a stitch out of time

St Dewi of Wales

2010-03-01T15:31:00.002-05:00

Dewi of Wales 1 March 544

When the pagan Anglo-Saxons invaded Britain in the fifth and sixth centuries, many British Christians sought refuge in the hill country of Wales. There they developed a style of Christian life devoted to learning, asceticism, and missionary fervor. Since there were no cities, the centers of culture were the monasteries, and most abbots were bishops as well. Dewi (David in English) was the founder, abbot, and bishop of the monastery of Mynyw (Menevia in English) in Pembrokeshire. He was responsible for much of the spread of Christianity in Wales, and his monastery was sought out by many scholars from Ireland and elsewhere. He is commonly accounted the apostle of Wales, as Patrick is of Ireland. His tomb is in St. David's cathedral, on the site of ancient Mynyw, now called Ty-Dewi (House of David).

The ancient custom in Wales, as throughout Celtic Christendom, was to have bishops who were abbots of monasteries, and who had no clear territorial jurisdiction, simply traveling about as they were needed. Eventually, however, the bishops of Bangor, Llandaff, St. Asaph, and St. Davids became the heads of four territorial dioceses, to which the diocese of Monmouth and the diocese of Swansea and Brecon have been added in this century.

For many centuries the Church in Wales had closer ties with the Celtic Churches in Scotland, Ireland, and Brittany than with the Church in Anglo-Saxon England. However, after the Norman conquest of Britain (1066 and after), the Anglo-Norman Kings began to contemplate the conquest of Wales. William the Conqueror began with the subjugation of South Wales as far as Carmathen, but the Welsh uplands remained independent far longer, and the conquest was not complete until about 1300, under Edward I. But eventually all of Wales came under English control, and the Church in Wales was placed under the jurisdiction of Canterbury, and thus became identified in the minds of many with the English supremacy. In 1920 the Church in Wales (Eglwys yng Nghymru) became independent of outside jurisdiction (though still in communion with other Anglican Churches, in England and elsewhere) and clear of all ties with the government. It is bilingual and active in the preservation of the Welsh language and culture.
written by James Kiefer

Prayer

Almighty God, who called your servant David to be a faithful and wise steward of your mysteries for the people of Wales: Mercifully grant that, following his purity of life and zeal for the gospel of Christ, we may with him receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever.

2010-02-14T16:08:00.000-05:00

Valentine 14 February
		Around this time of year, many persons ask: "Who was St. Valentine, and what does he have to do with ending romantic cards and messages?" St. Valentine is a martyr from before 312, commemorated on the 14th of February. Probably he was martyred on that date, but nothing else is known of him. (A Valentine, priest of Rome, and a Valentine, bishop of Ternia (Interamna), are both commemorated on 14 February, and now generally assumed to be the same person.) In many parts of Europe, it was once said that birds began to pair off for the nesting season in mid-February. Since our forebears often spoke of a given day by naming a saint connected with it rather than by giving the month and the number of the day, we find them saying that birds choose their mates on St. Valentine's day. That is all. If a major earthquake took place on Columbus Day, it would probably be known to future generations as the Columbus Day earthquake, but it would be a mistake to try to connect it with Columbus. There are several stories making the rounds that try to explain the connection between valentines and Valentine. Every one that I have heard sounds like an explanation made up after the fact, probably by a Victorian clergyman lecturing to children. There are other explanations attempting to connect it with various pagan festivals of the early spring. Again, I am not impressed. That young men should send romantic messages in the springtime both in 90 BCE and in 1990 AD does not require a conspiracy theory to explain it. Afterthought: The chief authority for the statement that 14 February is the date when birds were thought to pair off is Chaucer, who writes of "Valentine's day, when every fowl doth choose his mate." However, it has been pointed out that in addition to the two obscure Valentines commemorated on 14 February, there is a still more obscure one associated with 2 May, and that Chaucer may have had this date in mind. Two arguments for supposing that he did: (1) May seems more likely than February for birds to start building nests--but I am no expert on birds of England; (2) King Richard II was formally betrothed to Anne of Bohemia on 3 May, and Chaucer may have intended a reference to the royal couple. He was a member of the Royal Court, and was often invited to recite his own poems before the King and Queen and others, and his poems contain at least one other indirect reference to the Royal Marriage. If we accept this theory, then we must suppose that, after all memory of the May Valentine had died out in England, Chaucer's statement was misunderstood as referring to the earlier date. written by James Kiefer Prayer Almighty and everlasting God, who kindled the flame of your Love in the heart of your holy martyr Valentine: Grant to us, your humble servants, a like faith and power of love, that we who rejoice in his triumph may profit by his example; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

2010-02-01T15:34:00.002-05:00

Bridget (Brigid, Bride, Bridey) of Kildare was born around 450 into a Druid family, being the daughter of Dubhthach, court poet to King Loeghaire.

