Religion the easy way

Hat tip to Ann and Fr Terry

A cold morning huddle

It is quite cold at 16 and both cats don't fit on the smaller heating pad so they improvise.

Yes, I know the kitchen window is dirty. It is impossible to reach it on the outside without dismantling the cathouse. Get used to it. It will get worse.

Tommie leaped off the roof this morning to chase Jellico. They met face to face in the middle of the driveway and yelled at each other. I actually heard a raspy sound from Jellico. Normally his voice is more of a hiss. Jellico stood up on his hind feet to make himself larger but he is all hair and Tom is one huge boy. Jellico gave up and retreated. I wish I could have retrieved the camera in time to catch the encounter.

Eventually they settled into their usual watchful positions.

Friday shuffle

1. Dizzy - Tommy Roe
2. Strauss: Des Heldens Friedenswerke - Berlin, von Karajan
3. Stoned Love - Supremes
4. Someday Soon - Judy Collins
5. A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You - The Monkees
6. Einhorn: Voices of Light, The Jailors - Anonymous Four
7. 98.6 - Keith
8. I Know How He Feels - Reba McEntire
9. Bach: B minor mass, Benedictus - Rilling
10. Chicago Land Polka

Poinsettia

If you look closely at the photo in the post below or click it to enlarge it, you will see my ancient poinsettia blocking the door. I put it on the altar at First Presbyterian in Sharon, PA in 1968, my first Christmas here, in memory of my father who had died a few months earlier. A number of other poinsettias have shared the tub but only this one has survived. I need it to cut it back again. It usually "blooms" in February.

Ladder left out

This is a common sight this time of year in our neighborhood. Tho most houses have larger ladders, this is all I need. Anyone know why it is there? I will admit my method is a little unusual hence the small ladder.

C & C confusion

The following is part of the Canons of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania:

Canon I. Definition of terms
...
Section J) “Communicant In Good Standing” means a person whose Baptism has been recorded in this Church, who has received Holy Communion in this Church at least three times during the preceding year and who for the previous year has been faithful in corporate worship, unless for good cause prevented, and has been faithful in working, praying and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God.

The way I read this is that only people baptised in TEC can be Communicants in Good Standing in the diocese. This means everyone else needs to be rebaptized.

How do you read this?

Monday church blogging

These are photos of Trinity Cathedral in Pittsburgh, Bishop Clumber's domain. The outside was cleaned for the city's 250th birthday celebration or so I was told.

Below is the inside front. I hesitate to call it an altar space or a chancel. It is more like a stage. The big wooden blob on the right is the organ console. In the middle are three chairs behind a table. There used to be a screen with choir pews behind. Except for the huge dangling cross which I think is over the railing in front there was no other cross on the table or elsewhere that I saw. I wondered how one honors a cross hanging from the ceiling. The thought was amusing.

There are national flags hanging from the back balcony. I learned the difference between the Australian flag and the New Zealand flag. There are also two smaller balconies in the transepts. Bach Choir sang from those in two choirs.

The pulpit is not this odd color - I need to figure out why my camera takes such odd colored photos. It is not colorful at all. It is on the right side. There is no eagle on the lectern on the left.

The baptismal font which is to the right of the pulpit definitely is colorful. At least that is what I assume it is. There is also a huge granite thing of water in the center in the back. You can see it in the photo above. The colors on the font are much more startling in person.

This is a chapel in the back.

This railed off chapel is in front to the left of the stage.

And this is what is behind the three chairs and table on the stage. I suppose other cathedrals have the bishop's chair in the middle. Ours doesn't. My first thought was - it is a throne. Move the stuff in front and the bishop can be worshiped. Clumber has a better view.

Update to the post below on my cats

When I raised the garage door last night I saw Jellico retreat from the barn's cathouse via the cat flap. Apparently he and Tommie can coexist somewhat amicably when neither food nor wimmin are nearby.

I put the heater on in the cats' portion of the barn last night. It doesn't do much but it might help a little. I usually don't do that unless the outside temperature falls below 15. Last night was 16. Warmer tonight and the next few days so I'll turn it off today.

The only way to know my cats are feral is to see them when someone else is around. Which nobody will. Even the neighbor who feeds them when I'm gone.

PS Thanks to MP for featuring my lovely Christmas tree on OCICBW! It is actually a very precious item to me as it was given to me by a friend I love who was very concerned because I never decorate for Christmas. Why should I? Nobody sees the inside or the outside of my house with the exception of a couple of close friends and the neighbors who walk by in the summer.