Archaeological News [Sorta]

Woman arrested while attempting to mail a mummy by parcel post

Don't Say This Weblog Doesn't Bring You Interesting Information

To wit, new foods offered at this past summer's state fairs. 

"Deep-Fried Cheddar-Bacon Mashed Potatoes…On a Stick".  Yummy.

The Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost

This week Isaiah schools Sodom, Paul gives the nicest introduction ever in a letter to the Thessalonians, and Jesus meets the richest man in the richest town in Palestine.  All this plus the significance of the ficus sycamora.

The lections may be found here.

Power Outage

I was informed by C.L. & P. yesterday that the power at the parish, parish house, and rectory will be off for several hours Saturday morning as they work on the power lines in the area of the green.  This will mean that incoming calls to the office or rectory will not be received nor messages recorded.  We will not have Internet capacity during that time, either, so e-mail will not receive a response. 

Those working in the parish in the morning are advised to dress warmly. 

Those who were attending the guitar workshop at 8:30 should understand that it will be re-scheduled as it's difficult to use power tools and an air brush without electricity.

We regret the inconvenience.

[As of 10am, the power has been restored.]
[Now, the power is off again.]
[Okay, it's back.]
[Off.  This is getting monotonous.]
[On.  Please stay on.]

Another Pleasant Responsibility Discharged

Many thanks to Margo Terwilliger, who took the photo, Jim Stanton, who created the big, giant check, and all of the members of the Auction Committee and Shepaug Baseball.

The Rune Of St. Padraic

At Tara to-day in this fateful hour
I place all Heaven with its power,
And the sun with its brightness,
And the snow with its whiteness,
And the fire with all the strength it hath,
And the lightning with its rapid wrath,
And the winds with their swiftness along their path,
And the sea with its deepness,
And the rocks with their steepness,
And the earth with its starkness
All these I place,
By God's almighty help and grace,
Between myself and the powers of darkness.

Like Wheat That Springeth Green

The children of Roxbury upon discovery that The Trophy had been returned to the diocese and was not to be seen in its usual place of honor in the parish house. [Click on the photos to enlarge the full dramatic effect.]

"And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the LORD."

But wait, can it be?

"...let the whole world see and know that things which were
cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown
old are being made new, and that all things are being brought
to their perfection by him through whom all things were made...."

A serious note:  Christ Church participates strongly in the Bishop's Fund for Children because it is a worthy ministry that aids a variety of organizations and individuals.  We are proud to be able to keep the faith in deed as well as word.

But there is a secondary reason, too.  We are a small congregation and certainly not the wealthiest.  We carry out our ministry in the corner of the diocese, away from the "power areas" that are sprinkled throughout other portions of the state.  Our resolve exists to prove that a small, rural parish can add something to the common life and mission of the diocese.  The members of Christ Church are delighted that, like us, so many other parishes have decided also to boost their contributions, whether because of a sense of competition or because of the appropriateness of the cause or, most likely, because of a combination of the two.

We hope this trend continues to build and that The Trophy always has a happy place to stay, wherever that may be.  [Although, to be honest, we prefer it to be at Christ Church, Roxbury.]

Jesus Watch

Tree-sus: Man Discovers Image of Christ in Tree Branch

That Must Be A Long Prayer

Group Demands Tennessee School End Prayers Before Football Games

Another Frontier Of Marriage

Bride-to-be set to say 'I do' — to herself

The Bishop's Address From Convention...

...may be found at the link below:

http://www.ctepiscopal.org/images/customer-files/BishopsAddress2010.pdf

Virginia Theological Seminary Fire

While I did not attend VTS, a great many of my colleagues have and the current dean, Ian Markham, is a former parishioner of mine whom I recommended for the ordination process at the beginning of his priestly career.  We prayed for the seminary community yesterday and today at convention.

'Traumatic' fire ravages historic Alexandria chapel

The Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost

Not sure about tomorrow, except that the lections may be found here.

226th Diocesan Convention

The annual convention is today and tomorrow. If you wonder what it's like, think of Woodstock and then take away the drugs, tents, mud, electric guitars, generational relevance, and open dress code. Oh, and move it indoors. To a cathedral. And also limit the guest list and make 57 the median age of the participants . Yep, that's about it.  So, it's really not like Woodstock at all.

Above is an example of the mad party people with whom I'll be spending the next two days.  Hey, they're more fun than they look. 

I'll attempt to send pertinent information to the weblog during the proceedings.  That is, if I can get a wifi signal somewhere in the neighborhood of the cathedral.

[This means I won't be in the office from Friday morning to late afternoon on Saturday and, as is the custom, my cell phone will be switched off while we are in the midst of deliberations.]

Tonight: Lance And Company Change The World. Um, What's An Emerod?

Come to the Adult Education series tonight at 7:30pm in the parish house.  This is the third and final installment of our look at the process of translating what became known as the King James Version of the Holy Bible.  Don't forget to cover your feet.  [You have to be a part of the class to get the reference.]

