The 12 days of Christmas

Tomorrow we're halfway through the Christmas season. It's been a good one this year. A short summary:

Celebration: I was the preacher and presider at our early Christmas Eve service (the sermon for which is posted below). Candles, and music, and Carol & I put out cider and cookies for worshippers to share, after the service.

Then I was the celebrant again at the Christmas morning Eucharist. No sermon that time; instead, we did Lessons & Carols (a scriptural retelling of the Christmas story, interspersed with singing) together, in lieu of the regular Liturgy of the Word. Then one of our parishioners baked an incredible cake for Christmas morning, and her daughters (aged 3 and 4) led us in singing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

What it means, to be able to serve at the Table, to bring my gifts before the Christ Child in this way. . . I still don't have the words for that. Both services were a gift.

Sleep: the kids are off school, of course, so we've all had the pleasure of sleeping in. Now, this does mean different things to different people, around here. Our eldest is a late-morning power sleeper: more than once she's staggered out of her room as late as 11:00 am. Me? Well, once I lolled around in bed until nearly 7:30! My seminary suitemates will no doubt be shocked at this.

Cooking: Or maybe I should say, eating. We've had several really good meals, and Christmas dinner was wonderful. We also continue to enjoy the results of the pre-Christmas baking orgy. People who have gone hungry around here lately have no one but themselves to blame.

Presents: not an enormous pile, this year; but most satisfactory. Of the tangible items I received, this will be very handy, while this is just plain cool. Our collective major gift is a family vacation we're planning for February; and I'll blog more about that another time.

Family time: Playing board games (the boy is a card shark), watching movies old and new, eating meals with all of us around the same table (along with the occasional buddy; I am "Mom" to a goodly number of people who do not regularly sleep here). This year we're also doing a bit of driving-- going up to see Dad and my siblings tomorrow, and then down to check in with the other side of the family on Sunday. We're aware we my be in another part of the country next year, depending on where God might call me to a church; so we're being intentional about this.

And now, time to pack up for the aforementioned excursions.

Christmas Eve sermon

Christmas I
Isaiah 9:2-4,6-7
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14(15-20)
Psalm 96 or 96:1-4,11-12

"And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger. . ." and nothing was ever the same again.

In this, Jesus was no different than any other baby. New babies inevitably change things. This is most obvious for parents, of course-- the lack of sleep, the extra items on the grocery list, the not being able to go anywhere without baggage that weighs threee times more than the baby does, the constant concern and attention that is suddenly part of every fiber of one’s life.

But no newborn touches only the lives of mother and father. Grandparents, who fall in love all over again; aunts and uncles and cousins; friends and neighbors. . . even the mail carrier who is cautioned not to ring the bell “because the baby’s sleeping.” It’s impossible to name all those who are impacted in some way by the arrival of each new life into this world.

Of course, Jesus was born with a far greater purpose. The changes he brings are deeper and more profound than even the deepest and most profound gift found in the new life of the most beloved child. The angels first made this known even before he was conceived; and then trumpeted the news of his arrival-- as Messiah, as Savior-- in overwhelming, miraculous ways.

I think it’s significant that the first people to hear the news of jesus’ birth were a ragtag group of shepherds sitting out on a hillside. Disreputable characters, untrustworthy outcasts with whom no respectable citizen would associate, were the ones with whom the angels honored with the news of Jesus birth. No wonder they were terrified! And yet, scripture tells us that they picked up and went to see the things that the angel had described. And then “they returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” Nothing was the same for them after that.

The whole world is offered that same gift. And yet, that change we long for, that “peace that passeth all understanding” can be hard to find, can’t it? As my friend Micah commented last week, “"Every year Christ comes to save the world, and every year it still needs saving." All it takes is picking up the newspaper, or turning on the television to know that the world is as desperate need of the peace and salvation that Jesus offers as it ever was in the days of those ragamuffin shepherds.

My brothers and sisters, this is where we come in. As Christians, we are charged with the task of spreading the Good News of the salvation that Jesus offers to all people. We are called, from the moment of our baptism-- our own moment of godly new birth-- to claim and to share those gifts we've talked about as we've lit the Advent candles each week: the hope and the peace, the joy and the love, that can be found in following Jesus. We are integral, component parts in God’s plan for salvation “to the ends of the earth.” It is an enormous task, and we-- you and I individually, and all of us together-- are vital to the work.

The 16th century St. Teresa of Avila said it well:

Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
compassion on this world
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

This is our task, brothers and sisters; this is our call, our solemn obligation and our joy. I challenge you this night to consider: How can we listen to this call, and then act on it? How do we see the world around us with Jesus’ eyes; and to work in Jesus name? How do we help that helpless baby we welcome tonight grow into the fullness of all that he is and can be in this world?

