Men's Breakfast and Greening of the Church

Today was the Men's Christmas Breakfast and the Greening of the Church. What a day! Dozens of people participated as we enjoyed our annual festivities.

We started at 8:00 AM with the men's breakfast and gift exchange. Bill Demmon coordinated the breakfast and Bob Hoag ran the gift exchange.

At 10:00 more people showed up and we began the making of the garland, using cuttings of fir, spruce, cedar, and holly tied to a long rope. We brought the garland into the church and hung it up behind the cross, making a frame for the two Christmas banners. We've never hung the garland on the front wall of the church, so this was a new way of doing things for us.

Meanwhile the choir was practicing for tomorrow's Lessons and Carols, and the children came in to practice the Christmas Eve pageant.

And in the barn, Carrie and Debbie were making the big wreath for the entry and two smaller wreaths for the back of the church.

In the parish hall were cookies and goodies with spiced cider and coffee, plus fresh donuts! Kids ran in and out and the music made it a festive atmosphere. My thanks to all who made this a successful parish life event.

Mutual Ministry Review comments

Last night the Bishop's Committee held our annual Mutual Ministry Review. The purpose of the MMR is to assess how the Vicar, Bishop's Committee, and Wardens have accomplished the goals they set, to set new goals, identify special areas that need attention, and celebrate the joys and successes of ministry together.

Sue Clary, a trained facilitator, helped us with our MMR. First she asked for our reactions to the MMR survey. Although the survey contained many positive comments, we inevitably focused on the few negative comments. Some of us felt hurt and were understandably defensive.

Sue pointed out that our survey questions didn't match our goals, that is, they didn't tell us how well we've done in  comparison with the goals we set for ourselves. She suggested that next year we set more general goals.

Sue also pointed out that we on the BC have set ourselves up for failure by taking responsibility for all aspects  of parish life. She suggested that we limit our responsibility to the basic role of the BC: finance and property matters; support of parish initiatives, and support of the Vicar.

She also noted that many parishes do not take an all-parish survey for the MMR, and she suggested that next year we might want to do an MMR with just the BC or with the BC and the leadership circle of the parish.

I think we all came away with a better understanding of our parish and our role as members of the BC. I'm grateful for Sue's leadership with the MMR.

Singing Handel's Messiah

On Saturday night I sang in the Bremerton Symphony Chorale as we performed Handel's Messiah with the Bremerton Symphony Orchestra. It seemed like all the rehearsals and hard work came together in an outstanding performance, and the audience was very appreciative.

I first heard the Messiah when I was a young teen, and I remember the power and inspiration of that performance to this day. I remember taking my sons to hear the Messiah when they were teens, and now for me to sing in the Messiah makes it even more meaningful.

The Messiah tells the story of Christ as the messiah of God, the anointed one who comes to redeem God's people from suffering. The music portrays the prophecy of Christ in the Old Testament, the birth of Christ, the passion and resurrection of Christ, and the eternal reign of Christ in heaven. It is uplifting and joyous.

That said, there are a few problems with the Messiah, namely its triumphalistic view of Christianity. The choice of biblical texts for the Messiah creates the impression that God's triumph at the end of time is also the triumph of Christianity as a religion over other religions, especially Judaism. I'm a little uncomfortable with a text that says, "Thou Shalt Break Them" when it implies that God will crush people of other faiths.

Regardless of that, I think I'll always love the faith and devotion that Handel's Messiah inspires. I'm glad I was able to sing in the chorus last Saturday.
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A Moment of Blessing

Today I attended a Moment of Blessing sponsored by the Kitsap Interfaith Network. It was held at the site of a recent murder and arson. On October 31, Paymela Faye Long was found dead in her trailer home. the coroner ruled that the death was a homicide, having occurred before the fire started.

After a violent death or a suicide occurs, the ministers of KIN (formerly the Bremerton Ministerial Alliance) will gather to perform a blessing with friends and family and neighbors. The purpose is to offer the tragedy up into the hands of God, to bring some closure to those affected, and to do a ceremonial cleansing of the physical place where the death took place.

I arrived a little late for the blessing, and when I got out of my car, I heard the sound of singing. As I approached, I saw a little crowd gathered in front of the burned out shell of a trailer located at the end of a lane in a trailer park.

Our own Sister Kathryn-Mary Little was there in her habit of the Little Sisters of St. Clare, along with local ministers in their robes and a number of Paymela's friends and family members. George Larson, a retired minister, walked around the trailer and sprinkled holy water on the site to cleanse it and heal the emotional wounds represented by the charred remains of the trailer.

Sister Kathryn-Mary Little sounds the bell

He said, "We come together this day to reclaim this space of death as a place of life...this place where violence and despair occurred we are reclaiming as a place of life...this place that causes us fear, anger, and pain, we are reclaiming as a place of hope and beloved community."

We said the 23rd Psalm, the Beatitudes, and some powerful prayers. Friends and family members spoke about Pam. I was privileged to give the closing benediction. I thought the Moment of Blessing was a very powerful ceremony, and I'm glad I could be a part of it.

The liturgy for the Moment of Blessing can be found by clicking here.
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Requiem for fallen police officers

Last night I attended the Requiem Evensong at St. Mary's, Lakewood. Bishop Greg encouraged clergy to go to this service as a show of support for our law enforcement officers and as a sign of respect.

It was a beautiful service with a lovely choir singing classic Anglican chant, with a brief homily by Kendall Haynes, the rector of St. Mary's. The church was nearly full, and included a number of people I assumed were law enforcement people.

The readers for the lessons were two men prominent in law enforcement: Col. Larry Saunders and Sheriff Paul Pastor. It was impressive to see them there and recognize the weight of responsibility they carry, not only for us, the citizens, but also for the lives of their officers on the streets.

