CADO meeting in Seattle

On Thursday I took the ferry to Seattle for a meeting of the Clergy Association of the Diocese of Olympia. I serve as the webmaster for the group, so I try to attend the monthly meetings. It's quite enjoyable to be part of this group, but it takes nearly the whole day to go to the meeting and come back.

Burial at Tahoma National Cemetery

Last Wednesday I accompanied one of our families to the graveside at Tahoma National Cemetery where I said the Committal service and the deceased was given military honors for burial.

I was impressed by the military honor guard. They performed the military ceremony with great dignity and solemnity. A three-shot volley was fired, followed by the ceremonial folding of the flag which was then presented to the widow by a soldier on bended knee.

Tahoma National Cemetery is a beautiful setting. The site has been landscaped so that the road winds through the gently rolling hills, and the rows of headstones are surrounded by a backdrop of forested curves. Mount Rainier looms above the central road.

The ceremony was carefully scheduled and quite prompt. It was made clear to us that we were one of many burials that day, and we had to arrive and depart according to the schedule given, which we did. Very well done. My only complaint was the mushy poems recited by the elderly VFW veteran who acted as MC for the ceremony. They could have been omitted and let the crisp military honor guard carry the day.

Barnival is coming September 4!

On September 4 we're having a Barnival!  A "barnival" is a carnival at our barn. We're starting the planning in earnest, and today I made a poster for signing people up. We hope to get good participation from everyone in the parish to make this a successful parish event.

With vendors, barbecue, games, a flea market, desserts and a silent auction there should be something for everyone. And it's only one day, so no one will get burned out....we hope!

Come one, come all, sign up today! Get your Barnival here!!

Celebrating the Eucharist on TV

Today several of us from this area went to the KING-TV studios in Seattle to be taped for "TV Eucharist." We celebrated the Eucharist in a TV production studio for broadcast at 5:00 AM (!) next Sunday, August 1, and the following Sunday, August 8.

This program has been in existence for some 30 years, and an estimated 5,000 viewers tune in for the Eucharist. That makes the TV Eucharist the largest congregation in the diocese!

Celebrating the Eucharist in a TV studio takes some imagination. The studio is a big empty cavern with no one present, so you have to imagine the "congregation" in your mind. It makes preaching a challenge! I felt much more comfortable this year than last.

With me were Ruth Lindstrum and Priscilla White-Lineker from St. Antony's and the Rev. Kathleen Kingslight from St. Paul's, Bremerton, with her husband John and their delightful 9-year-old granddaughter. The photo above was taken just outside the studio.

This photo shows the studio set for the Eucharist.

The stage crew putting the set together before taping.

The open door

At the front door on Sunday

I'n trying to spend the fifteen minutes before worship each Sunday outside the front door of the church, welcoming all who come. Sometimes it's a bit difficult to pull myself away from the press of details before worship, but I think it's important for me to be a presence at the front door.

I got this idea from Mike Morrisey, the priest at St. Bede's Episcopal Church in Port Orchard. Mike says he always greets people outside the front door of his church, even in freezing weather. If Mike can do it, then I can do it, too.

One of the drawbacks to our church building is that we don't look like a church. When visitors pull up our drive, they must wonder, "Is this the church?" I'm hoping that the presence of a clergyperson with robe and brightly colored stole will make a statement: "This is a church."

Our booth at Whaling Days

This weekend is "Whaling Days", the local Silverdale festival complete with parade, carnival, booths, vendors, and food. St. Antony's put up a booth again this year and I spent about five hours there today.

Kathy Little did a wonderful job of creating the booth. You can't see it in this photo, but she brought plants, banners, brochures, and props for our booth. We offer water at our booth for humans (in a cooler) and for dogs (in a dish).

This booth is our way of getting some visibility in our community. We had lots of people stop by for a curious look or a cup of water. And we engaged people with a smile or an invitation to Vacation Bible School.

I really enjoyed being out in the public and making contacts. I'll have to say, though, that it's exhausting to be on display for so long. Maybe it's because I wore my clergy shirt and felt so conspicuous! Anyway, a very successful booth.

At a time of death

This week I've been privileged to be with a family at the time of death of a man who was a husband, father, and grandfather. Being with a family in times like these is difficult because of the loss and grief, but I find it to be a very rewarding ministry.

I've visited this grand old man many times over the past couple of years in the Alzheimer's unit of a local care facility, although some of my visits have consisted of only a few words and a prayer. At times he was quite alert and humorous; other times he was fast asleep.

I visited him last Thursday and it was clear he was failing. By Tuesday his wife and daughters had gathered around for his last hours. I spent about an hour with them, listening as carefully as I could and helping them to say goodbye. Each of them spent some time with him quietly speaking to him. I said a prayer giving thanks for his life and offering him into the hands of God.

He died late that night and the next day I arrived to find the family gathered around the body. I helped them process their feelings and be present to each other and support each other, and concluded with a prayer.

This is a gracious and supportive family, and it was lovely to be with them. At times like these, a pastor is drawn into the intimate circle of a family and shares in their emotions. It's a rich ministry for me, and I'm grateful to be an Episcopal priest in times like these.