The Past Couple Days

We found out Wednesday night that a parishioner was having surgery in Great Falls on Tuesday morning, so we went down to sit with their family. Surgery was at 7:30 so we left around 5:30. Once Jon had located the family, I got myself down to $tarbuck$ and got myself a blackberry green tea frappucino. (If I’m leaving the house at dark:thirty to do something like this, I WANT MY OVERPRICED CAFFEINE!!!!!) I then went to Target and Albertsons to take care of some errands as they were on the way back to the megalithic hospital complex. After the person was out of surgery, back in their room, and prayed over, we headed out to take care of other Great Falls errands and had lunch. On the way out of town, we went to Old Navy where I got some long-sleeved shirts to up my winter wardrobe a bit. (Can you believe that I’ve lived in the Midwest or at least cold climates for 5 years now and I STILL haven’t quite developed the seasonal wardrobe habit yet???)

Yesterday (Friday), I had an appointment with my lovely Italian doctor (and had to wait because it was one of his on-call days — I was tempted to start crocheting the cuff of a sock and tell him that I started it after getting into the exam room) and after playing “let’s twist Jen’s foot and contort it painfully”, he told me that he was ordering a CT scan to rule out fractures and such because the x-ray likely wouldn’t have picked them up. Oh freaking joy. CT scan will be Monday morning.Â? I now have an excuse to miss the business meeting for WELCA.

Today, I was judging speech and debate again.Â? (Apparently, word has gotten out that Jon and I *LIKE* to judge.)Â? It was fun but the events were spread out between the elementary school and high school which are *NOT* close to each other so Jon and I had to drive between events to avoid the ice and for me to actually have time to finish the comments from my 10:30 group and make it on time to judge my 12:30 people.Â? Oh yeah… they also didn’t feed the judges so Jon and I headed to the A&W/KFC in town.Â? Big mistake.Â? I keep forgetting that not having a gallbladder means that I can’t have greasy food.Â? (I had to excuse myself for a couple minutes during my finals round and get the clawing creatures out of my stomach.Â? The kids I was judging as well as those in the audience were crowding around me during awards to ask if I was OK.Â? It was actually pretty sweet of them.)Â? A couple of the kids from the local reservation also told their coaches about how much they like Jon and I so… we’re judging AGAIN for divisionals in January.Â? (The reservation kids are really fun to judge — they are there because they enjoy it and they kick the butts of the other schools in almost every category.)

So… I’m now home with an achey foot, irritated stomach, and I think I’ll curl up in a ball when 9:00 rolls around.Â? I’ve got church, nursing home, extended youth activities, and an extended choir practice in Shelby tomorrow.Â? I think Wednesday is my next sleep-in day?Â? Jon was going to offer to judge at Cut Bank but I told him NOOOOOOO — I need a somewhat quiet Saturday… and I also have choir practice in Shelby that day for the performance the next night.

I’m glad we’re not doing the open house this year — I’m not sure when I’d find time!

Christmas Open House Ideas

I found out that the parish kind of expects the pastor to have an open house at Christmas. This isn’t a problem (as I have about 6 weeks of warning) and I thought I’d invite some of the kids to come and help me with the baking and decorating.

Do any of you have good kid-friendly recipes for cookies, quick breads, or bars? If you do, please email me at daughterofeve at peacefulwaters dot org.

10-Q!

Crazy Busy Life

I did go to the wedding on Saturday and I shocked my parishioners by dressing up quite a bit. (The comment “Jen… you clean up well!” was uttered frequently. Apparently, me in a dress on Sunday doesn’t even compare?) I wore the dress my sister-in-law gave me for my birthday and I think I’ve found my Christmas dress for this year. (My ordination dress still fits but is loose enough to show my love handles which still need to be melted off.) I skipped the reception (wasn’t going to be able to eat the food and didn’t need the calories) and chilled at home.

I decided to skip the early service on Sunday and hitched a ride to church with some fellow church members. It was nice to be able to attend Sunday school and relax instead of having to be uber-social. After church, I came home, ate lunch, and took a nap until I had to get dressed again to go to an open house for a parishioner (who was turning 80) and then to Church #1 to decorate the church and go caroling afterwards.

Caroling was awesome! There were 10 of us and Jon and I were basically the youngest by far. (Everyone else had kids or grandkids our age.) Jon and a couple of the others sang a Christmas carol in Norwegian as well as one verse of Silent Night pa Norsk. We also sang a verse of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” as well as “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”. We went around and sang to some people in the church who were elderly and needed encouragement. One woman started crying and told us it was the best thing that had happened to them that year. After we’d sufficiently sung and frozen our butts off, we headed to someone’s farm for a potluck dinner. I ate waaaaaaaay too much and of course (as this is Minnesota), the food was NOT low-cal, low-fat, or low-carb.

