To All A Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2007
Dear Family and Friends,



I hope this Christmas Season brings you all of the wonderment and joy you all are so deserving of. I’m going to do some myth busting. Even if you are a little naughty, no fat guy will come down your chimney and put coal in your shoes. Fact: I was naughty one year (not telling which one) and it didn’t happen. Then to test it again I was naughty the next year and it still didn’t happen, no coal. After that, I heard rumors that perhaps the whole white bearded fat guy thing was a hoax. Not wanting to push my luck, I have been good ever since. If any of you have been bad this year I would like to hear back and see how it went. Personally, I think its bunk but just in case, I bought some cookies and Coca-Cola.



Oh, how we miss those magical Christmases of our youth. I find that as the years go by I am starting to look increasingly like this Santa Claus character who has morphed a bit. Santa Claus started out as skinny St. Nicholas, a 4th century martyred Bishop from Turkey. He was noted to be the patron saint of the poor, pawnbrokers and prostitutes and most noted for his generosity toward poor children. A tradition of winter gift giving passing though most European cultures, incorporating pagan and folkloric effects, becoming SinterKlaas for the Dutch; gaining weight in the 19 century and becoming the American icon of conspicuous consumption. A simple satchel of sweets for children has now become over burdened with marketing ploys, usury, corporate greed and materialism. Culturally new, images of Santa Clause now prevail in Iraq and Afghanistan, since the onset of our military occupation. The jolly old man has become a symbol of empire.



In the last 14 months, experiencing the passing of both my parents, a favorite aunt and now a brother, I have come to know even truer, the greatest gift is to love and be loved. I wish for all of you this great gift. As a Christian, I know a story of a child who was born in a simple manger and hailed by night workers in a field. This innocent child of Bethlehem became known as the Prince of Peace for a new kingdom. Perhaps too, morphed through time and culture but also known to be the friend of prostitutes the poor and children.



I am fortunate that nearly all of my friends and family are without serious need. I have decided to make my gift giving this year to Heifer International. One of my internship churches here in California introduced me to this organization. The Heifer Project gives animals to poor families, teaches animal husbandry and does community development as ways to relieve poverty. I appeal to each of you to find out more about this amazing organization. In memory of my passed love ones, you, and the other beloved ones receiving this note, I have sponsored a water buffalo, a goat and bees. I will leave it your imagination to figure which of you remind me of a water buffalo, an old goat or being as sweet as honey.



Please be good, and may you know the Goodness of this season…

Pastor, Friend, Papa, Brother, Uncle, Robert (Bob) Hattle

Ordination and move details

Hi again, everyone -

Here are the details about my ordination, as promised.

Aimee's Ordination
Sunday, December 30, 2007
3:00 p.m.
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Portland
1624 NE Hancock St.
(reception following)

I'm still in the process of putting together the service, and if anyone has run across any great elements for an ordination service, I'd love to know...is it just me, or are resources scarce...?

For those of you not able to come but still hanging out in the Bay area, I'll see you soon enough in any case! We're planning to drive a U-Haul down to the South Bay after New Year's (I should have just left all my crap in Marin) and arrive January 3. I start at Santa Clara (officially) the following Monday.

On an unrelated note, does anyone know whether a Seminary Singers CD was ever produced? I heard rumors but never saw the real deal...

Another Loss

Robert Hattle is in Chicago this morning, about to head over to Ohio with his younger brother to attend to the death of his eldest brother. This is the third death in the Hattle family in the last 18 months, his mother and father having passed away not very long ago. If you want to drop a note, Robert' s address is 2067 Tina Court, Arcada, CA 95521.

Lessons and Carols and being where we are

Last night Cheryl, Harold, James K & Mary R, Michelle Walker and her daughter Sarah, Leslie Veen, Heather Grantham & two first year students who's names I didn't catch gathered at the re-born Teds (now called Eats with a much better cook and great music) after Lessons & Carols.
Twas a nice time to catch up with each other.

Lessons and Carols was again beautiful with new and old songs. Heather Granthem had a very strong alto voice in the lead solo for Prepare Ye (First came the prophet crying in the wilderness...). O Magnum Mysterium flowed in rich waves of pure wonder and Sleeps Judea Fair once again lifted to the rafters deep praise that gentle floated back to the soft, holy lullaby ending. O Holy Night was - well O Holy Night. Ethel Mermen moment and all! Sir Christemas which is a very robust French Carol was added back to the rotation and a new song, The Lute Song by Mary Elizabeth Caldwell, reminded me of the song we sang with Heather and her harp.

The choir remained downstairs for the concert with an orchestra (featuring Bob Coote front and center) seated in front. The readings went well, Dr. Butin was brief and Charles simply glowed. This year's decoration featured two gigantic nets of white christmas lights that formed valley and hill over our heads and a six foot wide advent wreath with candles suspended over the the front of the sanctuary.

Okay - this may sound like a bit hoky "review" - but I'm trying to find a way for folks who can't make it this year to come visit it in their mind's eye tonight. So, I press on...

At the end, just before the last anthem, Dr. Danial Hoggat turns to the audience and invites alumni to come forward and join in on Chill of the Nightfall. I miss singing with a large group of voices. I miss singing with Dan - his energy, his skill in highlighting our next entrance, the words on his lips so that we need hardly glance at the music... I rejoice that I was able to once again stand next to Cheryl, know that James was up and round the corner that Mary and Michelle were just back there... I rejoice that again Dan stands up and again raises his arms and again, we are transformed into a brief glimpse, a taste, a shadow of the Holy Choirs of Cherabums and Saraphams singing praise...

Glory of daybreak! Sorrows and shadows,
suddenly they break forth into morn;
sing out and tell now all shall be well now,
for in the stable Jesus is born!

Inbetween

If we are in between the last Sunday of the previous Liturgical year and the first Sunday of the coming Liturgical year then what is this time?

A time of no Time?

A deep intake of breath before we burst back out again into the frenetic activity of Advent/Christmas? (and why does Advent and Christmas need to be frenetic?)

Often Thanksgiving day falls during this week but this year it came early enough to fall on Audrey's birthday. So there is a whole week inbetween this year. A week plus of days where its still November and not December. It seems like - well - a Great Pause in the time-stream.

Although we put up the Christmas lights on the house, it seems premature. Although I watched again, with great deep child pleasure, the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, it wasn't yet the right moment.

Maybe its the weather - blue sky and mid-sixties does not winter make for this native-born Oregonian.

Or maybe its because its still in-between and isn't that a gift too?

Wait, how did this happen?

