I Had To Post This Headline

Los Alamos National Laboratory Researchers Accidentally Blow up Building with a Cannon

Hiatus

The New Coracle will be closed for a few days as the staff takes a "between-the-holidays" break. Back on Friday with lots of fun things for the new year [including experiments with video announcements and the weekly reflection].

The First Sunday After Christmas

This week, we host our friends and neighbors from the Congregational Church. The lections may be found here.

Best To Stick With Plastic Animals

Church's nativity donkeys wander off

They Had It With Roast Pork And Poi

Hawaii broadband company gets fed stimulus money

Archaeological News

First Jesus era house found in Nazareth

Merry Christmas From The Roxbury Green

My camera isn't all that great for night shots, but for those who haven't seen the splendor of what is essentially my front yard, feast your eyes.

Liturgies For Christmas Eve And Christmas Day

Christmas Eve:
5:00 pm Celebration of the Holy Eucharist on the occasion of the Feast of the Incarnation with Carols and Hymns.

11:00 pm Festal Celebration of the Holy Eucharist, also with Carols, Hymns, and special music. [Carol Sing at 10:45pm.]

Christmas Day:
10:00 am Celebration of the Holy Eucharist with Carols.

Weather Update

4:40am: Still coming down; roads are being plowed but not the parish parking lot yet. Time to start shoveling the front of the church. Maybe.

4:57am: Okay, that was a bad idea. Drifting snow is making it difficult. Maybe I'll wait until dawn. Good thing it's not ten degrees warmer, or else those large flakes would be even more of a problem.

5:04am: Gee, what a novel idea: Southbury church: Service will go on

5:59am: Snow seems to be tapering off; strong wind is creating drifts, though, and the roads are still slippery even when plowed.

6:11am: Okay, forget what I said about the snow tapering off....

6:18am: Lt. Vance of the State Police is advising people to stay off the roads. Clearly, he doesn't understand the idea of the collection plate [Just kidding].

6:42am: A couple of guys came by to help me shovel [Well, I helped them. Well, I shoveled, too, just not as well] and to plow the parking lot. Now it feels like nap time.

6:50am: I almost forgot. The lections for the Fourth Sunday of Advent may be found here.

9:01am: A dozen people attended the 8am Eucharist and we are a "go" for the pageant.

Update From The Rectory Weather Desk

As the watch is now a warning, I want all to know that services will still be held at 8am and 10am Sunday morning. However, if you feel that it is dangerous to travel in the morning, please do not imperil life or limb. I'm planning to hold services on Thursday and Friday of this week, anyway.

As far as the Christmas pageant is concerned, we are planning on having it and the potluck dinner. It may very well be that we will receive a manageable snowfall that will be well cleared by 4:30 tomorrow afternoon.

Please feel free to contact your friendly, neighborhood rector with questions or suggestions. Stay tuned should new information be offered.

A Word About The Weekend Weather

I've gotten two questions today about our Sunday schedule in regards to the possibility of a storm. While I think that we have little to worry about [see map above], one of the great things about this weblog is the ability to disseminate information efficiently.

So, question #1: Will we have church on Sunday?

Short answer: Yes, at 8 and 10am.

Long answer: I haven't missed a Sunday due to weather in my career, even when I lived 40 miles away from an interim parish. Now that I live right next door, I have even less of an excuse not to be there dispensing the sacrament. Do not travel if you feel that it's dangerous, but know that I will be here ready to go on Sunday morning.

Question #2: Will we have the pageant on Sunday afternoon?

Short answer: Yes, at 4:30pm

Long answer: While I will wait to form a final opinion about this until early on Sunday, my inclination at this point is to assume that whatever weather we get will be manageable and cleared by the late afternoon.

Please check this site for continuing information from the Rectory Weather Desk.

Friday Photo: Mayan Panther

I Used To Play Bass With This Group

Kung fu monkeys

And He Only Works One Day A Year

In Chicago: Santa Sanitizes For The Holidays In Wake Of H1N1

In Canada: H1N1 Bars Santa Claus

Nationwide: Don't Kiss Santa, He Might Have H1N1

Not to be outdone, in Hungary: Chimneys closed to Santa to prevent H1N1 spread

I Was Always Bad At Word Problems Myself

Malaria cases likely half in third of countries

Now This Is Too Much

Anglican 'Santa' barred from giving gifts to children at detainee centre

What amazes me even more is that the Anglican Church has an expert on St. Nick and that his name is Rosenthal.

Interactive Map Of The Growth Of World Religion

Seasonal Celtic Prayer

Days of heavy clouds stifling the sunlight
the world burdened by grayness and gloom

Open our eyes, O Lord
To the coming of your light
Lifting the burden of darkness.

Chillness that seeps deep into bones
hearts and spirits rigid with frost-hardness
souls wrapped up against coldness and loneliness.

Open our souls, Lord,
To the warmth of your arrival
Melting the hardness
The separates us from the world and eternity.

[The photo above is of St. Barnabas' House, where I spent my time in monastic life. I couldn't find a photo of the House in winter, unfortunately.]

