Category Archives: Life in Big Sky Country

Resolution 2006-2

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At the synod assembly, we were asked to consider a resolution from a church that is east of us (I think?) which would memorialize to the Churchwide Assembly that we want the ambigious language out of the decision they passed on sexuality in 2004.Â? (The English translation of that: we’d be telling Churchwise Assembly to take a definitive stand on whether or not homosexuality is kosher with us and to stop dialoguing with churches that want to bless same-sex unions and ordain practicing GLBT folks.)

My first reaction: OK… we’ve beat this horse to death already — why are we still beating it by discussing sexuality yet again?

We had 30 minutes set aside for discussion and we only used like 10 minutes of it, with 4 people speaking — 2 in favor and 2 in opposition.Â? We then voted and the resolution was defeated by a 2/3 (I think?) majority.

OK… so what exactly is the precedent set by this? I know that some people are saying that the synod is affirming homosexuality and we’re going to start being like the rest of the ELCA.Â? Others are going to say that this is a bad sign and those of orthodox faith should leave the ELCA.Â? My thought (and probably the thought of the rest of the assembly): we’ve discussed this ad nauseum for 5 years.Â? Can we please do something else?Â? (One of the speakers actually voiced this opinion and I have to agree.)

Most of you know where I stand (I probably would have voted “yes” on the measure but while rolling my eyes because we’ve been voting on this issue for so flipping long) and I actually agree with the defeating decision.Â? The language in the Churchwide statement is ambiguous for a reason: NOTHING was going to pass unless it left room for dialogue withÂ? churches that had an opposing viewpoint.Â? (I know those involved in getting the resolution passed — it was a pain to get ANYTHING through.)Â? The ELCA is a BIG church and as such, there is a pretty big continuum on what people believe about the issue.Â? While I think we need to actually take a definitive decision one way or another and stop being so Laodicean about it, we also need to accept that people are going to disagree and we need to keep talking with them, whether or not we agree.

My only hope right now: that there aren’t going to be people in my midst who take this decision and start flipping out about how the ELCA is going to hell in a handbasket and how all those orthodox people need to leave.

Synod Assembly: The Good, the Bad, and the Spiritual

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I just got back from 4 days in Great Falls (Thursday to today) doing synod assembly stuff. Here’s the rundown in normal ::Meditatio:: fashion.

The Good
-meeting Tim and Laura
-$tarbucks frappucinos
-finding out that the ELCA is working with the ONE Campaign
-starting the clapping on “Shine Jesus Shine” with
-hand motions on “Lord, I Lift Your Name On High”
-the Phillip Aaberg concert last night (he plays Bach so wonderfully)
-getting some real work done while they were parsing by-laws
-the Crocs I got on Thursday
-meeting very awesome people and pastors from all over Montana

The Bad
-not having Solitaire (or any games on my computer) during the boring parts of Friday and today
-inclusive language in worship (they need to write “I will not mess with the creeds or any other part of worship/Scripture/doctrine” 100 times)
-wicked PMS that caused me to miss the morning workshop because I had to go treadmill my cramps off
-the crowdedness of Friday night worship
-the heat in the plenary sessions
-laundry taking for-frickin’-ever on Friday

The Spiritual
-Compline last night (GOOOOOOD verses)
-Morning Prayer services
-the singing/teaching/learning time on Saturday where we learned the liturgy for Sunday and then sang some stuff out of the worship sampler
-singing some of my favorite hymns that I never get to sing here because they’re either too difficult or “too Catholic”
-singing the “gathering songs” while people were waiting for Morning Prayer to start
-Bishop Omland’s sermon
-decent liturgy (full liturgy) for Communion
-singing “Thine Is The Glory” with 300+ people and the Great Falls Symphony brass on Friday night

I leave you with a picture of the blogger gathering we had this weekend…

Jen, Laura, Tim

My Romantic Valentine’s Day Date: Driving 110 Miles To An Automatic Carwash To Get The Dead Skunk Off The Bottom of the Car

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See title. Thanks!

