Only one post, I hope,

on Rick Warren giving the invocation at Obama's inauguration. Warren's preaching attracts the fearful and repels the thoughtful. He is a good example of why people are abandoning Christianity. Preaching the Gospel out of one side of his mouth and condemning God's creation out of the other surely doesn't please the God or the Jesus he pretends to worship. May God find a way to teach him how to love. Preferably before the inauguration. If not, may Obama wake up to the unChristian message this man preaches and find someone else. Maybe a good Muslim will do the honors? Or a Buddhist? Or, if he really wants controversy, a Jew?

Bah humbug.

Friday shuffle

1. Blue Velvet - Bobby Vinton
2. It's Only Make Believe - Conway Twitty
3. Ingalls: Glory to God on High - Parrott, Taverner Consort
4. Mozart: Requiem, Dies Irae - Bach Choir Pittsburgh
5. Brahms: Alto Rhapsody - Shaw, Atlanta
6. Bach: Fantasie in G minor - Nyquist
7. Bach: Magnificat, Esurientes - Nancy Argenta
8. I Want to Take You Higher - Sly & the Family Stone
9. A Thousand Stars - Kathy Young
10. Prelude to a Kiss - Jim Hall

Friday bird blogging - no cat photos

Nothing to say

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

A long time without posting means I have nothing to say. Oh, hush! The real problem is organizing my thoughts enough to expose them to the public. My head has been like my house lately. Others have had much to say in very special ways.

If you have an hour to spare, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori spoke to the National Press Club and answered questions. It is well worth watching here or listening here or reading the transcript here. The comment on the Episcopal Cafe piece is typical of the criticism of TEC in general. Many people don't understand the concept of a broad tent and want others to agree with them on every jot and tittle of their opinions.

Emily Scott has a thought provoking column on Daily Episcopalian about discomfort in worship.

Our Grandmère Mimi has been featured in yet another article here. As you may remember, we met in person in New York and had a connected exchange with PBKJS regarding dresses.

Elizabeth Kaeton+ has some interesting gift suggestions on Telling Secrets.

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!

Prayers winging heavenward

Congratulations, Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh on a successful reorganizing convention! An assisting bishop. A restored Constitution. A new priest. A return to true Anglican traditions. Hope for the future. Hallelujah! Reports are here.