Category Archives: Faith

#FiveFaves: Miscellanea (XXXI)

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#5Faves

One

Rachel’s new book. Rachel Held Evans’ new book, Searching for Sunday, just came out. I’m trying to finish my current murder mystery (which is amazing) so I can read it! You can get it here or here.

Two

APL Cat Lady. She used to have a Facebook page called “Sticky and Co.” about her kitties. She adopted some black kitties with asthma and then started fostering kitties for the Ashtabula County Animal Protection League, focusing specifically on black kitties. When we were trying to find homes for my boys and Freya, she made some beautiful signs for them and she was really wonderful to me when Edda disappeared and when Cullen died. Her Facebook page is here.

Three

This story. When my grandfather was in his last days and living at a nursing home in Washington, Mom brought me out on the train to visit him. He was missing their cat Emily so we found him a stuffed cat to have so he could pet it. We asked him the name of his cat and he replied, “Grendel”. Given how far gone his mind was, it was a flicker of his normal sense of humor and we were joking about how the stuffed cat liked to eat “Great Danes”. It’s been 9 years since he passed away and I still miss him dreadfully.

Four

Being a regular layperson. I’m going to help with a funeral at church this morning and I’m seriously looking forward to being just an extra set of hands instead of “Pastor Jon’s wife”. Don’t get me wrong -I do enjoy being pseudo-clergy most of the time – but it’s kind of nice to just be “Jen” on occasion.

Five

Having my taxes done a month early. It’s nice not to have any pressure this week.

Go love up Jenna and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 13, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 13, 2015

Outside my window… sunny and in the 70’s.

I am thinking… about what Daniel and I will be doing this afternoon when he gets home from school.

I am thankful… that my taxes have been done for a month. I just wish my refund would show up.

In the kitchen… orzo with pesto, pine nuts, kalamata olives, and feta.

I am wearing… my Run for the Little Flowers shirt and black capris.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, relief from my fibro flare (I am so sick of the pain!), and some special intentions.

I am going… on errands with Daniel and my mother-in-law in a little bit.

I am wondering… about God’s timing on some things in my life.

I am reading… Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews. I finished Fudge Brownie Murder by Joanne Fluke and read/finished Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews and Miss Julia Lays Down the Law by Ann B. Ross.

I am hoping… to start reading the new Rachel Held Evans book when it comes out tomorrow. I have my NOOK all charged for it!

I am looking forward to… seeing my brother, sister-in-law, and parents in May for my birthday weekend.

I am hearing… games on Daniel’s Leap Pad.

Crocheting… Daniel’s big boy blankie and a baby shower gift for a friend. The fibro flare has put a crimp in my schedule so I’m behind on all of it.

Around the house… robots cleaning, Jon bringing boxes over from the storage unit, and my father-in-law working on a paper.

A favorite quote for today… “I’ve got a pissy Gabon to my back… I’ve got a rambunctious king (cobra) at my feet. Hey! You are a toad today!” — ViperKeeper from this video (Trigger warning: SNAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!):

One of my favorite things… Daniel cuddling with Jon.

A few plans for the rest of the week: dealing with our storage unit, helping with a funeral on Wednesday, and honestly whatever else comes up.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

#5Faves: Easter Hymns

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#5Faves

Because I’m all about that bass all about the hymns!

One

“Thine Is The Glory”. This one is in the Lutheran Book of Worship (and most other Lutheran hymnals) but not in the 1982 Hymnal for the Episcopal church. I was kvetching to my choir director about this and his response: “You could always become Lutheran again.” (I stuck my tongue out at him in response.) This one is especially lovely if you have brass in church.

Two

“Now the Green Blade Riseth”. The tune for this hymn is “Noel Nouvelet” and is in a minor key so there are some of my husband’s parishioners that have hated it and asked that it not be sung or only sung once during Easter. The reason this is funny is that one of our parishioners in Minnesota managed to set “Jingle Bells” to it at Christmas dinner in 2004 when we were jamming afterwards; and when we were singing this at the installation of Bishop Jessica Crist in Montana in 2007, I leaned forward to Jon who was seated in the row in front of me (with all the clergy) and whispered, “Jingle Bells”. He started giggling and our seminary president (who is the former bishop of Montana) rolled his eyes at us.