At an early age, she decided to become a Christian, and she eventually took vows as a nun. Together with a group of other women, she established a nunnery at Kildare. She was later joined by a community of monks led by Conlaed.

Kildare had formerly been a pagan shrine where a sacred fire was kept perpetually burning, and Bridget and her nuns, instead of stamping out the fire, kept it going but gave it a Christian interpretation. (This was in keeping with the general process whereby Druidism in Ireland gave way to Christianity with very little opposition, the Druids for the most part saying that their own beliefs were a partial and tentative insight into the nature of God, and that they recognized in Christianity what they had been looking for.)

Bridget as an abbess participated in several Irish councils, and her influence on the policies of the Church in Ireland was considerable.

Many stories of her younger days deal with her generosity toward the needy. This aspect of her character has been the subject of a poem:

"The Giveaway" (from The Love Letters of Phyllis Mcginley, New York, Viking Press, 1957)

Saint Bridget was
A problem child.
Although a lass
Demure and mild,
And one who strove
To please her dad,
Saint Bridget drove
The family mad.
For here's the fault in Bridget lay:
She Would give everything away.

To any soul
Whose luck was out
She'd give her bowl
Of stir about;
She'd give her shawl,
Divide her purse
With one or all.
And what was worse,
When she ran out of things to give
She'd borrow from a relative.

Her father's gold,
Her grandsire's dinner,
She'd hand to cold
and hungry sinner;
Give wine, give meat,
No matter whose;
Take from her feet
The very shoes,
And when her shoes had gone to others,
Fetch forth her sister's and her mother's.

She could not quit.
She had to share;
Gave bit by bit
The silverware,
The barnyard geese,
The parlor rug,
Her little niece-
's christening mug,
Even her bed to those in want,
And then the mattress of her aunt.

An easy touch
For poor and lowly,
She gave so much
And grew so holy
That when she died
Of years and fame,
The countryside
Put on her name,
And still the Isles of Erin fidget
With generous girls named Bride or Bridget.

Well, one must love her.
Nonetheless,
In thinking of her
Givingness,
There's no denial
She must have been
A sort of trial
Unto her kin.
The moral, too, seems rather quaint.
WHO had the patience of a saint,
From evidence presented here?
Saint Bridget? Or her near and dear?

It is reported of Francis of Assisi that as a young man he had a dream in which God said to him, "Francis, repair my church." He took this to refer to a church building near Assisi which was in need of repair, and he sold a bale of silk from his father's warehouse to obtain building materials. His father was furious. Francis had not asked for permission: he simply took it for granted that his father would wish to contribute to such a worthy cause. It is said of Bridget that as a young girl she made similar assumptions about her family.

There is a problem here. On the one hand, it can be argued that if our family members do not choose to make sacrifices for God we have no right to make that choice for them. Some time ago, if I remember aright, one list member wrote in considerable bitterness about a childhood that had been blighted by the decision of the father that it would be nice if the whole family lived in Christian Poverty. (Said list member found no spiritual blessings in the experience, and saw no sign that anyone else did, emphatically including said father.)

On the other hand, I far more frequently hear Christians argue that their sacred duty to keep everything nice for their spouses and children prevents them, not only from going as missionaries to distant shores, but also from volunteering even quite moderate amounts of their time and money for worthy causes down the block. (Not that all unattached Christians are blameless in this regard.) You will note that Saint Paul, writing to the Corinthians, told them that marriage, while instituted of God and a sign of the union between Christ and His Church, was not without its dangers to the spiritual life of the Christian. But the danger he saw had nothing to do with sex. He was concerned instead that the married are tempted to overvalue security, to feel that they cannot afford, for their families' sakes, to take chances. And since he expected Christians to be facing persecution soon, he saw this as a matter of urgency.

