Advent from the Man Chair

The Man Chair.

It’s right there, toward the back of Talbot’s or The Loft or Coldwater Creek. It’s the CHAIR. The Man Chair, where we do our waiting whilst our female companions do their shopping. If we’re lucky the CHAIR is a big stuffed one, that we can get lost in. Mostly though, they’re lumpy from overuse. Or straight back and too small. And I don’t even want to look under the cushion.,

 ”It’s the last store honey, I promise” rings in our ears as slump weary and glassy eyed surrounded by the boxes and bags of recent purchases. We wait. (Why they can’t put a 52″ plasma screen dedicated to ESPN in there is beyond me!)

It’s something we do a lot. Wait. In traffic. In the fast food drive-through (go figure), in bank teller lines (to get the money so as to trek to the store to sit in the CHAIR, in hospital waiting rooms, 

I’m waiting too — for the wolf to lie down with the lamb in 2011. For the bumpy roads to become flat places; for the bruised to be bound up and the hurting comforted and the damaged given hope. Barbara Price reminds me that, by the very power of my expectation, by my willing welcome and waiting, I assist in the annual birth of love, hope and innocence. 

Do you remember JP, from the movie ‘Angels in the Outfield’? What was that line he was always saying….?   

“Hey, it could happen!” 

Advent Peace.

BOO!

Good All Hallows’ Eve to you!

So, how did we get this un-typical holiday called Halloween anyway? Well prior to the Roman conquest of the world, the Celts, living in Europe and on the British Isles, believed that the spirits of the dead came back to earth on the last day of October. After the conquest by the Romans, the tradition spread across the world.

By the 700s (the 8^th century) the Roman Catholic church celebrated the feast of a number of saints on particular days. But quite a few saints had no special day, so the Church designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day. The mass that was celebrated was called, Allhallowsmas, or mass of the all the hallowed (saintly) people. Somewhere in history, the night before, October 31^st (remember that’s when the dead came back to earth), was known as Allhallowe’en (evening before All Hallows’ Day). Then it was shortened to that which we now call Halloween.

Many non churched folks would dress up in scary masks, to frighten away the spirits of the dead who were wondering the earth (some traditions are just hard to die, no pun intended). The tradition continued in Europe as children would parade from door to door seeking treats from residents. Not wanting to violate the practice of hospitality and risk a trick upon them, the residents obliged them with fruit, candy and nuts.

And so, a new practice was born that continues to this day (night) when parents accompany their little goblins and ghosts, fairies and Frankensteins, on a sugar high through their neighborhoods. Personally, my vote of bravery goes to the teachers who encounter these children tomorrow. Give them an extra apple this Christmas. Or a Starbucks gift card.

October Madness

The baseball World Series games are being played in St. Louis, MO  and Arlington, TX.  You can attend the next game in St. Louis, and stand for the entire game for $217 (US). To sit in the nosebleed section down right or left field will cost you $243 (US). To sit in a premium seat will run $1812. If you go to Arlington, be prepared to shell out from $334 (standing the entire game) to $46,000 for a seat behind home plate. (This is George Bush country).

In the time it took to read the above paragraph, four people died from effects of malnutrition. Yesterday, 24,000 people  worldwide died from the same.  24,000 people. Enough to half-fill both Arlington and Busch stadiums.

October madness indeed.

Peace, Shalom, Salaam

After a little training, this is coming a little easier.

I hope.

Sounds a lot like life, doesn’t it?

The Acts 16:5 Vision Team has been meeting bi weekly since February discovering how God is working in our midst at First Presbyterian Church. We’re excited about how the Holy Spirit is moving.

We would like to invite you to a new/old, ancient/future, contemporary/traditional event — The Wednesday Evening supper 2.0!

Yep, that’s right. Beginning November 9 and running through December 14, at 6 PM, (that’s 6 PM) we’ll meet for supper and a short program that will NOT be of the  boring, stale, slow, put-me-to-sleep kind. We promise.  And the best part is, you won’t have to cook anything!  Seriously! A simple meal will be provided, so reservations will be solicited.

Details are still being put together, but go put the dates on your calendar NOW. We’ll be in touch.

BTW, where did you see God at work today?

Peace, shalom, salaam to you all.

Out of the gate…

This is my first attempt at blogging. Please be patient with me! It is new frontier but one I’m excited about. The title comes from the …and whatever… that people say at the end of sentences. You know…”.I really think that the sun is burning up, and whatever.”

It’s the ‘whatever’ part that I’d really like to know about. That’s where the deeper conversations lay and the weightier words reside. Let’s talk about the ‘whatevers’ in our life.

Thanks for joining me.