As we celebrate the miracle of God born for us, let us pray also for God to be born within us. Welcome the newborn life, just as Mary did... and nothing will ever the same.

Mary's song

I have traveled many moonless nights,
Cold and weary with a babe inside,
And I wonder what I’ve done.
Holy father you have come,
And chosen me now to carry your son.

I am waiting in a silent prayer.
I am frightened by the load I bear.
In a world as cold as stone,
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now.
Be with me now.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.
Breath of heaven.

Do you wonder as you watch my face,
If a wiser one should have had my place,
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan.
Help me be strong.
Help me be.
Help me.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.
Breath of heaven.

On this day in history. . .

The date on the back of the photo says Dec 23; almost my first Christmas! I would have been 4 months old in this picture. My mother and I were living with my grandparents, while Dad was stationed with peacekeeping forces in Germany. This was in an album of pictures Mama sent to him while he was away.

The dog was named Pal; I'm told he was very protective of me, only allowing select people to come near.

Firefighter games

I noticed in my blog reading this morning that two of my regular stops share a common theme: firefighters playing with their toys. First, Rev. Ref and his fellow volunteers got to rescue trapped teddy bears at drill last night. Meanwhile, Jo(e) had her local contingent stop by, sirens wailing and horns sounding, with Santa on board.

Sounds like the boys were having fun.

"So, a priest and two deacons walk into a bar. . ."

Actually, that's the end of the story.

It really began yesterday, with a road trip south to St. Louis with Jen and Beth for Hope's ordination. We made good time, as well as good progress on our respective knitting projects (afghan, scarf and baby blanket are all works in progress). We got everyone dropped off at our respective billets, changed, and over to the cathedral in good time to join in the service. I joined the clergy in procession and then stood in joyful prayer as the bishop laid on hands and asked the Holy Spirit's descent on three candidates kneeling before him. And suddenly, my seminary roommate was a deacon!

I also need to note here that the clergy of the diocese of St. Louis are among the most gracious groups of people I've encountered in a while. Any number of folks made a point of introducing themselves, before as well as after worship: making me feel very welcome, and not at all The Rookie Priest in a Strange Place.

After the service, Beth and Jen went to spend some time with local friends. Deacon Hope and Deacon Andrew, and Hope's parents, graciously invited me to join them for supper. Upon the recommendation of one of the local priests, we ate at a very nice restaurant/microbrewery only a few blocks from the cathedral (which was when Hope's mom made the title observation).

This morning the original three travelers packed up our belongings and our knitting and headed back north. Again, an easy trip-- and we even arrived just in time for Jen to catch her train home without having to wait for any time at all.

A short trip, and a good one, and a blessing to have shared in the moment.

'Tis the season. . .

. . . for ordinations!

Last Saturday, the Diocese of Chicago ordained a group of new priests, among whom stood friends and seminary classmates. Prayers and thanksgivings for the ministries of Dave, Leigh and Jane, who now offer their service to God in a new way.

Tomorrow, the bishop of Missouri will lay hands on Hope (my former roommate), and thereby ordain her to the diaconate. Beth and I will be there, to pray and rejoice with her in this new beginning.

And beloved friends Todd and Mark celebrate the anniversary of their priestly ordinations this week-- marking one and two years, respectively.

Congratulations, everyone! I am blessed to be in such good and gracious company; and the church is blessed by the work these godly people do.

Happy birthday, Carolyn!

I am amazed to tell you that my firstborn-- our miracle baby, the pregnancy we thought could never be-- turns 18 today. This bewilders me; I was there for it all and I am still unable to tell you just when it happened: when the baby with the thatch of dark hair and dimples that made the nurses coo and smile, turned into the bright-eyed, feisty, beautiful young woman eager to step out and meet the world on her own terms. I can tell you, however, that even with all the challenges of the teen years, I am daily grateful that her life came into ours.

None of us know, when we begin the adventure of parenthood, where the journey will take us, or how we will be changed.

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little boy
You’ve kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is lord of all creation?
Did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven’s perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding
Is the great I am.

c. 1991 Word Music ( a division of Word, Inc.) and Rufus Music (admin. by Keeling & Company, Inc, Nashville, TN) Words: Mark Lowry Music: Buddy Greene

Friday Saturday Procrastination

I need to finish tomorrow's sermon, really I do. That being the case, of course I have gone back to catch up with the RevGal Friday Five, a day late.

