FR TONY UPDATE
TIME FLIES
ADVENT PONDERINGS
SITES TO SEE
FR TONY UPDATE
Fr. Tony continues to do well. He had a day of feeling "proper poorly", then it passed. Sunday he was a bit tired, so we opted for him to stay home and rest. He's still very much looking forward to returning to the altar next Sunday. This morning he was a bit ill, but that too seems to have passed. Our Dr. Graeber called to check in and see how our Tony's doing. We discussed the wound packing / healing process, and all seems coming along swimmingly.
We now have a few parishes interested in coming to see our Tony preach, and another calling to check in today. Thankfully, the recent setback has not posed a problem with "the search".
ADVENT PONDERINGS
The stereotype of an Anglican priest is someone who visits parishioners in the morning and spends the afternoon writing metaphysical poetry. Probably only true historically of George Herbert and to a lesser degree (as he didn't visit parishioners so much) John Donne, it is also true of the present Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
The following poem, titled Advent Calendar is from The Poems of Rowan Williams,
The following poem, titled Advent Calendar is from The Poems of Rowan Williams,
He will come like last fall's leaf fall.
One night when the November wind
has flayed the trees to the bone, and earth
wakes choking on the mould,
the soft shroud's folding.
He will come like frost.
One morning when the shrinking earth
opens on mist, to find itself
arrested in the net
of alien, sword-set beauty.
He will come like dark.
One evening when the bursting red
December sun draws up the sheet
and penny-masks its eye to yield
the star-snowed fields of sky.
He will come, will come,
will come like crying in the night,
like blood, like breaking,
as the earth writhes to toss him free.
He will come like child.
One night when the November wind
has flayed the trees to the bone, and earth
wakes choking on the mould,
the soft shroud's folding.
He will come like frost.
One morning when the shrinking earth
opens on mist, to find itself
arrested in the net
of alien, sword-set beauty.
He will come like dark.
One evening when the bursting red
December sun draws up the sheet
and penny-masks its eye to yield
the star-snowed fields of sky.
He will come, will come,
will come like crying in the night,
like blood, like breaking,
as the earth writhes to toss him free.
He will come like child.
In a season marked by “Advent Blues” (duldrums/blahs) we are ambassadors of a Gospel that gives people hope to start again, to begin all over. Not hope as the world would offer, i.e. hope for shopping deals, but hope to genuinely start over again. Mark could find no other way to tell the story of Jesus. “In the beginning of the Good News…” Is there any better news than we get to start a new beginning? I do not think so. We have faith in God who assumes the credit for our past in Jesus… “The beginning of the Good News…” For each of us it starts with repentance. The formula is terribly terribly simple – you want it to end well? Begin well!!
Our answer to the “Advent Blues” is the “straight road” of repentance that takes us straight to the heart of God who assures us that Jesus is sufficient to hold the credit on that which we could never make good on. Our life.
Prepare well for Christmas…
“Lord, we confess unto you that which you already know, that we are by nature sinful and unclean….”
Our answer to the “Advent Blues” is the “straight road” of repentance that takes us straight to the heart of God who assures us that Jesus is sufficient to hold the credit on that which we could never make good on. Our life.
Prepare well for Christmas…
- not in malls, on-line ordering or expanded decorations, but
- in the humble act of meeting God in the wilderness of confession – do repentance.
“Lord, we confess unto you that which you already know, that we are by nature sinful and unclean….”
Excerpted from St. Luke's Lutheran Church- WA
TIME FLIES
Hrumph... I seem to have lost several days!
Catching you up:
- Must invest $600+ to get Toyota inspection ready (ouch!). Guess we'll have to ration Christmas and await the coming of the new year on this item.
- Saturday Call from parish seeking new priest went well.
- Still sorting, pitching, packing basement to get new (used) washer and dryer in.
- Snow is all gone. Bummer.
- Busily working on making Christmas presents and tending to our Tony.
- Becket Arts Series started this Sunday.
- New A-D med seems to be working well. Getting ready to add new ADD drug.
SITES TO SEE - GIFTS THAT GIVE
Below are some interesting websites to consider patronizing this holiday season.
Crafters for Critters is about simultaneously supporting handmade, independent businesses/crafters/designers/artists and rounding up money for animal rescue organizations. We use “crafters” as a sort of catch-all term for designers/artists/makers of things. We collect handmade/individually-created items and put them up for sale here. The proceeds are then donated to animal rescue groups.
To find out more, visit their site by clicking HERE.