The prayers were taken from the burial office in the Book of Common Prayer, and included the names of the three men and one woman who were killed. I thought of their last moments, and of the bravery of the officer who rose up and in his last moments wounded the assailant. I also thought of the families of these officers and what it was like for them to hear the tragic news.

The New Testament reading was from Revelation 7:9-17, and included the description of the scene in heaven where the martyrs surround the throne of God. "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal...and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." It seemed like a very fitting reading.

Centering Prayer workshop

Last night at the "Bite of St. A's" we had a workshop on Centering Prayer. Our teacher was Cherry Haisten, program director of The Center of St. Andrew's, Seattle.

Cherry has been doing centering prayer for nearly twenty years and has studied with some the big names in centering prayer, especially Fr. Thomas Keating, a Cistercian monk who is responsible for the introduction and growth of centering prayer in our country.

Cherry briefly outlined the background to centering prayer by showing how prayer is opening ourselves to God. Sometimes we use words to pray; other times we simply sit in silence and wait for God. Centering prayer is a method to help us pray without words.

The Christian tradition has a long history of contemplative prayer practice, and centering prayer is an attempt to recover that tradition and make it available for people today. In the 1970's Fr. Thomas Keating noticed that many young people were drawn to eastern meditation practices, and he wanted to show them that meditation is not just confined to eastern religions. Many people today are finding that centering prayer is a deeply fulfilling practice.

The method of centering prayer is very simple. Each person chooses a "sacred word" - something simple and short - that is a sign of one's intention to consent to God's presence and action within. The sacred word can be God, Jesus, love, peace, listen, or some other word. The meaning of the word isn't what's important, but the intention is what matters.

Centering prayer is usually practiced for twenty minutes while sitting quietly in a comfortable chair. The idea is to let the mind "rest in God." When thoughts arise, as they always do, we simply let them go, say the sacred word, and return to silence. The "letting-go" process is the valuable part of centering prayer.

Cherry led us in twenty minutes of centering prayer, which I found very peaceful and soothing. In fact, after a busy day, I think I dozed off during the prayer! It was a wonderful workshop and I think all of us learned a lot.
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Making Advent Logs

Last Sunday after the 10:00 Eucharist we made Advent Logs. The materials were provided, and people jumped in with enthusiasm to drill holes in the half-logs, and then to staple on the cedar greens. Each person or family took away a lovely Advent Log with candles to light each evening during the season of Advent.

Lighting candles during Advent provides the slow anticipation that characterizes the season. The first week, only one candle is lit; the second week, two candles; and so on. A good way to observe Advent.

It was fun watching the children get excited about creating something for their home. Even the adults enjoyed it! About 15 logs were made. I hope we'll do more activities like this.

Tragedy in Lakewood

This morning at Eucharist during the Prayers of the People, I heard a man's voice praying for "the four Police Officers killed today in Lakewood". The news confirmed that four Lakewood police officers were shot execution-style while they worked on their laptops at a coffee shop in Lakewood.

It's hard to imagine what would motivate anyone to do such a thing. This senseless killing leaves four families grieving a terrible loss. It makes us realize how our law enforcement personnel risk their lives daily in the service of keeping us safe.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of these officers.

Thanksgiving Eve service at SUMC

On Wednesday night, I participated in the Community Thanksgiving service at Silverdale United Methodist Church. I've done many ecumenical services like this in the past, and I always enjoy being with people from other churches. Thanksgiving seems to be a unique opportunity for churches of different denominations to gather together.

The service was designed and led by Cecilia Clemons, the pastor of SUMC. Highlights of the service were the bell choir from Silverdale Lutheran Church, a joint choir with about 45 singers, and the energetic sermon given by Jonathan Sansgaard, associate pastor at Silverdale Lutheran. The church was mostly full, and Cecilia and Jonathan were very entertaining, speaking from the aisle with hand mikes.

My part was to read the scripture lesson about the lilies of the field, and to pray for people when they came to the altar rail for prayer. It was very fulfilling.

Cecilia asked members of each church to stand in turn. The largest group was from the Lutheran Church, then the Presbyterian Church. I was glad to see four members from St. Antony's stand.

Another highlight for me was to meet Pastor Lee Riley, the brand-new pastor at Central Kitsap Presbyterian Church. I hope to have a chance to have coffee with him soon.
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Making Advent Logs this Sunday

This Sunday after the 10:00 Eucharist, we'll make Advent Logs like the one in the photo above. We'll supply the log, the candles, and the greens, plus drills and staplers. Kids can make these, as well as adults, and it's a fun activity. The holes for the candles are drilled, then the greens are stapled on.

Advent logs have four colored candles, one for each week of Advent, and one white candle, for Christmas day. The candles can be lit each evening with a short devotional as a way of observing the season of Advent. By lighting one candle each week, the slow anticipation of Advent is experienced.

I hope we'll have fun with this activity this Sunday!

Brainstorming

Tonight we held a meeting to do some brainstorming about fundraising. Eight of us had an energetic discussion about new ideas for fundraising events. We came up with lots of new ideas - a flea market, a Christmas boutique, selling theater tickets, a beer garden, casino night, dessert night, etc.

One statement seemed to have general agreement: "The barn sale has become a burden and doesn't generate energy anymore. It drags us down and it's not worth it."

Surprisingly, the discussion turned more to ideas about parish life events that would be fun to do. We need to have more fun events! We talked about a dessert night, a game night, a New Year's eve party, make a Sunday breakfast, etc. There was a lot of enthusiasm when we talked about these events.

We discussed making lunch for the workers at the Orthopedics clinic and the gas station on the corner.