I am preaching this coming Sunday, one of the High Holy Days of the Associate and Pulpit Supply preachers: "Thanksgiving Weekend Sunday." The other High Holy Days are "First Sunday after Christmas Eve" and "First Sunday after Easter." The Lesser Holy Days are of course "The Sundays that occur during Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day Weekend."

Because of the way the secular and the sacred calenders meander, Thanksgiving Weekend Sunday can sometimes also be the First Sunday in Advent or Christ the King Sunday. For reasons that escape me (and for which I really don't care enough to google), the Liturgical Year starts with the First Sunday in Advent which is difficult enough to explain to not-a-worship-geek folks but also dredges up the best of the doom and gloom passages of Scripture. Okay, I know why the lectionary goes with death, suffering, and fear, it was obviously built before the Macy's Advertising Agency got their department staffed and running but again, explaining that is a tough stroke against the current for a number of normal American Christians. "I don't want to sing these gloomy songs during Christmas," one choir member said to me a few weeks ago. "I don't come here to be depressed. What will visitors think?" and she has a point. Lately I have started to wonder that if the Early Church leadership could figure out a way to co-op Solstice then maybe we should join the marketing frenzy and hope folks stick around in January for the really good stuff. But that's another day's bitter post. Today, I'm writing to vent on Christ the King Sunday. Which I'm preaching on. This Sunday. Maybe.

I get that the Lectionary is an ancient and honorable spiritual discipline. I get that it keeps us honest and in touch with the parts of the Bible we'd prefer to skip over. Even in the festival of the frantic consumer - I mean Advent...But Christ the King Sunday is a latecomer in a big way.

In 1925, Pope Pius XI, concerned about the rise of secularism and communism in the world, established the Feast of Christ the King (originally the last Sunday in October). The Rt. Rev. Msg. Rudolph G. Bandas writes, "The Feast of Christ the King was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as an antidote to secularism, a way of life which leaves God out of man's thinking and living and organizes his life as if God did not exist. The feast is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner Christ's royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations." (Catholic Culture: Living the Catholic Life)

Well...okay. Certainly there is plenty of material in Scripture that actively claims the metaphor of Christ as King and proclaims the Kingdom of God and certainly there is much in our theology, including Calvin, that emphasis the Trinitarian God as the source of faith and salvation in our life and world but how did we end up with the last Sunday of the liturgical year on such a triumphal note? Why not Christ sending out the Disciples? Why not the empty tomb and the instructions to the women, "What are you doing here? Jesus is over there in Galilee where he said he was going to be?" Why not Pentecost? If the intent of the Liturgical Calender is to walk with Jesus and the Disciples through the course of his recorded ministry, why do we not end up with the same place that the disciples end up? Being sent back out again? And what about the self-emptying God? The one that sets aside all that God is and becomes human?

And why do we - a reformed, protestant church - include a 1925 Catholic Festival day, born out of anxiety, in our liturgical calender? Nothing against Catholics but 1925 isn't exactly an ancient and shared spiritual tradition.

Well - I guess there is some potential goodness out of all of this... The website, Catholic Culture, tells us that "A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King. A plenary indulgence is granted, if it is recited publicly on the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ King."

Maybe I'll include in the Order of Worship this Sunday.

Pics from Wray

This is the front of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Wray, CO where my congregation has been for over 100 years.

This is the inside of the Sanctuary of said congregation :)

This is the front of my house that is much too small for Knox and myself...Just kidding, it has 4 beds and two baths so there is ample room for growth in the family :) But for now Knox and I enjoy all the space to ourselves.

This is the Cherry tree in my backyard that I am told yields marvelous fruit for making pies. I can't wait!

Garrett's News

In case you were not one of Garrett's 160 some odd email addressees here is good news:

I wanted to inform you all that as of today I now know I will be getting ordained as a minister of the Word and Sacrament this Saturday. Today I went through what we in the Presbyterian Church call the trials of ordination. After successfully completing them in Georgia where my wife and I will be moving early next month, I am flying out to Riverside, California (my hometown) to be ordained in a service of
ordination this Saturday.

For those of you still in Southern California, my ordination is at 3pm at Magnolia Presbyterian Church in Riverside, it be awesome should you show up.

Peace to you all,
Garrett

The Aimee and Bob Show Goes On the Road

Last Saturday morning, November 10, Aimee and I both stood for ordination trials before Cascades Presbytery. Facing 300+ people to answer questions about theology, spirituality, call, or anything else they want to ask is a stress-making experience. At least it was for me.

Both of us did fine, and both of us were approved for ordination. On the the next step.
Thanks for your prayers.

makes me smile

So I am not so big on spiders, but this picture of the day from National Geographic made me smile. I hope it does the same for you!

Found only on the islands of Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii, the happy face spider, such as this one guarding its eggs on a leaf in Maui, is known for the unique patterns that decorate its pale abdomen. Scientists believe Theridion grallatormay have developed its distinctive markings to discourage birds from eating it.
(Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Deadly Silk: Spiderwebs," August 2001, National Geographic magazine)

Lessons and Carols - and a Dinner Invitation

As it happened Michelle Walker and Polly and I were standing around in the hallway for a few moments on Friday and Michell and Polly thought... wouldn't it be nice to go out to dinner with us alum types on one of the nights before L&C?

So - please let me know (posting or emailing or calling) if you are interested in going out to dinner before L&C and if so - which night are you thinking about going?

Beauty

The seed pod cover is mia. Now it's just the stalk becoming root.

Remember this seed?

Remember this seed?

I don't know if this is the same one,
but look - a week or so later....

Seriously - all that comes from that little round stone thing.... and more is still on the way. Water, sunlight, dirt and now... this. Beauty. And it does this all over my garden, all over my yard, all over my neighborhood - all over time. Billions of little rock like pebble things becoming.... just becoming.

Vigil

A few days ago I was working at my computer when I heard a startlingly loud thump at my door. When I looked out, I found a bird lying on its back on my door step.

Although breathing, blinking its eyes and twitching its legs from time to time, it clearly was a bit startled itself.

It was also beautiful.


After a few minutes it managed to flip itself over, but one side of his body didn't seem to work very well.

I grabbed my camera and sat on the porch while we both waited to find out how it was going to go with him. We have hunter cats in the neighborhood. I thought he deserved a chance against them. I sat vigil with him so I might protect him from the predators while he was so vulnerable.


He squatted down, continued blinking his eyes and breathing. Perhaps I made him nervous, perhaps he was still trying to figure out where he was and what still worked.