So, as I said, there is a problem here. I have no final answer to give, but commend it to your consideration.
written by James Kiefer

Prayer
Everliving God, we rejoice today in the fellowship of your Blessed servant Brigid, and we give you thanks for her life of devoted service. Inspire us with life and light, and give us perseverance to serve you all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, world without end. Amen.

Hildegard of Bingen, Visionary 17 Sept

2009-09-16T21:31:00.005-04:00

Hildegard of Bingen, Visionary 17 September 1179

"Listen: there was once a king sitting on his throne. Around him stood great and wonderfully beautiful columns ornamented with ivory, bearing the banners of the king with great honor. Then it pleased the king to raise a small feather from the ground, and he commanded it to fly. The feather flew, not because of anything in itself but because the air bore it along. Thus am I, a feather on the breath of God."

Hildegard of Bingen has been called by her admirers "one of the most important figures in the history of the Middle Ages," and "the greatest woman of her time." Her time was the 1100's (she was born in 1098), the century of Eleanor of Aquitaine, of Peter Abelard and Bernard of Clairvaux, of the rise of the great universities and the building of Chartres cathedral. She was the daughter of a knight, and when she was eight years old she went to the Benedictine monastery at Mount St Disibode to be educated. The monastery was in the Celtic tradition, and housed both men and women (in separate quarters). When Hildegard was eighteen, she became a nun. Twenty years later, she was made the head of the female community at the monastery. Within the next four years, she had a series of visions, and devoted the ten years from 1140 to 1150 to writing them down, describing them (this included drawing pictures of what she had seen), and commenting on their interpretation and significance. During this period, Pope Eugenius III sent a commission to inquire into her work. The commission found her teaching orthodox and her insights authentic, and reported so to the Pope, who sent her a letter of approval. (He was probably encouraged to do so by his friend and former teacher, Bernard of Clairvaux.) She wrote back urging the Pope to work harder for reform of the Church.

The community of nuns at Mount St. Disibode was growing rapidly, and they did not have adequate room. Hildegard accordingly moved her nuns to a location near Bingen, and founded a monastery for them completely independent of the double monastery they had left. She oversaw its construction, which included such features (not routine in her day) as water pumped in through pipes. The abbot they had left opposed their departure, and the resulting tensions took a long time to heal.

Hildegard travelled throughout southern Germany and into Switzerland and as far as Paris, preaching. Her sermons deeply moved the hearers, and she was asked to provide written copies. In the last year of her life, she was briefly in trouble because she provided Christian burial for a young man who had been excommunicated. Her defense was that he had repented on his deathbed, and received the sacraments. Her convent was subjected to an interdict, but she protested eloquently, and the interdict was revoked. She died on 17 September 1179. Her surviving works include more than a hundred letters to emperors and popes, bishops, nuns, and nobility. (Many persons of all classes wrote to her, asking for advice, and one biographer calls her "the Dear Abby of the twelfth century.") She wrote 72 songs including a play set to music. Musical notation had only shortly before developed to the point where her music was recorded in a way that we can read today. Accordingly, some of her work is now available on compact disk, and presumably sounds the way she intended. My former room-mate, a non-Christian and a professional musician, is an enthusiastic admirer of her work and considers her a musical genius. Certainly her compositional style is like nothing else we have from the twelfth century. The play set to music is called the Ordo Virtutum and show us a human soul who listens to the Virtues, turns aside to follow the Devil, and finally returns to the Virtues, having found that following the Devil does not make one happy.

She left us about seventy poems and nine books. Two of them are books of medical and pharmaceutical advice, dealing with the workings of the human body and the properties of various herbs. (These books are based on her observations and those of others, not on her visions.) I am told that some modern researchers are now checking her statements in the hope of finding some medicinal properties of some plant that has been overlooked till now by modern medicine. She also wrote a commentary on the Gospels and another on the Athanasian Creed. Much of her work has recently been translated into English, part in series like Classics of Western Spirituality, and part in other collections or separately. If your university library or bookstore cannot help you, try a Christian bookstore. If they do not have it, try a trendy (feminist, New Age, ecology) bookstore.