A novel suggestion came up: Let's announce a "Year of Jubilee" at our church, when we give up all compulsory events and do only things that people want to do. maybe we can tie this in with our 25th anniversary celebration.

We discussed the Greening of the Church on December 19 and thought about how we might make it into a fun event. We'll follow up with another meeting about the greening of the church party. We'll also put up a sheet with a list of fundraising events for people to make a check mark by the event they prefer.

All in all, a good brainstorming session!
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Gather, Grow, and Go!

At today's Mission Statement meeting, we came up with a new proposed mission statement...and we did it within 50 minutes! By looking at the data collected from the earlier meetings, we were able to move right into the mission statement itself. Here's what we came up with:

"The mission of St. Antony's is to be a welcoming people who worship God, grow in Christ, and serve others."

Or, to put it in a nutshell, we came up with this slogan:

"Gather, Grow, and Go!"

I'm grateful to the energetic crowd that met today and came up with this new mission statement. It was a good meeting with lots of input from many different people. Well done!
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Mission statement: Our Values

Tomorrow, November 15, we'll meet to review our mission statement. To prepare for this meeting, I looked at all the comments listed on the blue paper in the narthex and collected all the contributions people have made.

Here are the statements about the things we value about St. Antony's. Tomorrow we'll look at them and see how we can craft them into the mission statement.

VALUES

Complete this sentence: "You should come to our church because it's a place of _________."

Peace and love

Community, friendly, a place of worship

Welcoming family and spiritual growth

Good people

Warm welcoming, people of faith, acceptancer of unique individuals

Welcome

Christ centered and caring

Happiness and love

Friendly people, worship. understnading the Bible, togetherness

The welcoming atmosphere

Comfort and spiritual renewal

Joy in worship, laughter, and love for one another

1. Sharing; 2. Lifting up; 3. Spiritual support; 4. Care; 5. Service to God

Mission statement: our Activities

Tomorrow, November 15, we'll meet to review our mission statement. To prepare for this meeting, I looked at all the comments listed on the blue paper in the narthex and collected all the contributions people have made.

Here are the statements about the activities that accomplish our purpose. Tomorrow we'll look at them and see how we can craft them into the mission statement.

ACTIVITIES THAT HELP US ACCOMPLISH OUR PURPOSE:


Youth group, community activities, fundraising

St. A's Wednesday dinners

Worship

Lesson group


Welcome people

Help those in need


Worship services

Study group

Outreach


Congregation is a church home

Worshipping together in our own way (some stand, some kneel, etc.)

Diverse church congregation - respecting each other


Liturgical service with occasional smells and bells and variety in music

Social and community get-togethers (coffee hour)

Prayer chain, healing service

Occasional retreats, programs for spiritual development, guest speakers


Frequent times of worship

Work on public projects

Fellowship

Music


Intentional prayer, planning, and obvious needs


Eucharist and Compline

Greeters, coffee hour, potlucks, pastoral care, community activities

Outreach - hands on and budget


Welcome people

Help those in need


Dinners together, like youth group dinner
Fellowship

Prayer


Bible study, book group, Sunday School, pastoral care, outreach, whaling days, parish life activities


Actions to seek renewal and refreshment in community through the celebration of the Eucharistic feast


Inclusive worship

Youth services


Being a truly welcoming community of people – welcoming each other, welcoming strangers, and welcoming Christ
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Mission statement: Our Purpose

Tomorrow, November 15, we'll meet to review our mission statement. To prepare for this meeting, I looked at all the comments listed on the blue paper in the narthex and collected all the contributions people have made. Here are the statements about our purpose them and see how we can craft them into the mission statement.

I think these contributions are very profound and touching. There are a number of themes among them that we'll try to lift out and emphasize tomorrow.

PURPOSE: ST. ANTONY'S EXISTS IN ORDER TO:

Worship
Facilitate spiritual growth
Minister to one another and our community

Worship God
Support each other

To supply the presence of God in the community and reach out to those in need

To provide a welcoming comforting challenging church home

To be the Body of Christ in this place and to the world

Worship God
Meet the needs of the local people

Worship
Bring in new members
Learn about God

Worship
Serve God in the community
Provide a church family

Serve community
Worship
Fellowship

To provide a supportive spiritual community in Kitsap County
Search out a diverse offering of service through public service, worship, and the arts

Learn about God
Reach out to others
Celebrate fellowship

Worship
Community
Service to others and to the community

Learn the Truth
Get fulfillment
Feel God's presence
Friendship

Gather in worship
Involvement of congregation in church programs
Outreach in community

To be a loving community that worships and celebrates together and goes out to love and serve the world

The Power poles are in!

After many months of planning and seemingly endless bureaucratic delays, the power company finally came today and installed two power poles and wiring to bring electricity to the barn on our property. The work crew had to contend with steady rain, but they got the job done.

Now that the electric line is complete to the barn, the electrician can hook up the compressor and the freezer can be used within a few days. It's not any too soon before the Thanksgiving holidays, when all the freezer space available will be used.

The new Liturgical Arts Team

We're starting a new venture at St. Antony's! It's called the "Liturgical Arts Team". Possibly people are wondering what that means.

Here's what we have in mind. At present our worship is visually quite blank. We have a colonial style altar and pulpit, a large brass cross, and two pale banners against a blank white wall. For a visual artist, that equals one big canvas to work with!

It's not easy to make changes in a worship space, and it needs a collaborative effort of creative people who can work together to come up with a design and bring it to reality. So by forming a team of artists, we hope to create a synergy that can make that happen. We have some very talented and creative people in our congregation, and we'll give them the freedom to imagine and dream.

My hope is that we'll be able to come up with some fabric design that will help us in our observance of Advent. Something blue. We'll meet at Noon this Sunday, November 8, and we'll see what our creative minds can come up with.

