Wednesday, August 27, 2003
I hired a couple guys to fix the wall downstairs. They're drilling, and there is a lot of dust. The fire alarm went off twice. I'm really irritated.
I did some pre-marital counseling, and walked around dropping off flyers to the neighbors. Did some research on direct marketing. We could get a pretty good list for about $1300, but I have a feeling there are better ways to go about promoting the clambake.
Did I tell you we're having a clambake?
Looks like Bishop Roskam is coming on September 14th, which means I HAVE to get the newsletter out, pronto.
Today I also worked on a "confirmation" essentials list, where kids in the confirmation class hunt through the BCP and bible. I'm also requiring them to get some historical knowledge of the faith. I'll get them to read some Schubert Ogden.
Decided to have a "rector's book club" and I'm making it on Wednesday Evenings. I'm focusing on Sunday mornings being the "church day" rather than the rest of the week, which seems to be centered around sports and family dinners.
But isn't the church a kind of family?
Tomorrow, go fix the car, get the oil changed, and perhaps go purchase a new one.
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I did some pre-marital counseling, and walked around dropping off flyers to the neighbors. Did some research on direct marketing. We could get a pretty good list for about $1300, but I have a feeling there are better ways to go about promoting the clambake.
Did I tell you we're having a clambake?
Looks like Bishop Roskam is coming on September 14th, which means I HAVE to get the newsletter out, pronto.
Today I also worked on a "confirmation" essentials list, where kids in the confirmation class hunt through the BCP and bible. I'm also requiring them to get some historical knowledge of the faith. I'll get them to read some Schubert Ogden.
Decided to have a "rector's book club" and I'm making it on Wednesday Evenings. I'm focusing on Sunday mornings being the "church day" rather than the rest of the week, which seems to be centered around sports and family dinners.
But isn't the church a kind of family?
Tomorrow, go fix the car, get the oil changed, and perhaps go purchase a new one.
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Thursday, August 21, 2003
Today wrote a letter to our neighbors at 52 sterling. Been having a lot of complaints. Also talked to the section 8 people.
Still working on the calendar and newsletter. I find that the worst thing is that I'll forget something, so it makes the work go slower.
This week I've been knocking on doors. I suspect that that is the only way the church will grow!
Yesterday Gary and i went to look for new cars. I'm going tomorrow to see a Mazda Millenia at the Acura dealership. Its a good car, that depreciates, unfortunately, very quickly.
I'm also speaking to a woman who is a deacon in the church. She is potentially interested in helping us out.
Tonight a Luce foundation dinner in the city.
People have been calling me from all over asking me about what I think about Gay Bishops. I think, sometimes, they are asking me if I approve of "sinful" bishops, or, on the other hand, they are asking me if I susbscribe to the general liberalism of the diocese. I try to answer their real question as best as I am able.
During the year I've decided to lead a bible study at 9:00AM and then, after church, lead a rector's forum every Sunday. The task is to create a fairly complete spiritual experience all before 12:00 noon on Sunday.
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Still working on the calendar and newsletter. I find that the worst thing is that I'll forget something, so it makes the work go slower.
This week I've been knocking on doors. I suspect that that is the only way the church will grow!
Yesterday Gary and i went to look for new cars. I'm going tomorrow to see a Mazda Millenia at the Acura dealership. Its a good car, that depreciates, unfortunately, very quickly.
I'm also speaking to a woman who is a deacon in the church. She is potentially interested in helping us out.
Tonight a Luce foundation dinner in the city.
People have been calling me from all over asking me about what I think about Gay Bishops. I think, sometimes, they are asking me if I approve of "sinful" bishops, or, on the other hand, they are asking me if I susbscribe to the general liberalism of the diocese. I try to answer their real question as best as I am able.
During the year I've decided to lead a bible study at 9:00AM and then, after church, lead a rector's forum every Sunday. The task is to create a fairly complete spiritual experience all before 12:00 noon on Sunday.
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Thursday, August 07, 2003
Bulletin Day Today!
Last night had the picnic at the rectory. Nearly thirty people came. We had it inside. I now have lots of tables and chairs in my house. Patrick, who will be a senior in the fall, handled the grill professionally.
The issue of Gene Robinson's ordination did come up once. One woman, a Roman Catholic, commented about promiscuity among her gay colleagues and the tendency of the Episcopal church to merely reflect the culture. She's right about the general concepts - we do reflect the culture and we are a "worldly" church. But I think that all churches change with the culture. Scripture, doctrine and theology are, to me, reflections and aspects of culture.
