Rutland, VT

Being within three hours rather than the 10 hours from home, I went to church at Trinity Episcopal in Rutland, VT. I'll admit that my primary purpose was not the eucharist. I could have had that in Sheffield, MA, a mere 10 minutes or so away. The priest at Trinity is a long time internet friend Caminante otherwise known as Lee Crawford. We had never met in person. The people were very friendly, many offering their name and a handshake. (They are well trained.) The liturgy was done well tho they have no sanctus bell. They even have a summer choir. Lee is a soprano and sings with them. She has a clear voice and is easy to hear and understand. It is always more interesting when the readings happen to contain a message for a current situation as was the case today. I didn't know how appropriate till after. Godde has a great sense of timing.

This sign is in their parish hall. Hmmm.

Unfortunately this is blurry but there it is anyhow.

After church it was cat tour time. There are four. This is my favorite Miss Funky Paws. Lee has other names for them all.

Some people believe that internet relationships are superficial, not "real" somehow. Perhaps with some they are. I'm blessed to be part of several tribes who know and care for each other and sometimes meet in person. Once companies destroyed families and churches by moving employees around indiscriminately,  they forced us to create temporary friendships that served our needs at the moment - before the next move. The internet has allowed people with histories to reconnect and new friends to keep in touch in ways that transcend time and location. Now, if Michelle and I can find a few minutes to get together this week and Fran and I can connect on my way home...

The bishop visited

Our bishop visited this morning. He had an excellent sermon on grace. Since I was Eucharistic Minister and cantor for the Taize, I didn't take any photos during the service. There are more from coffee hour at the church's blog.

The Taize chant is the most difficult one I've sung - Wait for the Lord whose day is near. I have it in extended form in Finale with the soprano and alto parts underneath. If anyone needs it I can send it. I messed it up a couple of weeks ago because I forgot I had done this. Glad I checked my computer last night!

Christ Church has a priest again

The Rev. Dr. Richard Elberfeld began his tour of duty at Christ Church Meadville this morning. Yea!

Ready and waiting

The flowers are in place. The choir is rehearsed. All is ready and waiting. Tonight hope enters the world once again. Tonight unconditional love comes as a newborn child. For some, worship will present memories both happy and hurtful. May the love of Jesus fill the voids left by those who have departed our world this year. Hugs and blessings to all!

Christ Church children sing and play violins

Click on the photo of the church at the top of the right column to go to the church's website then scroll down to see a short movie.

Church picnic time

Picnic, you say? But that's not a picnic. It's inside. Yes, but there are no bees inside and there were lots of bees where we planned to eat. The photo will embiggen a little if you are curious and click on it.

St John's Episcopal Church, Sharon, PA

I attended the installation of a priest today. It was a lovely service. BUT my mind wandered back to the good old days when a bunch of white males stood with their backs to the people and mumbled stuff we weren't supposed to hear or take part in because we couldn't possibly understand or we weren't educated enough or, well, we were laity and they were better than us. And I missed the Sanctus bells. Otherwise it was lovely. And the alb on the left contained a woman, the Canon to the Ordinary. I enjoy attending all the installations and ordinations. I get to see the churches in the diocese that I can't visit on Sundays because of responsibilities at Christ Church. I'm also meeting some interesting people. That's always fun.

The carillon is to die for tho. And he is good at ringing.

Christ Church sings

Helps when the choir is in the congregation.

Beating the Bounds on Rogation Sunday

After the service a group of Christ Church people braved a bitterly cold wind and beat the bounds of the church. We did not use boys and we didn't actually beat anything else.

We began on the steps with a prayer:
God of seed and growth and harvest, creator of need, creator of satisfaction, give us, we pray, our daily bread, sufficient and assured for all. Give us also, we pray, the bread of life, and we shall have a care to feed the hungry, and to seek for peace and justice in the world. Help us, then, to remember and to know that you are our life today and every day; you are the food we need, now and for ever. Amen.

We then walked to the first corner singing For the Beauty of the Earth (not us). At the first corner, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 was read followed by a prayer:
God of creation, we thank you for the gift of the earth, and for the life which teems upon the land, in the waters, and in the air. Thank you for the wonder of life that you have entrusted to us in all its complexity, interconnectedness and biodiversity. Help us to conserve it well, use it sustainably, and endow it faithfully to our children's children.

We sang the first three verses to Canticle of the Sun (H86 406) on the way to the second corner. We then prayed:
Lord God, from your hand comes the mystery of life: the wonder of fertility, growth and harvest, and resistance to disease. We thank you for the gift of seed; bless the seeds we sow in our farms, allotments and gardens, that they may germinate well, flourish, and yield blessing to your children. Bless our efforts to feed others and ourselves.

We finished Canticle of the Sun as we walked up the alley and around the corner.
Lord God, from your hand comes all that nourishes life. We thank you for the gift of soil. Bless the soil in which our seeds are sown and our crops are planted; bless our efforts to use it well, to enrich it, and to sustain its fertility for the future.

