Personality DNA

You can take the quiz and get your own beautiful colors! Click on "Animated Creator."

Animated Creator

The First 5:00 Service

It happened this evening, and we had 33 people! The crowd included several newcomers, a few folks who hadn't been attending regularly, and maybe 10 children and teenagers. What a thrill!

We started the 5:00 p.m. service for a number of reasons. First, we anticipate our 10:30 service will keep growing and we will need a place for "overflowing" folks to go as an option.

Second, parents of teens kept telling us that Sunday mornings aren't great for getting teenagers to church.

Third, I talked to lots of young adults (20s and 30s) and others who work Sunday mornings or late into the evening on Saturday. They said 5:00 p.m. Sunday would be great for them.

Fourth, we wanted to offer an entirely different style of worship. This is definitely a "come as you are" service. Jeans, flip-flops, cut-offs, t-shirts, whatever. It is also designed for people who aren't accustomed to more formal Episcopal worship or who simply prefer something more informal. And the music is decidedly more contemporary.

I'm so grateful to the many parishioners who helped start the 5:00 service and for the terrific turnout by "10:30-ers" who came specifically to support our new venture.

Now we just need some volunteer musicians so I don't have to play the piano, preach, lead prayers, preside at Communion, stand on my head, etc., etc.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Hurricanes and Churches

So we're driving towards home through some light rain caused by Tropical Storm Hanna and talking about my sermon this coming Sunday, and it strikes me that hurricanes and churches have some things in common. I mean that in the nicest possible way.

You want more on that, come to church on Sunday!

I know, how annoying.

We're in Durham, North Carolina overnight. Stopped here because we wanted to dine at the Magnolia Grill (their motto: "Not Afraid of Flavor") and shop at the Regulator Bookshop. This is part of our go-to-the-beach ritual.

Magnolia Grill dessert: walnut torte with brandy-soaked fresh figs, goat-cheese ice cream, and raspberries (for me).

milk chocolate chip pound cake with chocolate malt ice cream and roasted bananas (for Guy).

Back to the Weight Watchers routine tomorrow! And not a moment too soon.

Here's my wisdom on vacations as I reflect on the past week:

1. Do not be overly spooked by hurricane/tropical storm warnings. The Weather Channel and other outlets are in the business of fear. We could certainly have stayed down on Kiawah for another 24 hours with no ill effects. Ten years ago we left a beach in North Carolina after being there only two days because of a hurricane warning, and the hurricane never materialized. Phooey.

2. Do not be underly spooked by them, either.

3. Real vacations = sabbath. I kept thinking, "I'm being so lazy." This is the point, right? At least on my favorite kind of vacation. The lazy kind.

4. What a Guy I'm married to.

5. I am so glad I have Buck Mountain Episcopal Church to come home to.

6. The ocean is definitely a healing place for me. I can't believe I went six years without it, though the West has its own healing places.

7. Do not under any circumstances let five or six years go by between vacations!

Shakin' the Sand off Our Feet

Guy and I are on Kiawah Island in South Carolina this week, enjoying the ocean after six years (!) of being away from it. But even though we're not due to leave until Saturday, I am mentally shaking the sand off my feet and preparing to return to Buck Mountain for a great autumn season.

On Sunday the 7th, we launch ....

* Sunday School at 10:30 for three age groups -- youngest, young (primary school), and young teens

* 5:00 p.m. worship service, brand new!

On Sunday the 14th, we launch our Youth Group for 2008-09, meeting after the 5:00 p.m. service for food, fellowship, learning, and service.

And on Wednesday the 17th, former Professor of Art and parishioner Marion Roberts starts a teaching series on art and the Christianization of Britain. (Recommended reading: How the Irish Saved Civilization). Come at 6:00 for potluck supper (you don't need to bring anything), and stay for Marion's presentation at 7:00. She is a knowledgeable and entertaining presenter, and we are very fortunate to have her as our teacher.

Oh yes, and in October, parishioner Bill Johnsons, newly certified as a mentor for Education for Ministry (EfM), will launch an EfM group at Buck Mountain Church. This is an intensive, four-year curriculum modeled on the seminary curriculum for M.Div. students. Most important, it is an excellent opportunity for a profound experience of spiritual growth and deep fellowship. If you're interested, please contact Bill or me.

We have so much to look forward to this coming year! I'm not eager to leave the beach behind, but I am eager to see what God has in store for us in the months to come.

Summer Sing-A-Longs

On Wednesday, July 9, at 6:00 p.m., we'll gather for the first of several Summer Sing-A-Longs. Please bring something to share for a potluck dinner. We'll eat, then sing for awhile. It's a lightweight Christian education/fellowship activity for all who are interested!

This Wednesday, we'll examine the oldest hymns in the 1982 Hymnal, some of which go WA-A-A-Y back to plainchant. We'll study a bit about how to sing these ancient hymns, but mostly we'll just sing them.

Next Wednesday, the 16th, we'll meet again at 6:00 for potluck supper, then I'll do a short presentation on African-American hymnody, and we'll sing some hymns from Lift Every Voice and Sing.

On the 23rd, we'll branch out into hymns being written in the wider church today. We'll talk briefly about new directions for hymnody, but mostly, again, we'll sing.

These gatherings are ideal for bringing a friend, so I hope you will! And if bringing food is a barrier, don't let that stop you. Just come!

Caution!

A poem by parishioner Nancy Neighbors. Thanks, Nancy.



Beware, my child, of attending church.
The danger there is real.
Too noisy, is it, to find God there?
A place for phonies, you say?
Dear one, it's even worse than you think:
Deep within our liturgical clamor,
the stressed, over-dressed, distracted people,
the silent ballet around the Table,
there lurks a word or a phrase for you,
to lift you, defenseless and unexpecting,
straight to God's loving, beating heart,
to heal your wounds and change you forever!

Beware, my child, of attending church.
Beware of the hymns you sing.
The words and music can leap right up,
disturb, surprise, unbalance your mind --
stagger your innocent soul with new truth.
Use caution, my child, when singing hymns!

Beware, my child, of attending church.
Don't listen when Scripture is read.
The most dangerous part of your life begins
when the double-edged holy Word of God
breaches the wall of your distractions,
tiptoes into your awareness,
and begins molding you
according to God's will
for your perfect wholeness.
Beware, O beware, my child,
of ever attending church!

A Great Day

What a blast! We cooked about 800 hot dogs and 100 hamburgers. We didn't serve all of them, but definitely a good proportion. Our float was fantastic, our inflatables were enjoyed by many children, and lots of local people got to know that we are a lively, warm, and generous congregation.

I learned today that some of our neighbors thought Buck Mountain Episcopal Church was just a historic building -- a monument -- not an actual church being used by an actual congregation. Today, they learned otherwise! (Down the road about 1/4 mile, there is such a church building, owned by the Baptist congregation nearby; they use it on Christmas Eve. Maybe that's where people got the idea that we were in the "historic but unused" category.)

I could not be more thrilled at how congregation members turned out to make this a wonderful event. Their energy and generosity are second to none!

And thanks to our good Lord for great weather, happy crowds, and a spirit of hospitality!