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

Quasimodo geniti infantes

Quasimodo geniti infantes, alleluia: rationabiles, sine dolo lac concupiscite, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
--Introit of the Second Sunday of Easter

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.
--1 Peter 2:2

Eight days after Thine arising, O Lord,
Thou didst appear unto Thy disciples
in the place where they were gathered,
and Thou didst cry unto them:
Peace be unto you.
And Thou didst show Thy hands
and immaculate side
unto the doubting disciple.
Wherefore, convinced, he cried unto Thee:
O my Lord and my God,
glory be to Thee.

"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

I remember the brethren of JN1034 telling me that the power to bind and loose was really given for loosing, not binding. I suppose a parallel might be that we are made to love and be loved but are free to do otherwise. The "otherwise," a vital part of our freedom, is not what we are made for, however.

Because I have seen it in real lives I know that we have the power to set people free, and this is not the exclusive property of clergy.

Whom will I set free this week?

--the BB

A beautiful weekend

The weather in the past week has been erratic. Some evenings I have had the ceiling fan on all night, others I have had the heat on. This weekend is clear, sunny, and beautiful.

I stopped to buy more cedar bark last night and ended up buying a couple of rose bushes, even though I had no idea where I would put them. So this morning I planted roses. Here is the garden report for today.


A view of the yard with multiple rose bushes and three peach trees, pansies, violas, daffodils, and tulips. (Click to embiggen.)


The Thompson seedless grapevine is putting forth tender leaves.


This is a burgundy iceberg rose planted with some purple (I would say magenta) dianthus.


Tulips (pretending to be peonies?). I had no idea they would be such lush multiples.


Lilac buds that first by the back door bloom.


Blossoms of the black Tartarian cherry, the last tree to blossom.


The newly planted Angel Face floribunda rose. It smells as a rose should and I love it. This photo makes it look more pink but it is really a lavender pink looking very much like a Sterling rose.

We are at the time of year when I really enjoy my little garden.

May you all have joy and beauty this weekend.

--the BB

Heart thread - 04/10/2010

Let us pray for the departed, those who mourn, and the people of Poland.

President of Poland Killed in Plane Crash in Russia

By ELLEN BARRY, MICHAL PIOTROWSKI and NICHOLAS KULISH

MOSCOW — A plane carrying the Polish president, Lech Kaczynski, and dozens of the country’s top political and military leaders crashed in a heavy fog in western Russia on Saturday morning, killing everyone aboard. [NYT]

Let us "pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living" [Mother Jones].

Miners Found Dead: Four Missing Miners Found Dead At Upper Big Branch Coal Mine
MONTCOAL, W.Va. — Searchers found four bodies deep in a West Virginia coal mine shattered by an explosion, raising the death toll to 29 and ending an excruciating week for families holding onto faint hopes that their missing miners had somehow survived. [Huffington Post]

It appears that the W.Va. mine disaster could have been averted
AS RESCUERS continue to try to find the four remaining miners trapped after the Upper Big Branch coal mine exploded on Monday, we're finding out plenty about Massey Energy chief executive Don L. Blankenship and the operations of that doomed facility. None of it is good. What's been revealed is a distressing effort to render ineffective the mining regulations that were strengthened in 2006 to bring a measure of safety to a very dangerous job. [Washington Post editorial this morning]

We continue to remember Klady:

So far so good. Dr. said the fractures are "stable" so I should not need surgery. Will get new xrays in a week to check on it and then decide whether to proceed with a hard cast or consult with a surgeon if things change or I want a 2d op. Mobility poor - just a few steps with crutches exhaust me - will be cooped up at home for a long time. Royal PITA, but nothing worse. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

For the people of Thailand:

BANGKOK, April 10 (Reuters) - Four civilians and four soldiers were killed in clashes between the army and red shirt protesters, the Bangkok deputy governor said on Saturday without giving details.

For David and Glen and all who seek employment but do not have it.

For the people of Kyrgyzstan:

Kyrgyzstan is observing a period of mourning for the 79 people believed to have been killed by government forces Wednesday. The clash appears to have driven from power President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. [Voice of America]

For the people of Sudan:

KHARTOUM, Sudan - Sudan's first multiparty elections in more than two decades will go ahead despite the withdrawal of several opposition parties alleging campaign irregularities, the election commission said Saturday. [AP]

For Margaret and all who struggle for grace [see here]. For deliverance of all held in bondage (or perceiving themselves as in bondage) to law.

