Anyone up for a chat thread?

[Paidiske]

One of your graphics, Philip? It looks good!

 

[Philip_B]

One of your graphics, Philip? It looks good!

Based on the Ash Wednesday address from my new Parish Priest (as in the new parish I am attending)

 

[seeking.IAM]

I haven't seen much Anglican activity in STR for a bit. I thought I'd just say hello. I hope you are all well. Keep the faith.

 

[Philip_B]

I haven't seen much Anglican activity in STR for a bit. I thought I'd just say hello. I hope you are all well. Keep the faith.

I think most Anglicans are a bit stunned at having been grounded (social isolation) and are just working out what to do with it.

 

[Paidiske]

I must admit I've found it exhausting, having to completely rethink what I do and how I do things. A priest with no services and no pastoral visiting! It's a very strange reality.

Add to that, that I'm due to finish in this parish in July, and nobody has any idea where we'll be with any of this by then...

 

[seeking.IAM]

I'm pleased with how my church has adjusted, all things considered. We're doing Morning and Evening Prayer over YouTube on Sundays and Wednesdays, Zoom coffee gathering two other days of the week, and a Votive Mass on YouTube on Friday. And every once in a while they'll throw in a Rosary. On Sunday, I'm worshipping with Washington National Cathedral, on YouTube. Its service is very nicely done. God forgive me, but I'm probably getting more worship locked in my house than before we were physically distanced. I really appreciate what clergy are doing to do worship and connection in new, creative ways.

 

[Shane R]

I'm working on a study of Tobit which Fr. Tom and I are going to make videos of. It seemed like an appropriate book to study in these times.

 

[PloverWing]

I think I'm coming a little unhinged. I can't even quite say why. I have a warm house, enough food, and a job (now online) with accompanying paycheck. Nobody that I know personally is sick. But there's something about this restricted life that's getting to me. I cry over nothing. Prayer and Bible reading are suddenly very hard for me -- or, I can read and say the words, but they don't touch me -- and I don't even know why.

It might just be the sharply increased work load, as I rapidly rework the classes I teach so I can give my students something valuable online. If so, things should be easier when the semester ends in May.

I hope y'all are hanging onto your sanity. Paidiske, any idea what your next job after July would be?

 

[Paidiske]

PloverWing, it's not unusual to find that when our normal is severely disrupted, so is our prayer life. You might find it helpful to try some different things to usual? Get out some coloured pencils and doodle while you pray, or walk a labyrinth, or do something which engages your mind and senses in different ways?

Next job... I know I'm on the short list for something I'd really like, but as it's overseas, I have no idea how that's going to proceed! (The divine sense of humour strikes again....)

 

[PloverWing]

A related thought: How are your parishes handling Holy Week services? That's one of the hardest things coming up, the thought of no procession with palms, no stripping of the altar on Thursday, no kindling of new fire on Saturday. I don't think our parish knows what we're planning yet. As of last week, our bishop didn't have guidance either, just that he was planning to plan something.

 

[PloverWing]

PloverWing, it's not unusual to find that when our normal is severely disrupted, so is our prayer life. You might find it helpful to try some different things to usual? Get out some coloured pencils and doodle while you pray, or walk a labyrinth, or do something which engages your mind and senses in different ways?

Thanks for the ideas -- and thanks for the reassurance. I'll try some of those.

Next job... I know I'm on the short list for something I'd really like, but as it's overseas, I have no idea how that's going to proceed! (The divine sense of humour strikes again....)

I hope you get to do something you really enjoy!

 

[Paidiske]

A related thought: How are your parishes handling Holy Week services? That's one of the hardest things coming up, the thought of no procession with palms, no stripping of the altar on Thursday, no kindling of new fire on Saturday. I don't think our parish knows what we're planning yet. As of last week, our bishop didn't have guidance either, just that he was planning to plan something.

