refused to evacuate or would not leave their pets.

Who knew anything? We didn't. Scenes of New Orleans on the news showed misery. Little did we know that the levees would break and ruin the City Care Forgot.

Little did we know that churches were demolished, roads torn up and our lives changed forever.

Regular people suffered extreme misery.

We kept close to the tv in the Destin condo.

Andy, Assumpta and Dibley ran around meowing. LD and LS tried to text message their friends. Mr. C. and I held on.

Remembering,

St. Casserole

Dear Aunt Bostick

Dear Aunt Bostick,

I've gotten stuck in my bloggage. Too much stuff is going on right now for me to have much to say in my blog. I'm not depressed. I'm overwhelmed.
What should I do?
Your Niece,

St. Casserole

My Dear Casserole,
How kind of you to write me with your troubles. You young things don't often ask those of us who've lived through World Wars, Skirmishes and the Bush Years our opinions. Your generation appears to be busy using credit unwisely, allowing your children to make family decisions and wearing your clothing too tight. I thank you my dear for asking my advice.
First, what kind of blogger are you? Do you have a theme other than whining? If you have a theme you may find topics everyday. Or, are you a blogger who blogs only when she has something to say? I doubt this as I have read a number of your posts and they appear to be of no consequence to anyone. Forgive me if this sounds harsh.
Second, how much of your life do you wish to share with the unwashed masses, I mean, your readers. Who are these people anyway? When was the last time you asked lurkers and others to comment? It might help if you knew your audience. If you find out who reads you you may wish to tailor your remarks to their varied sensibilities.
Third, as Ernest told me one day long ago as we lounged on the beach in Key West, write what you know. Avoid pontificating on those subjects which elude your experience and brain power.
Fourth, keep it short. Your posts are too long. And, dear one, what's all this stuff about cats? Not everyone loves cats as you do. Thank goodness you started a blog for Whistle. That cat chats about his birthday every day of the year!
Fifth, remember these rules of life: eat more bran, organize your eyebrows, stand up straight, vote for the Democrats no matter how much or little you have in your Bank, tend to your family, don't run to Walgreen's looking like the Wrath of God and use sterling flatware at every meal. Honor these rules and your days will be long and happy.

Lovingly,

Aunt Bostick

Hey!

Love,

St. Casserole

P.S. This is all I have to say.

Hey! I'd blog more but I'm busy driving three hours to 2 hour meetings!
Cleaning up after messy people! Writing a sermon! Watching the Weather Channel (this is high season for hurricanes)!

Praying for friends
Getting LS settled at the University
Driving LD to various activities but not school because she is in a car pool
Writing letters asking for rebuilding funds for my congregation
Doing laundry
Reading


Yours,

St. Casserole

I've just had enough of about everything. As I told Mr. C last night, "I'm mad at the whole world!" Wisely, he turned over and went to sleep. So did I.

Therefore, I am dipping back into a pleasant memory vault for this picture of the downtown Bailey's Cafeteria in my hometown. We went there with my mother and grandparents as little kids. I believe LLS will remember Bailey's with me. I taught her how to take the ping pong ball off of the top of the water spray in the fountain before adults yelled at us.

I recall happy experiences at the cafeteria except for the time I realized that Mrs. Young, my sixth grade teacher, was behind me at the next table. Not only had I been caught off guard by a teacher straying from her post at the school so that I could be tortured at Bailey's by her nearness but I also had to go speak to her because of good manners. That woman had nerve.

If you think you can cheer me up, I'd do as Mr. C. did and ignore me until my mood lifts.

Here's to a good memory,

St. Casserole

News from the Neighborhood

Our colleague, Edward O'Connor, will leave the Gulf Coast to become Dean of the Cathedral in Jackson. Edward accomplished many things during his time here. I am sorry to see him go. He mentored a clergy pal of mine, calmed his congregation, preached well (so I heard) and moved his congregation forward after the hurricane. One of his great skills is his ability to listen. You know he hears you when you speak. I told Mr. C. that I was going to try to be a great listener like Edward so I cocked my head and stared at Mr. C. Finally, after being silent for several seconds, Mr. C. said, "Now you've gone creepy on me." Let me work on this...