Pray for a reordering of our values:

The Preposterous Reality: 25 Hedge Fund Managers Are Worth 680,000 Teachers (Who Teach 13 Million Students)
"It’s going to take a lot of political will — over a long period of time — to reorder our most basic economic values."
In 2009, the worst economic year for working people since the Great Depression, the top 25 hedge fund managers walked off with an average of $1 billion each. With the money those 25 people “earned,” we could have hired 658,000 entry level teachers. (They make about $38,000 a year, including benefits.) Those educators could have brought along over 13 million young people, assuming a class size of 20. That’s some value. [Les Leopold at Alternet, h/t to Ellie]

For the Church that it may be the Church, in thanksgiving for the witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and for Mark who had insomnia this morning.

Today is the 65th anniversary of the martyrdom of Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I had insomnia early in the morning, so I passed the time reading Bonhoeffer's “Widerstand und Ergebung: Briefe und Aufzeichnungen aus der Haft.” (Bonhoeffer's prison writings). My focus for meditation today has been this brief, simple, but profound quote from Summer 1944:

Die Kirche ist nur Kirche, wenn sie für andere da ist.

The Church is only Church if it is there for others. [Mark at amictus sindone]

Mark also shared this:

Unsere Kirche, die in diesen Jahren nur um ihre Selbsterhaltung gekämpft hat, als wäre sie ein Selbstzweck, ist unfähig, Träger des versöhnenden und erlösenden Wortes für die Menschen und für die Welt zu sein.

Our church, which has been fighting in these years only for its self preservation, as though that were an end in itself, is incapable of taking the word of reconciliation and redemption to humankind and to the world.

For the people of A Community of the Servant Savior Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas.

We are the only More Light Presbyterian Church in this presbytery. More Light Presbyterians are a group working for the full inclusion and membership of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered people. We march in the Houston Pride Parade every year.
We also have a huge organic garden that donates produce to a local food pantry.
For the last twenty years or so, we have provided families living with AIDS a "Christmas Basket" which contains two weeks of food for a family of four. This last December we fed seventy two families.
We are a small church that feels like a big family.
...
Last night about 11 pm an arsonist burned my church building down. We lost everything: two buildings, all our furniture, books, hymnals, a new piano, a wall of crosses from around the world and so many other things. Our building is gone but our church is strong. [Kevin Murphy at Daily Kos]

O God, the creator and preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men [sic]; that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; especially those for whom our prayers are desired; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. [The Book of Common Prayer]

--the BB

Let's lie; no one will notice

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Big Bang Treaty
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

Why is it that a fake news show on the Comedy Network explains facts better than any other alleged news show?

--the BB

Which bolgia?

Where in the Inferno would Dante place Massey Energy chairman and CEO Don L. Blankenship? With the indifferent or the avaricious? Those violent against their neighbor? Falsifiers? Traitors?

According to federal records, MSHA cited the Upper Big Branch mine for more than 1,300 safety violations from 2005 through Monday. Fifty citations came in the last month alone. [source]

Given the track record of safety violations in mines for which he is responsible, I suspect Dante would not be kind.

Many of those fifty citations were for poor ventilation of dust and methane, failure to maintain proper escape ways, and the accumulation of combustible materials. The Charleston Gazette reports that last year, more than ten percent of the enforcement actions taken by MSHA at the Upper Big Branch mine were for unwarrantable failure to follow safety rules, compared to about two percent at mines nationwide.

The CEO of Massey Energy, Don Blankenship, has denied any wrongdoing and said that any suspicion the mine was improperly operated was unfounded. [ibid.]

Blankenship hates unions and only 1.8 % of Massey's workers are unionized. If you have union workers they can report unsafe conditions and refuse unsafe work, which would cut into Blankenship's relentless drive to keep the bottom line where he wants it.

Jason Linkins writes at HuffPost:

Over at ThinkProgress, Brad Johnson pulls video of Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship registering complaints in June of 2009 that the safety rules governing mines were "difficult to comply with" and "nonsensical."

Maybe this was a big red flag that something terrible would one day happen?

Why should anyone comply with regulations when there is no serious consequence for non-compliance?

The agency has the power to seek federal court orders or injunctions against mines showing a pattern of violation and posing a hazard to the health and safety of miners. The agency has never used that authority, officials said. [WaPo cited in Linkins' article]

Ah, the mining companies had figured out how to stymie the regulators... and the feds did not tighten the rules. (Well, if you're a free market fundamentalist you assume regulation is bad and unregulated production and commerce work things out. This raging liberal does not have that much faith in human goodness, believe me.) The Obama Administration knew the rules were being gamed and, besides appointing more judges to adjudicate appeals, has seemingly done nothing to tighten the rules.

You all know where the lobbying money is going to come from. Yep, the coal industry. And, thanks to SCOTUS, corporations are entitled to lobby all they want.

Know any regulators who can stand against that? Of congresscritters?

Lots of rest

I got nine+ hours of sleep last night so I was not posting. Happy Friday everyone!

--the BB