Voting, Shopping, Killing Ants

I voted in the primary today--there were only 2 offices up for voting on the Democratic ballot. I'm a 'Yellow Dog Democrat' (a term a friend of mine gave me meaning if the ballot was for a human on the Republican side and a yellow dog on the Democratic side, I'd vote for the dog).

I also talked to 'the boys' as Bern calls them, on-line for an hour and a quarter. They are all Episcopalians (clergy and lay) except for my brother-in-law, a Roman priest in West Virginia. That's where I got the 'yellow dog' line, on that call from Michael.

Dan is coming to visit in a few weeks and we decided to get into the Episcopal Church (one of us is an important member there) and have communion before going to lunch.

That's how the group started, when I was Rector of St. John's in Waterbury and we'd have communion in the chapel and then talk for an hour.

When I retired from St. John's we had to stop that (a former priest is to be out of the way for a year). Eventually, after a few more spots for communion, we went on line and have been for years.

I also went grocery shopping for dinner tonight--my amazing salad!

I also killed some of the dozens of ants in my little office.

I let them live for days but there were so many today I had to kill some of them.

I don't like killing anything and have repented...but if they stay around, they are doomed....

 

 

Lazy Monday

 I got up a little after 8 a.m., about the time I get up every day except Sundays when I have to go to church.

I ate multi-grain Cherrios with blueberries and little round chocolate things that claim to be milk-chocolate covered cookie dough (I kid you not) with 2% milk, as always and iced coffee with lots of sugar.

That's my normal breakfast--weird as it may sound.

Then I read a Quinn book about a private detective and his dog Chet so I could take it back with 4 other books to the library.

I go to the library twice a week because I read almost a book a day.

I found a book by my favorite author, David Rosenfelt that I don't think I've read before and four others I look forward to.

I've fooled around on line for an hour or so, played Hearts and won, read some stuff about Trump and felt a little ill from doing that.

Not much else to do today that can't wait until tomorrow. Tuesday I fix a big salad for dinner that we both enjoy--lots of stuff in it.

I'll watch Jeopardy after dinner and read in bed for an hour or more when I go to bed at a little after 9 p.m.

Quite a day, huh????

Sunday Eucharist and Healing

 It went very well.

Our wondrous musician, MF was back for the first time in a month.

He even let me anoint him for healing after all he's been through.

My sermon was well received, as was the healing after communion.

I had EL anoint me and pray for my healing to give the congregation an understanding that lay people can do the anointing. I hope, over time to have lay people do it each Sunday.

(There are two very active and generous members of the congregation who won't receive communion. I'm working up to talking to them about why they don't. Maybe next week....)

Coffee hour was great and several folks told me not to worry driving home because in my sermon I said something about 'being afraid' driving up Route 8. Great of them to wish me well.

I've loved every congregation I've served in all these years--4 one-on-one and three in a cluster ministry. But Trinity is becoming my favorite.

I can't tell you exactly why, but I'll try soon.

(I did get home safe and sound!)

Backing up

I don't know much about cars.

I did fill up my windshield wiper fluid yesterday--a big accomplishment for me!

My car failed it's admissions test a few weeks ago. I have to got get tested again soon. What if I fail again?

The testing guy told me I hadn't driven enough miles since my check engine light had been turned off. I didn't even know how he knew that had happened. My car fixers told me to drive a hundred miles before getting tested, but I didn't. So, they were right.

Besides that, though I drive fine and carefully, backing up is a challenge for me.

Josh and his significant other are coming today at 3 and Bern told me to back in so I could pull out when Josh's car was behind me in the driveway.

I did it somehow--good for me!

I have to leave for church at 8 a.m. tomorrow and I don't know how long Josh's car will be in front of me.

We'll see, I guess.

At least I won't have to back up to leave....

 

OK, one minor criticism...

 I've told you how much I love Bern and why.

The list goes on and on.

I couldn't ask for more--even imagine what 'more' to ask for....

But she moves things around.

If it were up to me, every thing would stay where it was forever.

No moving around.

But Bern does it all the time.

Most recently, our back porch.

The chair I sat in for years was moved to the corner by the door. And the trash can for bottles and cans (worth 10 cents when returned) still sits beside my chair but on the wrong side of the door. I can't just open the door and toss in a ginger ale can, I have to go on the porch and shut the door to hit the can.

OK, a little thing I know.

But I don't like things moved. Never. Not ever.

(Am I an idiot? Which is what she thinks when I complain....)

Don't move things around is my motto.

Hot Thursday

 I got a lot done today.

Washed me clothes and put them away.

Wrote my sermon.

Deposited my check from Trinity Church.

Bought some windshield washer fluid. (Tomorrow I'll try to figure out how to put it in....)

Erased the dumb stuff on my email.

Read 50 pages of the David Rosenfelt book I'm reading.

Even relaxed some.

Well, for me, that's a lot! I'm not a workaholic!

The sermon is about Jesus walking on water, which I can't do. (You can't either, I'd bet.)

I don't even swim well. I'm mostly ok in a pool but put me in the ocean and you'll never see me again.

It's hot and humid, but I don't complain since I hate the cold winter so much. Besides we have air-conditioners.

I'd better rest up for Friday....

 

 

Bible Stiudy (part 2)

 So we met today--only 4 of us, it's summer after all.

And we never got to actual 'study' of the Gnostic Gospels.

We had communion and then talked about my idea to have lay folks do the healing service. Why not? We let lay folks administer the chalice and take communion to folks who are stuck at home.

The bread and wine are blessed, so they can do it.

I think it might be against church law--but why not try and tell the Bishop "I'm sorry" when he or she tells me to stop.

But there were concerns because lay folks aren't under the rule of secrecy that priests are.

Anything a lay person tells me in private stays secret, it's part of my vows.

You could tell me you robbed a bank and when the cops came I would tell them what you told me was between you and me.

I would refuse to testify against you.

So, if you told someone anointing you for healing that you had a disease from an out of wedlock sexual encounter and wanted to be healed, a priest couldn't tell your spouse but a lay person could.

So, I get it.

We'll have healing Sunday but I'll do the oil.

We'll talk about lay people doing it later....