Yes, it's been a loooonnng time, and I've missed it.

Here's today's scripture reference and prayer from "God's Minute", a book published in 1916 that contains 365 daily prayers sixty seconds long for home worship "by the most eminent preachers and laymen in the English speaking world":

Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.--Ps. 55: 17, 22.

Our Father in Heaven, look upon us, we beseech Thee, in Thine infinite love and compassion. Dwell Thou in us, that, being molded by Thy good Spirit, we may have fellowship with Thee as Thy children. Help us at all times to trust Thee. Appoint for us what Thou willest, and make us ready to receive with thankfulness whatsoever seemeth good to Thee concerning us. Go with us in every mission on which Thou art pleased to send us, and in Thy service may we find rest.
Lighten our darkness, we entreat Thee, that we may behold Thy face, and, in Thy tender mercy, do Thou temper the storm lest our weak faith fail. Forgive our sins, and day by day deliver us from their power. We commit all our loved ones to Thy keeping. Do Thou watch over them and bless them. And as Thou givest us a taste of Thy joy in loving our friends, lead us into the fullness of the joy of loving all whom Thou lovest, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

William Farquharson, D.D.,
Agincourt, Ont., Canada

Today and tomorrow, it's Convocation, which is effectively Homecoming for the Alumni/ae, at the Big Old Seminary.  Lots of folks are flocking back to The Holy Hill.  Some I know and many I've not yet met. The folks I know were seminarians at some time in the past like I am now.  I hope and pray I can walk the path they have trod.

Tonight was the Academic Convocation (Evensong) and Conferring of Honorary Degrees.  Since I'm in the Seminary choir, I had a great seat.  Three impressive men were recognized tonight.  And throughout the evening, while we queued up for the procession, came into the chapel, sang and prayed, and witnessed the honors, I tried to drink it all in. I looked around to see everything as it may have been some thirty-five years ago when two special men in my life were students there themselves.  That would be my Dad and his classmate who would eventually become my father-in-law.  

There were strong feelings moving about within me tonight.  Pride and Honor.  I'm proud of my father and father-in-law. Neither one could be here.  I missed being able to share this with them.  I hope that in some small way my being now here honors them.  They deserve that, and so much more.  D & G, I love you both.

 With a head nod to me funny brother-in-law, ....



(And Yes, to those who look closely, the avatar symbolizes Marriage, not Creation.  So what?  I like it.)

It was Quiet Day on campus today at the Big Old Seminary.

It started with Holy Eucharist (Rite II) including the Proper for All Baptized Christians, and was followed by a meditation on "Joy in an Age of Anxiety". We then moved into silence, contemplation and solitude. After chapel, I found a cozy spot in Scott Lounge just outside the refectory (because coffee was nearby & plentiful) where I sat, read and wrote in a journal. The beauty of all this, the true gift of the day, was the release from doing school work, and the luxury of time to just 'be with God'.

A classmate recommended a book to me, "Learning To Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life" by Philip Simmons  Simmons had taught English literature & creative writing at a college in Illinois until, at age 35, he was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease; his prognosis was that he maybe had five more years to live. Living another ten years, he wrote a series of essays about signs of grace found in a life still very much worth living. This was my reading for the day. And amidst reading, journaling and walking about campus, I myself found wonder in most everything I encountered.

It had been awhile (again) since I had blogged, and even longer since journaling (with paper & pen). I relished this time, freedom and space to just 'sit & be'. And I found my recurring thought was "Lord, my prayer is that I may be in love with the world around me and at peace with myself." Throughout the day, I recalled "falls" in my life and the blessings which grew out of them through God's Grace. Walks during the mid-morning and early afternoon were special times of prayerful ambling about campus which was littered with others on benches, under trees, and sitting at tables engaged in various activities of reading, writing, prayer and rest. 