We at Little Church heard from our denominational funders this week about our hurricane rebuilding grant. We received about 1/10th of our asking. I suppose that we didn't receive more because we haven't spent our cautiously saved funds down to zero (how can a tiny church of older people do this???) and have not cleaned our membership rolls since before the storm. We didn't think it wise to notify members that we were deleting them from our rolls after the storm. It would be another loss for them even it they aren't attending.
So, here we are, almost two years from the storm, without the funds to repair our church building. The building is secure and functional but has broken sheet rock, shows storm damage and looks bad. We put in new windows, replaced the roof, replaced the front columns and porch flooring, added ceiling fans and now we need to finish. We waited all this time, having been told that the millions donated by the faithful would complete our repairs. We applied for the money last Fall. We heard this week.
Very little of the needed work can be done by unskilled volunteers.
We are stuck. Pray for us.

The Southern Gulf is getting pounded by Dean the Hurricane. Lord, have mercy on your people there!

Fish the Cat's leg is healing well! Dr. Jen, our dear Vet before the storm, was back at Dr. D.'s Saturday! She watched Fish walk and trot then pronounced "He's doing great!" Fish returned home exhausted but happy that he may have only two more weeks in his Hermitage (confinement pen).

I feel rushed on Monday's to catch up with last week's leftovers, recover from Sunday and get started on this week's tasks. Do you feel the same?

Lovingly,

St. Casserole

Hurricane Dean

Ewwwwww, not again!



Where are the double dipped in Chocolate Oreos at a time like this?,

St. Casserole

Laundry, tons of laundry to do today. Being gone for a week means the house is knee high in trash, dirty clothing and bottle caps on every floor. Whistle the Cat keeps bottle-cap soccer going all the time.

I felt rested today. I hit the wall Friday night, all day Saturday and after the hours on Sunday, felt that I should crawl to a corner and just snore. Not that I snore. If I did make any noise, it would be a gentle purr so comforting to the hearer that he wouldn't remember it the next morning.

The YCW Conference wore me out. I love all of it but kept later and earlier busy hours than I do usually. I was the one to tell all the party gals to "go to bed" Thursday night after the second shift of partiers began to laugh like monkeys.

I'm missing the conference women. I loved their voices, ideas and energy for ministry. I loved hearing different ways of approaching preaching with our leader and feel that the combo of Festival of Homies in May and this Testimony conference have upped my preaching mojo.

Here's a note for Zorra: thanks for letting me know that "fireball eucharist" is from Walker Percy and means "fibroids in the uterus". I woke up the other night, before I read your comment and thought, "Rats! I got that wrong!".

Yours,

St. Casserole

New Words

An enclosed courtyard: a garth

Excellent excuse to leave anytime, anywhere: say you have "explosive diarrhea"

Lady-like name for, uh, personal areas: Princess Parts

Odd medical condition: fireball eucharist (told to a Doctor who translated this to mean "fibroid tumors". No. Kidding.

You may be tested on these words later this week.

St. Casserole

Tiding Up

Just a few notes about my delightful D.C. week:

*Everyone of the young preachers in my group did well. I wasn't surprised. It takes courage to preach to peers. They brought a sermon then wrote a sermon for the conference.

*The conference was organized very well. We worked hard but were comfortable. I hope the organizer feels good about all of her work over the past months. I do.

*I frustrated several of the conferees with my comments about dressing as a professional. I spoke without translating my humor and believe I hurt several feelings. I regret this massively.

*I have never returned home from a conference knowing massive quantities of personal information about the speaker. Early on, I hopped up to hug the speaker thinking she was overwhelmed by her life's situation. I didn't realize she does this with groups.

*The setting was glorious. I loved the music, the worship, the Bethlehem Chapel and the College where we lived. The food was great, too.