Perhaps we'll simply drape some cloth for some banners or hangings. It doesn't need to be something that lasts for eternity; it could be a one-off creation so that we can come up with something new next Advent.

I'm curious to see what we'll come up with, and hopeful that this will be the start of a new creative adventure at St. Antony's.

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Retired Clergy Luncheon at St. Antony's

Today we hosted a lunch for the retired clergy of our area. Ruth, Pat, and Ann provided a delicious meal and spread a lovely table, and Vivian created beautiful table decorations. It was a festive occasion!

About 15 clergy and spouses came for the luncheon along with Bishop Greg. By taking the time to come to Silverdale, our bishop showed that he really cares about the clergy of our diocese, including the retired clergy and spouses. He asked them to share a little about their lives and their ministries, and it was fun to listen to the rich diversity of clergy careers in the room. Some of the relationships go back decades.

I'm very grateful to those who worked hard to make this luncheon such a lovely occasion.

More photos from Trunk or Treat (aka All Souls Day)

On Halloween Day, we held a "Trunk or Treat" event in the church parking lot. Here are some more photos from the event.

Pledge Ingathering Day

Today, in addition to being All Saints' Day, was the day we gather our pledges for the coming year. At each service we brought forward the "treasure box" and laid it in front of the altar, as a way of saying that we offer our pledges to God.

The financial support of a congregation is always seemingly on the edge. Will we have enough to meet our needs? Will we get enough pledges to continue to operate next year? It seems those questions are always present in a small parish.

But I've been pleasantly surprised at the steady commitment of our members in their giving this past year. Despite a tough economy, our members have continued to give generously. Maybe I should have more faith and trust that it will all work out!

We'll see how our pledges come in and begin to create our budget for the coming year. My thanks to all who have pledged support of our parish for the coming year.
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Trunk or Treat evening

For Halloween Eve a number of folks at St. Antony's offered a "Trunk or Treat" event in our parking lot. I stopped by briefly to say hello and snapped some photos of the revelers in their costumes. We didn't have many kids stop by for treats, but everyone there was having a good time. Here are some photos.

Vicar with a broken wing

Last Saturday I crashed on my bicycle and broke my right clavicle. Ouch!

I was riding down Bucklin Hill Rd at a pretty good clip when I turned into the Albertson's parking lot on my way to Starbucks. I hit a patch of wet pavement and the bike flew out from under me. I slammed down hard on the asphalt and broke my helmet, hurt my shoulder and skinned my knee.

After a day I went in to urgent care and they took x-rays that show a fracture in the right clavicle. There's not much to do about it except to keep it immobilized, ice it occasionally and take ibuprofen for the pain.

So I'm making do with a broken wing, waiting for it to heal. In the meantime, gestures during the sermon will be limited.

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Kevin Martin and Five Keys

Last Friday evening, six of us from St. Antony's attended a workshop at St. Paul's, Port Townsend given by Kevin Martin, the Dean of the Cathedral in Dallas, Texas. It was an enjoyable evening, with a pleasant drive up together and a delicious meal served by the host church.

Kevin has a long history of parish development, and he draws on many years of experience as a consultant to many parishes. He opened up some of the material from his book, Five Keys for Church Leaders. The five keys are very simple guides for improving the health of a parish. Perhaps this would be a good book for next year's Bishop's Committee to read together. Here are the five keys:

1. Build the Team
A healthy parish is not hierarachical, but team-driven. The vicar and bishop's committee should pay attention to building a team effort to lead the parish. Vision and values are the foundation for moving ahead.

2. Pay Attention to the Generations
We have more generations together in church now than ever before. Which generation runs things? Which generation do we cater to?

3. Tend the Two Doors
Getting people in the front door of the church isn't helpful if they just go out the back door. It's important not only to invite people to church, but also to welcome them and incorporate them into the life of the church.

4. Keep the System Healthy
Pay attention to the emotional health of the parish, which starts with healthy clergy. Don't give in to "emotional terrorists" who hold the parish hostage with their emotional control, usually anger.

5. Raise the Stewardship Level
Do members of the congregation know the amount of the average pledge of the diocese? Be open and up front about the level of giving. Bring new members into participation in ministry, not just attendance at church.
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Convention report

October 15 and 16 I attended Diocesan Convention in Vancouver, WA, with our delegates Bill and Elisabeth Demmon and Carolyn Segrist.

I enjoyed spending time with our delegates during the drive down and back, at meals together, and at convention. In addition, it was nice to see friends from around the diocese. I've been here long enough to get to know other clergy in the diocese, and it's a pleasure to see them at convention.

Nothing earth-shaking happened at convention. There was a good speaker, interesting exhibits, the usual elections and resolutions, and a good address from our bishop. I was a facilitator for the Indaba discussion groups, but I thought the topics for discussion weren't very compelling for the participants.

I made the sketch above while listening to the bishop's address.
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Diocesan Convention tomorrow and Saturday

Today I leave to attend Diocesan Convention in Vancouver. Our delegates from St. Antony's are also attending. Convention starts Friday morning and continues through late Saturday afternoon.

I'm looking forward to seeing friends from around the diocese and making new acquaintances. I'm *hopeful* that the speaker and the business sessions will be mentally stimulating.

This year I volunteered to be a facilitator for the Indaba groups we'll be having. The Indaba groups are small circles for conversation held three times over the course of the weekend. The idea is for us to be able to have face-to-face conversations in a small group so we can really share with each other.

I look forward to having Bishop Nedi preach at her last convention with us, and also to be part of the ordination of five new deacons at the closing Eucharist.