Three

“Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks to the Risen Lord”. I shared this one in my Simple Woman’s Daybook on Monday. I remember it from my first Easter at ECA in 1997 and I have loved it since, though I don’t think I had sung it in at least 10 years before Sunday. (It’s not in the Lutheran Book of Worship and I doubt it’s in the new cranberry-colored hymnal which I despise.)

Four

“Alleuia, Sing to Jesus”. This is used more as an Ascension hymn but our Offertory anthem this year was an arrangement of it. I’m also a hymn tune snob and I have an abiding love of the tune Hyfrydol.

Five

“Christ the Lord is Risen Today”. This is song that most Protestants associate with Easter, at least those that attend churches with traditional hymnody. It was also one of the first hymns I learned.

Go love up Jenna and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 6, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 6, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It cooled down today and was actually long-sleeves weather when I was at the park with Daniel. It’s supposed to rain tomorrow and I’m getting positively giddy.

I am thinking… about the phone calls I have to make tomorrow to the IRS (I want my tax refund) and to insurance companies/Medi-Cal.

I am thankful… for a wonderful Palm Sunday with my church in San Jose and a wonderful Triduum with my church in southern California. Easter morning was wonderful as well with music at both services and a professional tenor singing with the choir. (We were supposed to have a couple other pros but they got sick.) I’m so incredibly grateful to be part of a church where I’m excited about going on Sunday morning instead of feeling like I want to be anywhere else but there.

In the kitchen… lots and lots of leftovers. We’re eating well this week!

I am wearing… one of my Run for the Little Flowers shirts and black capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, comfort and solace for Dayna, and many other things.

I am going… for a walk tomorrow morning.

I am wondering… about a couple things related to the Divine Mercy novena that a few friends are doing. They sound a little weird so I’ll be consulting the hive mind on this.

I am reading… Fudge Brownie Murder by Joanne Fluke. I finished Six Geese A-Slaying and a couple others by Donna Andrews in the last few weeks as well.

I am hoping… to get everything done this week that needs doing.

I am looking forward to… my Wednesday time to myself.

I am hearing… Jon’s CPAP machine as I’m lying in bed doing this.

Crocheting… a baby gift for a friend and also Daniel’s big boy blankie.

Around the house… silence as I am the only one awake.

A favorite quote for today… “Solid-rock faith allows me to believe that despite the chaos of the present moment, God does reign. Regardless of how worthless I may feel, I truly matter to a God of love. No pain lasts forever, and no evil triumphs in the end.” — today’s devotion in Our Daily Bread.

One of my favorite things… Coke — I can have it again now that Lent is over! (I did falter and have some during Lent, a couple of those times on purpose because I needed the caffeine and sugar while I was driving and/or chasing Daniel.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: phone calls tomorrow, meeting with Daniel’s teacher on Wednesday, and other things as they come up.

A peek into my day… I seriously love being part of a church where worship selfies are an expected part of Easter worship. I’m the short chick with glasses and the hymnal.

My choir and clergy.

Post Script…

It has been an interesting time with the Lutherans, especially in churcbes where they only sing songs they know or try to attract young people by doing “contemporary” music. (Not helping, y’all.) I love this hymn which I learned during my first Easter with the Episcopalians about 20 years ago and it brings me happy memories.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