*I loved seeing a bloggie buddy I've missed for over a year now. She's doing great and really in the pink of things. Love her! I met great women last week. I hope to see them again.

*Glad to be home! Missed all of you!

St. Casserole

Slept well last night in air conditioning + fan! Good times.


This lovely, well-planned conference will be over in a few hours. I will miss Hogwarts. Sitting under the giant trees on the Cathedral grounds with coffee this morning, I looked around trying to memorize the grounds. No little black squirrels came out looking for the giant acorns. Perhaps they were listening to the 7:30 am. Eucharist inside the Cathedral. Troops of conferees passed me on their way to Chapel.


We need traveling mercies for all those leaving today for home. We've got women from as far away as Oregon.

I am so glad I came to the conference. I'm so glad I had a peaceful week at Hogwarts.

Y'all doing ok?,

St. Casserole

P.S. I'll be home this evenin'

Standing in the G at the C of P

Dear World,
Where I come from, a third world country within the U.S., we have air conditioning. We have a/c everywhere. Otherwise, we couldn't survive days and nights of 99 degree temperatures. Our attitudes would not survive.


You may recall that I'm out of town right now. Here I am in ecclesiastical Heaven where there is no a/c in my room. I'm sure it's a fluke of mechanics but I cannot sleep in a hot room. Hogwarts is well nigh perfect. Beautiful buildings, landscaping done so well it makes my teeth hurt and a serene environment where prayer pours out like a waterfall.
Excuse me, I so hot I am having a crabby fit.


I've heard that your Northern persons don't have air conditioning but I haven't believed it. How do people sleep in this heat without cool air blowing on them. As one of the young conferees said to me a few minutes ago, "You have a fan. I read it on your blog." Well, yes, I have a fan but it blows tepid phlegm temp air on me and I cannot sleep.


How many ways can I say I am too hot to sleep? I can't sleep without some cool air. I am too hot to sleep. I can't sleep in this heat.


I could sleep in the bathtub of the communal bathroom but dignity would prevent my hall mates from using the potty if I slept in the tub. I could sleep on the refectory table where the air is cooler but then I'd be known as the woman who slept in the refectory. I could stay up all night to write poetry about my situation but I am tired. I want to sleep.


If anyone asks you how I am, tell them I'm hot and I can't get to sleep.

Steaming,

St. Casserole

Hello from the Big City!

Every last one of you needs to add coming to the College of Preachers to your list of "things to do". It's lovely here and as comfortable as can be. The meals are fabulous, the rooms comfortable and what-else-can-you-say about living on the grounds of a national cathedral?

This well planned conference is going smoothly. The organizer should be proud of herself. The funding agency did a good thing by underwriting the conference.

But, I am so very hot in this Big City heat that I am ready to fold up into a ball and jump into the ice maker. Hogwarts isn't hot necessarily but it is not as air conditioned as we are on the Gulf Coast. I sleep with a fan blasting towards me. The rest of my day I prowl around looking for a/c vents and cups of ice.

The conference is going on as I write this. I found this nook with cold air and cannot tear myself away to return to a beautiful room filled with people where I become so warm I feel ill.

Thank goodness there is a slight flaw to being here or I wouldn't return home.

Y'all doing OK where you are?,

St. Casserole

Oh! What a beautiful place this is!

Having a great time!

More later,

St. Casserole

I leave before 6am. tomorrow to make my way up the East Coast to Washington. You can't get anywhere from I live. All trips are arduous.

I'm going to the Young Clergywoman's Project at the College of Preachers. I told my congregation about the Project and my participation in it. They applauded me!

I'm thrilled to be attending.

I am trying to be brave.

Leaving home in August, during Hurricane Season, isn't something I do. Last time I traveled in August (to go to the Presbyterian Heaven in Western North Carolina) was in about 1989. A hurricane threatened and I was too far away to get home, with a baby along, to secure our home. I get very testy about how Mr. C. turns off the lights and shuts the door for hurricane prep. I do all sorts of lengthy arrangements: prescriptions filled? food bought? cat/dogs all arranged? house inventory photographed? insurance papers handy? yard/pool furniture secured? etc etc etc etc. It saves my emotions to be at home getting ready.

