Reverend Ref +

BUSY BUSY BUSY

Part 1

Okay, so I went to this Commission on Mission Planning thing last weekend (see below). The gist of it is is that we (the commission) are to be a diocesan resource for struggling parishes; specifically, small parishes. If the parish is struggling because the vestry and rector are fighting, don't call us. But, if the parish is struggling trying to survive and be an integral part of the community, we're your team.

It's all really very amorphous and some of what we discussed over the weekend seemed to be of the, "Well, duh" variety, the CMP is a good thing. The Diocese of Montana has experienced some -- shall we say -- rough times in the past. Partly because of their past history, parishes moved towards a defensive position. I don't need to tell you, dear reader, that that is not the most beneficial way to be either a vital part of a community or to be active in the "missionary field."

So, here comes the CMP. Our job, it would seem, would be to redirect the focus of the parish from inward to outward by listening to where they are, using those stories to help define goals of the parish, helping to figure out what talents the parish has to offer the community, etc.

We seem to be in an interesting position in that 1) we can't just drive up to a parish and say, "Let us help," and 2) oftentimes parishes, like people, usually aren't the first ones to see they need outside input. We're working on that. The bishop could direct us to a parish, or through conversation, we might suggest that a parish call us. Anyway, like a friend pointed out to me just this morning, I like to pay attention to the details. Because of that, and because (I feel) there aren't a whole lot of details at this time, I'm kind of . . . floundering. Hopefully, once things really get rolling, I'll pick this up and just go.

Part 2

As if I needed anything else to do (besides the stewardship training this weekend, clergy conference in two weeks, a wardens workshop at the end of the month and the usual liturgical sermonizing), I've agreed to cast my "talent" (loosely used) into the local community theater.

For you smart-aleks out there, Yes, Sheridan has a community theater. Kind of. Not like the big productions that go on up in Virginia City by any means. No, this is more of a once-a-year deal for the hospital auxillary. They use this dessert & dinner theater to raise money for the local hospital. In the past, money has gone towards a new x-ray machine. I'm not sure what the money is going towards now (maybe after the performance, pain meds might be appropriate).

So . . . I've agreed to be one of the actors. The play is called "Murder at the OK Corral," and I play some guy named Stoop, sidekick of the idiot town marshal and . . . well, if I told you that, I'd give away the ending. Practice starts tomorrow and it should prove to be -- interesting. At the very least, I figured it was another way to get myself immersed into the community and meet more people. Who knows, I might even get some business out of the deal. And if not business, notoriety for sure.

Peace