There won't be the usual services as such. I'm livestreaming Morning Prayer, and I'll continue to do that. I'm also planning to record and upload some bits and pieces - not whole services, but say, reading the passion on Good Friday, and the new fire/exsultet on Easter day, type of thing - so that there is some sense of Holy Week "happening." The diocese is also providing some livestreams and some resources for people to use at home, which is helpful.

 

[Shane R]

PloverWing, it's not unusual to find that when our normal is severely disrupted, so is our prayer life. You might find it helpful to try some different things to usual? Get out some coloured pencils and doodle while you pray, or walk a labyrinth, or do something which engages your mind and senses in different ways?

Next job... I know I'm on the short list for something I'd really like, but as it's overseas, I have no idea how that's going to proceed! (The divine sense of humour strikes again....)

Are you about to become a Canadian!!!

 

[Paidiske]

Are you about to become a Canadian!!!

Ha! Highly unlikely.

The position I'm referring to is in the Emirates.

 

[Shane R]

Maybe a picture of 2 little girls and a bunch of flowers will brighten the day:

I don't know what that bush is called but I have 3 of them in my yard. And they bloom in an odd succession. That one is always first, then the one you can see in the back of the picture, and the third one about 2 weeks after.

 

[Deegie]

A related thought: How are your parishes handling Holy Week services? That's one of the hardest things coming up, the thought of no procession with palms, no stripping of the altar on Thursday, no kindling of new fire on Saturday. I don't think our parish knows what we're planning yet. As of last week, our bishop didn't have guidance either, just that he was planning to plan something.

The thing is...you can do all of the traditional Holy Week activities in the home. You can create a sacred space. You can add branches or clippings from the back yard -- maybe even have the priest bless them over video. Go on a procession through the house, praying in each room as you go. You can strip that sacred space on Maundy Thursday after an agape meal. You can recite the solemn collects and venerate a cross on Good Friday. You can put out the sacred space anew at the Easter Vigil and make new fire -- perhaps with your baptismal candle if you have it. Chant the exsultet if you're feeling particularly energetic (or listen to a recorded one if you're not). That's what we are encouraging our folks to do. It will be different, but it will also be familiar.

 

[Paidiske]

Maybe a picture of 2 little girls and a bunch of flowers will brighten the day:

I don't know what that bush is called but I have 3 of them in my yard. And they bloom in an odd succession. That one is always first, then the one you can see in the back of the picture, and the third one about 2 weeks after.

Your girls are gorgeous! (And growing so fast, as our children are wont to do!)

I think those flowers might be azaleas? We have some growing outside the church here, and (as much as I can tell in the photo) they look the same.

 

[Shane R]

Your girls are gorgeous! (And growing so fast, as our children are wont to do!)

I think those flowers might be azaleas? We have some growing outside the church here, and (as much as I can tell in the photo) they look the same.

Now that you mention it, I think you are correct. I bought the house 3 years ago. My neighbor told me that the azalea bushes were the pride of the woman who lived here for many years. The place hadn't been properly tended for about 2 years when I moved in. There were originally 5 bushes. I dug 2 of them out. The other 3 I pruned very aggressively the first year we lived here. Now the 2 by the porch are in great shape. The 3rd one is a little less robust. I probably need to fertilize it.

I've planted a garden. I've planted strawberries, tomatoes, carrots, onions, red potatoes, mint, and parsley. Sometime soon I'll plant peppers. I may not find the kind I really want (Poblano) in these times. I might have to settle for red bell peppers or yellow banana peppers.

 

[Paidiske]

Azaleas like a slightly acidic soil, so it might be worth bearing that in mind when you fertilise.

I have very little time for the garden; I like the idea of growing a lot of our own food, but in reality the most I've managed is fruit trees. I'll leave this place with a cherry and a peach tree that it didn't have when I came, at least.

 

[Shane R]

We lived in military housing when we were in Corpus Christi, Texas. I had got a tamarindo tree going very well (one of my late wife's favorite fruits). I sometimes wonder if it is still there. It should be bearing fruit now if it is. I've got a plum tree in my back yard. It's not bearing yet. I planted it 2 years ago.