Uncle Jay explains 2008

HT to Grandmère Mimi.

December sunset

Friday cat blogging on Saturday

It was nice to see the welcoming committee when I got home yesterday.

Dudie immediately left his shelf so he could rub against my legs.

Friday shuffle on Saturday

1. Lutkin: The Lord Bless You and Keep You - Westminster and St Olaf Choirs
2. Handel: The Lord Shall Reign Forever - Parrott
3. Simon Says - The 1910 Fruitgum Co.
4. Put Your Hand in the Hand - The Ocean
5. Polish Polka Power
6. Sharpe: Sunset - Ambridge HS Steel Band
7. Why Oh Why Polka
8. Flop Eared Mule - Grier and Compton
9. Bruckner: Christus factus est - St Bride's Church Choir
10. Elgar: The Shower - Finzi Singers

2008's classic regift

This is the best regift this year. The folks hope it works.

The world's cutest grandniece and grandnephew

Christmas 2008
She was happy here for quite awhile on Christmas morning. She is almost 5 months old.

Here she is dressed for dinner.

And not quite ready for bed. She is a happy kiddo.

At 2 he has finally figured out presents and unwrapping. Nobody's stuff was safe.

And he dressed for dinner.

But this was the usual view all day.

Christmas

There is no graphic appropriate for this post. I doubt anyone other than the parents had any real idea what was happening the night the person we call Jesus was born. If there were animals present, they were probably curious but little else. Perhaps there were little critters who cleaned up the mess of birthing. I suspect Mary and Joseph were all alone. After all, who wanted to assist with the birth of a kid whose parents couldn't even find a decent place to stay? Rumor had it they weren't even married. Shudder.

Who knew that baby would have a profound effect on the western world? Who knew that child would grow up to be a charismatic preacher who questioned everything they did and would be murdered as a result? Who knew that 2000 years after that child's birth people would still be arguing about what he had to say?

Tonight and tomorrow we celebrate the birth of another baby. The angels and shepherds will be followed by wise men, most of an age closer to that of the baby than those witnessing the event. Great singing and preaching will entertain the throngs who rarely step foot in a religious building otherwise.

I will probably be wondering what it is about the love of God and the task of loving likewise spoken of in the Gospels that so many people throughout the ages and today simply don't get...

A blessed Christmas to all and may this child teach those who say they follow him all about loving and bringing God's kingdom to earth in this life now.

Decisions, decisions

I know. This is just a bottle of water. Dump the water and recycle the bottle. But. This is genuine Hungarian water from Budapest. This is the bottle and water that escaped the notice of security at the Budapest airport. This is the bottle and water that I found in my backpack when I got to Newark after somehow bypassing security in Frankfurt. Some stuff is really hard to throw out. Sigh.

I voted for Goldwater

"However, on religious issues there can be little or no compromise. There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D.' Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of 'conservatism.' "
-- Barry Goldwater
(1909-1998) US Senator (R-Arizona)
Source: Congressional Record, September 16, 1981

Hat tip to my brother.

Cat problem

Dude is on PT's heating pad and PuddyTat is not happy about that. I wonder how long the box will hold her weight. I hope I don't have to replace it.

Verizon - I can't hear you

I just cancelled my Verizon cell account. I haven't used it for months. It rarely worked at my house. When my landline was down I had to get into the car and drive 2 miles to get a signal to report it. Of course I had to pay $70 to cancel the number.

Needless to say, I will never recommend Verizon. And no, I can't hear you now - or any time or anyone else.

Monday cat blogging

PuddyTat spent the night in her little crude shelter on the heating pad. This morning the froggie thermometer read 13° while the thermometer elsewhere read 6° - up 3° from bedtime. Her little cardboard shelter protected her from the wild wind and light snow. She could have snuggled with Tommie in his blanket but chose to stay here. He didn't join her until the last few minutes. The temp is now up to 12°. Time to feed Tommie and anyone else who braves the cold.

Sunday school project

They made gingerbread houses today.

Mornin'

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.