However, my joy about being with friends at the YCP tipped the balance towards being brave and heading to Washington.

I hope to see you there.

Look for me. I'll be the dour short clergywoman wearing sensible shoes and the Tonette Perm hairdo. Sorta like Delores Umbridge but without so much pink.

Yours,

St. Casserole

School starts today. Amazing, isn't it? August 3???
How can the end of summer vacation be this early? Our district plans for hurricane days to intefere with the mandated number of school days.

I fuss every year about having to end my time with the children so soon.
LS returns to university in two weeks. It's time for him to go back because he is the expert in everything without grace or patience unless it concerns him. He needs to be with his peers to allow his parents some quiet peace.

Ah! But has this been the sweetest summer with LD? Oh, yes!
Who knew that a 15 year old girl could be the happiest company I could wish for?

In a Praise Report, under Will Wonders Never Cease, I testify that she wanted: a pair of my shoes, two purses and two necklaces for her closet! Unbelievable that Miss 15 considered my stuff for her own.

Here's the funniest part:

SHE WENT OUT THE DOOR WITH HER COFFEE IN MY REVGALBLOGPALS MUG!

Excuse me while I go howl with laughter and irony....

Yours,

St. Casserole

Pickin' n Choosin'

Not surprisingly, we don't fit in everywhere we go. We don't belong in some groups, other groups don't suit us and finally, isn't this the age when we can pick and choose where we wish to place our time and energies?

Churches are like this. People come and go through the membership without much trouble. Don't like the Preacher? Move to another church. Gotta beef with the music, go find another place to worship.

While we may bemoan the light-handed move from church to church, or how we move from belief system to belief system, we are a marketplace kind of people. We follow our preferences. We find those who are like us and who like us.

When the Kingdom comes, we will all be at the Table together. Differences and preferences will not matter. All those who love Christ will be one.

Until that time, let's remember that while everyone should be people like us, people aren't just like us.

In the best possible world, we would learn the discipline of belonging regardless of how we feel about the preacher, the music or the congregation. We'd decide that the Body of Christ where we were was where we needed to be. We'd work out the differences by committing ourselves to loving anyway, being a person of peace anyway.

No one wants to hear this. Our desire for self-fulfillment and comfort overcomes us.

I am sure that you have valid reasons for why you choose a homogenus life.

Looking at the bottom of my flip-flop,

St. Casserole

Here's the view we saw Sunday afternoon of the Pass Christian harbor.
We drove along the beach highway to the new BSL bridge. It's durn remarkable to see this giant bridge re-built in less than two years. Two more lanes will open in the coming months. BSL shows areas of recovery, then places so pitiful that you wonder how the residents can stand living there.*

We stopped at the Mockingbird Cafe for a sandwich but the kitchen closed earlier in the afternoon. I stared at the table where I sat with Songbird when she visited. Outside on the porch, I looked at the will smama table confused that someone else sat there. Go home and get your own table! That one is the will smama table, girlfriend!

Traveling back toward home, we stopped at Shaggy's in Pass Christian. Sitting on the breezy deck beach side while listening to music made me feel NORMAL for the first time in months, maybe almost two years.

Look out to the Gulf and the beach, things look normal. Not touched by a killer hurricane. Look to the north and you see signs of ravaged homes, broken riprap and destruction.

Felt like a vacation,

St. Casserole

Lord, give us a full measure of your grace today. Amen.

Blessings to all you Preachers, worshippers and those unable to worship in community.

St.Casserole

Look at this scene from my bookcase. Andy (grey), Whistle and Fish (gingers) and Molly the Berner are all together. I need a Golden Lab like Sister, the Nanny to the Cats to finish the scene.

