Ministry of Hospitality

I suppose the next bit is a bit difficult. I haven’t been a newcomer to a parish in a while, and I had forgotten the uncomfortable feeling of being dismissed at the end of a service, and invited to not join the parish for coffee… but instead hearing something like: I’m glad you could join us, hope to see you another Sunday. It was made very clear that he wasn’t trying to “recruit” me, but also in the ensuing exchange, it was made very clear that I should get going... Everyone with me felt the same way – it was pretty strange! We decided what the heck – I’m going to go down for coffee anyway, but were greeted at the door by a woman who had arranged for a cake, who said she didn’t know that I was going to be confirmed, so my name wasn’t on the cake (fair enough!), not that there would have been any room anyway… but she supposed that we could come down anyways… if we wanted…
The ministry of hospitality is truly a ministry and an art – I’m saddened to say that felt rather unwelcome… but what an important thing to learn – I never want anyone to feel like that.

Confirmation...

Today I found myself sitting in the front pew in an unfamiliar church, comforting some very nervous twelve year olds. We were all being confirmed and they were so nervous! They were asking questions like “What if I don’t remember what I’m supposed to say?” , “What if I get it wrong?” ,“What if people laugh?” I think (and hope!) that I was able to give some comforting words – they did seem to relax a bit!

Bishop Poole addressed us quite directly throughout his sermon. He told a story about the intricacies of shutting down a cottage, turning off the power, raising the docks, draining all the pipes and scooping all the water out of the toilets. Specifically about his friend who walked in as the good bishop had his hand in the toilet wiping out the rest of the water. His friend shouted, “What in God’s name are you doing?” So his question to us was just that. What in God’s name are we doing? How can we see God in our lives? Where is God using our names?
Great questions – ones that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully answer!
Now, I know the confirmation service off by heart, inside out and backwards. The Bishop asked each of us the final question individually, “Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?” and the answer was “I do, and with God’s grace I will follow him as my Saviour and Lord.” The kids were so nervous – One of them had a learning disability and couldn’t quite get through it and stumbled along, and got quite embarrassed and red in the face. But she did it! She made the promises she came to make. In fact they all did with only some stumbling. Even I stumbled over the words, I’m not really sure why – I knew the words, I wasn’t really nervous… strange. But the young girls mum came up to me after the service and thanked me for messing up the response, and for telling her daughter that it was her promise to God, and it was more important to mean what she said, then get the words perfect. (and that and having me… the adult…. stumble along too, made her feel better!).

London

I'm off to London in the morning. Not too exotic, London Ontario! Taking a class... Mum and Dad are coming down on the weekend to help me start packing and 'cause I'm being confirmed on Sunday...
So much to do... and I'll be starting this on 4 hours of sleep at this rate - so Good Night!

Chancel Guild and Iona

I’ve now been a member of our parish Chancel Guild for over a year. I go to the church every six weeks and polish brass, trim candles, arrange flowers and set the table for the Eucharist. That’s what we do physically, but there is much more to it than that. I go to learn. I go to hear the stories of the church politics, and try to help heal the hurt feelings when someone wasn’t asked to help out with this, or when someone feels like they are the ONLY one who is ever asked to do that. To help people understand that the flowers behind the altar don’t have to look like they just leapt out of an FTD catalogue, but instead are part of their offering to God. I have to say I don’t usually say much on these days – today was no exception. But I do listen.

I’m also thinking of my friends tonight as they board a plane bound for Glasgow. Tomorrow they will find themselves able to dip their toes in the great North Sea and walk along the paths of St. Columba on the holy isle of Iona. Climb to the top of “Dun I” and simply be. As is tradition (albeit for me only a 2 year old tradition!) I have sent one of my Iona stones, filled with my regrets of the last year back to the holy isle to be thrown into the sea. I miss that place.

Here is my favourite photo from there.
Columba’s Bay, my heart yearns to go back, for I miss my home.

In Iona of my heart, Iona of my love,
Instead of monks' voices shall be lowing of cattle,
But ere the world come to an end
Iona shall be as it was

Maine?????

So… apparently I’m going to Maine. Calais Maine to be specific (about 100 miles from Bangor). What the heck is with Maine (aurora… tell me!). James (our youth group leader) and I are renting a small bus or a big van and taking 8 to 10 kids to coastal Maine as an outreach initiative. James used the word “Mission” and made me go all squeamish… I’ll take “outreach initiative” thank you very much! We’ll be leaving Toronto on July 1 and returning on July 8. The programme focuses on 3 areas of ministry – children, work with the elderly and home improvement. This is yet another chance for all of us to put our faith into action. It is an ecumenical (alright I’ll say is) mission, and there will be kids from all over that our group will be working with. We will be painting houses, playing games with kids in after school programmes and working / chatting / being friendly visitors with the elderly.

I'm waiting to find out more information...

Little Korea....

