More years ago than I'd care to remember, I was a Vicar at The Episcopal Church of St. Barnabas in the inner city of Newark, NJ.It was a small, struggling congregation. No money. Lots of problems with the building. High un/under employment rate. High immigrant population. Grinding poverty. Not a lot of resources.  In a neighborhood with a sky high rate of violent crimes and domestic abuse.  Ah, but there was a Very Big...

Read more »

I don't know about you, but celebrating national holidays in church really grates on my theo-political nerves. Even on a good day, I have difficulty with flags in church - The Episcopal Flag, the Anglican Communion Flag and the United States Flag.That probably speaks more to the power of symbolism than it does to anything in particular about any one of those flags.Then again, given the mess in the World Wide Anglican Communion,...

Read more »

Well, it was a pretty amazing bridal shower.The decorations on the theme of the movie "The Princess Bride" were absolutely spectacular. Her bridesmaids really outdid themselves.We came in through the "Pit of Despair". And there encountered . . . .. . . . Rodents of Unusual Size.Here is Princess Buttercup (aka "Mia") with "The Dread Pirate Roberts" (aka "Bob")I learned at the festivities that their first date consisted of watching...

Read more »

Our youngest daughter is getting married in August.This afternoon, her bridesmaids are giving her a Bridal Shower. The theme is - you guessed it - "The Princess Bride."It's our family's all-time favorite movie. We can recite long passages of dialogue from it. Our youngest, however, is the Queen of Dialogue.Here are some favorites.  Enjoy while I get ready for the Grand Party.Me? One of the Mothers of the Bride who is our...

Read more »

In their spare time, when they are not engaged in "Mitregate" or otherwise making a mess of the Anglican Communion, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York are apparently watching reruns of The Vicar of Dibly.Apparently, Dr. Rowan Williams and Dr. John Sentamu, have written new guidelines: "Seven Heavenly Ways to Welcome Wedding Guests," in which they direct clergy that they must "learn to smile" when they meet the happy couple.Besides...

Read more »

I've tried not to write about this, but it just won't go away.Warning: This will not be an easy read.FGM is 'female genital mutilation'. It's also know as 'cutting' and 'female circumcision'. The World Health Organization estimates that 100 to 140 million women world wide are currently living with the consequences of FGM.If you've heard anything about FGM, you've probably associated it with Africa and parts of Asia. In July,...

Read more »

I rarely watch commercial television.Every now and again, I tune in to watch "America's Got Talent". I find it endlessly fascinating what some people can do and what some people consider "talent." Some contestants look like they should be on "The Biggest Loser" - and not for their weight loss. Besides, some of my favorite memories from childhood are the talent shoes we put on as kids. We'd hold neighborhood Talent Shows in...

Read more »

The "lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer" are here. Full force.I think something about that causes something in our brains to switch to 'off' position. Which is not a bad thing, really. Personally, I'm on information overload. The ongoing tragedy of the Oil Spill in the Gulf. The war continues in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mitregate as the run up to meetings in UK about the "appointment" and consecration of women to the episcopacy. The...

Read more »

As part of the "perk" of presiding at the wedding of some parishioners who chose to be married near their summer home on Cape Cod, I got to go sailing yesterday with Ted Kennedy, Jr., and his sixteen year old daughter, Kylie.No, really.  I did.  Hand to Jesus.  It's not what you know, it's who you know.Kennedy and the prospective bride had been classmates since grade school and have remained friends over the years....

Read more »

Cartoon by Texas BishopI've been a bit out of the loop of "All Anglican Drama All The Time", but not enough not to be alternately amused and annoyed by "Mitregate" - including the recent visit of Canon Kenneth Kearon with the members of the Executive Council which recently met in Baltimore. In case you didn't know, the ABC asked the Presiding Bishop of TEC not to wear her mitre when she was a recent guest preacher at Southwark...

Read more »

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't know anywhere else on God's green earth (or deep blue ocean) where you can get a Clam Boil except Southeastern New England. A "proper" Clam Boil (which hardly falls into the class of 'proper') consists of clams, potatoes, onions, hot dogs, a few sausages (in South Eastern Massachusetts, a large hunk of cherico, a spicy Portuguese sausage, is included), all steamed together and served...

Read more »

Small towns are peculiar in that their uniformity often belies their uniqueness.Main Street USA is so iconic that even Disney has made it the centerpiece of their Theme Park. Yesterday, I posted a piece on the shocking appearance of hate in our community in the form of anti-Semitic "litter" that appeared on our streets.It is shocking precisely because it is so out of context with the rest of the town. I mean, look at that picture...

Read more »