Writing a sermon

 It's not the easiest thing--but not that bad.

I should be doing that now instead of this.

So much is coming up--our anniversary on Saturday, a visit from our soon to be ex-daughter in law and one of her college age girls, Sunday church and visiting a dying parishioner. Lots of stuff.

But I have to write a sermon.

I'm going to center on Jesus saying "when two are three are gathered in my name, I will be in the midst of them."

He's talking about 'church', though that won't happen until many decades after his death and resurrection. And the Gospels about him won't be written for several hundred years.

But he is assuring us that he will be in the midst of us when we gather to worship him.

A big favor to us--two or three--gathered in his name....

 

Bible Study today

Only 4 today--small number, but bright folks.

We decided to give up on the Gnostic Gospels and today looked at the Gospel for Sunday.

A great way to help the preacher coming up--mostly me!

Went well, but a hard reading about confronting someone who sinned against you and then bringing witnesses and casting the offender out if he/she did not repair his/her offense..

But we hear Jesus say where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, I will be in the midst of them.

That's good news for churches, especially small ones.

We had 4, so Jesus was with us.

That's wonderful....

Jesus in our midst.

 

Joy and Anguish

 My dentist called and asked if I could come in at 3:30 and get the implant I've been waiting on for months.

I was so happy I got there 20 minutes early!

She fooled around with my space and put the implant in and I was delighted--it felt and looked great!

Then she said, "Jim, I've got some bad news...."

Having a dentist say that is terrifying.

The implant wasn't broad enough to touch both of the teeth on either side so she took it out and sent it to the lab to see if they could fix it a bit.

Just a bit....yet I have to wait another 3 weeks now.

I came home so depressed I burnt the bread in the toaster oven.

I have the gizmo with my fake tooth in now and I'm still in anguish....

No church, no problem

 Didn't have church today.

Bill's newsletter said they had a great Morning Prayer.

I have to go up tomorrow to give communion and healing or last rites to a parishioner whose be in the hospital. She seems, according to her son, to be in her last weeks or days.

Nothing much for me to do today.

Drove around a little--I enjoy that.

Got some mini-crossiants (sp) at the store.

Nothing going on in Cheshire.

Bern cut the grass she won't let me near with a lawnmower!

She is my heroine!

Saturday is our 56th anniversary.

Lucky to have her and to have lived so long....

Cloudy Thursday

Weather people have been calling for rain, even thunderstorms, but not a drop at 2:05 p.m.

Bern moved deck plants out to get rain.

No rain.

Even occasional sun. Just clouds.

Sometimes weather people don't have any more clue than us.

Went to CVS for some stuff, but nowhere else.

September is coming next week.

Our anniversary is the 5th. 56 years!

Hard to believe.

How long to be so lucky as to be married to Bern....

 

Since then...

 Fr. Dan Pisano, my wife's brother, visited for 3 days.

He's a Roman Catholic priest (kinda' retired, like I'm kinda' retired!).

He's been part of my Tuesday group--the only one that not Episcopalian--but only on line.

Yesterday we met at St. Peter's here in Cheshire and people finally got to meet him in the flesh. He and I co-celebrated Eucharist and I had him do the blessing of the bread and wine. Fine with everybody....

Today at Bible Study in Milton we had 8 people--a record of sorts, but Dan didn't go since he had to catch a plane back to West Virginia.

We also got a new refrigerator today and luckily I went to Bible Study while Bern filled it with the stuff she'd taken from the old one. Glad I didn't have to help.

We don't have many visitors, Bern and I, but have for 3 weeks in a row! 

Josh and Fatma toward and back from Maine and Dan this week.

Visitors take up time usually spent other ways, like writing this blog. So that's why I missed time again.

Hope to be on every day for a good long while....

See you soon....

Been a few days...

 It's not that I had nothing to say--I have.

It's not that I've been too busy--I haven't.

It's that my mind has been in limbo for a number of things.

First of all, we went from looking for a new car to spending over $700 to fix my front brakes and buy two new tires. So, I'm going to drive my car for a while longer. I'm glad....

Second, Dan--Bern's brother is coming on Monday for a visit. He's getting into Hartford on a plane at 10 p.m. or so. So Bern got an Uber to bring him to us since we're in bed before then.

Third, I am so upset about our so-called President and all the awful things he's doing. Making money instead of taking care of the poor. Declaring English as the American language and cutting funds for English classes for immigrants. Building a ballroom and fighting a war, neither of which anyone wants, instead of running the nation. Making the national debt higher than it's ever been while spending money on a war and ballroom nobody wants.

I'm just getting started--but I'm stopping there.

Church today was great except our musician is sick again, so no music. But we did a healing service after communion and after church talked about a Christmas play before a great coffee hour.

I love that church and those people.

What a lucky guy I am...except for car troubles and what's his name in the White House....

Car looking tomorrow

 Bern has almost convinced me I need a new car or a low mileage used one.

It doesn't help that when I hit the brakes it sounds like thunder.

I'll try to have that checked tomorrow.

You have a car for sale? Or want to give it to a good ole guy?

So, tomorrow, we go looking.