Hymns For The Fourth Sunday Of Advent

Processional 66 Stuttgart

Gradual 102 Irby

Offertory 450 Coronation

Recessional 58 Helmsley

This Should Have Been In A Church

Elevator mural casts you as Adam on the Sistine Chapel's ceiling

He Also Had A Rolls Royce Silver Cloud And I Had A Ford Escort

Gene Barry, Actor of TV, Film and Stage, Dies at 90

It was Amos Burke who made me want to get a phone in my car. Of course, Burke had his in the early 1960's and I didn't get one until thirty+ years later, but still....

I now have a phone in my pocket and don't want it.

The Third Sunday Of Advent

It's Rose Sunday, which means we light the third candle on the Advent wreath, the rose-colored one. It represents a lightness in the time of preparation and serves as a caution not to become too serious and dour about the season itself. After all, we are preparing for celebration.

This week Zephaniah reminds us to rejoice and exalt, as are the Philippians reminded, and John the Baptizer gives us a glimpse of some of the realities in First Century economics. All this plus why I'm glad I don't worship Gaia or the PGA.

The lections may be found here.

Friday Photo: Telecaster

God And Dog

If you have ever had a dog, or sought to understand God more deeply, this may be of some aid in your spiritual quest.

God and Dog

[This comes courtesy of Jayne, who is a member of the only other congregation for which I have regard equal to that in which I hold Christ Church. In fact, when you want to be bored, I'll tell you of how Jayne's parish convinced me to continue to be a priest, even though I had pretty well decided to move on from the church life.]

Hymns For The Third Sunday Of Advent

Processional 437 Birmingham

Gradual 544 Duke Street

Offertory 656 Franconia

Recessional 376 Hymn to Joy

And I'm In Roxbury

Surf's up as biggest waves in five years come to Hawaii after North Pacific storm

This Season's Best Decoration

Source

Be Circumspect Before Following The Link...

...as this addition to the mortality industry is a little, ah, disturbing:

Personal Urns

Oh, and it's available in two sizes.

Apparently, The Episcopal Church Is Now A Sect

At least according to the Associated Press:

Mary Glasspool would be sect's 2nd openly gay bishop

Sightings

Mass. woman sees image of Jesus on her iron

Burleson Couple Says Egg Is A Message From God

Beatle Ringo Starr's face seen in water droplet on lotus leaf

How Did I Miss This Obit?

Paul Wendkos, Director of ‘Gidget’ Surfer Movies, Is Dead at 84

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Elf jailed over dynamite hoax on Santa

The Second Sunday Of Advent

This week Baruch metaphorically advises a change of garments for Jerusalem, the Philippians receive a happy letter, and the Man of Advent himself makes his first appearance in the Gospel of Luke. All this plus the secret of the Hand Jive.

The lections may be found here.

Jake Enjoys His First Full Week At The Rectory

As you can tell, he's thrilled.

Friday Photo: Inside The Green Room

Debris Pile, Day Three

The World Of A Fire Chaplain

Chaplain's Faith Helps to Deal With Tragic Fire

I appreciate that Roman Catholic priests get some pretty rough treatment these days, especially in the press. Remember that there are still good men of faith working on behalf of the Gospel for little remuneration and dwindling respect. I have a feeling this fellow has been in the right place at the right time more often than he realizes. Thanks, Father Scanlon.

Ahem

New Rector Feels Right at Home at Christ Episcopal Church

[Actually, I ride the skateboard from the Senior Center to the Rectory, not the other way around, as that would be uphill.]

How To Starve The Healthy Way

Hungry, sure, but food is healthier

"When a small church comes to the Bowery Mission bearing fried chicken with trans fat, unwittingly breaking the law, they’re told “thank you.” Then workers quietly chuck the food...."

On the other hand, I'm glad to see that Holy Apostles, an Episcopal parish, still knows the right thing to do. Sometimes all our blather about "questioning authority" has a real world application that fulfills Gospel teaching.

Well, There Goes That Decorating Idea

I was just about to decorate with lights and other Christmas ephemera that rather dreary area along the driveway entrance to the Christ Church campus when two fellows in unmarked vehicles came by, trimmed the tree, and left. Since casual conversation and eye-contact were not on their agenda, they were unclear about what else they have planned. However, I appreciate the Lone Rangers, mystery men that they are, for trimming and caring for the tree with such zeal.

I think I'll decorate the area next year.

"Efforts to reach Christ for comment were unsuccessful."

Jesus Christ dumped from jury pool for disruption

Wow, Those Are Some Dramatic Cuts

From this article: LAUSD Superintendent orders hiring freeze and other cuts

"The only exceptions to the hiring freeze will be for classroom teachers, principals, assistant principals, cafeteria managers, school police officers, bus drivers teachers' assistants, education aides, special education assistants and plant managers."

Must Have Bought The Shelf In Woodbury

Darwin book found on shelf worth up to $100,000

Archaeological News [and Canine, Too]

Dogs to look for archaeological remains on Port Angeles waterfront