What a different kind of joy lunch was today. Silence, for the most part, during meal fellowship in the refectory! There was the clinking of glasses and utensils accompanied by the clashing of plates. Rather than the customary "y'all come" cattle call, there was a distributed ebb and flow of hungry people coming in and satisfied souls going back out. There were the sparse, intermittent words of need or convenience, but mostly just nods, bows, waves, winks and from time to time a handshake or hug. The quiet solitude of community gathered with the purpose of silence to seek and find (or be found by) the Holy. I began to think of the people who have passed through this place, including my father and father-in-law (for it is through the BOS that Heart of My Heart & I met), all knowing God in some way, but seeking to know God and themselves more fully. And there were times of amusement when suddenly a window became a door (thanks, Les!). The food that feeds us is good, but it is our common fellowship that sustains us.

The afternoon concluded with a second meditation titled "Wonder in an Age of Cynicism" before closing with an Office to Close a Quiet Day (Noonday Prayer). The Rev. Dr. Anne Katherine Grieb's words nicely wrapped up the theme from Holy Baptism, ",,,,the Gift of Joy and Wonder in all Your Works." (BCP 308). I look forward to taking classes with her.

How refreshing to just 'be'. To joy in the little things and rejoice in the greater things. To dance, to wander, to wonder, and to rest & renew. Thank you, Lord, for your mercy is great!

For a long time, we have been buying Redskins tickets from the family of my retired dentist.  They have had season tickets for a great many years, but sadly found it more difficult to get to the games. Once "Doc" learned about "SUPR FAN" and my love of the Washington Redskins, we made a connection and began buying their tickets.  It was customary for me to make a semi-annual appointment prior to the start of the NFL's regular season with a schedule marked up with game/dates which interested us enough to want to buy their tickets.  The schedule would accompany the bag of checks from patient visits which made its way home to the Mrs. who served as his bookkeeper.  She would eventually call, we'd confer about the tickets available, check ticket prices parking pass, and then arrange for a check drop-off/ticket pick-up.  When "Doc" closed his practice and retired, and I had to find a new dentist, the conferring/arranging was initiated by 'Mrs. Doc'. It was a great relationship and we appreciated the tickets, the seats, the experience and the opportunities.

Now that we're in seminary, we have had to stop our purchase of tickets for ourselves, but was caught up in helping them off-load their tickets.  Aside from the obvious cost of an enterprise which we can no longer afford (easily), there's the very real consideration a graduate program will require much of my time and energy in order to do well.  So, while I can afford myself the "three hallowed hours on Sunday" to watch Redskins games on TV, we no longer have the luxury of time to make a day of it at the football stadium.  I'll miss being with "my people" at Fed Ex, however we plan to start a new tradition of tailgating at the house and will welcome seminarian classmates over for games, food, drink and fellowship along with the rest of our family, friends and football buddies.

I'd learned recently the doctor's health had taken a turn for the worse.  I did not fully understand the extent of his infirmities, but it required an extended hospital stay before he was brought back home.  Sadly it sounded like his whole system was just shutting down on him.  When I arrived this morning for the regular check-for-tickets exchange, I learned "Doc" had passed away at home Saturday night.  His bride of almost 62 years (their wedding anniversary was the next day after he died) was wholly distraught and in complete anguish, but persevered through to complete this final transaction with me.  My heart sank at first, but then I began to give thanks for him, for her, and for them.  It was hard to be there for the purpose that brought me, but I began to see the greater purpose of my being there "in the here and the now".  Many decisions have been left for the family to deal with, and it will be hard for them.  They seek only to honor him by doing the right thing.  I tried to assure her whatever they choose to do will honor him because they first have all that love for and admiration of him.  Husband and father, companion and friend.  

I am sad at his passing, but grateful for having known him.  His work is evident in my mouth, and I have many memories of our visits.  He was a remarkable man, and he will be missed by many.  May our Creator, Sanctifier and Redeemer bless him and comfort them, keeping them all in the palm of His hand during this time of bereavement and transition. Rest in Peace, dear Anthony.  Your good works are now done, true and faithful servant.  

In closing, because I believe "Doc" expects nothing less from me, I will offer for him, for them, and for all of us, a hearty and glad "Hail to the Washington Redskins!"