I was worried that his leg was sticking out at an awkward angle. I thought his feathers were smooth and beautiful and richly colored.






Normally, this bird just flits by, a glimpse of motion. Now look and see - beauty. Rich colors, soft feathers, pleasing shapes of curve and edge.

This is how it is with God. So much beauty in things unseen or hidden or too quick.




I went inside to grab a phone so I could call a friend who has some connection to bird rescue hospitals. When I came back out the bird startled and flew away in a great flap of wings. It kept low to the ground as it disappeared beyond a corner of the house and the cars. I walked out to the street, wondering if it was going to make it. If he could land on a branch and be okay or if he was doomed because his leg was broken or the concussion had left him damaged.

He was gone. Hidden in a bush perhaps or already blocks away shaking off the moment and heading back to doing what birds do.

He could yet be cat or hawk fodder.

But he is beauty. He is a sign of God's creative goodness even as he is at risk for the violence in this world.

²⁵²⁶²⁷

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?

Matthew 6:25-34

A Geography

My garden has acquired a geography.


From above it looks like an island perhaps.











The texture of the three kinds of plants - Fava Beans, green peas and I forget the third - gives a sense of height and depth.









From ground level its like a jungle or a forest perhaps.












Or the plants go back to forming shapes like hills and valleys.

California, here I come

Hello everyone! I am excited to announce that this morning I accepted a call to be a campus minister at Santa Clara University! My position is one of seven full-time campus ministers at SCU (which is a Jesuit university near San Jose), and I'll be focused on the needs of Protestant students and coordinating ecumenical and interfaith ministries for the campus. I officially start in January, and at this point it looks like my ordination will be December 30 at my home church - Westminster Presbyterian, Portland. I'll send more details when I've got 'em, of course.

This job at Santa Clara is one that came across my desk while I was still in Geneva, but because I was not exactly available for a face-to-face interview, they decided not to proceed with me...but then I discovered over the summer that they hadn't filled the post. So I let them know I was back in the country, one thing led to another, and I went down for three days of interviews this week. It seems like a great fit, and I'm thrilled.

I'll keep you all posted as plans come together... :)

Happy Reformation Day!

Babies everywhere.

The above picture is me with my sister's child, Kai, at her baptism this past August. She's super fun. I'm surrounded by babies.


This is our new niece, Sophia Caroline Myers. She was born this past Monday. She is my brother's 4th child. She is a ringer for her brother's and sister.


Besides all of the babies, not much else going on. Heather is preaching in front of the Presbytery in January so that she can start looking for a job. Keep your fingers crossed that unless something drastic happens she will get through. We are going to start applying to jobs all over the country and Canada after January, we shall see what happens. I am eagerly anticipating trick or treaters. I have never had them before. When you grow up in the country you have to drive to a neighborhood to go trick or treating. And as I've grown up I've lived in apartments. This will be my first time, it's very exciting.
Last night was our first frost, and it came with no warning, which has made some of our outdoor plants angry at me for not protecting them. Our marathon training is going well, we have 7 miles to run tonight after work, should be a good time.

A Garden Movie

I really can't explain this other then I went out this afternoon to inspect the garden and two hours later I had this:



If you can't watch it, let me know and I'll try another trick or two...

enjoy
anitra

Wilburtown

Hey friends -

Finally . . . here are some photos from Wilbur.

First, our new dogs. Milo is the big one and he is about a year old. Pokey is in the middle and Scout is on the outside. We have had the puppies for about a month. They sure keep us busy and they are so cute they get away with everything!

Of course we still have Ernie and Simon!

Finally, here is a photo of me getting ready for Halloween.

BOO!

Now Here's a New Thing!

Dear SFTS Community,
Philip Wickeri has forwarded to us this great news about the uniting of two branches of the Reformed family.
The union of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) creates one of the largest Protestant communions in the world.
Something to celebrate!
Jana Childers
Dean
*****
World Alliance of Reformed Churches
News Release
22 October 2007

WARC Executive Committee: Trinidad and Tobago , 18-28 October 2007

New Reformed body to be formed

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) today agreed to unite with the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) to create a new global Reformed body representing more than 80 million Reformed Christians worldwide.

The historic decision took place at WARC’s Executive Committee meeting being held in Trinidad and Tobago , following two days of detailed discussions on many of the aspects of the proposed merger.

“This is a truly, truly important moment,” said WARC president Clifton Kirkpatrick after the vote was taken at midday. He invited the participants in the meeting to join together in the singing of the doxology.

“It’s a great moment,” added REC president Douwe Visser. “I hope we can combine the efforts of these two organizations and have an even broader outreach than WARC and REC have at the moment.”

“I have a feeling this new body will be the voice of the Reformed world.”

WARC general secretary Setri Nyomi said, “This is a historic moment. The Reformed family has demonstrated that we have the ability to engage together in a united fellowship and overcome divisions – and for this we are thankful to God.”

Added Richard van Houten, REC’s general secretary , “I’m delighted. I get the feeling the WARC Executive Committee really wrestled hard with some serious issues and in doing so, are now solidly behind the effort.”

In March, REC’s Executive Committee approved in principle of a new Reformed body tentatively called the World Reformed Communion. However WARC today asked for more time to consider an alternative proposal for the name of the new group.

WARC is a worldwide fellowship of 75 million Reformed Christians in 214 churches in 107 countries. A survey of WARC’s member churches found that 41 churches supported the merger, while six churches raised some questions. No WARC churches opposed the move.

REC represents 12 million Reformed Christians in 39 churches in
25 countries. Of its 39 member churches, 27 are also members of WARC.

A proposed basis for the union reads:

“The basis of the (name) shall be the Word of the triune God, incarnated in Jesus Christ, found in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and witnessed to in the church. This
(name) embodies Reformed identity articulated in historic Reformed confessions and continued in the life and witness of the Reformed community.”

The new Reformed body will be open to all members of WARC and REC who are not under suspension, as well as other Reformed, Presbyterian, Congregational, Waldensian, First Reformation, United and Uniting traditions who affirm the basis of the new entity.

The new Reformed body will also invite movements, agencies and theological institutions of the Reformed movement into active affiliation with it.

The key callings of the new Reformed body will be:

- to foster Reformed confessional identity and communion among Reformed churches, and unity in the whole church;
- to promote justice in the economy and the earth, and all of God’s creation, and to work for peace and reconciliation in the world;
- to encourage the renewal of Reformed worship and spiritual life as a global family of God’s people;
- to strengthen leadership development and the nurture of the covenant community;
- to promote the full participation of women and youth in all aspects of the church’s life;
- to renew a passion among Reformed Christians for God’s mission, both witness and service, in a spirit of partnership and unity;
- to interpret Reformed theology for contemporary witness and for the unity of the church.