I'm praying for safe travel for everyone coming to the convention, for all those responsible for organizing convention, and for the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in all we do at convention.
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Mission Statement Brainstorming

I've made a commitment to work on our mission statement during the month of October. I've organized a series of parish meetings at which we're brainstorming ideas about the mission of our parish. At each session we write on post-it notes what we think are the purpose, activities, and values of our parish. Later we'll meet to put those ideas into a mission statement.

So far it's been helpful to me to listen to people talk about our parish. I've heard a lot about how we care for each other, and how we're a friendly and welcoming parish. Worship always comes up as an important value.

I've also encountered a lot of apathy about mission statements. I guess people have been subjected to long boring meetings that produced long boring mission statements, not only in the church but in other organizations. Mission statement = boring.

Somewhere I read this: "What we need is not a mission statement but a mission." I think that's pretty valid. The important thing is not to produce a document to sit on a shelf, but to know who we are and what we stand for.

My personal goal for this exercise is to be able to stand up in front of a group and say, "St. Antony's is a ___________ church. We're all about __________."

So I'm learning a lot and I hope as we continue these meetings we'll be able to coalesce in our thinking and come up with some pithy, tangy language that expresses who we are and what we do.

Mission statement!!
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Enneagram workshop

Last Saturday I attended a workshop on the Enneagram. The Enneagram is an tool for assessing your spiritual type. You can take a simple test to tell you which of the nine types you mostly identify with.

The workshop, on Bainbridge Island, consisted of telling us about the nine different spiritual types. They're quite ingenious, and they seem to really differentiate between different types of people. Upon hearing the different types, something immediately clicks and you recognize these types in yourself and others you know.

I discovered I'm a "2". That means I fall into the "Helper" category. Here's what the Enneagram says about twos:

Twos are empathetic, sincere, and warm-hearted. They are friendly, generous, and self-sacrificing, but can also be sentimental, flattering, and people-pleasing. They are well-meaning and driven to be close to others, but can slip into doing things for others in order to be needed. They typically have problems with possessiveness and with acknowledging their own needs. At their Best: unselfish and altruistic, they have unconditional love for others.

I'd say that's probably pretty accurate for me. I hasten to add that within each type, there are various levels of health, so there can be unhealthy twos as well as healthy twos, and hopefully you move up in health as time goes on.

You can find a good Enneagram website at www.enneagraminstitute.com. I find the whole Enneagram concept fascinating and very helpful in understanding myself and others. It's not the Gospel, but it is a very helpful tool.

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Blessing the animals

Last Sunday we celebrated the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi and we had the blessing of the animals. In addition to about 20 dogs, we had a rabbit, a gerbil and a cat.

The two services were surprisingly well-ordered, considering the number of dogs present, but they were well-behaved. I'll have to admit, though, it was hard to focus on my sermon nd I got distracted. Well, probably the blessing of the animals was more important, anyway!

I think I've successfully made the transition from calling them "pets" to "animal companions". The word "pets" has the connotation that we are the owners and they are disposable niceties. But there's been a shift in recent years so that now we think of them as "companions" who shar our life and have a claim on us. We're not "owners", but we're "guardians."

We didn't bring our two cats to church. I don;t think they would have liked it. So we gave them a blessing at home. Any time will do!

Attending a Port Commissioner candidates forum

This morning after our Son-Shine Fellowship breakfast, I stopped in at the Cloverleaf Bar and Grill where there was a forum for the candidates for Port Commissioner. I was late for the event, so I sat in the back and made a sketch of the two candidates seated at a table answering the questions given by the moderator.

The weekly breakfast forum, called "Eggs and Issues", is sponsored by the Bremerton Area Chamber of Commerce The two candidates are Roger Zabinski and Lynn Horton. Roger is a parishioner at St. Antony's.

As a clergyperson, I'm not able to endorse one political candidate over another without endangering our tax-exempt status, but I went to the forum to encourage Roger personally. One thing I learned at this debate: I'm glad I'm not in politics! I think I would wilt under the pressure of rapid-fire questions and intense political opinions. I'm just grateful there are people willing to put themselves forward for these positions.
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Housebuilding work party

Scott and Kathryn

Last Saturday I volunteered at the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program sponsored by Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority in Port Orchard.

One of our young families, Scott and Kathryn (in the photo above) are building their house along with a dozen or so other young families. Each family has to put in at least 30 hours of work a week, and volunteers help build the family's hours. All the families work together to help each other build their homes, and there's a wonderful spirit of cooperation and good humor present.

There's a supervisor at the site who teaches the participants how to build their houses and generally supervises the project. Since the last time I came in August, Scott and Kathryn's house has gone from a few walls on the first floor to nearly framed. The crew was nailing on the roof sheeting this Saturday.

I helped spread bales of straw on the bare ground to prevent erosion and I helped install roof trusses on one of the houses. Kathryn's mother, Heather, brought lunch to all the families which I enjoyed along with the others. I left after lunch to go write my sermon.

It was a fun and productive morning.

Sheriff's Deputies at Starbucks

Today I was working on my Bite of St. A's lesson preparation at Starbucks when two sheriff's deputies came in. I always feel like a kid when I see law enforcement people. The gun, the badge, the starchy uniforms - I'm in awe of their authority. These two were big strapping young guys, and they carried themselves with confidence but not cockiness. They sat down at a table for coffee. I guess even sheriff's deputies need coffee.

I was impressed by how many people came up to talk with them. They're obviously very much a part of their community. I made a sketch of them and afterward one of them came up to me and asked about the sketch. I showed it to him and said I'd send him a copy. I hope it's not illegal to sketch a deputy!

Preaching workshop with Herbert O'Driscoll

Yesterday I attended a preaching workshop led by the great preacher and thinker Herbert O'Driscoll. The workshop was held at St. Andrew's, Seattle, which flaunts an inspiring stained-glass cross in the glass wall at one end of the church. I made the painting above while I was there.