But her major works are three books on theology: Scivias ("Know the paths!"), Liber Vitae Meritorum (on ethics), and De Operatione Dei. They deal (or at least the first and third do) with the material of her visions. The visions, as she describes them, are often enigmatic but deeply moving, and many who have studied them believe that they have learned something from the visions that is not easily put into words. On the other hand, we have the recent best-seller, The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat, by Oliver Sacks, Professor of Clinical Neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and author of Migraine and various other books. Professor Sacks is concerned with the relation of the brain to the mind, and ways in which the phsical state of the nervous system can affect our ways of perceiving reality. He views the pictures in Hildegard's books of what she saw in her visions, and says, "The style of the pictures is a clear indication that the seer suffered regularly from migraine attacks. Migraine sufferers tend to see things in this manner." And indeed, it is true that Hildegard suffered throughout her life from painful attacks of what may have been migraine. Professor Sacks hastens to add that this has nothing to do with whether her visions are authentic insights into the nature of God and His relation to the Universe.

Hildegard has undergone a remarkable rise in popularity in the last thirty years, since many readers have found in her visions, or read into them, themes that seem to speak to many modern concerns.

For example:

Although she would have rejected much of the rhetoric of women's liberation, she never hesitated to say what she thought needed to be said, or to do what she thought needed to be done, simply because she was a woman. When Pope or Emperor needed a rebuke, she rebuked them.

Her writings bring science, art, and religion together. She is deeply involved in all three, and looks to each for insights that will enrich her understanding of the others.

Her use of parable and metaphor, of symbols, visual imagery, and non-verbal means to communicate makes her work reach out to many who are totally deaf to more standard approaches. In particular, non-Western peoples are often accustomed to expressing their views of the world in visionary language, and find that Hildegard's use of similar language to express a Christian view of reality produces instant rapport, if not necessarily instant agreement.

Hildegard wrote and spoke extensively about social justice, about freeing the downtrodden, about the duty of seeing to it that every human being, made in the image of God, has the opportunity to develop and use the talents that God has given him, and to realize his God-given potential. This strikes a chord today.

Hildegard wrote explicitly about the natural world as God's creation, charged through and through with His beauty and His energy; entrusted to our care, to be used by us for our benefit, but not to be mangled or destroyed.

written by James Kiefer

Prayer

O God, by whose grace your servant Hildegard, kindled with the fire of your love, became a burning and shining light in your Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Been playing around again

2009-09-16T10:35:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone

I've been playing around again. I've got it figured out I think.

I'll start adding some stitchy stuff soon. I have to get a handle on my camera and how to best upload pics.

Can't wait to join the blog crowd.

Keli

Ninian of Galloway, Bishop, Missionary to Scotland

2009-09-16T06:16:00.000-04:00

(from the Anglican Calendar)

Ninian is also called Nynia, Ninias, Rigna, Trignan, Ninnidh, Ringan, Ninus, or Dinan. He was a Celt, born in southern Scotland in about 360, and is regarded as the first major preacher of the Gospel to the people living in Britain north of the Wall--that is, living outside the territory that had been under Roman rule. He is said to have studied in Rome (note that he is contemporary with Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine), but was chiefly influenced by his friendship with Martin of Tours, with whom he spent some considerable time when he was returning from Italy to Britain. It is probable that he named his headquarters in Galloway after Martin's foundation in Gall. Martin had a monastery known as LOCO TEIAC, a Latinized form of the Celtic LEUG TIGIAC. LEUG means "white, shining," and TIG means "house" (a shanty, or SHAN-TIG, is an old house). The suffix -AC means "little." Thus, Martin's monastery had a name which in Celtic means "little white house." At about the time of Martin's death in 397, Ninian built a church at Galloway, in southwest Scotland. It was built of stone and plastered white, an unusual construction in a land where almost all buildings were wood. He called it Candida Casa (White House) or Whithorn, presumably after Martin's foundation at Tours. Archaeologists have excavated and partially restored his church in this century. From his base at Galloway, Ninian preached throughout southern Scotland, south of the Grampian Mountains, and conducted preaching missions among the Picts of Scotland, as far north as the Moray Firth, He also preached in the Solway Plains and the Lake District of England. Like Patrick (a generation later) and Columba (a century and a half later), he was a principal agent in preserving the tradition of the old Romano-British Church and forming the character of Celtic Christianity. Some historians think that the number and extent of his conversions has been exaggerated, but throughout southern Scotland there are many and widespread churches that bear his name, and have traditionally been assumed to be congregations originally founded by him.

Our information about him comes chiefly from Bede's History (Book 3, chapter 4), an anonymous eighth century account, and a 12th century account by Aelred. Aelred is writing 700 years after the event, and is for that reason rejected as untrustworthy by many critics. However, he claims to rely on an earlier account, "written by a barbarian." This suggests that he may have had an authentic record by a member of Ninian's community in Galloway.