While the new Reformed body had been tentatively called the World Reformed Communion, WARC’s Executive Committee is still exploring options and will try to come up with an alterna tive name during this meeting.

Delegates are also still debeing a loose-knit alliance towards a more mutually accountable body or communion.

While discussions have centred on holding a uniting General Council in 2010, WARC’s Executive Committee has asked for input on this from its Finance and Fundraising Network before making a decision.

The timing and financing of the uniting General Council are critical as WARC will also want to take part in an expanded General Assembly under the auspices of the World Council of Churches (WCC), likely in 2013.

Doug Chial of the member relations office of WCC told the WARC meeting, “The commitment is to raise the participation of the Christian world communions in the next General Assembly. That will mean more space and deeper involvement.”


***


The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) brings together 75 million Reformed Christians in 214 churches in 107 countries - united in their commitment to making a difference in a troubled world. The WARC general secretary is Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana . WARC's secretariat is based in Geneva , Switzerland .


Contact:
John P. Asling
Executive Secretary, Communications
World Alliance of Reformed Churches
150 Route de Ferney
P.O. Box 2100
1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
tel. +41.22 791 6243
fax: +41.22 791 6505
web: www.warc.ch

Every Time - the coolest thing

This is a fava bean sprouting.

First it sends out a root into the soil and then raises its head/seed covering till the covering falls off. Next comes the first leaves which almost always look the same for all plants. Then comes the rest of the things that make a fava plant a fava plant.

I recently pulled the rest of the tomatoes out of the garden and sent the still greens to ripen in the garage. Now, it is time to let the soil recover so I spread out what is called a green manue mix. This includes fava beans, green peas, and vetch all of which are nitrogeon fixing plants. In other words, they grab nitrogen from the air and places it in the soil which crop plants use for growing their green parts. Nitrogen tends to wash out of the soil with water so there needs to be some plan of replacement when gardening/farming. This is also why we have so much of it in our rivers, lakes and oceans. Its been washing off the large scale farms for decades.

Come Late January or February, I'm going to turn the crop over back into the ex-sandbox. This will add to the water retention ability of the sand (we're moving it toward dirt without compacting it) and continue to put nitrogen in the soil naturally.

The whole thing is amazing to me.

Over an over again, seemingly inert little pebble-like things change up when placed in dirt and become huge bushes of red ripe tomatoes or gigantic vines of peas.

At first it all looks dead and then....

little green first leaves

Roots

Earlier in the summer, part of our backyard used to look like this (on the right). The previous owners had planted two redwood trees in a very small space where three yards (and houses) come together.

The redwoods were beautiful and majestic as they always are. They were very tall too. And their branches sometimes broke off in the wind. Other redwood trees in neighborhood yards have blown over, smashing the gutters off of one house... and the roots were starting to push up our neighbor's yards.

So reluctantly (and I mean very reluctantly) we made the decision to go ahead and take them down.





Its pretty obvious why the previous owners wanted to put something there.


After spending a month or two living with the empty space and thinking about what comes next, we went out and bought a lemon tree.

I have never bought and planted a tree before.

Its such a spiritual thing - to accept care for something that I may not see the end of. Someone else will be harvesting lemons from this little stick of a thing maybe 20 years from now. (if global warming doesn't mess it all up)

Its beautiful. The person who helped us pick out the tree wanted to know what we were going to name it. (I'm thinking Zoe) It has that kind of life energy about it. I'm happy and I'm in awe when I look at it.


Since we had the shovels out - I took another big step and planted the rose bush and the geranium that I had in pots when I lived in San Anselmo. (they are both in the center of the photo - I'd highlight them but I don't have the software to muck around with that at the moment)

One day a few years ago I was restless for a rose bush. I used to have several back in the old live before the big change. Maybe the big concrete Bell parking lot was getting to me. Maybe part of my restoration was claiming a rose bush - in a container ready to be a vagabond while the time of just-passing-through lasted - but still a living thing that prefers to put down roots in soil rather than journey off over the horizon. As the years went by, the poor rose bush did its best to put on leaves and flowers but it was clearly growing more and more distressed in its bound up condition.

So, it went into the front garden along with the geraniums I inherited from Catharine Cory. Now their future is bound up with the soil and the weather and the bugs of this particular place. The day will come when I will leave them behind but its not going to be for a few years yet. I don't think of them as things I own so much as I consider them my companions of the past few years.

I've hit the end of the line in obviously ordainable prospects. I either leave the area or wait or do something else or find a non-obvious ordainable path. Its not such a bad life here. I am still free to try and pull together a book proposal and I am free to cook and plant and tend and think and sing. But I am worried. How do I face my CPM? When do I have to say, "stop messing with me, I'm just waiting all our time here?"

The lemon tree came with green lemons. Its one of the ways we know its healthy when we buy it. They will slowly turn yellow and be harvestable sometime in early spring. There is still a blossom on the tree. It smells very nice - and its small and its beautiful. It may be out of time to become a fruit, but still it is there. We need to keep the tree and its fruit safe from cold snaps. Our tree guide recommended using a string of Christmas tree lights because it generates just enough heat in the darkness to keep the lemons-to-be warm in the dark winter months. What a perfect metaphor for Advent, for the coming season in our lives, for this season in my life.

Update on Saw Than Win

I received an email from Saw Than today. He and his family are safe and OK, but his school has temporarily closed. He tells me that they have limited access to email. Please keep Saw Than and his family in your prayers, and pass this on to any congregation or prayer chain that you have access to.

Bob has a call

Hi, All,
They asked. I said yes.
Last Sunday (9/30) I preached for the PNC of 1st Church Boonville, NY. After lunch, the committee met for what seemed like an awfully long time. When they called me back in, they invited me to become their Designated Pastor. I said yes.
In my mind, I'm saying YAHOO!
It's a 200 year old church of 121 members. The village of Boonville is about 35 or 40 miles NW of Utica, NY, about 25 miles NE of Rome, NY and about 3000 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. Boonville is a village of Victorian and older houses and buildings, surrounded by farms and hardwood forests, sitting in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. I'm told they have serious winter there.
Assuming trials and candidating go well, my ordination service will be on November 18 at Westminster PC in Portland. You're all invited--the more the merrier. Dates and places for trials are still being discussed between Utica and Cascades Presbyteries, but in any event will be the second week in November.
Stay tuned for more info about moving dates, start dates, etc.