O'Driscoll is the former Dean of the Cathedral in Vancouver, British Columbia and the former Dean of the College of Preachers in Washington, D.C. He's the author of numerous books and is internationally known for his preaching genius.

His message to us was that we have entered a postmodern age that calls for new methods of communication. People don't want more information on Sunday morning - they have too much information already. People want to have an experience of God, and we communicate that experience by use of the imagination through images and stories.

He urged us preachers to enter the scripture texts with our imagination and try to encounter the text intimately. Today's preaching has to be self-revelatory, he said, in the sense that people want to hear our honest encounter with God through scripture. He said:

"Preaching is not God overhearing what we're saying to our people, but our people overhearing what we're saying to God."

O'Driscoll said that preaching today is incomplete in the sense that we don't offer final answers. The image of the preacher is no longer that of an authority figure speaking from on high, but a wilderness guide helping us grope through the wilderness without knowing the way out.

He urged us to be more honest and intimate in our preaching and move from "constructive sophistication" to "profound simplicity". In the last part of his presentation he offered us a number of practical helps in sermon preparation for the new year starting in Advent.

I found O'Driscoll very refreshing. His deep wisdom encouraged me to go deeper in my own encounter with scripture and to be as honest as I can with myself and my message. A very worthwhile day.
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Taking apples to the food bank

The apple tree outside St. Antony's has a good load of apples this year. After church on Sunday I helped others pick apples and load them into boxes. Then today I took the apples to the Central Kitsap Food Bank. They placed them just outside the door as free food for anyone to pick up.

Right away people started taking them. Food direct from our church to people who can use it!

Attending my Uncle Charley's burial service

Yesterday I attended my Uncle Charley's burial service at Ft. Lyon National Cemetery near Las Animas, Colorado. The photo above shows the Navy honor guard presenting an American flag to my Aunt Betty.

Uncle Charley died about two months ago and there was a memorial service in South Dakota shortly afterward. Yesterday there was a simple commital of his ashes at the cemetery. Pastor Terilynn Russ, the pastor at La Junta United Methodist Church, officiated at the committal which was followed by military honors given by a Navy honor guard.

I was glad I wasn't the officiant at this burial. I was told in seminary, "Don't try to be a pastor to your family." In this case, I was able to let Pastor Terilynn do the officiating and I could simply be present and grieve. That was very helpful for me.

My father is buried in this same cemetery, and just being there in the presence of his grave called up deep grief and sadness in me. Burying my uncle added to it. Dad and Uncle Charley were both men of the "greatest generation", both served in World War II, and both had a certain military bearing to them. Uncle Charley's death represents the passing of a generation to me, and that affects me profoundly.

Uncle Charley was a medical doctor. He received his training just in time to be posted to China during World War II. He participated in the early years of kidney dialysis research and he was instrumental in the development of the medical school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Uncle Charley had a very dry sense of humor and a quick wit. He knew how to draw out a story and lead you into the punch line every time. He was droll, wise, and a compassionate doctor and leader. He lived a life of dignity and accomplishment. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Charley Gutch, M.D.

Dedication of Eagle Scout project

Yesterday we dedicated a new meditation trail and garden at St. Antony's created by life Scout Tristan Scalf. Tristan completed this project as a part of his work towards his eagle scout award. Tristan had to get approval for the project, find business sponsors, and recruit helpers to do the work. It's a beautiful trail and garden, and a wonderful addition to St. Antony's. Thank you, tristan!

The Ray Berglind Memorial Mini-Golf experience

Today I participated in the Ray Berglind Memorial Mini-Golf Tournament. Ray was a staunch member of St. Antony's until he died a few years ago, and his family holds a mini-golf tournament every year to remember him and to raise money for charity.

Everyone who knew Ray tells me what a solid person he was. A successful man with a loving family, Ray left a legacy to be proud of. His family clearly has fond memories of him.

There were close to 25 people at the tournament, most of whom are St. Antony's members. There was lots of laughter and kidding about the bloopers and missed putts, and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. In addition, contributions were made for Communitas, a group home organization for those with disabilities. Ray's grandson, Devon, lives in a Communitas home.

All in all, a fun morning for a good cause, and a good activity for the people of St. Antony's.
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Listening to my Lutheran colleagues

On Tuesday I was privileged to listen in on a conversation among my Lutheran colleagues as they discussed the recent vote of their national church body to begin the process where gay and lesbian persons who are in a committed relationship may be called as pastors to a consenting congregation. The Lutheran Church also voted to begin the process of recognizing "lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships."

These are pastors I meet with on a regular basis to study the Biblical texts for the upcoming Sunday as we all prepare our weekly sermons. Today they agreed to set aside some time after our Bible study to talk about their national church decisions.

All these pastors spoke about their desire to minister to all their people in this time of change. All of them have addressed the issues in their congregations with small groups, forums, informal discussions, and one-on-one encounters. All of them have some members who agree with the national church decisions, and some members who disagree. It's a wrenching time for their denomination as they struggle with change.

I was able to offer my perspective from the experience of the Episcopal Church since we've gone through this a few years before the Lutheran Church. I told them I admired their pastoral sensitivity in the way they've handled this so far, and I wished them well in their attempts to maintain the unity and peace of their congregations.
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My summer vacation - Week 1

I just returned from two weeks of summer vacation. My time away was refreshing and renewing...just what a vacation should be. Like many clergy, I find that there's no way to really take a vacation unless I leave town. There are no phone calls, no temptations to do a little more work, no obligations to attend to. When you leave town, you leave it behind.