Has it really been fifteen days since I posted last?  I've tried, but either my time was too short to do much, or what was left of my grey matter was too little to offer anything worthwhile.  But August Term, that three week period of part orientation/part class, has come and gone.  There's plenty to learn about life in seminary with that center piece, the three-legged stool of "Chapel, Class and Lunch", firmly situated in the middle of just about everything.  It includes a bunch of expectations, obligations and opportunities which are all rolled up into one big ball of excitement.  There are new friends to meet, different personalities to identify with or navigate carefully, numerous stories to hear and a great many things about various lives to appreciate.  We have all been called in one way or another to be new and different servants of God to God's people.  And amidst all of it, there are mostly calm, but sometimes hectic, rhythms which ebb and flow through it.

With the conclusion of August Term, the Casa hosted a Toga Party.  No faculty or staff came, but a few indicated they would have had they been in town.  I had hoped more would come, but those who did made it a fun time.  Most everyone came resplendent in some form of toga, pretty much meeting the common theme of a Casa party: anything from blue jeans to tiaras.  There was food, drink, fellowship and fun.  I imagine our neighbors were quite curious about those people over there who chatted up the evening into the early morning on the back deck.  Fall Term begins Tuesday after a picnic in the Grove tomorrow afternoon for Labor Day.

The other fun thing has been visiting different parishes for worship.  Today while Heart Of My Heart returned home to Grace to sing, I walked through the neighbor to a nearby church.  St. Clement Episcopal Church is in Alexandria, on Quaker Lane, and roughly a 1/2 mile from the Casa.  I walk by it almost everyday when I do my exercise walk.  I've been there before for Region meetings and church business, but had never worshiped there before today.  It was a small gathering of folk due to the holiday weekend, but a joyful celebration none the less.  No new wrinkles in the liturgy, except for the Rector introducing each reading before the lector(s) or deacon read, and a different tune to The Lord's Prayer (contemporary version).  Other than that, it was very familiar and comfortable.

So there are new rhythms, different flows, and various times of opportunity and the need for rest.  Consequently, my blogging has been less of late even while I have gotten back into some individual journaling work alone.  I hope those of you who stop by will continue to look in from time to time, and keep praying without ceasing for me and others during this wonderful and exciting time of education and formation.  I am, they are, we all are where we should be, as God continues God's good works with us all, begun, continuing and ending in Him.

Thanks be to God. 

Lest anyone who stops by occasionally worry, be not afraid.  I know that my Redeemer liveth.  And I shall also.

It's Friday afternoon after the first full week of August Term at the Big Old Seminary and quite honestly, I'm a little tuckered out.  Amidst rolling sessions of Orientation which continue until the Labor Day break, there are hefty doses of Biblical Language (Greek for me) in the morning and Oral Interpretation of Scripture in the afternoon.  Some morsels of Greek are taking root, but not enough yet, and Oral Interpretation - also known as "Read & Bleed" - is sometimes called that for a reason (more on that later).  I've attended chapel every weekday for either Morning Prayer or a mid-day Wednesday Corporate Communion and enjoyed a wonderful salad and soup bar each day (the expectation that all students, faculty & staff engage "fellowship at meals" together at lunch).  It is stressed here that the three-legged stool of life at the BOS revolves around "Chapel, Class and Lunch".  I've also met several times with my faculty advisor about classes for the fall (finally submitting my registration today), and have even kicked a soccer ball around with friends in the "Trotter Bowl".  

There is plenty of homework to be done this weekend, but it will wait.  I now step back for some rest and recreation, come as it may.  I feel your prayers and I sense your presence in this work I have begun.  I have not lost sight of any of you who have encouraged me and loved me along the way.  I continually give thanks to Almighty God for each and every one of you.

ειρήνη υμίν!  (Peace be with you!)

Here's today's scripture reference and prayer from "God's Minute", a book published in 1916 that contains 365 daily prayers sixty seconds long for home worship "by the most eminent preachers and laymen in the English speaking world":

"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." -- Phil. 2: 4-6.

