Moving Diagonally

Celebrated Mass at Redeemer, then led a clergy day until 2pm, talking about the challenge of being part of the "minority party" in the Episcopal Church. Shared some reflections from Jeremiah, Hosea, and Joshua. Interviewed a priest from a neighboring diocese who is interested in exploring opportunities that may come open in Springfield. Accompanied Brenda and an old friend who now lives in the area to a nearby botanical garden. Fascinating and exotic flora and fauna (little lizards). Attended a dinner party at the home of a Redeemer parishioner. Very elegant. Good food. Stimulating conversation.

(Delivered at Redeemer, Sarasota as the preaching mission continues.) “I sing a song of the saints of God …”  This is the opening line of what I would dare say is one of the more popular All Saints hymns in the Anglican tradition. It’s a children’s song, really, and rather obviously reeking of Victorian Englishness, so much so that the liturgical powers-that-be in the Episcopal Church made the decision to omit it from the most recent revision of the hymnal in 1982. But the members of the House of Deputies at General Convention that year—God bless them, a group not generally not known for being nostalgic about the past—voted overwhelmingly to restore it, and it remains one of the quaint and quirky elements of our Anglican sub-culture. Behind the Victorian schmaltz, however, behind the poetic images that make us grin—the lines about meeting the saints of God in “shops” or in “lanes” or “at tea”—is a repeated refrain that is as serious as a heart attack. Each of the three stanzas ...

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, 17-20 Matthew 23:1-12 Micah 3:5-12 (Given at the Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota, Florida, where I am giving a "preaching mission" today and Tuesday.) I don’t see it so much lately, but, for a while in the middle years of the last decade, a 1999 film called Office Space seemed to be constantly popping up on one TV channel or another. Office Space is a parody of what life is like for those on the lower rungs of the corporate ladder—working in a cubicle doing repetitive tasks that don’t seem to have any bearing on anyone’s real life, dealing with a smug and condescending boss who’s more concerned with getting the paperwork right than with actual productivity, and a pair of rather idiotic “downsizing” consultants who identify the main character, who is in fact a complete slacker who hates his job and everything about it—they identify this guy as prime leadership material, and earmark him for immediate promotion! Prime leadership material indeed. O...

Today was a day of travel in preparation for the preaching mission I am giving at the Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota, Florida. Redeemer is a thriving resource-size parish with over 700 in average Sunday attendance. Left home at 8:15 to catch a 10:30 flight out of Bloomington. Three hour layover in Atlanta provided opportunity for some significant walking--always welcome. Lovely dinner in Sarasota with the rector of Redeemer, Fr Fred Robinson, and his wife Linda.

Took it just a little easy on myself this morning, given the late night of baseball watching. So ... I read the morning office in my room, and missed Matins & Mass in St Mary's Chapel. Took part in the fall academic convocation, at which several degrees were awarded, mostly to distance learning students. The distance learning program at Nashotah has been a raging success. Lord Carey of Clifton, the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury (will there ever be a 103rd Bishop of Springfield?!) delivered a fine talk on the significance of the King James translation of the Bible, on this, its 400th anniversary year. At lunch, I had the opportunity, at a table with some students, alumni, another bishop, and a priest trustee, to share the nascent Springfield vision statement. There was great excitement. After lunch, participated in the afternoon session of the Nashotah trustees meeting. We were one short of a quorum, so we couldn't transact any official business. Fortunately, we had alre...

Solemn Choral Matins at 8, followed by breakfast in the refectory. Trustees met all morning and all afternoon. Had lunch with a seminarian and his wife, at the recommendation of a faculty member. The seminarian is currently an "orphan" looking for a diocese. Attended the installation of Bishop Edward Salmon as the new "temporarily permanent" dean and president of Nashotah House. Scrumptious dinner at the refectory, then over to the deanery for some socializing with Bishop and Mrs. Salmon (she is an over-the-top rabid Cardinals fan) and some parishioners from All Saints, Chevy Chase, MD, where the bishop has recently completed a 26 month interim stint. We were also joined by Lord and Lady Carey. Watched three or four innings with some Rangers fans in one of the guest apartments, but came back to my hotel room to watch the agonizing/exciting finish to Game 6 of the World Series. My introversion was pretty well taxed today. I'm beat.

Hit the road northbound at 7:45. Lunch in Beloit, WI. Had a couple of fruitful phone conversations along the way. Arrived at Nashotah House with about fifteen minutes to spare before a 1:30 committee meeting .... ... said committee being External Affairs. Heard an upbeat (all things considered) report on enrollment. Some particularly creative work is being done in student recruitment. I am particularly impressed with the work done by a couple of young staff members on the website. Do check it out . Back to Delafield to check in to my hotel, make a pastoral call by phone, and process some email. Solemn Evensong in St Mary's Chapel, followed by the dedication of the new wing of the refectory, which includes lots of additional classroom and meeting space. Hung out for a bit at the reception/happy hour. Chatted some with Fr Mark Evans, rector-elect of Trinity, Lincoln. Excited about his coming to the diocese. Also got to meet George Carey, the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury, who is...