Week 1 of my vacation was spent backpacking with my older son Guy on the Washington Coast. We drove to La Push, a small village on the coast, and left our car near there. Katy then drove us around through Neah Bay to the north part of the coast and dropped us off at the trailhead to Shi Shi Beach. We hiked from there south along the beach to our car.

The scenery along the coast is breathtaking. We encountered huge rocks jutting into the surf, jagged rocky coves awash in waves, long crescent beaches, and rocky obstacles along our way.


The first morning we woke up to the serene beauty of a misty morning at the Point of Arches (above).


The next day we hiked along the beach (above) to Cape Alava where we camped on a grassy spot (photo at the top of this column).


The last two days were difficult hiking because we had long stretches of rocky shoreline to scramble over. I fell and hurt my shin, and I lost the sole of one of my boots. At the end we were weary, dirty, and smelly. It was great! We felt like we really experienced the Olympic Coast and accomplished what we set out to do.

And, of course, there's nothing like coming back home, taking a hot shower and sleeping in a real bed. After a hike like this, the comforts of home are appreciated like never before.

When I go hiking, my normal routine of prayer life is interrupted. I don't have an easy chair to sit in and meditate like I usually do. On a hike, I find myself talking to God more directly and openly. I'm able to break out of my usual patterns and listen to God in new ways.

What I find is that I'm able to shed some of the roles I usually carry and I'm able to be myself more honestly. Hiking especially makes me focus on the basics of survival and identity. That's refreshing to me because I'm able to renew my inner self and feel reaffirmed in who I am as a simple person walking before God. I'm grateful I had this chance to do that.
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Building a house together

Today I joined several others from our parish at a work day to help build Kathryn and Scott Tubberville's house. Kathryn and Scott are part of the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Self-Help program that allows them to become homeowners if they work on their own house and recruit other volunteers to work on their house.

Kathryn is the daughter of Heather and Bill George. heather watched their two small children and supplied lunch to us, and Bill worked on the building crew.

It was wonderful to see the energy at the work site. Eleven young families are taking part in the prgram, and they were all there, nailing on siding and installing windows. Kathryn and Scott work every weekend to earn their sweat equity, and the first floor of their house is framed up.

Several of us were assigned to build a retaining wall with concrete blocks. When we finished, we were proud of our work!

It felt good to be part of such a positive program. I hope our church can have another work day at this site, possibly when there's sheetrock or painting work to be done. It would also be nice if we could provide a lunch for these young families who work so hard.

Here's a few more photos.

Heather

Charles, Larry, and Tyler

Kathryn and Scott

Vacation Bible School Success!

Peter Stockwell tells the children the theme of the day

Today we concluded five days of Vacation Bible School with a wildly successful picnic/barbecue and by collapsing on the couch in complete exhaustion!

Peter Stockwell, VBS director, did a fantastic job of recruiting and managing an enormous team of adult and teen leaders. Our enthusiastic volunteers led the kids in crafts, music, games, Bible stories, food, and the Bible challenge (my specialty!).

It was wonderful to see the kids as they learned about God. Their openness to God is so lovely to see, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with them. Of course, there are always challenges! Some kids have trouble focusing, some kids get bored, and after five days we were all a little tired out. But overall, it was a huge success.

I'm thrilled that so many children came to know Jesus this week, and I hope that their parents will have a closer connection to St. Antony's that will lead them to become members here. God is good!

Vacation Bible School, Day One

Today was the first day of Vacation Bible School, and were we BUSY! We had some twenty five kids plus lots of teen helpers and adult leaders, which made for a full and active morning.

Peter Stockwell, our VBS director, has done a superb job of pulling together the people and programs necessary to make this work. It's marvelous to see it all come together.

Our theme is "Gadget's Garage", a program from Concordia Publishing house. The idea is that God made the world and all that is in it, just like a teenage kid named Gadget who likes to invent things in his garage workshop. The program includes snappy songs, craft ideas, Bible stories, and food creations. It's a pretty nifty show.

My part is to help the kids memorize a Bible verse using clap and stopping rhythms. Today we were also supposed to put together a paper cutout robot, but it was impossibly complicated and hardly any of the kids could accomplish it. Or adults for that matter! But we had fun anyway.

The children are full of energy and excitement, and they seem to be having a good time. And learning about God, I hope!
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A healthy discussion

On Sunday we held a discussion forum about the results of General Convention 2009. I think our discussion was candid, forthright, and helpful. About 25 people attended.

I opened the discussion by giving an overview of the resolutions passed at General Convention. Then we focused on the two controversial resolutions, C056 and D025.

Resolution C056 recognizes changes in state and national legislation regarding homosexual unions and calls for the liturgical commission to collect and develop theological and liturgical resources” for the 2012 convention to consider. The effect of this resolution is to open the door to future rites of blessing for gay and lesbian relationships, perhaps in 2015.

Resolution D025 recognizes that the baptized membership of the Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in faithful, lifelong committed relationships, and affirms that “God has called and may call such individuals to any ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church." This opens the door to the election and consecration of a gay or lesbian person as a bishop.

Our discussion began with questions about these resolutions and their affect on the church, but it quickly moved to the nub of the matter: are homosexual relationships morally acceptable or not? Some folks asked, "Why shouldn't gay and lesbian couples have the same opportunities as heterosexual couples?" Other folks countered with the Biblical view that there's nothing wrong with being homosexual as long as you stay celibate.

After some back and forth, we all began to recognize that we were going over the same ground that's been covered many times before, and it was obvious that we weren't going to solve the issue in one morning. We ended our session with a sense of good will and generosity.

What I liked about the discussion is that we were able to discuss these prickly matters and not get angry or huffy about it. Clearly there were different points of view in the room, but we were able to listen to each other.