Sitting in the heart of Little Korea (Did you know Toronto even had a little Korea?) It has just become abundantly clear that I am in the heart of it. Wanna know why? It has something to do with the World Cup - Korea beat Togo 2 to 1. For the past hour there has been shouts and screams and honking horns and waiving flags and a general state of hoopla at the corner of Yonge and Finch. I have a wonderful window view of the chaos and celebration. I love to hear people happy, people celebrating... but I think the horns have got to go... A little bit of it - I don't mind - in fact I love to see their joy. But this is verging on irritating... Come on people... it's only football (or to some of you... come on... it's only soccer!)

Trinity Sunday

Trinity Sunday – one of the days that many priests hate part of their job – preaching on Trinity Sunday is no easy task. Go and explain the Trinity… Come on… can’t be that hard! The task sort of reminds me of herding cats - just when you think you are getting somewhere half of them wander off, and you may even be in a worse mess than when you started! So... keeping that in mind... we are surrounded with images often employed to help explain it… Like this one: I am me, but I can also be a daughter and a sister, but I am still me…. Well – that sort of gets it – but not very satisfactory. Alright – the old H2O compound – can be present in a solid (ice), a liquid (water) or a gas (steam), but it is still H2O. A bit better – but still lacking. St. Augustine once tried to explain it as “the Lover”, “the Beloved” and “Love”. Of all the explanations I have heard to date this is one of my favourites, and though it too is an imperfect explanation, it gets the idea of a relationship within the characteristics. It uses the greatest commandment “to love” as the explanation of the one who gave that commandment and who embodies what it is to truly love.

By the way – did you notice my little Trinity of explanations… huh, huh… did ya??

It really WAS in the mail!!!

Wow - she wasn't kidding! I got my letter from the Huron Diocese today and it said:
"The committee expressed that it was a pleasure to spend time getting to know you. They found you to be an enthusiastic and inspirational individual. You demonstrated a deep theological reflection and a great compassion for the gospel. Your listening skills and passion are to be commended."

Then they said YES... they have recommended that I continue through the process!!!

I get to continue!

Onward to ACPO ...

It's in the mail...

So, my answer from my meeting yesterday is "in the mail" or it will be this week. The lovely woman in HR at the Diocese sent me a note that said in part "They had lots of good things to say about you." and that I could "continue to mail her account, while she is on Maternity leave and someone else will answer." Also sounds like good news... a) they liked me and b) she assumed there would be a need to contact her in the future.

and so I wait.



patience is a virtue.



apparently not a virtue I posess in any great amount....

God Talk on Fast Forward!

Holy crap. I just met with an incredibly intelligent, incredibly fast moving, priest at the parish where I am to be confirmed at the end of June, and I am exhausted! I spent almost an hour with him discussing everything from the politics of Josephus to prison ministry, from the Trinity/Wycliffe rivalry to biblical text criticism... and he was drinking decaf! I don't talk a mile a minute, so I'd say the talk track split was about 70/30 (me being the 30%) He said "I guess with what you're studying you don't need to attend any "confirmation prep" classes." He just said to show up half an hour early on the 25th to meet the Bishop... I think it may have been strange to attend confirmation prep classes considering I have co-taught them for 2 years (but I digress...). The whole conversation was... well... I guess I said it before - it was exhausting!

For all you Anglicans out there, this is an interesting split for the service - BAS for the confirmation, but then switching to BCP for the Eucharist (not just use the BCP Eucharistic prayer in the BAS, but switch books)... ah well - he is a member of the Prayer Book society... my mum will be happy - she likes the old language (my dad, however, may be tempted to fall asleep!).

On another note - I came home to a beautiful yellow rose on my dining table, and I have to say, I was kinda freaked out! I had no idea what was going on - someone had eaten a packaged applesauce and left the empty container, a spoon and a dirty glass on the table. I had a robber who left a flower took nothing and ate my food? Bizarre!
Then it hit me - my sister must have stopped by on her way through to Montreal today's... in fact I just got a call to confirm just that - but I have to admit - that was weird!

Meh??!!??

How did it go you may be asking. Well, I don't know. I came out of there feeling like I did fairly well, they asked a bunch of questions - some I expected - some I did not. Then I second guessed myself the whole way home - I should have said THIS... or I wish I had said THAT...

How would your best friend describe you?
What is the central message of the Gospel? (follow up question to my answer of Compassion) Tell me about a time when your compassion was challenged?
Why ordained ministry and not lay ministry?
How would you describe AAAAAAA or Give me an example of when you BBBBBBBBBB....

and on... and on...

However the time went VERY quickly and the HR person at the Diocese was right - very nice, kind folk that I met with - so we'll have to see what happens!!

Interview was only about an hour - 3 priests and me in a boardroom.

I forgot to ask when I should expect to hear something back... so....

for now do I live with the addage that no news is good news?

Nervous

A friend of mine and I have a little tradition of lighting the centre candle behind the alter for someone or for some special intention.

Yesterday she lit it for me.

Interview with the Applicant Discernment Committee today... 11:30am.


God be in my eyes and in my seeing
God be in my ears and in my hearing
God be on my lips and in my speaking
God be in my heart and in my loving
Amen.