Heart thread - 04/17/2010 - updated

So much to pray for these days.

Let us pray for Sunni, Parker, and Joe. From my co-worker Tammy:

Sunni is the daughter of my cousin Monte [and] is married to Joe. Sunni and Joe's baby was not due until May 31st. Sunni went into the hospital April 5th with preclampsia. She had a C-Section on April 10th.

Just got the latest report this morning. Sunni now has a strep B infection and is running a temp of 101 and is still really swollen. She also has a blood disease (TTP) and the antibodies are eating the platelets and not letting it build up. They are starting a plasma exchange for 5 days. I don’t understand all the details, but they will be pulling out her plasma and cleaning it and putting back in whole blood. You can look up TTP. This is on top of the HELLP Syndrome. They are still doing dialysis, but don’t know how much longer. She will stay in ICU for at least 7 – 10 more days. I called the blood bank here (Amarillo) to see if we could give blood or platelets, but they are not on the Carter System. If you or anyone you know in the Dallas area can give blood in her name it would be great, but the center has to be on the Carter System. She is at Medical Center in Dallas and it should be given in her name (Sunni Miegel).

Parker is doing ok. They took all his IV’s out last night.

Update: Please pray for my friend Lolly who is recovering from surgery on her hand and also has to take nasty meds for the next few years. (It was lovely to see her and other friends at dinner tonight.)

For the repose of the soul of Bill (a colleague of Doxy's).

For B. and his children and all who care about them.

For DF who will be running a marathon.

For Jane's father and mother who have gone through some health issues of late.

I ask your ongoing prayers for the mission and ministry of Our Saviour, South Valley, and San Gabriel, Corrales.

For those who perished in the earthquake in China, those who mourn them, and those who rebuild their lives.

For the safety of coal miners.

For JohnBear and Raven as John prepares to spend time in hospital again as part of his clinical trial.

For Mark, who continues to give me ideas for sermons. (Спасибо, Марко!)

Amid talk of a recovering economy, let us remember the unemployed.

For Jonathan and the Missus, who have just returned from vacation.

For IARCA (La Iglesia Anglicana de la Región Central de América), that has been meeting in synod.

Continued healing for Francis.

For Lindy in China, going through a breakdown in telecommunication. May she not feel isolated.

For the people of Poland who mourn and for grace in the restoration of government.

For those endangered by, or grounded by, the still-erupting Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland.

For the people of Sudan following suspect elections.

For the people of Kyrgyzstan as they work their way through an overthrown government.

Please add your own intercessions and thanksgivings in the comments.

--the BB

Envía tu Espíritu; sea renovada la faz de la tierra

Veni, Creator Spíritus,
mentes tuórum visita,
imple supérna grátia,
quae tu creásti péctora.
Qui díceris Paráclitus,
altíssimi donum Dei,
fons vivus, ignis, cáritas,
et spiritális únctio.
Tu septifórmis múnere,
dígitus paternae déxterae,
tu rite promíssum Patris,
sermóne ditans gúttura.
Accénde lumen sénsibus;
infunde amórem córdibus,
infírma nostri córporis
virtúte firmans pérpeti.



Remember, Pentecost is the Fiftieth Day of Easter. Not too early to invoke the One given behind locked doors before the great public outburst.
--the BB

Veni, Creator Spiritus, mentes tuorum visita

One week from tomorrow the election for the next Bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande will be held.

This was in the back of my mind as I listened to the following Epistle Wednesday evening. It is appointed as the second lesson for the feast of Henry Delany & Edward Demby (April 14).

1 Thessalonians 2.1-12
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully maltreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was towards you believers. As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you should lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

It occurred to me that it would be a wonderful thing if the DRG elected a bishop who might be described in the terms of this passage.

O God, whose incarnate Word, Jesus the Christ, is our Way, our Truth, and our Life: pour forth your gracious Spirit upon the electors of the Diocese of the Rio Grande that their minds and hearts may be attuned to your guiding presence and their wills united in service to the redemption and sanctification of all creation. Of your boundless mercy, grant us a bishop whose courage is grounded in you, who declares Good News, and in whom there is no deceit or impure motives or trickery; who speaks to please you; who does not flatter nor operate from greed. May our bishop be gentle, tenderly caring for your people, sharing his own self with us and holding us dear. Keep our bishop pure, upright, and blameless in conduct toward those who believe and those who do not. May he encourage us all in leading lives worthy of you, O God, and join you in calling us into your reign and your glory. We ask this through your Son Jesus Christ, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

--the BB

Le Weekend

There are appetizers to prepare for a potluck tomorrow and a sermon to preach Sunday morning.