Several people told me they were grateful to have the opportunity to express themselves in a relatively relaxed and open atmosphere. People feel strongly on both sides of this issue, and it's helpful to provide a non-defensive environment where all comments are accepted without censure.

I hope we can have diverse viewpoints within our congregation while at the same time maintaining our sense of oneness. Unity with diversity.

Barn Sale success

Another year, another barn sale!

Yesterday and today we held the 22nd annual Barn Sale, and it was a success! We sold truckloads of household furnishings, books, toys, furniture, and who knows what kind of miscellaneous bric-a-brac.

Many people worked hard to make this barn sale a success, and kudos to them all! Gathering, sorting and pricing hundreds of items was a huge task that was done beforehand, and a few brave souls undertook this job. On the two days of the sale, we had many volunteers to staff the tables and do all the many jobs required.

My thanks to all who made this event a success.

The Barn Sale

This weekend we'll hold the 22nd Annual Barn Sale at St. Antony's. Our property includes an old horse barn, and it makes a perfect place to lay out tables of household items for sale. The Barn Sale consumes a great deal of energy and time for some members of St. Antony's, and it generates a good profit each year.

When I was in seminary, our pastoral theology professor told us about annual parish events like the Barn Sale. He said, "These events will go on whether you like them or not. They're part of the life of the parish and they have a life of their own. If you're wise, you won't interfere with them."

I confess I don't really understand the Barn Sale. But it's part of the life of our parish, so I support it. May the Barn Sale flourish!

Ordination of a priest

Archdeacon Gen Grewell, Bishop Greg Rickel, Priest Ray Sheldon

Last Saturday I attended the ordination of Ray Sheldon to the priesthood. Ray is a friend I met when we were on the staff of a Cursillo event. He's been a deacon at Faith Church, Kingston, for some years, doing the work of a priest in all but the sacraments. When the bishop talked to Ray, they both agreed that God was obviously calling Ray to be ordained a priest. So on Saturday, the bishop laid hands on Ray and set him aside to be a priest in God's church.

As I listened to Bishop Greg pray over Ray, these words jumped out at me: "Make him a faithful pastor, a patient teacher, and a wise councilor."

• A faithful pastor. Being a shepherd to the flock requires more faithfulness than brilliance. Being faithful is a ministry of patience and steadiness.
  

• A patient teacher. Saying the same thing over and over again is sometimes necessary, and people may not hear you until they have come to trust you.
  

• A wise councilor. Giving advice is not something done lightly. Wisdom comes with age, and wise advice is a rare commodity.
  

I'm grateful that I've been given the work of a priest, and humbled by the faithfulness, patience, and wisdom that a priest is called to have.
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The vicar officiates at a wedding

Today I had the pleasure of officiating at the wedding of Zach Cundiff and Allyson Sultan. The wedding took place at Kiana Lodge, a marvelous setting right on the shores of Agate Passage. The weather was perfect, the bride was radiant, and the ceremony was grace-filled...and brief.

Allyson was raised in a Jewish family, but as an adult she has embraced the Christian faith. In order not to offend her family, who are observant Jews, she asked at the very start if I could do a wedding without using the name of Jesus.

I wasn't sure about that, never having done an interfaith wedding before. So I called a trusted advisor, a retired priest I respect. He pointed out that the Prayer Book offers a good deal of latitude in "An Order for Marriage" on p. 435. So I used the wedding service, offering the prayers in the name of God.

After the ceremony, members of her family thanked me for showing sensitivity for their beliefs. I answered by saying, "There is only one God, and we all worship the same God," to which they agreed.

It was a lovely ceremony and a lavish reception, a joyous occasion and a good start to a strong and fulfilling marriage.

The bicycling Vicar

There's a charming stereotype of the barmy small-town English Vicar who rides his bicycle wherever he goes. Well, I hope I'm not barmy, but I am starting to ride my bike!

Today I rode my bicycle to church, a distance of about 6 miles. It takes me 30 minutes and it's very refreshing. To get home, I'll take the bus from Kitsap Mall to Pine Rd. and Riddell Rd., a short (downhill) ride home.

I like to ride my bicycle for several reasons. One is for my health. When I get regular exercise, I feel better all over and my energy level is consistently higher. I get good aerobic exercise, and my heart and lungs get a workout.

Another reason is environmental. When I ride my bicycle, I'm not emitting any hydrocarbons into the atmosphere, and I'm not using using up the petroleum resources of the earth. That feels good.

A third reason is that it helps ground me. When I ride my bicycle, I see things differently. I'm closer to the ground, and I breathe the air and feel the rain. I get a feel of just how far six miles is. It makes me feel more connected to my world.

Of course, I can't ride every day. Often I have visits or meetings to attend that require driving a car. But when I can, I'm going to try to ride my bike.
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Celebrating the Fourth of July in church

Yesterday we celebrated the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, which happened to fall the day after the Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day.

During our worship we said several of the Prayers for National Life, including the Collect for Independence Day (p. 242 in the Prayer Book); the Thanksgiving for the Nation (p. 838); the Collect for Heroic Service (p. 839); and we sang "My country, 'tis of thee" and "O beautiful for spacious skies" in the 10:00 Eucharist.

My question: Is this about the right amount of patriotic content for the Sunday after the Fourth of July? Too much? Too little?

As the Episcopal Church, we have a tradition of praying for the nation which goes back to our roots in the Church of England, a state church. The church is to hold up the nation before God and ask God's blessing and favor.

The other side of that tradition is that the church is supposed to play a prophetic role in the nation, calling the country to account when we fail to meet our ideals. Being too closely aligned with the nation makes it difficult to speak prophetically.

So the church needs to celebrate the nation and its values, but not identify itself completely with the nation. Finding that fine line can be difficult. Let's hope we get it right.
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