Annual Meeting

We had our annual meeting at church today. One service at 9 a.m. so that the 8 a.m. crowd didn't have to come back and the 10:30 crowd had to come early.

This was really my first annual meeting as the rector. Yeah, I know . . . I was the rector at last year's annual meeting; but I had only been on the job for just under two months, so all I really did was write up something that talked about how happy I was to be there, say how happy I was to be there and that I was looking forward to the upcoming year, and then listen to my senior warden lead us through the meeting and financial reports.

This year it was all mine, baby.

I formatted things a little differently. My new treasurer did a great job with her presentation. We elected new vestry members and convention delegates. And then we shared a potluck meal.

It was a good meeting with good food and a good nap afterwards. And now I've got about 30 minutes until I watch a meaningless football game.

New America 27

Have you seen these commercials about a "very wealthy" U.S. citizen making a "dire prediction" for the upcoming year?

I started seeing them in late December and continuing through most of this month. This dire prophecy is predicting major changes for the way we live -- how we shop, live and education our children. "It will have a major impact on your life." It comes across as yet another, Harold Camping end-time prediction.

Aside from not putting a whole lot of stock in any end of the world predictions, this one was never worth even minor consideration.

In December, the prediction was that "in 2011 we will experience the most important day in our history."

In January, the prediction was that "in 2011 we will experience the most important day in our history."

And today, the prediction is that "in the near future we will experience the most important day in our history."

If this "very wealthy U.S. citizen" can't even afford to hire a proof reader, then I'm not the least bit interested in watching his video.

Murphy's Law

A few months ago, one of my aging parishioners commented that it was getting harder to follow the service in the BCP even when he was wearing his glasses. He wondered if there were such a thing as a large print BCP. I did some looking around and found that, yes, there is a large print BCP.

We put announcements in the bulletin and asked people to donate some money so that we could order ten of them. Which we did. They aren't perfect. The publisher didn't paginate them the same as the standard BCP (so instead of beginning on page 355, the service begins on page 96). They didn't include all four forms of the Rite Two service. They didn't include all six forms of the Prayers of the People. What they did was to only print "the most commonly used" portions.

Again, not perfect, but better than nothing for those people who aren't able to read the standard BCP.

Yesterday one of my parishioners and our organist started the long process of cleaning out the choir room. Eliminating copies of "contemporary praise music" from 1973, organizing, cleaning, tossing, etc.

And, of course, finding. They found, tucked away in a corner, underneath a pile of old papers, four COMPLETE BOXED SETS of the Hymnal 1982 and the BCP -- large print versions.

There are three boxed sets of the hymnal and one box of the BCP. Complete. Large Print.

Why does this always happen after you've made a purchase??

Things I miss

One of the things I did while in Montana was to hold a service at the local nursing home once a month. I got to know a few of the residents rather well and enjoyed spending part of my Sunday with them.

After a couple of years of doing this, one of the residents, Pat, told me that she wanted me to do her funeral. And probably during every visit she would remind me, "Now remember, I want you to do my funeral . . . but let's not rush it."

I got a phone call today from my former deacon. She was gathering funeral information because Pat reminded everyone that I was supposed to do the funeral and, as it turns out, it's looking like she's going to die in the near future.

One of the things I miss most is not being there for people I grew very attached to. So, Pat, this is for you:

Into your hand, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Pat. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.

Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon her. Amen.

Progress

So, because I have nothing theological insightful or politically astute or anything anywhere near the caliber of much better people with much better blogs to say, I'll just blather on about how I'm making progress with my five-mile run.

I ran today and knocked about three minutes off my time from the other day. This means that I managed to get down under 50 minutes. Not by a lot, mind you, but it's under 50. If I really get serious about this, I actually might get down to the 40 minute mark. That's my serious goal anyway.

My long-term goal is as it ever is -- be ready for football season so that I don't die after a game.

Not Bad

So a post or two down I was bemoaning the fact that my running route that I thought was 5 miles turned out to only be 4.65 miles and I was terribly frustrated that my "under 50 minute" time was no longer a reality.

As it turns out, it's a closer reality than I had originally thought. I managed to run my truly-5 miles in 51 minutes and 28 seconds. Of course, that's the unofficial time based on when I choose to start and stop my watch, but I come pretty close, and I'm happy with it. Of course, the legs are a little sore; so I'll let them rest the rest of this weekend before hitting the road again on Monday.

If I manage to keep this up, I'll be more than ready for the next football season.

Sermon for Sunday

I'm busy designing a sermon around the Flux Capacitor.

That is all.