• 1) Have you ever gotten a really good kiss under the mistletoe?

Nope. Not once. And putting up real stuff a few times over the years proved no more efficacious than the plastic sort.

• 2) Do you know anyone who makes real eggnog, not the stuff from the carton? And if so, do you actually like it?

My grandfather used to make eggnog, and I thought it was atrocious. Of course, that may be because he tended to be heavy handed with the "nog."

• 3) What's your favorite Christmas party album/CD ever?

All right, I'll confess: I have an irrational soft spot in my heart for The Chipmunks. My grandparents gave me the album when I was little, and it still makes me giggle every time. For "real" Christmas music, I think my favorite is Manheim Steamroller's A Fresh Aire Christmas.

• 4) Does your office/workplace have a party? Do the people there ever behave the way people in movies behave at office parties, which is to say, badly?

I'm afraid I have nothing to compare to Quotidian Grace's tale. Back when I was in the business world, I found our office parties to be singularly boring affairs.

The only thing remotely comparable we've attended this year is the annual party my home parish rector hosts for the vestry (aka church council, or session, for those in other traditions). We've often attended these-- first, back when I was on the vestry, and now because my husband is. Although there are many bad jokes told (some of which are only repeatable in select company), I've never seen any bad behavior.

• 5) If you have to bring something to a party, what is it likely to be? Do people like it?

One of my Christmas season standards is homemade toffee, which I'm told is pretty tasty. I'm also fond of molasses cookies; I use my mother's recipe, and roll the dough in sugar, and underbake them slightly so they stay soft.

And I'll give you the recipes another time, if you like-- but right now, it's back to the sermon!

Hoosier flakiness

For many years now, part of our Christmas preparation each year has included cutting out paper snowflakes to tape up in the windows.

It's always been a joy to me to see how the size, quantity and style of the flakes changes with the age and dexterity of the manufacturer. Sadly, the originator of this tradition at Chez Hoosier has outgrown the activity (how did she do that when her mother has not?), but we were fortunate to have an understudy. At this point he's 11, so the flakes are beginning to look pretty fancy again.

This version comes from a snowflake site that Mark showed me. If you're looking for seasonal procrastination tools, it's a fun little time-waster.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Hi there! Didja miss me?

I'm sorry for the long absence. It's been kind of busy here.

You wouldn't know it from the echoing emptiness around here, of course; but it has actually been a productive time. A brief recap:

• Remodeling. We finally (finally!) finished the bathroom! Several layers of joint compound, inexpertly applied over raw green board and tape, alternated with sanding that left enough white powder around the room to mimic a cocaine addict's greatest fantasy. The remaining surface, while not perfect, actually looked far better than I had hoped when we started. Then cleaning... and priming... and two coats of creamy yellow paint... and we have a bathroom that will not make me flinch whenever I walk into it. After Christmas I plan to do some decorative stuff in there: hang a couple of pictures, and maybe do some stenciling.
• Christmas shopping. No, I'm not done yet. Are you kidding? But I have made some serious progress, and have every hope of actually being done in time.
• Chaplaincy: Actually, this item has required my attention in that I've needed to be available and accessible; but it's not been time-consuming. I've served several on-call shifts for the hospital, and even subbed for another chaplain who became unavailable. I've only received a couple of pages though, and haven't actually had to go in.
• Parish ministry. No surprise here: this has been an active time at church. Joined the hearty crew who cleaned and greened the church; visited our one long-term shut-in; covered the rent for a neighbor that needed a little help; and planned liturgies and put together & proofed bulletins for one Sunday (4 Advent), two Christmas Eve and one Christmas Day services. I even (thank you, Jesus!) got in some actual, intentional sermon prep time this afternoon, both in exigetical study and in conversation. Boy howdy, has that been given short shrift lately! I can't tell you how good it felt to blow the dust off my Greek New Testament, and then to bounce around "what if's" with a like-minded preacher.

So, what's next? Tomorrow I'm at home, so we will at long last haul out the decorations and put up the tree. Do some family stuff, and maybe even work on a few last-minute homemade gifts on my list.

Oh, and blogging. Need to remember that, too. I find I get twitchy when I go too long without saying hello.

Remembrance

In remembrance of Pearl Harbor Day, a reading from the prophet Micah:

In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

South Africa? Who knew??

South Africa is now alongside Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Canada in allowing gay marriages. Read the story here.

You know, coming from Reuters, one might make a comment here about getting the straight scoop. . . .

(Sorry-- I couldn't resist.)

Screwtape & Co. at the IRS

Judging from this memo, anyway.


(props to the Librarian for the heads up)