At World of Good, Inc., we create opportunities for hundreds of artisan cooperatives around the world to share their best work with you by serving as a bridge to the U.S. retail market. We respectfully assist artisans by providing access to fair wages, safe working conditions and long-term economic sustainability. In 2006 World of Good worked with 142 artisan groups in 34 countries. We also re-invest 10% of our profits in the artisan communities.
GLOBAL GIRLFRIEND
Women Made * Eco Friendly * Fair Trade
Women Made * Eco Friendly * Fair Trade
Founded in the spring of 2003 Global Girlfriend was created to help women worldwide gain economic security while providing you unique products and a simple way to help women in need. Our fair trade boutique offers a line of trend-setting, women-made, fair trade products including stylish apparel, accessories and gifts with one purpose ~ helping women in need help themselves. We believe passionately that economic opportunity for women holds the promise for real change in the world; because when women have an income, they reinvest in themselves and in their children's health, education and nutrition, building stronger families and communities over time.
The Amber Chand Collection: Global Gifts for Peace and Understanding is a mission-based enterprise that fully supports women in regions of conflict and post-conflict - as mothers, peace builders, entrepreneurs, and skilled artisans.
In our work around the world we have been touched by the plaintive words of women artisans who seek viable international markets for their work. "Do not forget us" they have called out to us, asking us not only to remember the power and beauty of their creative expressions but reminding us that there is a deeper bond that connects us to each other, in this spirit of our shared humanity.
Empower an Entrepreneur with a Kiva Loan.
Kiva.org allows lenders to loan money to an aspiring social entrepreneur in a developing country using PayPal. The recipient of the loan commits to paying the lender back in a certain period of time. You can give a Kiva gift certificate for as little as $25. The recipient of the certificate can choose which entrepreneur they want to support. I bet former President Bill Clinton will be giving out a few of these this year. Check out what he had to say about Kiva on Countdown with Keith Olbermann.
Donate a Flock of Chickens,
Share of Tree Seedlings,
or Knitting Basket of Llamas and Sheep.
Heifer International gives poor families a sustainable source of food and income by buying them livestock with your donation. For example, for $20 you can give a family a flock of chicks that will provide them with eggs to eat, share or sell. One good hen can lay up to 200 eggs in a year. You can even create a Heifer International gift registry for yourself to send to your friends and family.Share of Tree Seedlings,
or Knitting Basket of Llamas and Sheep.
ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD - GIVE ONE - GET ONE
One learning child. One connected child. One laptop at a time.
The mission of One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is to empower the children of developing countries to learn by providing one connected laptop to every school-age child. In order to accomplish our goal, we need people who believe in what we’re doing and want to help make education for the world’s children a priority, not a privilege.
Since November 12th, OLPC has been offering a limited-time Give One Get One program in the United States and Canada. During Give One Get One, you can donate the revolutionary XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, and also receive one for the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. Thanks to a growing interest in the program, we have extended Give One Get One through the end of the year. You may also donate laptops via our Simply Give and Give Many options. Through the increasing public interest in OLPC, we hope to give many more children the opportunity to grow, explore, learn and express themselves.
The mission of One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is to empower the children of developing countries to learn by providing one connected laptop to every school-age child. In order to accomplish our goal, we need people who believe in what we’re doing and want to help make education for the world’s children a priority, not a privilege.
Since November 12th, OLPC has been offering a limited-time Give One Get One program in the United States and Canada. During Give One Get One, you can donate the revolutionary XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, and also receive one for the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. Thanks to a growing interest in the program, we have extended Give One Get One through the end of the year. You may also donate laptops via our Simply Give and Give Many options. Through the increasing public interest in OLPC, we hope to give many more children the opportunity to grow, explore, learn and express themselves.
These hardy evergreen trees are perfect for business and personal gifts. They can be planted outdoors in the right conditions, stored in a refrigerator, or grown for months indoors.
- Only $3 each.
- Choose Redwoods, Pines, or Spruces.
- Customize your label with quotes, logos, sayings ... your personal message.
- Recyclable tube converts into a birdfeeder after the tree is planted.
Give the gift of time AND flora with this plantable calendar, which will please your planning and planting friends alike. Each month is its own page, so after the month is over, plant your page and watch it grow into blossoming blooms! $19.95 from Botanical Paperworks
Give the gift of light this year with the BOGO light - a fabulous solar-powered flashlight that costs just $25 - AND with your purchase of the flashlight, one is donated to someone who needs it in a developing country. Give the gift of light! $25 from Bogolight