See The Christian Island, by Beram Saklatvala (J M Dent, London, 1969), plus standard references.

written by James Kiefer

Prayer

O God, who by the preaching of your blessed servant and bishop Ninian caused the light of the Gospel to shine in the land of Britain: Grant, we pray, that, having his life and labors in remembrance, we may show our thankfulness by following the example of his zeal and patience; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

some thoughts on indian summer

2009-09-14T10:36:00.003-04:00

Around here this is when autumn has made her appearence and there is a period of sunny, warm weather in late October or early November. Depending on the year it could be a bit earlier, but never later because it comes before the first snow fall.

Where did this term come from. Myself and a few others were wondering so I did a Google search.

I have always loved looking up the etymology of words and sayings. Sometime I agree and sometime I don't.

1. Derived from the timing of Summer in India to correlate with good weather in Autumn in the western world.

2. In the late 18th centruy Americas was used to possible indicate when the Native American raids on the European colonies had ended in autumn and there was a brief extension of summer like weather.

3. Traditional the time in which Native American and early Europeans harvested their crops of squash and corn.

4. The Eurpoean settlers saw the Native Americans as deceitful and treascherous and could mean 'false summer'.

Barring the raids, I see can see the term being used to give name when to do a harvest. That was a common practise and I found different terms used throughout the world.

In rural Europe this time is called Saint Martin's Summer because it was seen to end on St Martin's Day 11 November.
In Italy Estate de San Martino
In Spain Veranillo de San Miguel or Veranillo de San Martin
In Galicia, northern Spain Veranino de San Martino
In Portugore Magnus Ustus which actually translate as Big Fire and this is where we see the shared Celtic origins of bonfires, roasted chestnuts and wine.

In Bulgaria циганско лято, tsigansko lyato, Gypsy Summer
In Sweden brittsommar, for Birgitta's name day in the Swedish calendar on 7 October
In Germany and Austria Altweibersommer Old Ladies Summer which goes back to the Norse folklore and medieval witches.

I can also how the term Indian Summer could become derogtary like the term Indian giver.

What do you remember for 9-11

2009-09-11T09:52:00.000-04:00

I know I'll never forget. Setting here remembering, saying some prayers, I have tears in my eyes and I'm sad.

I had worked the night before and had gotten off at 4am. The drive home was an hour. I had decided to go to bed right way so I could go in early to do some shopping. After the coming night I had 3 days off and didn't want to go back to the city.

About noon the alarm went off. No music. There's an open mike. I think how dumb of someone not turning the correct button or whatever they do. A couple of minutes go by, I can't make out what is being said. Then I hear "All planes that are in the air are being told to land in Canada."

What? This must be a mistake. Its a joke. Then they go on telling how some flight have been in the air for awhile and I forget the rest. I'm racing out the bedroom to the living room to turn on the TV. Someone finally had set off a nuclear bomb was my thought. I'm trying to reach family as the TV comes on and they are showing the planes and the towers. I think I'm watching a movie, I change the channel and its the same thing. It doesn't want to set in. I keep playing over in my mind that planes are landing in Canada.

After getting in touch with family, I watch TV until I get another call and its work. At the time I worked at the Winchester Medical Center's ER as a secretary. More like a gopher for the doctors, but a good job. They wanted us in. With the plane going into the Pentagon they didn't know what to expect. Winchester, Va is about 2 hours from DC and about 90 mins from Dulles International Airport. They had put us on alert.

Before leaving for work I had been trying to get a hold of a friend of mine. At the time he worked for the World Bank in downtown DC. Before the lines went completely down, I had word that he was fine and had gotten home. But I actually think that was the next day when I got word.

It was a long night. No patients. No one looking for drugs, no one looking for an excuse off work. No accidents, no one sick. It was just us employees watching the TV. When they let us go home, it was eerie, no one on the road.

Then later, while the planes were still grounded, the silence. The quiet of the sky.

Prayers are still needed.

I won't watch any of the specials. Maybe in years to come I will.

What are your memories?

Once in a Lifetime

2009-09-09T21:31:00.002-04:00

9 Sept 2009 -- 09/09/09

Today is the 252 day of the year. when added together those three numbers equal ....9.

This is the last time there will be single digits in the month, day and year for the next 1001 years.