     "O God, we come to Thee because Thou art in Thyself all that we desire to become in ourselves.  We are weak, but Thou art strong; we come seeking Thy strength.  We are sinful but Thou art holy, and we come seeking Thy holiness.  We are ignorant but Thou art wise, and we come seeking Thy wisdom.
     Bless us, that we may be in our characters what Thou art in Thine, pure and holy.  Aid us, that we may be in our hearts what Thou art in Thine, good and righteous.  Help us, that we may in our lives be what Thou art in Thine, kind and generous.  All that Thou art, we pray that thus we may become, so that we can think Thy thoughts after Thee, walk in the steps of the One Who went about doing good, and so live that our wills may be brought into harmony with Thy divine purpose, and our lives conformed to Thy eternal righteousness.
     AMEN."

W.W. Bustard, D.D.,
Cleveland, Ohio. 

The first few days of August Term have been easy, but then Biblical Language starts next week so that could all change quickly.  Its been getting a lot of information (the VTS Handbook as well as through oral briefings); and giving even more information by filling out contact forms, waivers, and sign-ups; taking photos for IDs and the directory; and completing the on-line demographic questionnaire for accreditation purposes.  Throw in the first plenary sessions for Oral Interpretation of Scripture (OIOS), some overview/demos regarding intranet access and using Blackboard, and a very entertaining and informative walking tour of the campus.... as you can see, this does not constitute 'heavy lifting' here.... at least, not yet.

But scanning my notes, some quotes emerge to say much about where we are now and what we'll be about for the next three years:

"Living in gratitude - that's the heart of the Gospel, and what we encourage here."

"It is less about what you know, and more about who you are".

"Chapel, Class, Lunch - we worship together, we learn together, and we break bread together."

"How's your prayer life?"

"Four words to remember as you pray: Please, Thank You, I'm Sorry and Why?"

"The 1982 Hymnal is the 'soundtrack' of The Holy BIble and the Book of Common Prayer."

"Ooooh, Aaaah, YES!, Good Night, Good Morning, AMEN!, and to 'clap, hoot, holler & whistle." (responses during the Creation story)

"Life is like a jigsaw puzzle, but God has all the corner pieces - we never get the full picture!"

"Being a 'neighbor' is intentionally placing yourself in the path of the other."

"The point of worship at VTS in not Sunday."

"With music, we take a "buckshot approach" in the hopes of touching everyone in some way."

"'B' is the standard here (not an A)."

"Participation is more important than quality."

"The Living God is BIGGER than that which is bound between these two covers (The Holy Bible)."

"It all starts with prayer."

Tomorrow we meet in our small group for worship at our Advisor's home, and will receive course materials for the Fall Semester.  Then more work about 'Living Together in Community' and the other plenary session for OIOS before break-out groups begin work next week.  And Friday afternoons holds the promise for engaging in a little fut'bol (soccer) in the Trotter Bowl.  

Yep.  It's all good right now.

"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go." -- Ps. 32: 8.

Today it begins.  Or continues.  Whichever way you care to look at it.

It begins today as I start at the Big Old Seminary.  August Term commences and amidst classes for Biblical Language in the morning and Oral Interpretation of Scripture in the afternoon, there's plenty of orientation stuff in the next three weeks.  It is an exciting time and I am ready to get at it.  So this day I officially become a seminarian.

And it continues as this is yet another stage in a formation process that began long, long ago.  For the longest time, I never saw myself going where I head today.  But I am being obedient unto the Lord and walking the path He has called me to journey.  

So the road is up ahead.  And there it much to see, do, experience, and learn.  Come, let us be on our way.

It started late last Saturday night.  It took much time, a great deal of patience, a lot of elbow grease, and some ingenuity, imagination, creativity and persistence.  But the new study, that place where I'll begin doing that 'school thang' again next week, is a new, wonderful, beautiful place in which to work.

I'll not post all the pictures of the tiring engagement, but just share some of the finished product.

 

 

The Church of the Epiphany on G Street in Washington, D.C. was our field trip target of opportunity this past Sunday.  This urban parish is roughly 167 years old and has always been a powerful presence in Washington, D.C.  A number of ordained and lay leaders have been raised up through Epiphany to assume greater leadership roles in the national church and wider Anglican Communion.  

