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!

The Inflatable Has Landed!

For the amusement of young folks (and older ones who can't stop laughing at the very sight of the thing), the church has rented an inflatable "bounce" contraption for the 4th of July event. It has a sports theme and is absolutely hideous. It looks like it will be incredibly fun!

No, I will NOT slide down the slide part of it. Not even if you offer to give Buck Mountain Church a significant donation! No Vicar-on-the-skids photos in Episcopal Life or National Enquirer!

Photos tomorrow ....

The Church Is Hoppin'

Hotdogs are collecting in the refrigerator in Deese Hall. Cases of juice boxes and other drinks are piling up. People are in and out getting ready for the big 4th of July celebration, the first of its kind in Buck Mountain history!

Today I was chatting with two parishioners who know a lot about gardening, Harry Austin and Peter Titus. They were remarking that it had been a beautiful spring, partly because there was quite a bit of rain early on. Now things are drying up, they said.

"Maybe we'd better pray for rain," I suggested.

"If it rains on the 4th of July, I'm going to hold you accountable for it!" Harry said.

So, can you retract a prayer for rain? Or be really specific about when you want it? It seems a little obnoxious to tell God, "Any day but Friday!"

Since I have returned to Weight Watchers, I'm wondering how to avoid eating hot dogs (note the plural) on Friday as we grill and serve them. I'm hoping we'll be so overwhelmed with visitors there won't be any time for self-indulgence, and especially for overindulgence.

I was happy to learn our friends Angela and Zino and their daughter, Aisha, will be here for the weekend. Aisha is four. She wants to ride on the float but she's not sure about doing it without a parent on board. We'll see if there's room for one of them to ride along -- all three blocks of the parade route!

Don't Miss This!

It's not even remotely religious, but it sure is spiritual:

http://www.vimeo.com/1211060

It's a video of a young man dancing in many places in the world. Often he has a group of local people dancing with him. He is sponsored by a brand of gum (Stride). There is no stated political or other kind of purpose. But I think Matt gives a really good sermon here.

I find it beautiful. I hope you will too.