St. Andrews-- 100th B.D.

I forgot to mention that after the Friday night visioning, I hopped into the "Yarster" took off north around the Loop to go see the last of the celebration of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in the Heights-- their 100th Birthday celebration!

The Presiding Bishop, Katherine Jeffers-Schori, was invited as sort of a folly-- but she accepted!

Although it would have been great to hear her sermon (we were at the Cathedral, by coincidence, several years ago the last time she was in H-town), but the timing was off.

Just as I was arriving in front of the church the standing room only crowd was coming out to head over next door to the reception.

I talked to Betty Jacobson from our EfM training; Andrea Conklin- former SM parishioner who is now a deacon at St. Andrews; and nodded to both the Bishop of Texas & the PB, as we were all "grazing" at the fine spread provided by the hosts.

St. Mark's Community Vision Retreat, part 2

Saturday morning breakfast was served at 8:30AM.

The entire parish was gathered for some opening comments--

then due to a good turn-out (approx. 150) the business of the annual meeting was to be conducted.

After an hour or so of "business", we were divided into 3 mixed groups again.

Stations were established in the cafeteria, HH, & the sanctuary to provide opportunities for group brain-storming on the 3 topics again:

newcomers; outreach; & sanctuary/ campus improvements.

The ideas were to be "big" hopes & dreams, not being bound by the usual cost/space/time constraints. Many people could not just let the "practical" go! Disappointing?!

Can't say that I had any outstanding suggestions, but I did start what I hope will be the beginning of the sustainable/ environmental outlook for SM.

Done by Noon-thirty!

St. Mark's Community Vision Retreat, part 1

On Friday evening, 1.14.11, the Vestry & the School Board met to continue the dialogue started last August about "growing" the St. Mark's community.

Laura Nichol, a communications consultant, led the discussions again.

Basically after hearing from Laura & Patrick the theme emerged-

So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

1 Thessalonians 2:8

We divided into 3 smaller groups-- mixing vestry, board & staff people-- to begin talking about how the SM community has had shared experiences to celebrate.

Over dinner in HH, different groupings, were led thru brain-storming sessions on:

newcomers; outreach; & campus improvements.

Good discussions, but as before-- the "best" thing was the interactions of the different folks involved, who don't normally have a chance to hear & see others' perspective-- all wanting the "best" for SM.

Katie news

Last Thursday, 1.13.11-- Katie underwent laparoscopic surgery to remove her gall bladder.

A little scary for me-- not sure what all the gall bladder does normally & then what that will mean when it is not there.

She had been having periodic, rather severe pain attacks, that the doctor has indicated was due to gall stones & related gall bladder problems. Katie tried some "natural" remedies to flush out the stones & clear the gall bladder-- seemed to work at first (which was exciting), but then the attacks returned so the surgery was rescheduled.

Katie was able to go home to convalesce that same afternoon; take a sick day Friday; then the long weekend with the MLK, Jr. holiday on Monday.

She was still a little sore on Tuesday, but had been out & about some before-- the doctor encouraged her to get up & keep moving to aid & speed recovery.

Recommendations for diet modifications seem confusing, so I guess trial & error with some caution mixed in will be the procedure.

Katie has become a pretty healthy eater over the last few years, so with a little more vigilance she should be fine & maybe even this will be a further "encouragement" to stay away from the processed foods that seem to be doing us Americans so much harm.

Kelley news

Wednesday, last week, 1.12.11-- Kelley interviewed with Highland Park Baptist Church in Austin.

They are a progressive, Baptist church in need of a part-time secretary/ organizer.

Great job description for what Kelley thinks is her calling-- but real life is involved too, as they are not offering benefits or paid time off. (approx. 25 hrs./ week.)

Update: After several good interview sessions-- positive "vibrations", etc. she accepted the job on 1.17.11!

Her first day is Monday, 1.31.11!

Stay tuned.

the glass is broken

There has been a lot (too much maybe) written about the tragic shooting last week of 6 people in the Arizona shopping center.

One interesting article from CNN Opinion called:

Why does it take tragedy to unify us?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/01/12/greene.civility/index.html?hpt=C2

the part of the discussion--

A consensus seems to be forming: We can do better.

It would be a shame if we were to forget that. Phil Jackson, the enormously successful basketball coach, has a theory that he likes to talk about both in public, and in quiet private conversations. He has made himself something of a student of the philosophies of the world, some of them modern, some of them ancient. One of them stands out enough that he chooses to verbalize it at certain times.

He says that we should not look at a glass and regard it as half full. We should not look at a glass and regard it as half empty.

Rather, Jackson says, we should look at the glass and imagine that it is already broken.

If we imagine the glass -- if we imagine life -- as being shattered before it really is, then we can remind ourselves to regard it as precious and to treat it with care and tenderness.

EfM worship training

This past weekend was a terrific opportunity to learn about incorporating more "worship" experiences into our typical EfM sessions.

Gathering at Camp Allen were mentors & trainers from all over the USofA-- mostly Episcopalians, but not all.

Pretty good regional diversity, but not ethnically.

Pat- rector several small churches upstate rural Minnesota

Mark- rector large church Baton Rouge

Duane- Phoenix

Tim- sr. warden Amarillo, "carpentry is my gift-- so I give it away"

Charlotte- Presbyterian Waco, knew Patrick in high school

Betty- Richmond, TX, recovering from throat cancer, knows Episcopalians everywhere!

Martha- trainer, Houston, knows Nancy

just did it!

Been wanting to have a personal blog-- a journal for a while now.

1.11.11 (January 11, 2011) seemed like a good time to get started.