Their location in the district and the needs within the city itself allow it to be a positive place of shelter, a constant source for sustenance and a compassionate center of support to the homeless, destitute, addicted and afflicted.  Sunday mornings begin early with feeding the homeless with the study of scripture, a eucharist and then breakfast.  And on Tuesday afternoons, "Street Church" takes the eucharist and a light lunch out into a nearby park for any and all to receive.  

I immediately realized what an honor and privilege it must be to minister in a way and place such as this.

A few observations for our visit to their 11:00 a.m. service:

o   Weather and time dissuaded us from parking at Heart Of My Heart's office building, so we braved trying to find a street
     space or paying for a garage.  There's a garage right next door which offers complimentary parking to worshipers (up
     until 8pm) provided you get your ticket validated at the coffee hour.

o   The service was attended by a good number of street folk.

o   Announcements were made prior to the start of the service.  I liked that. 

o   When concluding the Old and New Testament readings, rather than hearing "The Word of the Lord ", the Lector said,
     "Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church".  That fit in nicely with what I'm currently reading in Public Reading of
     Scripture for the Oral Interpretation of Scripture class in seminary.

o   The clergy and altar party all sat together off to one side in the congregation during The Liturgy of the Word, and
     then moved up the sanctuary chance area behind the altar for The Liturgy of the Altar.

o   We both liked the Offertory sentences which were used when the Elements were presented:

     "Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: Through your goodness we have this bread to set before you, which earth
      has given and human hands have made.  It will become for us the bread of life.  Blessed be God forever."
     "Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: Through your goodness we have this wine to set before you, fruit of the
      vine and work of human hands.  It will become for us the cup of salvation.  Blessed be God forever."

o   Again, the Episcopal Church showed itself to be a small world indeed: One of the Lay Associates was a classmate
     of HOMH in the Big Old Seminary's Evening School, the diocesan-assigned Special Discernment Facilitator who
     directed my parish committee is a parishioner and healing minister leader, and Epiphany's organist and Music
     Director had been on the short list for our position at Grace when I chaired that search.

o   Finally, a greeter at coffee hour came on a bit strong, saying Epiphany was no "johnny-come-lately" to the Church
     about being open to those whose beliefs, circumstances, or lifestyles now test our national church and threaten
     to break apart our worldwide Communion.  She was adamant they have always been a welcoming and inclusive
     place for the LGBT community, or for any person from a broken or estranged relationship.  I imagined she was
     wielding her own winnowing fork to work the wheat from the chaff.  Maybe because I identified myself as a new
     seminarian from Virginia, she felt the need to speak out.    

Afterward, we enjoyed a lovely lunch at nearby Chef Geoff's before making our way back across the river. 

Here's a little church humor to brighten your day - courtesy of someone at the Big Old Seminary....  

There was a little town with three churches: Baptist, Presbyterian, and Episcopalian. One year they were having a huge problem with squirrels invading the town. All the clergy were together talking about their plans. 

One week the Baptist minister came in and said they were having a tent revival and praying for the squirrels. 

That just brought more squirrels.

A little while later the Presbyterian minister came in and said his church had tried a catch-and-release program taking the squirrels way out in the country. 

The squirrels still came back. 

A little while later, all the squirrels were gone.

The clergy were shocked and amazed until they talked to the Episcopal priest who said, "We decided to baptize them so they'd be Episcopalian squirrels and now they only come on Christmas and Easter."

Go figure.

Here's today's scripture reference and prayer from "God's Minute", a book published in 1916 that contains 365 daily prayers sixty seconds long for home worship "by the most eminent preachers and laymen in the English speaking world":

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.--Ps. 118: 8.