To celebrate this once in a lifetime occurrence, try these nine ideas on your own, or share them with friend and family.

1. Make 9 home-cooked meals this month.

2. Start a journal, on paper or electronically, and make today the first entry. Promise to write in it at least 9 times.

3. Smile at 9 people today.

4. Buy something with '9' in it.

5. Write 9 letters or cards to friends and family.

6. Try to lose or gain 9 pounds.

7. Set up 9 dates ahead of time with your spouse or partner and keep them.

8. Pick 9 books you've always wanted to read and make time to read them.

9. Do 9 things for yourself you haven't let yourself do for a long time. Get a manicure, go to a silly movie, go swing at a park, slide down a slid--anything you haven't made time for.

from overstock.com

Too funny

2009-08-30T02:06:00.000-04:00

I have the tv on while I'm surfing.

I just saw the best commerical. Its for A1 Sauce and it show the singer Meat Loaf, eating a meatloaf. He takes a taste and starts to sing.

At the end of the commerical - A1 makes Meat Loaf sing.

Love it.

Still Learning

2009-08-30T02:04:00.002-04:00

Okay, I have lost alot of my posts and extras and widgets, but I think I've got things figured out. Just need to get everything put back together.

Time to get a blogging

2009-08-23T03:42:00.001-04:00

While surfing around I came across someone who has had a blog for 8 years. All I can say is wow.

I started this almost a year ago and have played with it off and on but no commitment of any kind.

Mel has shown it can be done and done beautifully also.
She is offering a giveaway in celebration of her 8 years.
Please check out the link below.

http://www.thedailymel.com/2009/08/16/blog-candy-time/

How true

2009-02-12T23:06:00.002-05:00

if you are the writer of this, please let me know so I can give credit.

An Obituary printed in the London Times.

'Today we mourn the passing of a beloved
old friend, "Common Sense", who has been
with us for many years. No one knows for
sure how old he was, since his birth records
were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated
such valuable lessons as:

Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't
always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial
policies (don't spend more than you can earn)
and reliable strategies (adults, not children,
are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when
well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were
set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged
with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate;
teens suspended from school for using mouth
wash after lunch; and a teacher fired for
reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened
his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents
attacked teachers for doing the job that they
themselves had failed to do in disciplining
their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were
required to get parental consent to administer
sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could
not inform parents when a student became
pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the
churches became businesses; and criminals
received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you
couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your
own home and the burglar could sue you
for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live,
after a woman failed to realize that a steaming
cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her
lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement .

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his
parents, Truth and Trust. His wife, Discretion,
his daughter, Responsibility, his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights; I Want It Now; Someone Else
Is To Blame; I'm A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few
realized he was gone.

Author Unknown

Interesting info about Icons

2008-12-04T07:58:00.000-05:00

In the East Orthodox tradition, three-dimensional representations are seldom used. The standard icon is a painting, highly stylized, and thought of as a window through which the worshipper is looking into Heaven. (Hence, the background of the picture is almost always gold leaf.) In an Eastern church, an iconostasis (icon screen) flanks the altar on each side, with images of angels and saints (including Old Testament persons) as a sign that the whole church in Heaven and earth is one body in Christ, and unites in one voice of praise and thanksgiving in the Holy Liturgy. At one point in the service, the minister takes a censer and goes to each icon in turn, bows and swings the censer at the icon. He then does the same thing to the congregation -- ideally, if time permits, to each worshipper separately, as a sign that every Christian is an icon, made in the image and likeness of God, an organ in the body of Christ, a window through whom the splendor of Heaven shines forth.

written by James Kiefer

Prayer of Repentance

2008-12-03T22:40:00.000-05:00

Merciful God,
we have sinned
in what we have thought and said,
in the wrong we have done
and in the good we have not done.
We have sinned in ignorance:
we have sinned in weakness:
we have sinned through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry.
We repent and turn to you.
Forgive us, for our Saviour Christ's sake,
and renew our lives to the glory of your name.

Spirit of Life by Carolyn McDade

2008-12-03T22:38:00.000-05:00

Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
Move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.

Comes the Dawn

2008-11-16T21:43:00.000-05:00

Author unknown

After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul

And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't mean security

And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises

And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open

With the grace of a woman
Not the grief of a child

And you learn to build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight

After awhile you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers

And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong
And you really do have worth
And you learn and learn...
With every good bye you learn.