While I'm celebrating, though, I have a deep concern for my friend Saw Than Win, my roomate in Oxtoby my last year at school. He is a pastor and seminary professor in Myanmar. As a result of the recent civil unrest, the ruling junta has pulled the plug on internet access for the whole country, so there's no way to contact him to find out if he's OK. I ask for your prayers for Saw Than and his family.
Peace and Blessings,
Bob

distracted

My in-laws are here. I was showing them somethings on my other blog which I was setting up for the vonseg's to keep track of each other and accidentally messed up this one which made us lose the quizzes. I'll get back to them next week.

In the meantime I give you: LOL Cats

the poll of all polls

click here

more news

Hattle called this afternoon to say he has been officially certified as a Candidate for Ministry of the Word and Sacrament! Pif to be posted very soon.

Bits of this & that

More on Doug Adam's Memorial Service (which should prove to be something magnificent)

John Bell (composer, wild goose, iona community, etc) will be leading worship at SFTS on Monday - 10/15

The Mother Ship has a new website (did they pay for the design? looks sharp) with a page listing job opportunities.

The Rev. Dr. Don McCullough, formerly President of SFTS among other things, has been called to Mendocino Presbyterian Church. He also has a couple of books out, most recently The Consolations of Imperfection: Learning to Appreciate Lifes Limitations.

Yea Alexis

Who sent over the latest quiz suggestion. She also did one earlier on beer.

Homesick

It rained here at my house on Saturday. It rained with rain clouds and sustained wetness, not just a passing bit of spritz. It wasn't a heavy rain nor an all day rain but it was rain.

Another Good Book

Clergy Burnout: Recovering from the 70-Hour Work Week...And Other Self-Defeating Practices

Fred Lehr


Lehr is a Lutheren Pastor, formerly involved with congregations and now with a Renewal Ministries LLC - another church conflict management consulting firm. Which begs the question: Why is Church Conflict Intervention such a growth industry?

Lehr offers up a clear definition of what it means to be co-dependent; how co-dependent hurts the clergy, their family and their congregation; and what are good and healthy boundaries for ministry. Lehr does a good job defining the issues but the recommended solutions are weaker. None-the-less, this is a good book for all in ministry, especially those who are starting out when all of it is overwhelming. A tad under 145 pages, it is an easy and quickly absorbed read.

Don't wait till you are burned out - consider reading this book sooner rather than later.

Tomorrow, t' 19th, be Talk Like a Pirate Day

My pirate name is:

Captain Anne Flint

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Last week Bill & I rented a cabin at the Zephyr Point Retreat Center on Lake Tahoe for a personal vacation. Its about the most perfect way I can imagine to experience Tahoe as its very low on the "Spend Money" scale.

Bill likes to get out and hike and see stuff. I prefer to sit on the porch and look at the water.

Last year I went to Zephyr point for the first time for a Interim Training conference which turned out to be a bit irritating as the conference leadership actually expected all of us to stay inside and pay attention to what they were lecturing on. So this year, it was unexpectedly disconcerting to arrive on a Friday with about three or four other Presbyterian groups and NOT dutifully walk down the hill to join in the kick off worship/lectures that were going on around the campus.

At any rate, it was a great week - with lots of little adventures (Fallen Leaf Lake is an amazing place!) but for one little thing.

On Sunday night, after everyone had cleared the campground, I was standing on the porch looking down toward Talac Lodge when I noticed something moving in the corner of my eye. This became one of those moments where the speed of thought becomes amazingly quick.

Second 0.1 - Hmmm, there is something moving down there
0.2 - hmm, its brown, and its bent over like its walking on four legs and...it is rather large. Larger than a cat. Larger then a dog. Wait...
0.3 - ITS A BEAR!
0.31 - ITS A BEAR AND THIS ISN'T A ZOO
0.32 - ITS A BEAR AND THIS ISN'T A ZOO WHICH MEANS THERE ARE NO BARS OR MOATS OR ANYTHING BETWEEN ME AND THAT BEAR EXCEPT THE DOOR OF MY CABIN
0.33 - ITS A BEAR AND BEARS HAVE CLAWS AND TEETH AND THEY ARE BIG AND THEY ARE HUNGRY AND THEY LIKE TO EAT AND I HAVE FOOD
0.34 - THE FRONT DOOR OF THE CABIN IS STANDING OPEN WITH JUST A SCREEN ON THE LATCH.
0.345 - move about twenty feet and close & lock the front door
0.4 - Run all over the cabin evaluating all possible entrances. Regret that we have Verizan phone service where apparently the guy in the geeky gray jacket and his thundering hoard got caught at the casinos in Stateline cuz there's no hearing me now at the retreat center.

That was the only time I saw the bear although we were pretty jumpy the rest of that night. There is an orphaned young one roaming the Zephyer Point grounds and the development next door to the south. It seems uninterested in human contact although some of the Tahoe Bears are now breaking into cabins and houses around the lake, through closed doors, to feat upon the refrigerator WHILE PEOPLE ARE INSIDE which is one of those things I wished I didn't know about while I was there.

All in all, bear sighting included, it was a great personal retreat week - and no silly songs with hand motions to endure just to earn it. Here is a sunset photo for your enjoyment:

Recommended

Since I have some time on my hands - I've been reading. And since I'm such a sharing person I wanted to add a Recommended List to the blog with links to the books I think were good plus we can link to movies, games, videos, video games, etc. In other words - please feel free to add more.

I start with three books:

Lamb; The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal.

Okay, perhaps most of you have already read this. Hattle recommended it to me a couple of years ago but it wasn't until Audrey, my daughter, did her major high school integrated learning paper on it, that I got serious about reading it. Its funny. very funny. And it makes the cultural setting of roman occupation very real. And I got back in touch with just how devistating the cruxification must have been to the followers of Christ at the time. Did I mention funny?

Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times; Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What

Steinke works with congregations (and pastoral leadership) in crisis. His view of church is a bit focused on the bad times and behaviors that can take off in the church but I thought the book worth reading not only as I see some friends in the middle of some huge crap at the moment but also good for anticipating and thinking through how to manage crap before it gets anywhere near the fan. Easy read, fast. Good framework to use to get out of panic mode.

The Practice of Pastoral Care; A Postmodern Approach

An encouraging and supportive framework for short term, focused pastoral care in the congregational setting. Builds on Christie Cozad Neuger's book Counseling Women: A Narrative, Pastoral Approach.

