Flood in the sanctuary

On Monday, November 19, I arrived at work to find that water was coming in the north door of the sanctuary and flooding the carpet. It was raining heavily all night and all day, so the hillside above the church was saturated. When that happens, it starts to fill the low place between the church and the modular.

There's a sump pump just outside the door in the low place that's supposed to drain the low spot, but the float switch had failed. I went home and got my rubber boots and oilskins, then returned to bail out the sump. It took about 50 trips with a 5-gallon bucket before the water went down enough to get at the sump pump. Once I jarred the float switch, it begin to pump and took care of itself after that.

My son, Guy, came and we moved the piano and organ (fortunately, neither got wet) and all the chairs. Then we pulled up the carpet so it could start to dry. I called the Servpro restoration guys and they came out with their big blowers. They pulled out the soggy carpet pad set up the driers to dry the carpet.

What a day.

Reflections on our parish meeting

Hi, all!

After our special parish meeting last Sunday, I felt humbled and grateful. Not only did we have a lively and respectful conversation about whether we should buy new property, but we had a heart-felt sharing of our hopes and dreams. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit as we shared together.

For many years, we have struggled with our decision to build on our current site or move to another site, to the point that many of us have become exasperated with the topic. "Let's make a decision once and for all," we said at our annual meeting last January.

The problem is, it's not easy to come to consensus, or near consensus, in a diverse community. How do we decide when there are so many factors to consider? Cost, location, visibility, and the inevitable risks no matter what we do. People of good faith can have differing opinions.

Choosing to buy new property to build a church on rightly makes us cautious. Think of the things that can go wrong. And truthfully it's hard to leave the familiar for the unfamiliar. 

So I was especially impressed in our meeting when I heard so many people speak in favor of buying the new property. Many people shared what St. Antony has meant to them and how their hopes for the future of our church have been revived by the possibility of this new site. Not only that, but a number of people shared how they changed their minds once they saw the new property. I was humbled by the faith and commitment I heard expressed in that room. 

So I think it's the work of the Holy Spirit to make this property available and to bring us to near-consensus. Fifty out of sixty two people marked "strongly agree" with the recommendation of the Long Range Planning team to buy the new property. I recognize that not everyone agrees, and I respect the opinions of those who feel this is an unwise venture or who have voiced caution. Surely we need to hear those voices.

On Tuesday, we made an offer to buy the property, but it hasn't been accepted yet. Nothing is sure until the ink is dry, and undoubtedly we'll have some negotiations to make. But everything so far looks good. It's an exciting time, and I'm grateful to be part of it.

Bill

A wedding and a vacation

Hi, all!

I just returned from a vacation trip to Colorado to see my family and officiate at the wedding of my nephew, Will, and his bride, Kelseigh. It was a wonderful trip and I came back refreshed.

It was an honor to officiate at the wedding of Will and Kelseigh, but it felt a bit odd. I wasn't sure if I was acting as the uncle or the priest. The emotions I felt as the uncle, with all the memories and associations of our family, had to be tamped down a bit as I officiated. The officiant shouldn't get choked up...that's the job of everyone else! Here's a photo.

I took walks in the Boulder foothills with my older sister, had coffee with my brother in a funky Boulder coffee shop, enjoyed a summer evening in the backyard of my younger sister and her husband, and spent mornings with my mother in her sun-spilled kitchen. It's good to connect with family...it helps me remember who I am, and reminds me that I am deeply loved. Also I had some time to make some sketches.

I attended St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in Boulder on Sunday morning. The priest was gone on a mission trip for the youth group, so we had Morning Prayer led by a layperson. The sermon was also given by a layperson, a lawyer, who gave an excellent homily.

When I returned, I found that Marge Mckenzie was in the hospital for heart problems, so I made a visit to her. I also learned that Janet Steller had a brief stay in the hospital but has returned home. Please keep Marge and Janet in your prayers. I'm grateful to Fr. Craig and Fr. Dick Scott for covering for me while I was away.

Although traveling is great, it's nice to be home, and I'm looking forward to being with you tomorrow as we gather around the holy table and receive the Body and Blood of our Lord, the sacrament of Holy Communion. See you there!

Bill

Remembering those who have sacrificed

Hi, all!

In yesterday's newspaper I read about the Tolling the Boats ceremony at Keyport Museum. The bell was tolled for each of the 52 submarines lost in World War Two, plus two more submarines lost at sea later. The loss of submarines in WWII is not generally acknowledged... it was only when I came to submarine country that I realized the tremendous sacrifices given by submariners.

One of the WWII submarine vets in attendance said, "It was a volunteer part of the Navy. Everyone volunteered and took our chances." On Memorial Day we remember those who volunteered to serve their country and were lost in battle.