Oh, rats! I wanted to say something deep and meaningful in case some visitors floated over from the UM publication. Cannot thing of a single weighty thing to say.

St. Casserole

Letters From Readers

Dear St.C,
Hi! Why do you have bandages on your feet? What's with the Barbie bandage on your little toe?
----Concerned

Dear Concerned, If the fire ant bites weren't bad enough, I decided to follow the adage, "if you want to forget about your troubles, wear too small shoes". Those cute sandals, really Cheesehead Worthy Cute, hurt my feet. So, I applied antibiotic cream and bandages. I cannot help it if the smallest bandage turned out to be a pink floral Barbie band aid. Thanks for your concern.

St. Casserole, Sir:
What CHRISTIAN CENTURY article have you most enjoyed, and or been intriqued by in the past two weeks?
----Wondering

Dear Wondering, The 10 July issue by Scott Bader-Saye, "Security Check Does God Protect Us" grabbed my theological and personal ears so that I've read the article three times and am considering adding it to my "Articles for Elders" (where I pass on worthy readings to my leadership).

Dear Rev. Mrs. St. Casserole: Didn't you have two rather large calendar chunks today? Are you sitting at home blogging rather than tending to the Lord's Bidness?
I know it's Summer but are you modeling good use of pastoral time today?
---Righteous and Expecting You to Exibit Righteousness, Too

Dear Righteous, Bingo! Yes, I turned aside today from two worthy activities. I woke up with a Grand Sick Headache which caffine, breakfast, activity and meds could not remove. Feeling that a drive West to one activity and North toward another would make me use all those cute airline barf bags I collect, I stayed home. If you have a problem with my decision, please come closer so I can put an industrial vise on your head while clamping your stomach and making sure you felt like a clammy, pitiful reject from life. Ok?

Thanks for all your letters, folks. That's all for today. Many thanks for the photo of an overburdened Mail Wagon in Cody, Wyoming.

St. Casserole

Fish the Cat is home from the Veterinary. His total hospital stay was one week including two days in Louisiana where he had surgery to repair the fracture in his leg.

The three pins and bone graft need quiet, restrained time to heal. He's in a mid-sized pen in my study. Post-op instructions mean he'll stay in confinement for six weeks. The size of the pen allows his brother, Whistle, to sleep on top of the pen. Whistle likes to be near his brother.

Fish has an Elizabethan collar to protect him from biting his tiny leg staples. He hates it. When I checked on him this morning, he'd pawed the collar off but hadn't taken out stitches.

Fish is eating and drinking just fine. Being confined is not fine.

Thanks to all of you who pray for Fish's healing. He's home, not happy because of the pen, and learning to adjust to life without his cast (4 months!).

Ever the Nurse,

St. Casserole

I Learned Something New Today

I bought Subway sandwiches for lunch today. Not my favorite place to grab a sandwich but a big favorite with Mr. C. and LD.

The manager let the young man making my sandwich that "you put three black olives on a 6" sub; six black olives on a 12" sub".

I love black olives on my Subway sandwich. Often, the black olives are the only ingredient that makes those bland sandwiches taste good to me.

Subway is stingy with black olives and now I know why.

St. Casserole, always learning

I've been preaching for many years. I know more about preaching than I did ten years ago, but I still find the entire process of sermon preparation, exegesis, writing, revisions and delivery mysterious.

There are some Sundays where I am fully with my listeners. They follow my voice so throughly that I am not sure that they breathe. I would never say this about myself if I didn't have many Sundays where I think I have wasted their time and mine by even attempting to proclaim and witness to God's Good News through a sermon.

I moved from a full manuscript in the pulpit to a detailed outline to a shorter outline and then on to five words on a note card before me.

At the past two Festival of Homies, I've noticed that the Big Name Preachers appear to use a full manuscript as they preach.

Considering this a discipline I might want to re-visit, I've preached from a full manuscript last week and today.

I felt constrained. I felt that I was falling for that hubris of loving my own words so much that I had to repeat what I've written rather than respond to the movement of the congregation.