More Ordination News

Put another pin in the map! Word on the street has it congratulations are in order for Nick Valadez! He has received a call to Parker Heights Presbyterian Church in Wapato Washington. (Does this put him in your Presbytery Heather?)

Here's what Nick had to say about his new adventure:

"It is a solo pastor of a small congregation (30-40) on Sunday. I have a lot to do. It is a great place to be and lots of peaches, apples, pears, cherries, etc... Lots of the people in the congregation own an orchard, so hopefully free fruit!!! I am looking forward to it. "

He will be ordained on Oct 21st at his home church in Texas. Congratulations to Nick!

Pastor Heather?

Hello friends -

Things are going well in Wilbur. Lars and I are keeping busy. We adopted two new puppies this weekend which has been a bit of a handful. We had planned on one but got carried away. They are both dachshunds and so we now have our own herd.

I am preparing to preach at the Presbytery meeting on Saturday so that is a big deal on the work front. I am planning a Heather style smack down because I am so disgusted with the way things are going there. And to think, this will be the one year anniversary since they chewed me up at my trials of ordination. Watch out world! : )

If you are wondering why my name changed to Pastor Heather it is because I have started a blog for our church. I am going to post sermons and newspaper articles on the site for my parishioners. You can check it out at wilburchurch.blogspot.com or just click on my name and it will take you there.

Hope all are well. Pictures will be on the way as soon as I have time to post from home instead of from work like I'm doing now.

Settling in :)

Hello Friends! It has taken me a long time to post because I have hit the ground running here in Wray, CO. Not to mention I didn't get Internet access until this Wednesday, which was difficult for me to say the least :)

However, things are going really well. The people are great and I went to the big football game on Friday night which made me very happy. There are things that I really love about small towns and high school football is one of them!

I will have some pictures of the new place up as soon as I get a chance. After being here for about a week, I have my first funeral and that is taking up a lot of time. This death was unexpected and was a young man of 30. Finding words of comfort is hard because there are no words. I would appreciate you prayers.

Take care and I will be e-mailing my new address to you all later on this evening! I figured the blog isn't the best place to do that :) Take care and God Bless!

Love, Rev. Jenn :)

Ordination News

Pam Lupfer, she graduated several years ago, sent this out earlier today.

Service of Ordination of the Presbytery of the Pacific
For Pamela J. Lupfer
As Minister of Word and Sacrament
Sunday, September 16, 2007
At 4:00 in the Afternoon
at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church
26825 Rolling Hills Road
Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274
310-377-2825

Well, it has finally happened. At long last, I will be ordained to the ministry of word and sacrament in the Presbyterian Church on Sunday, September 16th at 4:00pm at St. Luke's Presbyterian Church (provided the church and presbytery votes affirmatively). My new church is located in Haverstraw, New York, about an hour north of New York City in the Hudson River valley. I will be their part-time designated pastor and will remain part-time at Stony Point Conference Center. The church is small, but mighty in spirit and has a beautiful old brick building with Tiffany windows. ..

Aye, get ready for Talk Like a Pirate Day Gar.

September 19th is Talk Like A Pirate Day.

In honor of this approaching event I have found some resources for us to use as we prepare:

A Language Video - A song - An Order of Worship - And a pirate speak translator too!

AAAARRR!

News about Dan

Hey all -- some of you may have gotten this word but I thought this the best venue to make sure everyone heard this news (note that went out from Jana):

From: Jana Childers Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 11:53 AMTo:
Community Announcement
Subject: Prayers requested

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, Professor Dan Hoggatt has had a difficult year dealing with several perplexing health issues. Last week he saw a doctor who was able to put various pieces together and formulate a diagnosis: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Dan will appreciate our prayers and support, I know, during this time as he works with his doctors to improve his health and build strength. With rest and care, it is hoped that Dan will be able to maintain his work and commitments well into the future. Some people with CLL live into their nineties, the doctors say, and those of us who are praying for Dan have that target clearly in mind.

Dan will continue to meet his classes. There will be no disruption of either the worship or music program. However, there are always plenty of small things that need doing in the worship program and I am sure the worship team (Charles, Dan and the chaplain’s assistants) will appreciate offers of help as you see needs you can fill.

Though Dan is not averse to talking about his situation, it might make the most sense for us to express our concerns in prayers, notes and cards and try to avoid overwhelming Dan with personal conversations.

Thank you for your concern.
Jana Childers
Dean

The Newest Rev.

Only got a minute left on my lunch but wanted to get at least this picture posted so you could all see the newly ordained Reverend Jennifer Grantham!

The service of ordination was wonderful, Jen's gift for putting together a worship service (and her love of hymns and music) was clearly visible in this celebration. I wish you could have all been there. I'll let Jen post the rest of the details when she gets a minute (which might be a while since she's already busy on the job in Wrey)

All that left to say is: "Jen you so rock!"

One More Thing

This is a video I was tipped off to by the filmmakers. It is due to come out this fall I believe. It is - at least this segment - filmed in D'Iberville. For all of us who went down - and I know many of us have gone - it is good to see the other side.

If you can't watch it here, try this link

Two years

Noting that two years has passed since the big storm - not that the media was going to let us forget - I killed some time trying to figure out how D'Iberville has progressed. Cheryl, Charles Marks, Scott Schaefer, Sharon LaTour and I spent five days or so helping to pick up the pieces around a small town just a few miles inland from Biloxi and the casinos in January of 2006.

I found some good news.

Ed Cake and Irene McIntosh are still involved in leading the efforts and are getting recognized for their work. Youtube has a video of Irene receiving an award from the AMHCA.

The Volunteer Village continues. It is still located at the baseball field we stayed at but I think folks have moved out of the plastic tents which PDA has relocated over to Ocean Beach and into the old army tents that had been housing folks without land. Volunteers now eat in the big tent - or at least did so until a big storm came along a few months ago. Here is another video highlighting the damage done.

There is now a website for the Volunteer Foundation itself where we can catch up on projects completed and still underway.

There are more videos and some stories and photos out there if one googles or youtubes D'Iberville. It isn't over - and help can still be put to work but I just want to leave y'all with this image taken at the other sports complex where the volunteer effort used to be headquartered.

Click Here

Cha-cha-changes

I am no longer working for Covenant Network of Presbyterians. This is, for the most part, okay with me except for 1)income and 2)identity.

The income is not life or shelter threatening - but will be missed and needs to be replaced both for the good of the household and my own self-esteem. I've got plans however....