A Fitting Poem for Today

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Let mans Soule be a Spheare, and then, in this,
The intelligence that moves, devotion is,
And as the other Spheares, by being growne
Subject to forraigne motion, lose their owne,
And being by others hurried every day,
Scarce in a yeare their naturall forme obey:
Pleasure or businesse, so, our Soules admit
For their first mover, and are whirld by it.
Hence is’t, that I am carryed towards the West
This day, when my Soules forme bends toward the East.
There I should see a Sunne, by rising set,
And by that setting endlesse day beget;
But that Christ on this Crosse, did rise and fall,
Sinne had eternally benighted all.
Yet dare I’almost be glad, I do not see
That spectacle of too much weight for mee.
Who sees Gods face, that is selfe life, must dye;
What a death were it then to see God dye?
It made his owne Lieutenant Nature shrinke,
It made his footstoole crack, and the Sunne winke.
Could I behold those hands which span the Poles,
And tune all spheares at once peirc’d with those holes?
Could I behold that endlesse height which is
Zenith to us, and our Antipodes,
Humbled below us? or that blood which is
The seat of all our Soules, if not of his,
Made durt of dust, or that flesh which was worne
By God, for his apparell, rag’d, and torne?
If on these things I durst not looke, durst I
Upon his miserable mother cast mine eye,
Who was Gods partner here, and furnish’d thus
Halfe of that Sacrifice, which ransom’d us?
Though these things, as I ride, be from mine eye,
They’are present yet unto my memory,
For that looks towards them; and thou look’st towards mee,
O Saviour, as thou hang’st upon the tree;
I turne my backe to thee, but to receive
Corrections, till thy mercies bid thee leave.
O thinke mee worth thine anger, punish mee,
Burne off my rusts, and my deformity,
Restore thine Image, so much, by thy grace,
That thou may’st know mee, and I’ll turne my face.
— “Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward” by John Donne

7 Quick Takes: Musings on Maundy Thursday

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Tetelestai. Elizabeth Dehority of Keep on Spinning passed away early on Thursday morning. Please keep her family in prayer.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Elizabeth. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

— 2 —

Palm Sunday. This is the anthem we sang on Palm Sunday. It is currently stuck in my head.

— 3 —

Fannie Flagg captures it. I was listening to her book, Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven, for part of the drive home on Wednesday and everyone is talking or musing in their heads about how one woman impacts them positively. It’s kind of made me think about my legacy and what I’ll be remembered for doing.

— 4 —

Books on CD. I picked up two at the library, hoping that they would make the drive less montonous. They definitely helped — I was sorry when we were going to our destinations on Saturday and Wednesday and we arrived because I wanted to listen to more of the book.

— 5 —

Geeking out on church music. We get at professional trumpeter for Easter and three opera singers coming in to lend their voices. The anthem we’re singing isn’t tricky but it will be nice to have a “full” choir, even if some of the volume is coming from 3 people.

— 6 —

Sidney Lanier poetry. I sang a similar anthem to this when I was in high school and it seems like an appropriate one, given the season.

— 7 —

Eyes crossing. I am ending here because it’s after 1 a.m. and I’m exhausted. Have a fabulous day.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: March 31, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY March 31, 2015

Outside my window… warm. I think it’s supposed to be 70ish today in San Jose? (I’m visiting my parents.)

I am thinking… about the devotional project I’ve had on my plate for 3 years and I’m praying that my part of it is done.

I am thankful… for my mom who is taking Daniel for a walk so that I can get breakfast and deal with the devotional issues.

In the kitchen… just finished off the shrimp pasta that Dad made last night. It was so good that I had leftovers for breakfast.

I am wearing… my black Reclaim Hope shirt and jeans.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, the right job for me, and for a number of special intentions.

I am going… to the salon this afternoon to get my hair cut.

I am wondering… how my drive home will be tomorrow and what route I should take.

I am reading… Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews. I finished Owls Well That Ends Well and read/finished No Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews, Murder of a Needled Knitter by Denise Swanson, and Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews.

I am hoping… for a good day with Daniel.

I am looking forward to… Easter Sunday.

I am hearing… my mother-in-law’s voice as she is talking to me on my cell phone.

Around the house… my parents watching TV and Daniel playing,

A favorite quote for today… “It is customary to blame secular science and anti-religious philosophy for the eclipse of religion in modern society. It would be more honest to blame religion for its own defeats. Religion declined not because it was refuted, but because it became irrelevant, dull, oppressive, insipid. When faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit; when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendor of the past; when faith becomes an heirloom rather than a living fountain; when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion – its message becomes meaningless.” — Abraham Joshua Heschel

One of my favorite things… the scent of mom’s garden in the early morning.

A few plans for the rest of the week: getting my hair cut today, driving home tomorrow, church on Thursday and Friday, and whatever else comes up.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.