I will use a full manuscript for the next two Sundays to see what I think about this process.

It would help if the congregation gave me any feedback at all about the last two sermons. They didn't say anything about the delivery but, as they graciously do, either asked more about a certain point or commented on an illustration.

I'm going to the Young Clergy Woman's Conference next month at the College of Preachers in Washington, D.C. I will keep my ears open for how I may evaluate my sermons to improve as a preacher. I'm reading Anna Carter Florence's new book, too, in preparation.

Despite the frustration of never feeling that I am a good enough preacher, I do like the mystery of preaching itself. One never seems to master it. There is no perfection or ending of one's abilities to talk about God through a sermon. I like this.

Looking at the picture of me illustrating this post, do you think I need a haircut?

Peace to You,

St. Casserole

P.S. If any of you wisegals make a crack about my attendance at a Young Clergy Women's Event, I'll.... well, I'll... OH RATS JUST DON'T MENTION IT TO ME, OK?

I promised myself I'd be finished with my sermon (Mary and Martha. Again? So soon after the last time???), worship bulletin and prayers so I can stop everything when the truck arrives with the new Harry Potter book.

Instead, I'm looking around at a messy house wondering where to find a shovel to clean up the junk.

Not sure what to do with myself today.

St. C.

Happy Anniversary, RevGalBlogPals!

Today is our second Anniversary! Go celebrate with us at www.revgalblogpals.blogspot.com.

St. Casserole

P.S. For those wanting an update on Fish's health, go to Whistle's blog at www.catzandbestof.blogspot.com.

Please Explain This To Me...

Using simple words and speaking in a slow tempo, help me understand this:

Ruth Gledhill - Times Online - WBLG: Let women give birth to human-animals say Catholic bishops

What?,

St. Casserole

Two things:

a. Internet access is sketchy. Third world country areas lose access when it rains.

b. Fish is in Louisiana facing having crossed pins put in his fractured leg along with bone grafts to help him heal. He left today. I'm praying for him, the surgeon and all hurt animals everywhere.

c. I can't check my email, so if you've sent me a message, I haven't gotten it.

Yours,

St. Casserole

All day long, I heard people talking:

my son waking up angry and loud
my husband talking
the Church School class talking
the visitor who got tangled up when he realized I was the Preacher not the pianist
the sound of my voice as I preached from a full manuscript
my daughter snapping an answer at me
the sounds on Weekend Edition NPR of women musicians from Detroit with their raspy voices
the woman at the Bookstore saying to her man, "No! I'm not buying a comic book for you, not for a 25 year old man!"

Enough,

St. Casserole

busy all day long. tired now. ready for tomorrow. whew!

St. C.

Rainy afternoon here. Hot as fire outside but becoming cooler as the rain hits the steamy earth.

Thank you, God, for Wendell Berry, W.H. Auden and Mary Oliver. Their work comforts me as I sit inside today.

Yours,

St. Casserole

How I Feel About Dillard's

A tiny blurb in the Construction Permit section of the local paper says that http://www.dillards.com/index.html is doing 15M in repairs on the hurricane damaged store here. Great.

Dillard's is an o.k. department store. It carries a few nicer brands that we are unable to get down here, pre- or post-hurricane. To find Cole-Haan, Eileen Fisher or a big cosmetics counter, I went to Dillards.

I'm angry with Dillard's. It's been almost two years since Katrina. The big store was damaged. Do you think that Dillard's had the marketing sense to contact it's Gulf Coast customers? Nope. Nada. Why haven't they attempted to keep our loyalty or interest? Did they send updates on their rebuilding progress? No way.

We Gulf Coast customers are nothing to Dillard's. Otherwise, the store would have reached out to us with coupons to use in Mobile, Jackson, etc. or contacted us about SOMETHING.

On the way to Atlanta, I stopped at the Oxford, Al. Quintard Mall Dillard's. This was early in the day on Monday. A good saleswoman helped me in the Eileen Fisher section. Later, I stopped at another Dillard's, right off 1-20 or 1-85 (can't recall), and wandered through the shoe department. No one spoke to me the entire time I shopped.