The identity shift is more in play. For a long time I've had a great front row seat on some major theological/polity struggles in this denomination. Now I don't. Nor do I have anything solid to replace it with - ie "Pastor Anitra" or "Executive Director Anitra." The closest I have, while I wait for the next thing is "Writer Anitra."

So, this morning's first task is to clear my desk of the past and then open up the MS Word screen to see what might be in the future.

How are you all doing? Who is going where for Labor Day? We'll be doing the last gasp summer campout up in the Redwoods. (oh boy, sleeping on the ground, I can hardly wait!)

Peace

And....

Stephanie has promised to post photos and things - I'll let her catch y'all up (she sounds very happy) but I am adding a link to Jim's interim congregation in Kalamzoo. This is a photo of the staff. Jim is in this photo of the staff....Can you find him?

Jim was also profiled in the local paper: Former opera singer brings passion to priesthood

Good Times

Yikes! So much news and so few pictures.

It was kind of Kristin and Deris to get married to so we could hold a reunion on Saturday afternoon. They were smart enough to actually PLAN on using Stewart for the service with a lovely dinner reception down at Alexander Hall. It was old times for a number of us with Dan Hoggart on the keyboard, Charles Marx co-celebrating with a pastor from Kristin's church and a number of the professors and sfts staff in the congregation. Aimee sang wonderfully. Cheryl ran the video camera. Pastor Heather helped to pass the communion and lots of friends were in the congregation: (I feel like I'm writing a society article for a small town newspaper!) It really was a great wedding and best of all good things to Kirsten and Deris. Beautiful dress, handsome tuxedos, and a wind that lifted and gave wing to the white netting draped above us in the chapel.

Random news:

Dan Hoggart is feeling better but he is without a doubt slower than he used to be. Carol Robb is on sabbatical, finishing up a book. Jennifer's sister Heather, is starting this fall at SFTS and has just moved into Bell. Jonathan Edwards and his wife are settled in North Carolina and expecting!! Polly and Bob Coote have bought a house in Berkeley and are contemplating the move. A few of us ran into Alexis from the GTU Bookstore when it was at SFTS. She is running a bead shop in Windsor and looks great.

In other news: Robert Hattle's father passed away two days ago, joining Robert's mother who had passed about a year ago. Please hold Robert and his family in your prayers this month.

One more thing - Cheesemaking links:

Its easy to make fresh cheese and here are some links to get you started if you are interested:

1) http://fiascofarm.com/dairy/feta.html
2) New England Cheese Company - best beginner's site: http://www.cheesemaking.com/
3) http://www.leeners.com/cheeseprocess.html

In about a month or so, Horizon's Magazine will print an article I wrote on cheesemaking with recipes so keep an eye out if you are interested.

Interim Ministry Week One

Hi, All,
I spent last week at Palisades Retreat Center at Federal Way, WA, in Week One of Interim Ministry Training. I know several folks took week one at Zephyr Point last year(?). It was an intense week, but very worth while. We spent a lot of time on family systems theory and conflict management, and there was a very good session on negotiating contracts and searching for an interim position.
Palisades Retreat Center is located on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound. It's run by the Archdiocese of Seattle, so the grounds have several paths, nooks, grottoes, etc. for private meditation. It's a much smaller facility than Zephyr Point, so our group was very compact: in week one we had 13 people; in week 2, which met at the same time, there were 5. Scott Schaefer was in my week one group--he's now living in Sequim, WA. Even though the group was small, it was diverse. There were folks from as far away as Auburn, NY, and Beaumont, TX, along with a CLP from Fairbanks, AK, and a pastor from Larkspur.
I enjoyed the week, learned a lot, and met some good people. PCUSA is a tiny world, and we'll see each other again. If you have the opportunity to take IM training, it's worth doing, even if you're in an installed position or other ministry. The skills they teach would be valuable anywhere.

some minor remodeling

Hey y'all

Updated the template for the blog which should make it easier to add links, dates of interests, etc.

Also goofy things like Survey Questions!!! Got one? Avoiding sermon writing? Feel free to add stuff.

Click on Templates while posting or perhaps on the little tool symbol by the thing you want to change. Add another question or change it or send me your idea. We can have lots of options to each question.

I'm becoming bored by the color scheme. I may play with that too. Or not.

A Post from the (East) Coast

Greetings all -

Here is your post from Heather on the East Coast. I am in Washington DC at the National Cathedral attending a conference at The Cathedral College of Preachers. (Continuing Ed anyone?) It is 101 degrees in DC today and the humidity is outrageous. How do you southern/eastern folks deal with this. Get me back to hot and dry!!!!

So far it has been an interesting conference. It is a conference for young clergy women. Everyone here is ordained and serving in churches although most are associates. I have met some women like me though, who are out in the world doing it on their own. Anna Carter Florence is the featured speaker and she is mostly presenting material from her new book "Preaching as Testimony". I highly recommend it, if only for the sermon starter ideas in the back. She really encourages you to be creative with the text. The whole idea is basically that you can get into the text and find your own meaning and your own sermon without having to dig into the greek, various translations, and all the commentary ever written. Its surprisingly freeing.

I have really enjoyed meeting other young women in ministry. There are Episcopals, PCUSA, Disciples, Baptists, Lutherans, and Methodists but pretty much we are all in the same boat. Its easy to feel isolated in ministry and it has been exciting to meet so many people. Most everyone is liberal as well which is such a breath of fresh air for me.

It has been neat to just hang out at the Cathedral. We have worship in one of the small lower chapels which is cool. Today I spent a few hours walking around and taking the audio tour which I really enjoyed. It was like my own private devotional time.

So, it has been a good visit. They are talking about more conferences like this so there should be opportunities for others later on. Also, there is a lot going on at the college of preachers so check it out. It is a fun way to do continuing ed.

That's all for now - blessings!

The west side of the pond

Hello everyone! I'm back in the Pacific time zone once again, having completed (and passed the defense of) my thesis with the faculty of the University of Geneva, cleared customs at Heathrow, and recovered from some serious jet lag. June was a crazy last month in Switzerland - I successfully preached in Calvin's auditorium, as previously trailed; spent a week in Italy relaxing in Florence and Siena; and stopped in London to see friends on my way home (hauling my incredibly heavy luggage through the crowded tube stations!). Overall, I had a mixed year in Switzerland - great in some ways, disappointing in others - and I'm glad to be home.

For the time being, I'm at my dad's house in Portland, beginning the slow process of job hunting and finishing up odds and ends from my Swiss adventure. Returning to the States in the summer - having left last summer - makes the whole year a bit surreal, as if I just had a long, strange dream and then woke up in Portland again.

