The Dominican yelled “Christ is risen!” Instead of the typical Trinitarian formulae opening which started us… banged the ambo again… it was an ambo banger by Thomist standards I suppose. 😉 GIF represents my inner Franciscan saying “correct conclusion but that’s a convoluted way to get there” lol 😂
Seven baptisms at two services with all the joy and chaos that brings! Plus I almost overslept and had to rush to the early quiet service, and the forum was full for people to hear about a new plan for the pattern of our worship beginning next fall.
Two of my eight year olds got super into the children’s altar setup and used the materials to give lots of people “communion” and then grabbed hymnals and mirrored the procession out in the side aisle. So, great!
It was my first Sunday at Church of our Saviour, and joy and excitement flowed all morning. I met lots of people, ate enough cake, and came away full of hope.
The last Sunday of the semester is always Canterbury Sunday at Holy Trinity: one of our students preached, others served in various liturgical functions, and we baptized a young woman who has been part of our Canterbury Community for 4 yrs, with the core group as sponsors! Then we had a cookout.
Excellent! The early rite I service had almost every pew occupied!
Unfortunately, there had been a major car crash nearby overnight that took out a utility pole. No serious injuries thankfully. But no electricity either.
Low compared with last week, but joy-filled! Supply clergy who has been with is a number of times before. Wardens are wild and crazy and moved the time of announcements. 😎
An adventure! Rector was out of town, local urban farming ministry come speak to us in lieu of a sermon and she channeled her Baptist preacher dad and went LOOOONG, priest associate wasn’t sure which of us servers he was supposed to hand the chalice to and he spilled a chunk of the consecrated wine
the normal fall off from Easter Sunday, 2 of my favorite hymns (i picked them lol), a great sermon about doubt from our rector. he commented on a huge wind gust during it that shook the church--the choir murmured "no, it's the Holy Spirit". and some regular visitors want to be received.
we've also had a sparrow or a wren make its way into the sanctuary. it chirped through the funeral yesterday and the Eucharist today. so we had wind and a bird. let's hope the little guy finds his way out in the morning (the bats get in and out ok).
It was good. Our attendance like a regular Sunday - and that was with our choir having the day off! Also, I preached on John 20 as a whole narrative - all 3 Resurrection appearances building up to Thomas' acclamation. Something I had never paid attention to before: Jesua showed his hands and side +
2/ to the disciples in the locked room. I don't think Thomas wanted tangible proof. I think he didn't want to feel left out. He wanted to know that he was valued by the Risen Christ as much as the others were. And Thomas was the *only* one Jesus invited to touch him. He even told Mary M not to!
Lovely, with our usual 14 souls at St. Francis’ parish. I did get a bit sniffly at announcing a special intention for the repose of Pope Francis, but made it through the Preface with something like the right tune & recovered during the Sanctus.
we had a GREAT sermon from a candidate for holy orders (who is also a religion professor) and a really joyful visit from our soon-to-be director of youth ministries 🥰
And yet it occurred! Virus did not care about rebuking. Meanwhile at Parish #2, the semiannual church picnic was a dud due to chilly rainy weather scaring off attendees.
It was a great day! I told the scheduled Julian of Norwich story twice in once class, and then the whole Advent story informally twice! Such a good day with the kids! ⚓️
Not nearly as low as I expected. 70% of our usual attendance, not including concurrent livestream watchers. Three new member forms today and picked up one Pentecost baptism. A happy Sunday
I was offsite at our annual Lay Readers' Retreat as their Warden, so I celebrated the Eucharist on a conference room table covered with one of those stretchy black things, the hymns were accompanied on an electronic keyboard and a "Scout stick"
Lovely! We were slightly lower (16% decrease from ASA), but the Easter energy was certainly still there! I was pleased with my sermon—a fairly vulnerable one—and the choir was extraordinary, as usual. Our choirmaster is graduating this year and I will miss them so so much!
I am constantly in awe of the way you go all out for people who are likely only there for a short while. This is the opposite of how "normal" parishes and priests seem to operate. But it is very Jesus-like, if I'm not mistaken.
Been meaning to say this for a long time. 🧡😇🕯
It was all over the place…cross of flowers, great luncheon with all the families, readers missing or not looking over the reading ahead of time, new visitors, priest host sort of crumbled instead of breaking, concert in the afternoon…kinda left my head spinning!
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Unfortunately, there had been a major car crash nearby overnight that took out a utility pole. No serious injuries thankfully. But no electricity either.
Needed to be anonymous for reasons.
https://bsky.app/profile/guynamedbrian.bsky.social/post/3lntd3gta7s2u
Been meaning to say this for a long time. 🧡😇🕯