I may just give my much loved car to Public Radio since I don't think a dealer is going to give me much of anything for it.

As you've probably deduced--I hate this whole thing.

But I'm a good ole guy....

Driving to Milton...

...wears me out. It's only 33 miles, but on Wednesday the traffic is a lot heavier than Sunday.

I made it before anyone else and luckily remembered the code for the parish house door.

I really needed a bathroom!

There were 6 people at Bible Study--5 regulars and a newcomer.

She was very engaged--hope she'll be back.

Gnostic writings are both 'kinda familiar' and 'quite strange'.

The group is used to that by now and the first-timer was fascinated.

The conversation was so good I didn't eat all my lunch. That was fine. Talk is often better than food.

Driving home I heard weird noises when I used the brakes.

Bern is probably right--I need a new car.

But I thought this car would be the last of my life (I'm that old!) but 184,000 miles is a lot and I will most likely fail my admissions test again next week.

We'll see....

 

Monday, Monday....

 I was on my way to have my re-take my car's emmisions (which I can't spell!) test, but stopped at English Auto on the way.

If you live in Cheshire or near-by and need car work, go to English--they're the best, a family business and they are all great.

The woman who runs it told me my 'check engine' light being on would fail me out of the box. She also told me I could be late for the test and they couldn't do anything. In fact, she told me, people drive for months after failing--you just can't renew your registration.

Bern wants me to get a new car, but I've resisted so far. We'll see.

Also, took a water damaged book--a "Murder She Wrote" novel, back to the library thinking I'd have to pay for it.

But the head librarian said not to worry about it.

So, I won't.

Not a bad day so far.

And Jeopardy is on tonight--if I haven't mentioned it--my favorite show.

Not a bad day at all....

Church

Church, as always, was wonderful. Great music, a good crowd, several kids--all of whom received communion!--and a coffee hour full of wonder (including Josh's birthday cake which we were so full we couldn't eat....)

The newsletter is already on line. A great picture of K. and S.--mother and daughter who were my assistants. S. a teenager carried the cross, gave me the elements, washed my fingers and administered the wine.

She did great and I told her mom, "S. and I won't need you next time!"

She laughed and said, "good!"

Some visitors, who came to communion--YEA!!!

I love the folks at Trinity.

Wish it wasn't 33 miles from home....

I used Prayer C 'cause I love it so.

A great morning.

Home in plenty of time for lunch.

Hope your Sunday was as good as mine....

 

Waiting to shower....

 They didn't arrive (our son and his female companion) until after 7 p.m. so they are pizza late and we sat on the back deck and talked until after 8 and then gave him his birthday cake (a really strange thing called "chocolate avalanche") that none of us had room to eat.

So, I'm taking the cake to church tomorrow for coffee hour. We'll see what Trinity folks think about a chocolate avalanche!

I got up about my normal time but didn't shower because I thought they'd be up and ready to leave in the morning.

Not so. They didn't come downstairs until nearly 11, had some things to eat (coffee and donuts mostly) and didn't leave until after noon.

So, I had a small lunch and then took my shower.

I don't like afternoon showers, I don't know why exactly.

After that I went to get gas and to Big Y for a few things.

Bern and I are both exhausted though we didn't do much while they were here. Having adult kids around is tiring, I guess.

I've said it before, but we really like her. She is so patient and kind and helpful.

I hope it all ends well.

But only morning showers for me.....

Coming soon....

 My son and his companion are coming soon on their way back down the east coast. They stopped on the way north (I mentioned that in a post) and are now headed back to Baltimore.

Today is his birthday. I won't tell you how old he is since it would reveal how old I am! But he's past the half-century mark and I was 28 when he was born--there, I did it anyway.

We have some gifts and an amazing cake ready but we don't know if they will spend the night.

I like his companion a lot--more than I liked his soon to be 'former' wife.

But enough about that.

Bridget is barking at the front door.

Maybe they're here....

Keep going Bible Study....

 Before anyone else got there, Bill and I decided to cancel Bible Study until late September.

As the session was ending, I went to the bathroom while Bill told the six people there about the plan.

When I came back, he told me we were meeting next Wednesday for Bible Study.

I got home and emailed him to ask what happened and to tell him I was fine to keep going.

He emailed back that everyone screamed "NO!" when he told them.

I actually feel good about that since I love to do it (though a few Wednesdays off wouldn't be bad....)

But why do I need that, I only work three Sundays and the Wednesdays each month. I have plenty of down-time.

That those people want to keep digging into the Gnostic Gospels is, after all, wonderful!

Let's go, Gospel of Phillip!

The woman I met

 I took cans back to Big Y today. But when I got to the machine, there was a receipt in it for almost 6 dollars.

I went and found the woman who I thought it belonged to and gave it back to her. She thanked me for my kindness, and I thought that was it.

But later, she somehow found me in the store and gave me a dollar bill.

"It isn't much," she told me, "but I wanted to reward you for your kindness."

I'd like to meet more people like her.

Kindness on my part represented itself in kindness on her part.

That should be the norm.

But it isn't.

I have that dollar bill beside me as I type.

I may frame it along with "Kindness from kindness--too rare."

Thank God for her and others like her.....

 

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.