When the 15M Dillard's opens, I'll think long and hard about shopping there.

St. Casserole

P.S. Perhaps this dept. store rant has no place on a wildly serious blog like mine, but SOMEBODY should tell Dillard's that they are careless with customer loyalty. So, I just did.

Tired but Happy

Great drive home from Atlanta today! No rain, clear roads and several audio books kept me awake. Those young RevGals stay up LATE! Late, I tell you!

The Big Event planning team worked hard to get our ducks in a row for an event next year. The RGBP Board met to handle bidness (Southern for "business").

I loved seeing my RevGals. Great, loving group!

Glad to be home. Glad I stopped listening to Dean Koontz's FACE audio book. Ewwwww, such cruelty and meanness in his stories. An Anne Tyler book kept me company for hours. Can't even recall what the title of the book is.

Worn-out and Happy,

St. Casserole

Having a wonderful time with the RevGals in the Atlanta area.

So busy laughing, I can't write more,

St. Casserole

Why I Live Here

I live here because:

Mr. C. grew up here. I crack up every time I hear one of his old friends call him by his childhood nickname.

Women dress up cement goose statues with Lil costumes. They compete over whose goose has the cutest outfit.

Our children learned to sail here.

I can see the Gulf of Mexico everyday.

All parts of this community need good, insightful, honest help to improve.

I grow tropical plants, almost year round.

I can smell salt air when I step outside. I hear seagulls sing often enough that I don't notice them. Pelicans fly in formation overhead.

This state has the worst health and education statistics in the nation. As I said, every area of the community needs help. We don't run out of necessary things to do.

Mr. C. lives here.


Just thinking about my blessings,

St. Casserole

Remembering Rusty 1986-2005

Rusty, that great ginger cat, died two years ago today. His obituary appears here

LD and I took donations to the Humane Society in Rusty's memory this afternoon.

His gravesite is a sunflower bed now underneath the bird feeders.

I'm thankful I had him as my cat.

Just Remembering,

St. Casserole

I Can't Believe Someone Would Hurt My Friend!

My friend is hurting. I can't stand it!

I'm praying. Please pray, too.

St. Casserole

Whistle looks out the window. Sister looks at the camera. Fish hides under the covers.

This is life at my home today.

Come on over!

St. Casserole

And now, a few house-keeping details...

Krylon H20 spray latex is drippy, stinky mess. I bought it, on sale, instead of the greatest spray paint for outdoor wood, wicker and metal: Rust-oleum American Accents spray paint. The small wood table looks terrible with this paint!

This time next week? I'll be away from laundry, cooking and hurricane debris. My major responsibilities will be to hold the President's purse and share creative ideas with the group.

How hot is it? A dense wool rug, soaking wet, dried in my court yard in about 7 hours. I live in high humidity country so I'm surprised.

Is it going to rain? Yes, any minute the dark skies will open to soak us.

Meow,

St. Casserole

Yes!

Top Ten Things Pastors Long to Hear

Ruth A. Tucker, Left Behind in a Megachurch World (Baker), is quoted in the June 26 issue of the Christian Century magazine. Her list includes, "#4 Do you mind if I bring all the ladies in my garden club to church next Sunday?".

Heres my list:
1. Mrs. White and I want to come to your house this week and do some yardwork. Do you mind if I bring Uncle Peter who taught Norm Abrams everything Norm knows about carpentry with us? He'd love to do some fix-it projects.

2. We're concerned about all this talk about other denominations. Let's have a festival celebrating the great mission work of the P.C. (U.S.A.) Our committee wants to organize it. You just show up, ok?

3. I've scheduled the music until next March for worship services. Do you mind if we have guests from the Met Opera, Allison Kraus's people and some others as special guests? They want to come worship with us.

4. I hope you don't mind but I sent several of your sermons to John Knox Press and they say they want to publish them along with your essays.