Congrats To Our Friends At The Neighboring Public School

Between successful fund-raisers and federal grants, it looks like the two ball fields and playgrounds, not to mention the soccer pitch, of our fair community will have all sorts of outdoor activities for 21st century kids.

A Couple Of Weekend Scenes

As of Sunday morning, work began to replace the sod and clay at the ball field, as made possible by a donation from Christ Church.  You may click to enlarge.

Meanwhile, these guys were wandering around the green and church parking lot on Saturday, mainly scaring my cat.  No wonder the British surrendered when faced with this ["Blimey, they've got a stroller.  Let's give up, General Cornwallis."]:

Please Note That The St. Vincent De Paul Walk Is This Sunday

More information may be found at this link:

http://stvincentdepaulmission.org/

Check Out Cynthia Turner Designs

Our own Cindy Turner is presenting this line of sneakers perfect for the inner surfer or wild child.  I think I know what I'm getting for some of those of my Christmas list.

http://www.zazzle.com/cynthiaturnerdesigns

Hey, Cindy.  How about you design a pair that matches one of my guitars?

Florida, Again

Grandma's ashes mistakenly sold at yard sale

The RMS Freddie Mercury

British Cruise Ship Named for Queen

They Come With Fries

McDonald’s Is Now Offering Wedding Packages

Farewell To Our Friend Of The Past Year: The Trophy

Alas, today was the day when we had to return the trophy we were awarded for raising more money than any other congregation in the Diocese of Connecticut for the Bishop's 5K Run/Walk for Children.  Here are some highlights of that final journey from Roxbury to Hartford:

Yes, I put a seat belt on The Trophy.  I didn't want the little plastic man on the top to snap off.

Arrival at Diocesan House:

The Trophy awaits an audience with His Holiness, Canon Jack:

Canon Jack alerts the media as to the return of The Trophy:

Farewell, old friend.  It's as we hardly knew ye.

[Thanks for all the linkage, Leslie and Karin.]

A Pleasant "Thank You" [Click To Enlarge]

Thursday's Adult Forum: Some Men Are Born To Greatness, Others Have It Thrust Upon Them. Still Others Are Named...Lance!

Thursday evening at 7:30 we will look at the selection of the chairman of the translation board and his construction of the six committees' worth of academics and clergy who translated, book by book and word by word, the King James Version of the Holy Bible.  All this plus what it has to do with that slim volume that we use on Sunday mornings.

See you right after Jeopardy!

[Video of tonight's class may, may be available via the weblog later this weekend.  We'll see, as this is a brave new world of audio visual achievement.]

Celtic Bidding

If there is righteousness in the heart,
there will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character,
there will be harmony in the home.
If there is harmony in the home,
there will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation,
there will be peace in the world.
So let it be.

Baseball: The Thinking Man's Sport

Roberts says concussion-like symptoms might've been caused by hitting himself with bat

Probably Poor Pre-Marital Counseling

Woman On Scooter Chases Husband Around Wendy's

The Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost

This week Jeremiah reminds us of how to live the Covenant, Timothy learns of our relationship with the Christ, and Jesus presents the best lesson ever about how to be an evangelist.  All this plus why we're not community organizers.

The lections may be found here.

The Blessing of the Animals

Saturday at Noon on the steps of Christ Church.  No animal is too large or too exotic.

Tonight: Deception! Assassinations! Intrigue! Egos! And A Guy Named...Lance

The Adult Forum continues tonight with "God's Secretary: The Story Behind the King James Version".  We will begin at 7:30pm in the parish house.  There will be photos, untold stories, music, and Lord knows what else.  We'll be done by 8:15pm or so.

Celtic Prayer Of The Week [Back By Popular Demand]

Christ, as a light

illumine and guide me.

Christ, as a shield

overshadow me.

Christ under me;

Christ over me;

Christ beside me

on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me.

lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;

in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.

This day be within and without me,

lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light;

Christ as a shield;

Christ beside me

on my left and my right.

Given That They're Currently 0-3, This Is Probably A Good Idea

Rawr-ing for the Tigers

About Time, Three

Vargas Llosa Is Awarded Nobel Prize in Literature

About Time, Too

Scientists finish first sea census

And The "Surfing Rabbi" Was There!

The Annual Blessing of the Waves

Scenes From The 2010 Roxbury Tractor Parade

More photos are to be found on the rector's Facebook page.

The Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost

This week Habakkuk introduces the relationship of faith and works which will dominate Jewish and Christian thought for the next 2700 years, Paul tells Timothy of the power of faith, and Jesus puts some of the Jewish leadership in its place.  All this plus what happens when your classroom becomes an apartment and no one tells you.

The lections may be found here.

It's That Time Of Year Again

2010 Annual Diocesan Convention, October 22 and 23

And Now, Some Good News

Down with Doom: How the World Keeps Defying the Predictions of Pessimists

A Provocative Read

Time for a Divorce: Why government should get out of the marriage business

The Senate Finally Addressed Something Of Grave National Importance

Senate votes to turn down volume on TV commercials

Surprising Since He's Been Dead For 504 Years

Columbus too obese for ambulance stretchers