Other than that, I have set myself up for yard work. I can hear that it has just begun to rain outside. I hope the skies get that out of their system before tomorrow morning. I have rosebushes, sweet William, miniature carnations, petunias, snapdragons, and alyssum to plant. If I can accomplish most of that tomorrow the odds are good that there may be some daylilies and other items as well.



Христос Воскресе!

--the BB

The lilacs are blooming

The wind was quite brisk when I got home so these photos are of lilacs in motion. I remember the first year when I feared these bushes would not survive. Survive they have, and they are getting larger each year.

--the BB

Enough bleating

Ruth Gledhill of the Times of London speaks out for Christians who don't want to be perceived as fundamentalists, "these people who are hijacking the faith for their own agendas."



Thank you, Ruth!

--the BB

Friday of Thomas Week

Through Thy Cross, O Christ,
we are become one flock
of Angels and mortals,
and One Church.
Heaven and earth rejoice.
O Lord, glory be to Thee.

--Matins, Friday of the Second Week, Pentecostarion

--the BB

Healing Eucharist this evening

Holy Oils of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace
photo by Anna Weaver at Hawaii Catholic Herald

This being the second Wednesday of the month, Healing Eucharist was held at San Gabriel in Corrales at 6:30 p.m. I lead the service and preach, so my perceptions are very biased, but I always find it a truly wonderful service. I emerge tired but also strengthened and renewed every month. Except the time I forgot which Wednesday it was and went home and fell asleep at the computer, only to wake up much later.

So many people in our prayers these days. I offered as many names as I could think of and trusted God to remember the rest.

May you all find some aspect of yourself and your life healed this week.

--the BB

It is too early to be sure

Furthermore, I am not experienced at discerning this...

But I think my peach trees have set fruit.

There are few insects in my neighborhood. Before you think, "How fortunate!" I prithee consider pollination. Not long ago I was in the back yard with a Swiffer duster going back and forth between trees trying to transfer pollen between species of peaches and plums. I don't know if that is what did the trick but I am excited.

Now if the fruit can survive late freezes, fierce winds, and other misadventures....

I live in hope.

A number of the plants in the yard have grown quite noticeably in the past few days. The flame seedless grapevine has put forth shoots, the Thompson seedless has many more leaves than it did on Saturday, the blaze climbing rose has filled out a lot, the trumpet vines have more new shoots each day. Two of the three lilac shrubs in the front yard have blossomed just since yesterday: one white and one purple.

I do love springtime.

--the BB

Wednesday of Thomas Week

Pascha is this present holy Feast;
mystic and divine, sacred Pascha;
the saving Pascha of God:
Pascha which conveyeth us
unto immortal life.
Lo, this Pascha doth take away
all sadness and sorrow.
Pascha, which doth grant
to the disciples joyous grace!
Wherefore Thomas cried
with rejoicing:
Thou art my God and Lord,
O Savior,
Who hast carried off
the spoils from Hades' realms.

--Vespers, Wednesday of the Second Week, Pentecostarion

Tuesday of Thomas Week

The women rose up early
and came unto the Lord's tomb,
and when they beheld there the Angel,
they trembled in amazement.
The tomb became radiant with life;
the marvel filled the women
with great awe.
Thus, they went to the disciples
and they declared
the rising of the Mighty One:
Christ alone despoiled
Hades by His strength;
all those in corruption
He hath raised,
freeing them from fear
of blame and reproach
through the Cross's might.

--Matins, Tuesday of the Second Week, Pentecostarion

Old friends and comfort food

Last night was lovely but no time to post.

We did have mouth ecstasy when we reached dessert: chess pie. A riot of distinct and wonderful flavors: lemon, cane syrup, cornmeal, perfect crust.

--the BB

Monday of Thomas Week

The soldiers standing guard at Thy tomb,
O my Savior,
became as dead when they saw
the lightning-like Angel
who preached to the women
of Thine arising, O holy Lord.
Thee we glorify,
Who hast abolished corruption;
Thee do we adore,
Who from the grave hast arisen,
and Who alone art our God.

--Matins, Monday of the Second Week, Pentecostarion

Preach it, sister!

But whenever we elevate the institutional church and its order, power and privilege over the Gospel call to embrace all God's beloved we compromise the high calling we've been given as the Body of Christ on earth. Ignoring pedophilia is a shocking abdication of our vocation as Christians. So is ignoring homophobia. And misogyny. And racism.

Anytime we choose the instititution (the structure of the church) over the incarnation (the members of our human family created in the image of God) we fall short of who God is calling us to be.

And that, my brothers and sisters, isn't just a shame. It's a sin.

--The Rev. Susan Russell