the company of saints

This year, the Presbyterians have invited us to partner with them and other churches to provide a community-wide VBS program. May 31-June 3. Anyway, I'm excited. Serving with brothers and sister who up 'til now have been strangers. Living gospel. Newbigin, maybe Claiborne, would be proud. And then, at a partner planning meeting at 1st Pres, an unexpected gift: this stack of photos from the last time these churches partnered like this: 25 years ago. Wonderful. Also sobering. Not only had they been there done that, they did it a loooong time ago. A quarter century! (for perspective, I may or may not have been old enough to attend their camp). They, just like us, now coming together. Just like us now, praying to live out this gospel. So thankful for their company just now; for their witness. Praying to take a small step in the direction they imagined-following the footsteps of our Lord. Grateful.









































My favorite.








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Goodness and Goofiness, II

Goodness and Goofiness

So these are pics from the sand dunes, plus some other fun and goofy pics of recent days.

"Lenten Meditation"

And some others...

Annie and the Ice Cream, Part II

Still not sure.

Here we go...

A happy ice cream sundae, er, Saturday.

Annie's First Ice Cream and the Sand Dune Palace

So I got to thinking about it: Annie's been to three Friday's worth of Stations of the Cross with me now, and it's a joy to take her and see her grow more and more accustomed to the rhythm - station to station, hearing the prayers... Walking them with her changes me, too. For example: Asking God to "Teach your church, O Lord, to mourn the sins of which it is guilty, and to repent and forsake them; that, by your pardoning grace, the results of our iniquities may not be visited upon our children and our children's children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." with Annie holding my finger makes any lingering self-deception (or willingness to hide it) harder. Still, and this is my real point, it's a little bogus of me to call it 'Daddy/Annie date night.' Don't get me wrong, as worship goes, it's a heck of a service, but as dates go, it's pretty lame. Daddy/daughter 'dates' like that are the kind of stuff that lands priest-kids in therapy (or at least keeps them there for more time than they would otherwise be in for). Sorry, Annie.

So I sat down with Bek this week and formulated a plan: Yes, we still did Friday Stations, but Saturday ice cream at the Marbleslab Creamery the next day, with run-around time at the park afterwards. Much better. Adding to the excitement, it was Annie's first ice cream. We arrived at 11:28 am (2 minutes early) and waited patiently as the store manager set out the chairs and turned on the neon ice cream cone. Annie was skeptical, but was won over quickly. The flavors were vanilla bean and swiss chocolate. Vanilla was a hit. Chocolate, less so, though she kept saying, "Momma!" when the chocolate came up. She was distracted, no doubt, by how much her Momma would appreciate it. After a few minutes, we decided to head for the park, but not before Annie called for my napkin - "paper!" - and cleaned off our table for a dozen minutes or so.

We'll have pics from the park, too, but, without further ado, photos from Annie's first ice cream.

Pure enthusiasm.

C'mon, Annie! This is gonna be good!

Woohoo! Let's go...

Ice Cream pics on the next blog...

African Children's Choir, Part II

Finally sitting down to post some pics from the African Children's Choir and their recent visit to St. C's. An amazing night. Several long-timers observed that it was the most joy, maybe, that the sanctuary had seen in a single moment, in just one night. A lot of apprehensions - were we ready? would anybody come? what would these visitors be like? - melted away as strangers filed into the church and subsequently laughed, sang, and worshiped our way through an evening, departed as friends, sisters, and brothers, even friends whose paths might not cross again, save by prayer, in this life.

Of course, our paths weren't done just yet. The children and their leaders were using St. C's as their school for the next three days. I laughed from my desk. 8:20 a.m. Monday morning had never sounded so sweet - the children across the hallway, singing their devotions. And me, bus-boy, priest, there to unlock doors and check supplies, be the host, feeling - as I have so many times in this vocation - humbled, blessed by these hidden, holy moments, privileged access, wholly grace.

Six families played host to our guests over their time with us. Bek, Annie, and I hosted John Paul, Bright, and Geoffrey. Three remarkable young men, whose company was a blessing. Lots of highlights and good memories. An incredible picture of the Kingdom, God's family, we've been made able - truly blessed - to share with each other.

John Paul, with Geoffrey and Bright

Again.

The choir, singing a good-bye blessing, before their host parents left Wednesday morning.