     Great God of Hosts, Who reigns above and in our hearts, for all the gracious favors of today which bless and strengthen us, we give Thee thanks.  Let not our gratitude be limited to words, but be expressed in every impulse, thought and deed, and serve to draw us nearer to Thee; for we desire to praise Thee with our lives and not alone with supplicant words.
     Our weakness and faults, which ofttimes grow to errors and misdeed, forgive--nay, cover them with Thine eternal love.  Restore our wills, too prone to bend to sinful things which we give place to in our lives.  Cleanse all our thoughts and plant the seeds of righteousness within our minds.  Uproot from in our hearts the tendency toward wrong or selfish interest or pride, and put instead the love of truth and a yearning for a Christlike life with knowledge to attain it.
     Should trials come, O Jesus, be Thou near; encourage with Thy presence, strengthen with Thy power.  If temptations come, O fill our hearts with holy and heroic resolution that we will yield ourselves to Thee and not to them; and may tomorrow find us still drawing nearer, Lord, to Thee.  This we ask for Jesus' sake.  Amen.

Rev. S. Clark Riker,
Cincinnati, Ohio.

Today's Gospel (provided you follow the Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) or use Forward Day By Day) comes from Mark 8: 1-10.  It is the story of Jesus feeding the four thousand.  In it, he speaks of his compassion for the people who have been with him.  You would think the disciples might see where this was headed.  Jesus had already fed the five thousand, so making much for so many out of so little had happened before.  Yet they still ask, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?" 

I've noted here before a high school classmate of mine named Robert Egger.  Robert & I played soccer together, were both in the marching band, and clowned around a lot during school (I was a cut-up in class, but he was our Class Clown). And also a budding activist.  Robert used to advocate for some rather quirky causes: mood rings in school, the Release Patty Hearst Movement, and so on.  To be in his company would always leave you marked indelibly with a sense of joy and laughter.  And even when major surgery to straighten out his back put him in a 3/4 body cast, a sense of peace and love always emanated from him.

Robert is the founder of the D.C. Central Kitchen.  The Kitchen collects leftover food from hotels and banquet halls, properly handles and repackages it, and then carries it out to the various shelters in our area.  They also extend a hand to the homeless to help them help themselves: through encouragement, job training programs and continuing education, certification and licensing, and placement assistance, DCCK aids folks in finding new life through employment in the food preparation business.  WTOP recently did a short piece (http://wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1730156) to mark the twenty years DCCK has done its thing.  I commend it to your reading.  Also, please check out DCCK's website at http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/ for more information, including volunteer opportunities.

The Gospel and D.C. Central Kitchen are both stories about how 'The Lord Will Provide'.  If you read the WTOP piece or checked out the DCCK website, you'd see that they prepare 4,000 meals a day.  How's that for a God-incident!  There is daily bread.  When it is blessed, broken and given, there is food enough to sustain them.  In heart, mind, body and soul. Feeding many, again and again and again.

Thanks be to God!

Courtesy of Forward Day By Day: 

I will try this day to live a simple, sincere, and serene life, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity, and self-seeking; cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity, and the habit of holy silence; exercising economy in expenditure, generosity in giving, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust, and a childlike faith in God.
     In particular I will try to be faithful in those habits of prayer, work, study, physical exercise, eating, and sleep which I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right.
     And as I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even with a hope of success attempt it, I look to thee, O Lord God my Father, in Jesus my Savior, and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
     AMEN. 

If I don't see him heading my way already, I do hear his trot as he gets near.  Sometimes he rises from within his crate and makes a beeline to where I'm sitting.  At other times, he hops down from one of the two perches in the living room as "puppy TV" goes to commercial ("puppy TV" is when one or both boys look out to the world via windows or doorways to ensure all is good and calm 'out there').  When he comes to me, he approaches slowly and gently lays his little head on my leg and presses his nose into my belly.  Then he leans in and waits.  His head is down so his eyes are not visible - he cannot see me or what I might be doing.  I'm told that burying the face and shielding his eyes is a sign of trust.  As he loves on me, I return the gift of love, and we melt together in gentle caresses and warm nuzzles.  He knows I'm his daddy and I know he's my baby.  My "sweet, sweet, puppy paws".  My dear Gibbs.

When he does this, I call it "checking in".  Nothing has really happened.  It's not feeding time.  He's not anxious or needy.  I didn't call him, nor was he really stirring.  Just out of the blue, he's there and we have that sweetest, gentle moment of communion with one another.  I've had many pets over the years, but I cannot remember one who has been so content to just be with me.  Gibbs is one of the sweetest gifts to me and for us. 