Shouts out to everyone, and particular greetings to:

- Jenn - congrats!!! Can't wait to hear all about the new call...
- Heather and Alexis - I think I saw you at the Portland airport about 10 days ago, but you were too far away for me to catch up...
- Heather and Lars - lovely garden, and wanted to let you know I also waited for my British version of HP - did you order the children or adult version?
- Steph - saw the stage version of Wicked in London, having read the book previously, and I liked the nuances of the book better than the more straightforward musical...what did you think?

Looking forward to catching up with you all soon...
Best from your no-longer-in-Swiss-exile classmate,
Aimee

How to get into Hogworths

With a special tip of the hat to PureChristianIThink & everyone else who sometimes wonder if we went to the wrong seminary

(if you can't see the video on the screen, try this link:

back to work

Heather and I just returned from vacation, although I've decided it doesn't count as a vacation if it includes your in-laws and 5 nieces and nephews waking you up at 7 am every morning. But the start of our vacation was stressful but ultimately celebratory because Heather took and passed her worship exam in Portland. Now all she has to do is preach, write her PIF, and find a job in a Presbyterian Church-wait that sounds like a lot. One of the graders, who is a grader of the written tests, (Heather took her test orally) told Heather that she had a very strong pastoral presence, was very good at what she does, and was extremely pastoral and she said that Heather's actual gifts probably would not have come across in a written exam. Go figure..

I went to the Chase family reunion in St. Helen's Oregon for the first time. I had the pleasure of meeting 44 members of Heather's extended family, almost all of which were really nice to me. Of course who doesn't have the crazy family members that no one likes? I know I do, and Heather will never meet them.
We then flew to Florida to be with my family, and the 5 children under 7 years old who thought we were their personal entertainment units. We biked, swam, canoed, ran around, and had a good time hanging out with the family. We also got to celebrate my father's 65th birthday as a family, which was a big deal. We also got to spend the week with the brand new addition to the family, our niece Kai, who is now almost 2 months old, she is of course perfect. Our 7 year old niece already has the hip jut, hands on hips, eye roll thing down, where in the world do they learn that stuff? It was a good time, we are both exhausted. Now back to work. Heather is gearing up for Sunday school and Bible study to start again and I'm currently sitting at my desk trying to juggle water bottles, I'm a model employee.
Hope all is well. Here in Atlanta it's 95 degrees outside by 8 am and we are looking forward to fall.

In Celebration of the Resurrection

Doug Adams, pioneering professor in religion and the arts,
dies on July 24

Doug Adams, professor of Christianity and the arts at Pacific School of Religion for 31 years, died at the home of friends in Jackson, CA on July 24, 2007. As a scholar and teacher, Adams played a leading role internationally in the field of religion and the arts, and was beloved by generations of students. Adams also headed the doctoral faculty in Art and Religion at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), a consortium of nine seminaries, including Pacific School of Religion (PSR), in Berkeley, CA.

To read the full PSR News Release, click here - to read the Mercery News Story, click here.

To stop and remember and celebrate and grieve and be pissed off and thankful and grateful and in awe for this amazing explosion of life and art and theology and humor and all very human I suspect and yet able to say Look, Look - over here is God... There is nothing to click. Go make art or look at art or write a funny skit for worship or write a poem or pour a glass of wine and munch some yummy cheese. Dance.

Pacific School of Religion will hold a memorial service on campus this fall, scheduled for Oct. 14 from 2 to 5 p.m.

We Are Here

So I'm sitting at my desk trying to figure out how to write a Prayer of Confession and have managed to kill the last hour playing with the do-it-yourself feature of Google map.

I've posted markers for where everyone is - everyone that i know where they are - more or less. Let me know if there are more/better locations to post. Or if you have a good prayer of confession. Somehow Hey God, sorry 'bout that which is actually pretty comprehensive if you think about it probably won't go so well in a full on worship service.

click here - hope it works! My next plan to kill a few more hours is getting Jen's dates of ordination up on the upcoming dates list.

more info :)

I forgot to ask for your prayers on August 11th, when I go before the Plains and Peaks Presbytery. As that date draws closer and plans become more concrete, I seem to be more and more nervous. So, your prayers would be much appreciated :)

As I said, ordination will be on Sunday, August 26th. The following Sunday, September 2nd is my first Sunday in Wray. Nothing like being on the fast track! I am moving my stuff to Wray on the 29th and hopefully settling in by Sunday.

If you are ever in the high plains, please stop by! The manse has 4 bedrooms, so I have plenty of space. Plus, Megan, Harold and the boys are just down the highway about 30 miles. We can have a reunion!

Take care and have a great day!

Love, Jenn :)

Ordination!

Hello everyone! I wanted to pass on some good news...I have accepted a call at a small church in Wray, CO.

My ordination will be August 26th at 4pm in Cleveland, OK. If you happen to be driving through OK, you are all invited! I would love to see you :)

Take care and have a great evening!

Love, Jenn :)

Greetings from Wilbur

Hello all -

Lars and I are keeping busy during our summer in Wilbur. The days have been hot and we splurged on two small air-conditioning units and spend most of the days indoors. My brother Will visited earlier this week and we spent several days just north of here at Lake Roosevelt. Beautfiul weather for sunning and swimming, though I have one of the worst sunburns in recent memory. We also picked a huge amount of Raspberries at one of my parishoner's homesteads and I am still working my way through them. Plus we went to see the Crop Circles outside of town - life in Wilbur is far from dull!

We have been busy in our garden (see pictures above). We have had a few squash and some peas before it got to hot for them. Today was the first tomato harvest and the vines are heavy with the promise of more to come. I am really eager to enjoy them!

We have a busy schedule in the fall. I am going to Washington DC for a confrence at the Catherdral College there. It is called Preaching as Testimony and is a confrence specifically for ordained young women preachers. The guest speaker is Anna Carter Florence. I am nervous about the travel but it should be fun. Then later in the month Lars and I will be visiting the Bay Area as some of you already know. That should be a nice break. Other than that the schedule is full with visiting family and the normal church work.

Things continue to go well at the church. They are remodeling my office and I will have to post a photo when they are done. New paint, carpet, blinds, desk, shelves, and wing back chairs. It is a dream. Hard to believe we are coming up on one year in the ministry. Hurrah! I am planning a harp concert for October as my anniversary gift to the community.

Well - thats all for now. Enjoy your summer everyone and I wish you were here to help eat tomatoes and raspberries!

- Love - Heather