We sang the first two verses of All Things Bright and Beautiful (very obviously not us) on the way to the final corner of the church property. Ezekiel 34:25-31 was read followed by:
Lord God, your rain is the most precious liquid on earth. We thank you for the gift of water. Bless our land and our crops with rain; bless our efforts to keep water unpolluted, to make it accessible, and to conserve it responsibly.
We finished All Things Bright and Beautiful on the way back to the church. The final prayer:
Almighty God, whose will it is that the earth and the sea should bear fruit in due season: bless the labors of those who work on land and sea, grant us a good harvest and the grace always to rejoice in your fatherly care; through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord.

Inside we received the blessing then sang An Irish Blessing before the dismissal.

Church landscaping

Last year some volunteers put in many hours and much hard work landscaping around the newly paved parking lot at Christ Church. This spring their efforts are blooming beautifully with many surprises to come.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Easter Day 2009 began with Easter Vigil at 6 am at St Clement's in Greenville. No, the pictures of the dark turned out, well, too dark.

Then I went to Christ Church Meadville. I can never get the color in photos there to look the same for some reason. Oh well.

The choir processed followed by the kiddos who each had flowers

which they put on the cross.

Of course we had the wonderful brass quartet.

Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Agape meal 2009

When men do coffee hour

Lots of cookies. Big delicious muffins. Bagels and cream cheese. Lots of juice. Real coffee. No frilly stuff here.

The annual meeting

ECW provided subs and drinks before the annual parish meeting this morning. Four vestry members were elected. A new era begins with a new Senior Warden. And someday soon I will be an Episcopalian.

Controversial wonderments

The Episcopal parish I attend, (yes, I'm still Lutheran until our bishop comes to visit whenever) is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania. According to the diocesan website we have 23 parishes and 11 organized missions. Several of those including ours are without clergy.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh, immediately to our south, has 22 parishes so far. I know there are clergy who have decided to stay with TEC who might be able to help NWPA with the clergy shortage. From Pittsburgh to Meadville is about 2 hours, far less than distances in the Dio of Wyoming, for example. We need supply priests. I wonder if Pittsburgh has any available?

We have a bishop who is working hard to try to get control of the many issues which plague our diocese. The Dio of Pgh has a provisional bishop. Once upon a time we were together. I wonder if there are benefits to be one again?

PS The Dio of NWPA banner is one of 10 that members of the parish have donated.

Sunday school project

They made gingerbread houses today.

A Festival of Lessons and Carols

Christ Church
Meadville, PA
Sunday, 14 December 2008

VOLUNTARY
‘Christmas’ Concerto in G - Arcangelo Corelli
Vivace—Grave
Vivace
Allegro
Largo—Pastorale

Greensleeves - Ralph Vaughan Williams

PROCESSIONAL HYMN: Once in Royal David’s City - Irby
v. 1: Soloist, vv. 2-6: Choir & Congregation
(printed in the bulletin)

THE BIDDING PRAYER

INVITATORY HYMN 56 (vv. 1, 3, 5, 7) - Veni Emmanuel

FIRST LESSON: Genesis 3, An Acolyte
CHOIR: Adam Lay Ybounden - William Witherup
HYMN 105 - God Rest You Merry

SECOND LESSON: Isaiah 9, A Lay Reader
CHOIR: Make We Merry - K. Lee Scott
HYMN 100 - Antioch

THIRD LESSON: Isaiah 11, A Lay Eucharistic Minister
CHOIR: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming - Michael Praetorius
HYMN 89 (vv. 1, 2, 4) - Carol

FOURTH LESSON: Micah 5, A Choir Member
CHOIR: Thou Shalt Know Him - Mark Sirett
HYMN 78 (vv. 1, 3, 5) - Forest Green

FIFTH LESSON: St. Luke 1, A Lay Reader
CHOIR: A Maiden Most Gentle (French Carol tune) - Andrew Carter
HYMN 265 - Gabriel’s Message

SIXTH LESSON: St. Luke 2, The Organist and Choirmaster
CHOIR: Lullay Myn Lyking - Richard R. Terry
HYMN 111 - Stille Nacht

SEVENTH LESSON: St. Luke 2, The Junior Warden
CHOIR: The Shepherds’ Farewell - Hector Berlioz
HYMN 96 (vv. 1-3) - Gloria

EIGHTH LESSON: St. Matthew 2, The Senior Warden
CHOIR: One Gift the Magi Bore - Glenn Rudolph
HYMN 109 (vv. 1, 2, 3, 5) - The First Nowell

NINTH LESSON: St. John 1, The Officiant
CHOIR: A Modern Medieval Carol - Colin Mawby
HYMN 83 (vv. 1, 3, 6) - Adeste fideles

THE COLLECT & THE BLESSING

RECESSIONAL HYMN 87 - Mendelssohn

ORGAN VOLUNTARY
Toccata on Veni Emmanuel - Adolphus Hailstork

We had a string quartet, a flutist and an organist friend who played the harp on the electronic keyboard in addition to our organist/choirmaster, our choir, a rent-a-tenor from the Presbyterians and a deacon who also sang as she was a member of the choir before being assigned to another parish and finally ordained in November.

Musicians will understand that the items in italics are hymntunes, not the title of the hymns. All are from the Hymnal 1982.

And the photo is of one of our lanterns all of which our Junior Warden cleaned yesterday. He installed fluorescent bulbs which are providing significantly more light. Thanks, GK!