It can be hard at times to remember fortune has not been fair to this dear creature of God.  The runt of his litter, we found him at the shelter and Mulligan ("the big guy") said it might be okay to bring this one home.  That was a true blessing.  But a while later, after developing an abscess on his snout, we learned through a strange series of circumstance Gibbs suffers from renal dysplasia.  In simpler terms, when he came through the assembly line, the technicians responsible for kidneys were found deficient in their execution of installation or quality control.  He is missing one kidney altogether, and the other bit of kidney is little much else but decorative.  As we shared with any and all, there's a reason why he's with us.  We love him, and will continue loving him for as long as we have him.

He remains active, curious, and playful.  If he throws us a scare by not eating his food, we test him with treats, which he always takes.  We have a water filtration pitcher to give him the best possible water, and his feed is a special kidney-friendly version which our veterinarian keeps in stock.  We indulge him in so many ways, but if you don't yet know him, you'd agree he deserves every bit of it.  

I've joked that if love could heal this animal, he'd be a kidney donor several times over by now. At times, I'm tempted to take him in for another sonogram just to see.

Anyway, this post was to start out differently, but my dear puppy distracted me.  I was going to write about Time - how it's been weird and curious in different ways of late, and what I might be being taught, should I be open to learn anything from it.  But Gibbs just came back to 'check in' again.  Me thinks it's his way of saying "That's enough about me, Dad.  Don't bore the poor people who bother to read this."  He is so sweet and we are so blessed by his presence.  When I look in his eyes, I see God.  I feel God's awesome love and gentle presence.  God is very near and we dearly love one another.  We'll just let that be the lesson for now.

Heart Of My Heart and I ventured across the river yesterday into the big city to begin scouting out possible field work parishes.  Two clergy friends and HOMH's spiritual director had suggested I consider churches in the district to gain an urban experience in ministry since I have spent lots of time in and among suburban congregations and even a few rural parishes.  Granted, this will not actually come into play until the second & third year of seminary, but there is no time like the present to start exploring exciting possibilities of worshiping with, ministering to, and working among the people of a different parish community, perhaps in our Nation's Capital. 

Our first visit was to St. John's, Lafayette Square, right across from The White House in Washington, D.C.

HOMH's office is not far from the White House, so we parked at her building and walked the four blocks to St. John's. Walking through Lafayette Square, some tourists stopped us, asking for directions to the White House.  At first, we figured they were lost and just hadn't bothered to look up.  But later we realized the most common view of The White House the media provides America via TV comes from the vantage point of the Washington Monument and Ellipse - they just hadn't realized how close they were.

To keep this shorter, I'll offer my observations in brief form:

o   Complimentary Valet Parking - space is limited for obvious reasons; accommodations are made.  Nice.

o   The Sunday service bulletin - a large booklet with all hymns (entrance, offertory, during communion and recessional)
     and service music printed out, the full text of each scripture reading with notations of the different lectors who were
     reading, the Prayers of the People had specific intercessions inserted in the various sections of the litany,.... 24
     pages in all.  (I can only imagine how our parish office staff will cringe when I bring them of copy.)

o   The sanctuary has two side aisles, but no center aisle.  The procession came in from the front, down the Gospel side
     to the back of the church, and up to the front via the Epistle side.  The recessional let the choir bail out at the front
     and I'm unsure if the clergy processed back or high-tailed it around outside to meet & greet at the back.  (I was too
     busy singing).   

o   The wonderful choir - mostly paid singers, but allowing for 'other voices' in the summer choir, if they rehearse
     beforehand.  The choir lead the Gloria and Psalm, with the congregation joining in on the refrains, and also sang a
     selection during the Offertory and Communion.  (I heard my friend J in my ear, proclaiming his dislike when the 
     liturgy is 'sang at him').