5. I think we need to schedule new member classes more often. We've got a long backlog of people wanting to join the church. Same with baptisms.

6. I want to help you with your vestments. Could you give me a list of things you might enjoy? Could I donate liturgical pieces for the sanctuary too?

7. Your sermons make me think. Could you make your sermons longer?

8. Have you lost weight?

Readers, do you mind finishing my list?

Lovingly,

St. Casserole

We went to a church dinner party with Mr.C's church people. The guests are my people, too, since I've known them all for years. The food was great, the guests pleasant but what did we all end up talking about?

Katrina. The Big One.

Everyone at the party is back in their homes (seldom the case with any large group) but homeowner's insurance is slowing down re-building. Home prices are way up which sounds good but it means you can't sell your slab property to build a new home because buyers aren't available. Many people haven't gotten their insurance settlements yet (almost two years now!) or didn't get enough money to re-build. Finding a reliable contractor is tough.

It's time for Michael Moore to do a "Sicko" expose on the Insurance Industry (known around here as the incarnation of evil in our lifetime.

Just saying,

St. Casserole

Fish's fracture is healing!!! He is taking much longer to heal than his pawpedic vet likes, but healing he is!

I told her that people around the world were praying for him. She said, "I can tell."

Two more weeks with a fresh lighter weight cast, then back to Dr. D. for more xrays.

Thanks be to God!

St. Casserole

Me, It Should Be All About Me, But It's Not

29 years ago, I was ordained as a minister of the Word and Sacraments in a small university town north of here. I made my vows in front of my parents and new congregation. I had no clue how to be a minister but, as far as I was able to determine, God called me to this work. I had images in my mind, all male, of how to be a minister but none quite fit for a skinny, mid-twenties, eager as could be, green gal.

I wanted to celebrate this milestone yesterday but family life intruded. I had no plans but felt I'd spend a few minutes thanking God for my calling and reflect on my years as a pastor. No. Such. Luck.

It's just as well I didn't because ministry isn't about me, ministry is about God.
So, I prayed, as usual, for a full measure of God's grace, to handle the family issues.

More and more, I'm convinced that the Christian life is about trusting God. Nothing new in this thought but I'm not one who trusts easily. My daily discipline is to trust God.

Thankful for my calling, even after all these years,

St. Casserole

Dear Cheesehead,

Do you remember when we went to the GA in Birmingham and you made us stay in that awful motel with criminal activity in the parking lot? And, do you remember how you told me that if I didn't stop talking to you all the time you were going to jump out the window into the criminal activity area? This isn't what I want to tell you.

Think back to our time together at the GA. I said, "Cheese, you smell good! What is that?" and you said, "St. Casserole, please stop practicing spitting chewing tobacco across the room trying to hit the trashcan. Don't you see my open suitcase there???".
Remember that? Well, you told me, when you made me swallow the tobacco plug that you wore Philosophy's Amazing Grace.

When we left B'ham and you told me to wait for you to contact me thereafter and not call you because your cell phone didn't work for calls from me I ordered some Amazing Grace. I've been wearing it and think it smells great. Thanks for the idea.

This morning, when Mr. C. took his shower, I smelled Amazing Grace wafting around the bathroom. Shocked, I looked in and saw that he was lathering up with my big Sephora bottle of AG!!! I told him that it was girl stuff but he said he was out of his shampoo and used what he found.

I went to Walgreen's to buy some $1.79 Suave Coconut Shampoo just for him.

I know you said that when you wanted to hear long rambling pointless chat from me you'd call me, you must have forgotten and I haven't heard from you in months. I'm using my blog to keep you up-to-date!

Would you let me know the name of every single product you use? I used some of your hair mousse and like it. I meant to put the bottle back in your cosmetic case but when it fell into the hotel toilet I was busy and didn't want to get it out. Did you have to pay for the plumbing repair from my repeated flushings of the hair mousse container?

Sincerely,

St. Casserole

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.