Jon was driving to a church council meeting when he chanced upon Flower (the skunk from Bambi) walking down the middle of the road. He honked at it and it refused to move. (Apparently, it thought it was a match for a Volvo station wagon.) He swerved to avoid it… and still ended up hitting it. Apparently Thumper also had a death wish because he ran across the road TWICE and then toward Jon’s headlights. He however did not get hit.

When Jon got home, I asked him how bad the car was and his response: “Pretty bad.” I stuck my nose outside and was overcome by “l’eau de dead skunk”. Since we live in the middle of freaking nowhere and need this car on a daily basis, we had two choices: drive 100 miles to Havre where there *might* be an automatic carwash or drive 110 miles to Great Falls where I *know* there is an automatic carwash. (The trip to Great Falls is also 90% on the interstate, so it’s mildly safer that hauling tail to Havre at 9:30 at night.)

I grabbed my crocheting and off we went to Great Falls where the automatic carwash of choice was being remodelled. The nice people did point us to another one and give us a couple coupons for it, so we drove another 4 blocks and went in and got “THE WORKS” package. The people at the counter looked at us like we were insane (which we are, thank you) and warned us that our doors might freeze shut. (Yes… but it’s also easier to get dead skunk off the car when it’s not frozen on.) So we went through the carwash and the end result was a less stinky car. (I’m thinking the smell will wear off in a month?)

We drove back up to the town of 10 people where we live and got home about 1:15. There was no romantic Valentine’s day activity after that point: just the sound of both of us falling onto the bed and being asleep the second our heads hit the pillow.

Anyone want to try and beat this?

Ponderings…

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  • Why does Kentucky Fried Chicken use part of “Sweet Home Alabama” as their jingle these days?
  • How is it that I, a city-bred girl, adore living out in the middle of the Montana prairie?
  • Does Neosporin really stop wound infections in cats?Â? (Edda has had her ear slimed daily with Neosporin because she’s got some yucky spots.)
  • What exactly is God calling me to do with my B.A. in Religious Studies and one year of seminary?

Jenn[i] Dreamed of Trains

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A train out on the hiline near the house

Out here in the wilds of the Montana hiline, we have trains that come through about every 30-45 minutes.Â? It’s actually kind of soothing to hear them come through at night — there’s something about the sound of the whistle blowing and the tracks rumbling that makes me feel like everything is right with the world.Â? (Thunderstorms and heavy rain have the same effect — don’t ask me why.)Â? One of the best places I’ve slept has been in the upper berth when I’ve been on Amtrak headed somewhere — the rocking and rhythm just lulled me to slumber.

My grandfather is currently in rehabilitation and has had good and bad days though most recently, the days haven’t been that good.Â? My mom asked if I could get a series of pictures of some trains coming through near my house (I live about 1000 feet from the tracks) because it might cheer him up.Â? This is the beginning of said series of trains.

Open House Prep

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In a vain attempt to keep myself organized, here’s my to-do list for the open house prep:

-get the boxes out to the garage
-clean the bathroom
-clean the china (I’m using some of my good china for serving pieces)
-unpack everything else that needs to be unpacked or send it to the proper room
-make “do not enter” signs for the off-limits areas
-remove everything from the medicine cabinet (since there WILL be people who check it)
-thaw out food in freezer
-make cider
-arrange stuff for baking with Ka, Ke, and Ca.
-put up tree for Kl to decorate
-find tablecloths for the two tables
-figure out arrangement of living room and possible alternate seating upstairs
-put hampers in proper places
-wash bedspread so bedroom can be used for coats
-figure out what I want D to do
-make CD of cool Christmas music
-string up lights in living room

IT’S OVER AND DONE!!!!!!!!!! Now to just figure out who to pawn the leftover food off onto at church!

Somewhere in there, I also need to eat, shower, sleep, and breathe.