SOLD!

Well, we did it.


After nearly eleven years in this house, it is no longer ours. We spent an hour and a half this afternoon signing papers, and watching the new owners sign even more papers. The check (or what's left after all parties get pieces of the pie) goes in the bank tomorrow, destined to be applied to the new house when it's done.

We don't leave for a few weeks yet, and we are still busy pitching, packing and sorting. So it doesn't feel quite real. Maybe it won't hit me until the house is empty, and all our stuff is on the truck.

But it's done. We are no longer Hoosier Homeowners.

I guess this means we have to move, now.

If women ruled the world...

You can find more possibilities here.

(Warning: The list of images is equal opportunity-- it contains something to offend almost everyone. The pictures are sometimes sexist, sometimes silly, and often indelicate. This is intended as humor, friends-- take it lightly, or don't go there.)

Clerical fashion sense-- is that an oxymoron?

Cheesehead is taking a poll...

• What do you wear on a typical (non-Sunday) day of work? Clerical blouse and collar, with either slacks or skirt (depending on the weather, and the schedule for the day, and my mood).
  

• Open toed shoes: gifts from God or an abomination? (Pedicures assumed, of course. We are not animals, after all.) I am all about comfortable shoes, regardless of the amount of toe revelation. In the summer, open toes are lovely. In cold weather, they are chilly. In snow, they are just plain stupid (this is not to say that I have not chosen to be stupid on occasion). What I don't do are backless shoes-- they are not comfortable on my feet, and the flapping noise they make can be an irritant, especially in worship. Give me at least a slingback strap, please!
  

• The right to bare arms: do we have it? Oh, you bet. I don't wear tanks, but short-sleeved and a few sleeveless tops are summer staples-- inlcuding in my clerical attire.
  

• It's 90 degrees with 90% humidity in the Snow Belt in late May. Quick--robe or no robe? Sunday worship-- alb and stole, at a minimum (over the lightest clothes I own; see above). I may well dispense with the chasuble if it's steamy indoors; no amount of beauty in vesture will compensate for the disruption caused by the priest passing out from the heat.
  

• Would you ever wear jeans or casual pants to church on a non-Sunday? Yes, certainly. Jeans are unusual, but not unheard of, and casual slacks are common. I'm thankful to say that my congregation here is the casual sort, and I am moving to a part of the world where that is even more the norm.

• Has your congregation ever expressed wardrobe expectations beyond "Geez, just don't show up naked."? Expectations? No, not really. Though I have been told that some of them look forward to the days I have my "preachin' boots" on.

I wasn't kidding.

Old house, new house

Progress on both fronts!

Here at Old House, we are beginning to assume a decor that might best be termed "Neo-Disaster." Boxes are appearing in greater quantities, taped and labeled and stacked out of the traffic patterns as much as possible. An increasingly futile effort, but I keep trying.

Piles of Not Going With Us are growing, and slowly segregating into a) sell it, b) give it away, c) donate it, and d) "what were we thinking?" The dumpster comes next week.

The list of repairs to be done before closing is shrinking, thanks to diligent effort on the part of my hardworking husband, who has made myriad trips to the local Hardware Conglomerate in search of One More Part.

Meanwhile, the new house, described only last week by an encouraging supplier as "More than a hole in the ground-- it's a Prime, Montana Hole in the Ground!" is taking shape! Framing proceeds apace and we are going crazy, trying to get everything picked out so it can be ready on schedule and not slow the builders down. Flooring, cabinets, counters, windows, lighting fixtures, carpet... The list goes on. We've made so many trips over to look at (feel, walk on, and generally work over) display samples that I'm beginning to feel like a Home Center groupie. Hey, baby... if you've got premium padding under that textured cut pile, we could get cozy.

I so need to get a life.

Ways to shoot yourself in the foot

The conference I attended this week was a good one. Our presenter was the Rev. Douglas McGlynn, a longtime parish priest and currently professor of pastoral care at Nashotah House seminary.

Admittedly, I went to the conference with some internal reluctance. Based on some previous negative encounters with a few umpleasant "Sons of the House" (a nickname for Nashotah students, dating to a time before "daughters" were admitted), part of me was bracing for more of the same. However, Prof. McGlynn exhibited precisely none of the strident behavior I've encountered in the past. He was a kind, direct man, with a good sense of humor and perspective.

We spent a good deal of time talking about ministry in smaller congregations, which I found very helpful. One of the things he outlined was a list of mistakes, or mistaken beliefs, that new priests make in small congregations. They seem to me to also apply in many cases to larger parishes, as well; but little groups were his focus in this discussion.

Here's the list, cribbed from my hastily typed notes:

• “The liturgy is mine.” Clergy certainly have some prerogatives, as well they should; but godly liturgical worship does not develop in a vacuum, nor is it a solitary activity (by definition!).
  