o   The Rector - a friend of our Rector, He spoke of his struggle to find a connection between King David's adulterous
     turn with Bathsheba and the Feeding of the Five Thousand, so he focused on the Epistle from Ephesians 3: 14-21
     ("know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God").  So he 
     preached about praying for the 'presence of God to dwell in our hearts', and shared his story about being a 12-year
     old boy among many in the 'Peter Pan' flights of 1961 out of Cuba, when someone had assured him "God is with
     you".  A very moving testimony.

o   Midway through the service, we realized the late-arriving woman who sat next to us works at the Big Old Seminary;
     she's been a member at St. John's for 16 years.  She was excited to see us and for our reason being there; we were
     excited to find her to make a more personal connection to the parish.

o   Both clergy assistants are graduates of the Big Old Seminary.  The newest, still a deacon, read the Gospel.  With
     'Oral Interpretation of Scripture' looming on my horizon, I paid close attention to how he read.  Now I'm even more
     curious about what this class will teach me.  

o   I looked for, but never found their aumbry (a curious thing I do with my "Altar Guild eyes on".  HOMH reminds me not
     all churches have one.  I bet they do, but I didn't see it.

o   After church, yes, we did ask about "Pew 54".  Beginning with James Madison, every person who has served as
     President of the United States has attended regular or occasional services, with several having been communicants.
     Hence the moniker for St. John's as the "Church of the Presidents."  Pew 54 is the President's Pew.  It's not up front.

o   Finally, a lovely time of fellowship outside where BOS friend introduced us around.

St. John's Church, Lafayette Square is a lovely parish and I'd be fortunate to be placed there but I do want to explore other parishes.  Next week, I think we'll check out The Church of the Epiphany on G Street in NW Washington. 

Before heading home, we stopped to enjoy a lovely lunch at the Old Ebbitt Grill.  It was a thoroughly fun day, and a wonderful way to begin this next chapter in our lives.  The possibilities intrigue us, and we are very excited to see when, how and where God will call us to do His work. 

We saw it!  They just passed overhead!  

The Space Shuttle Endeavour & the International Space Station linked together with 13 souls aboard.  

Last night's weather precluded us from seeing anything, but tonight with the dogs in tow, we walked down the street and around the corner.  We waited, hoping the cloud cover would break enough so we could watch it go by.  There were a few false alarms due to clouds moving or high-flying something that barely had blinking lights.  But between 9:26-9:31 p.m. EDT, the window of opportunity, we saw the very bright, fast moving, non-blinking orb move from the northwestern sky down to the southwest.

I missed seeing Endeavour lift off (several times in fact courtesy of NASA.tv), but tonight I saw her fly!  Very cool!  

God Speed, Endeavour, and to the joint crew aboard the Space Station, happy missions.

This past Thursday, I called the bookstore at the Big Old Seminary to see if the book list for August Term had been released.  It had, so I hurriedly recorded the information for the Biblical Greek & Oral Interpretation of Scripture texts over the phone.  While I was out and about Friday on errands, I stopped by the campus to see whether or not books were actually beginning to fill the shelves in preparation for classes in less than three weeks.  I found my fellow postulant from Grace visiting with the bookstore employee who had previously been pastor to our hispanic La Gracia congregation.  A mini-reunion!  As I stole a glance around the corner, I saw there were some books out but not many.  So I got mine.  YAY!

A Primer of Biblical Greek - N. Clayton Croy

Public Reading of Scripture - Clayton J. Schmit
The HarperCollins Bible Pronunciation  Guide - William O. Walker, Jr., ed.
A Well-Trained Tongue - Alered R. Rosser 

I also snagged a box of 3 1/2" x 1 1/2" blank study cards (earlier in the day I made my own Greek alphabet flash cards by chopping up 3" x 5" index card; I figured ready made cards would be better for when we dive into Greek vocabulary) and a BOS school sticker for the back window of my car.  I avoided total geekiness when I refrained from buying a nice ceramic seminary coffee mug because my Washington Redskins travel mug will work just fine.  Football season is underway next week when training camp opens.  WOOT!  
When I got home and showed Heart Of My Heart my latest acquisitions, she glanced at the sales receipt and giggled.  

"Look at this", she said, "you're one of the PETS of Cokesbury!"  

(PETS stands for Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary).

Cute.