It reminds me again how tragic war is. How many lives lost, and how much destruction. How many young men and women with so much promise, lost. I don't know if war is necessary. It seems to me that war is a complete waste of lives and resources. but I honor those who have given their lives in sacrifice, and those who serve our country with fidelity and courage.

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, "War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend." (The Two Towers)

As always, I find the words of the Prayer Book to be dignified and gracious:

"Almighty God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead: We give thee thanks for all thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence; and give us such a lively sense of thy righteous will, that the work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen." (BCP, p. 488)

Tomorrow we'll honor the fallen with that prayer as we seek to continue "the work which thou hast begun in them."

Bill

Finding our deep gladness

Hi, all!

One of my favorite quotes is from Frederick Buechner: "The place where God calls you to is where your deep gladness and the world's deep need meet." Finding our deep gladness is not always easy. Sometimes it takes a long time to discover our true self.

When I was in the eighth grade, my family moved from Kansas to Nebraska, and I was thrown into a new school in the middle of the year. In the first day of art class, the art teacher told us to draw something from our imagination. I had no idea what she wanted. I dawdled and dragged the time out, but she insisted that I draw something. So I drew a logo from my dad's work, the only image I could think of. She said, "What is that?" I explained and she said, "No! I told you to draw from your imagination." She crossed her arms and said emphatically, "You'll never be an artist."

And with that decree planted firmly in my mind, I avoided anything about art from then on. It was only many years later that I began to experiment with pencil, ink, and watercolors. I got such pleasure from sketching what I saw in front of me that I began to realize she was wrong. Contrary to what she said, I am a creative person. In fact, when I get too busy to sketch, paint, make music, or do woodworking, I begin to feel dull and bored, like something's missing.

I've finally come to accept that I need to be creative in order to be myself. My mind needs to be continually imagining new ideas, new images, new projects. I've come to understand that this is how God made me. Now I always carry a sketchbook with me so I can capture an image or describe a scene in front of me. It's not the quality that's so important to me, but the immediacy, the engagement with my surroundings, and the creation that happens with a pen or a brush. It inspires me.

I photograph my artwork and upload it to the internet so anyone can see it. So from time to time I'll show you some of my artwork so you can enjoy it, too. In fact, on Monday I made this watercolor of an old-time gas station I saw in Bainbridge Island (see below).

Each of us has unique gifts that God has given us. Your gifts and your inspiration are uniquely your own. So let me ask: what is your deep gladness?

Bill

Click on the image to see a larger size.

The blessing and beauty of inconvenience

January 19, 2012

Hi, all!

Yesterday and today I stayed at home because the roads are too slick to travel. It's cozy at home, with plenty to do and no need to rush. Sometimes we have to be forced to slow down, and when we do, we find that life at a slower pace is rich and good. I've been able to catch up on some reading, do some painting, and work from home.

This morning I saw my neighbor and his grandchildren sledding down the hill next to our house, so I went out and joined them. I'd forgotten how much fun it is to skim over the ground with the snow flying past your face!

When I went out for a walk this afternoon, very few cars were out. The usual drone of traffic in the air was silenced, and the hush of the snow was magical. It was so quiet in Tracyton, all I could hear was the sound of children playing in the snow. Too bad it's not like this more often!

Sitting in a snug home on a snowy day makes me grateful for the basics of life: a warm, dry home that shields us from the elements; emergency personnel who brave the cold to keep us safe; the availability of food and fuel; the blessing of family and friends. Simple things.

I hope the snow hasn't been too much of an inconvenience for you, and I hope you can find beauty and blessing even in this inclement weather.

Bill    

Emerging from Christmas

January 13, 2012

Hi, all!

Yesterday I finally mailed the last of the Christmas letter we usually send to our far-flung family and friends. And even though Epiphany has blown by us, we still haven't taken our Christmas tree down. 

   

The Christmas season seems to wrap me up in a big wind and send me hurling headlong through the days. Now, finally, I think I'm emerging from the frenzy of Christmas, at least enough to think about writing Hello from the Vicar!

When I was first ordained a priest and our sons were little, I felt I had to do my part to help Katy make a special celebration at home, plus I felt the pressure of celebrating two Christmas eve services at church. Now that our boys are grown, it's much easier. But I still find Christmas to be exhausting.

This year after Christmas, our family went to La Push, a small Native American village on the Olympic Coast, for a couple of days of rest and relaxation. We hiked the beaches, went to a Native American Dance and healing circle, and I painted some watercolors. It was a very relaxing time for me. And now that Epiphany is over, I feel I'm fully engaged for the new year.

I hope that you had a good Christmas celebration, too, and that the New Year is finding you in productive and healthy endeavors.

Bill