Today, we did errands in Watertown and here in town. Tonight, I let Billy Blanks kick my butt for half an hour while Jon was at a Scout meeting. I just showered (and was pounced on by my gremlin who gets ferocious at the smell of my shower gel) and have that “beaten to a pulp but have an amazing high” feeling. I’m thinking I should be doing a whole lot more taebo or I should find some really good yoga tapes or something…

Advent I

Light one candle to watch for Messiah:
Let the light banish darkness.
He shall bring salvation to Israel,
God fulfills the promise…

–WOV 630 (stanza 1)

Prepare the royal highway;
The King of kings is near!
Let every hill and valley
A level road appear!
Then greet the Lord of glory,
Fortold in sacred story:
Hosanna to the Lord,
For he fulfills God’s Word!

God’s people, see him coming:
Your own eternal king!
Palm branches strewn before him!
Spread garments! Shout and sing!
God’s promise will not fail you!
No more shall doubt assail you!
Hosanna to the Lord,
For he fulfills God’s Word!

Then fling the gates wide open
To greet your promised king!
Your king, yet every nation
Its tribute too may bring.
All lands will bow before him;
Their voices join your singing:
Hosanna to the Lord,
For he fulfills God’s Word!

His is no earthly kingdom;
It comes from heav’n above.
His rule is peace and freedom
And justice, truth, and love.
So let your praise be sounding
For kindness so abounding:
Hosanna to the Lord,
For he fulfills God’s Word!

-LBW 26

Advent II Hymns

Light one candle to watch for Messiah:
Let the light banish darkness.
He shall bring salvation to Israel,
God fulfills the promise.

Light two candles to watch for Messiah:
Let the light banish darkness.
He shall feed the flock like a shepherd,
Gently lead them homeward.
–WOV 630 (stanza 1 & 2)

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Come, then, and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings from the King of kings!

Then cleansed be every breast from sin;
Make straight the way for God within;
Prepare we in our hearts a home,
Where such a mighty Guest may come.

For Thou art our Salvation, Lord,
Our Refuge, and our great Reward.
Without Thy grace our souls must fade
And wither like a flower decayed.

Stretch forth Thine hand, to heal our sore,
And make us rise and fall no more;
Once more upon Thy people shine,
And fill the world with love divine.

To Him Who left the throne of Heaven
To save mankind, all praise be given;
Like praise be to the Father done,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One.
LBW 36

Advent I Hymns

Light one candle to watch for Messiah:
Let the light banish darkness.
He shall bring salvation to Israel,
God fulfills the promise
–WOV 630 (stanza 1)

Rejoice, rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear.
The evening is advancing, and darker night is near.
The Bridegroom is arising, and soon He draweth nigh.
Up, pray, and watch, and wrestle: At midnight comes the cry.

See that your lamps are burning; replenish them with oil.
And wait for your salvation, the end of earthly toil.
The watchers on the mountain proclaim the Bridegroom near.
Go meet Him as He cometh, with alleluias clear.

O wise and holy virgins, now raise your voices higher,
Until in songs of triumph ye meet the angel choir.
The marriage feast is waiting, the gates wide open stand;
Rise up, ye heirs of glory, the Bridegroom is at hand.

Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear!
Arise, Thou Sun so longed for, over this benighted sphere!
With hearts and hands uplifted, we plead, O Lord, to see
The day of earth??s redemption that brings us unto Thee.

Ye saints, who here in patience your cross and sufferings bore,
Shall live and reign forever, when sorrow is no more.
Around the throne of glory the Lamb ye shall behold;
In triumph cast before Him your diadems of gold!
LBW 25

It is *NOT* Christmas yet

Last night, Bonnie asked me if I was looking forward to singing Christmas carols at church today. My response: Advent starts tomorrow, not Christmas, so we’ll be singing Advent hymns. It also brought up a very sore subject with a lot of clergy which is… [drumroll] the fact that our society starts Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. Hate to break it to y’all but… Christmas doesn’t start until December 25th (or if you do Christmas Eve worship, December 24th). We are now in the season of Advent, which is the liturgical time of preparation before Christmas. Therefore, we do NOT start singing Christmas music until the festival of Christmas starts. This festival, by the way, lasts 12 days until January 6th. This means that there are 12 days of celebrations in the church, not just one. Twelve days when it is liturgically appropriate to sing Christmas music. These 12 days do not start until December 24/25, so please do not ask me how the Christmas music at church is. I will likely end up with steam coming out of my ears. 🙂 Getting me started on the pseudo-Christmas music that is piped into most retail establishments will also not serve to endear you to me.

Dave Barry has some words on Christmas music as well. WARNING: You will laugh.