• Failing to share your life. No, not every detail or emotion should be on your sleeve; but mutual relationship is critical, especially in a small congregation.
• “Finally, your savior has come.” Do not criticise your predecessor, no matter how much of a jerk s/he was.
• “You are lucky to have me.” Remember that our ministry is at the Lord’s mercy.
• “God loves you, and I have a great plan for your life.” We will never have all the answers.
  
• Making promises I cannot keep. We may intend to stay for 10 years, and then end up not being able to do so. Let time and action speak for us.
  
• “Bleeding in the pulpit.” Becoming angry at the congregation for some action (or lack thereof), and then preaching out of that anger. Never publicly scold your people (though he notes that "it doesn't hurt, upon occasion, to share with them opportunities they missed.").
• Ignoring the new people, because old people are the bread and butter.
• Ignoring the old people, because new people are the future.

So, all you experienced clergy out there-- what do you think? Anything to add?

Meanwhile, back at the ranch

I am at a diocesan clergy conference; it is going very well-- I am hearing and learning cool things, and I will share some of it when I get home.

In the meantime, Beth and AKMA have thoughtfully pointed us to A Very Short Guide to Christianity, to keep us all busy, off the streets and out of trouble.

This. Is. Priceless.

Things I've Learned This Week, Large and Small

• Fr. Jake shares some thoughts on Christian witness, written by the Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston. Bishop Charleston is the former bishop of Alaska, and currently President and Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School. His words are a profound call; please, go and read them-- if not on my recommendation, then in the knowledge that they do not bow to extremists on either side of the current ECUSA brouhaha. This is as good a reason as any.

• Yesterday I was passed on the expressway by a humongous SUV (the kind my sister-in-law calls an "urban assault vehicle"), painted a darling shade of pale periwinkle. There is something fundamentally wrong with that.

• Daily prayer time is vital, of course; but intentional time for reading and study is almost as important. I was better about it this week, and it was balm to my soul.

• Even if one does not have seminary training, it is possible to be an admirer of a wide variety of theologians, such as N. T. Wright and Stanley Hauerwas. There is no comparison between their solid, prayerful, intentional work and the divisive tripe coming out of the American Anglican Council.

• Tomorrow is Mother's Day here in the U.S. In the immortal words of the late Coach "Bear" Bryant... Don't forget to call your mama; I wish I could call mine.

My, we've been busy!

Just see all the cool things that happened around here this weekend...

The Diocese of California elected a bishop, and Karen reported on the process.

Mark was formally installed as Vicar of St. George's Episcopal Church, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. A joyful occasion for that parish family!

Yesterday, Tripp was called as the Senior Pastor of the Community Church of Wilmette! Alleluias and much rejoicing as he and Trish move into a new home, and a new ministry.

And our new RevGal devotional book is finished!

Ordinary Time: Year B Devotions for June to November

On Sale now!

Even keel

This seems to be becoming a pattern with me, doesn't it? Long stretches of silence, interspersed with hurried updates. I can't say as I care for the pattern, but corporeal reality has been getting in the way. There have been all kinds of things to blog lately, but thinking of posts and sitting down to compose them are two different things, and I've had a real disconnect between them lately. And what with packing, and moving, I can't promise that it will change any time soon.

I am trying to get a bit more organized here-- a process that tends to strike terror into bewilder those around me, as I can be OCD- level obsessive fairly detail-oriented to begin with. I do function better, though, and work gets done more efficiently, when I have lists and plans and a schedule.

So, for today:

• Fax realtor more signed documents (more about that below)
• Blogging (at long last!)
• Laundry (the job that never ends)
• Grocery shopping
  
• Call movers to schedule estimates (three scheduled)
• Call clinic for immunization records (ready for pickup)
• Call AmVets for donation pickup (May 18).
• Study time-- upcoming sermon
• Packing (start the cedar closet today, I think)
• Soccer practice for the boy
• Reconciler Council meeting

Home sweet home

Yes, we will have a house... eventually.

This has been a whirlwind adventure, friends-- up and down, back and forth-- but I think we finally have a plan. After considering all the options, we have chosen to build a house. This is a new adventure for us; but given the needs we have for office space, and the location of the new development in town (within walking distance to both school and church! After years of long-distance driving, this sounds like heaven), this will be the best alternative. A nice little house, with a finished basement (at least, it will be finished when we are done with it).

The builder breaks ground and pours the footers this week, so it will not be quite finished when we need to move. However, our realtor happens to be building a rental house next door to the one that will be ours, which will be ready for occupancy the middle of June. Rather than renting it immediately, she has offered to let us stay in it for the two weeks or so that we will be out there before our house is ready. Hazel is a wonderful lady.

When I was in seminary, we gave out awards to the students who were the most "high church" in their piety and practice: those for whom incense is always in the air, sanctus bells are the sound of worship, and genuflecting is a reflex action. A rising Middler student could be awarded the Silver Spike, while an upcoming Senior might garner the Golden Spike.

With that in mind, my Seabury friends (who are well aware of just how high church I am not) will be interested to know that we will be living on Golden Spike Circle. Go figure.