I was asked to preach more clearly about sexuality in scripture this Sunday.
I don't know if people really want to hear about it. there were other important things decided at convention.
yesterday T-Mobile stopped by and asked about setting up a tower. I said we should talk about it. I think its a great idea, but I don't think the parents of the Country Day School will be all that happy about it.
Today sent out letter to the vestry re the church car, which has a lease that is about to end. Been toying with some bible software and a liturgical art CD today. Some preparation for the Clambake September 6th. I hope to have the calendar for the year finished in the next week. Newsletter progresses slowly....
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Last night had the picnic at the rectory. Nearly thirty people came. We had it inside. I now have lots of tables and chairs in my house. Patrick, who will be a senior in the fall, handled the grill professionally.
The issue of Gene Robinson's ordination did come up once. One woman, a Roman Catholic, commented about promiscuity among her gay colleagues and the tendency of the Episcopal church to merely reflect the culture. She's right about the general concepts - we do reflect the culture and we are a "worldly" church. But I think that all churches change with the culture. Scripture, doctrine and theology are, to me, reflections and aspects of culture.
I was asked to preach more clearly about sexuality in scripture this Sunday.
I don't know if people really want to hear about it. there were other important things decided at convention.
yesterday T-Mobile stopped by and asked about setting up a tower. I said we should talk about it. I think its a great idea, but I don't think the parents of the Country Day School will be all that happy about it.
Today sent out letter to the vestry re the church car, which has a lease that is about to end. Been toying with some bible software and a liturgical art CD today. Some preparation for the Clambake September 6th. I hope to have the calendar for the year finished in the next week. Newsletter progresses slowly....
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Wednesday, August 06, 2003
From the Bishop Ordinary
On August 5, 2003, Bishops of our church took the historic step of considering the election of the Rev. Canon V. Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire.
I cast my vote with those bishops who chose to confirm that election. I did so for two principle reasons: first is the clear evidence that God has blessed the vocation and witness of gay and lesbian priests within the life of the Episcopal Diocese of New York: Lives have been changed, faith in God as revealed in Jesus, God's Christ, has been embraced. We are a strong and growing diocese, and gay and lesbian priests and lay people are important elements in that vitality. As Scripture reassures us: "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit." (NRSV, Luke 6:43-44)
Second, it has been the tradition within this church to affirm the choice made by a diocese in the selection of its own bishop when that decision has been made openly, fairly, and in accord with the standard practices for such elections, and when the person so chosen is not in violation of the settled theology and practice of the church. Clearly Canon Robinson's election as a gay man living in a committed relationship has not previously come before us; however, it is just as clear that this is not a settled matter in our common life. The wisdom of the Spirit, or so it would seem to me, is calling us to have Canon Robinson's voice in the House of Bishops in the years to come.
The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk
Bishop of New York
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On August 5, 2003, Bishops of our church took the historic step of considering the election of the Rev. Canon V. Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire.
I cast my vote with those bishops who chose to confirm that election. I did so for two principle reasons: first is the clear evidence that God has blessed the vocation and witness of gay and lesbian priests within the life of the Episcopal Diocese of New York: Lives have been changed, faith in God as revealed in Jesus, God's Christ, has been embraced. We are a strong and growing diocese, and gay and lesbian priests and lay people are important elements in that vitality. As Scripture reassures us: "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit." (NRSV, Luke 6:43-44)
Second, it has been the tradition within this church to affirm the choice made by a diocese in the selection of its own bishop when that decision has been made openly, fairly, and in accord with the standard practices for such elections, and when the person so chosen is not in violation of the settled theology and practice of the church. Clearly Canon Robinson's election as a gay man living in a committed relationship has not previously come before us; however, it is just as clear that this is not a settled matter in our common life. The wisdom of the Spirit, or so it would seem to me, is calling us to have Canon Robinson's voice in the House of Bishops in the years to come.
The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk
Bishop of New York
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Sunday, August 03, 2003
Today at General Convention, the house of deputies will decide about the ordination of Gene Robinson.
Deputies endorse research on human stem cells, set budget priorities [ENS] Despite objections, deputies voted Friday afternoon to endorse the continuation of stem cell research and to call for making embryonic stem cells
more widely available to researchers.
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Deputies endorse research on human stem cells, set budget priorities [ENS] Despite objections, deputies voted Friday afternoon to endorse the continuation of stem cell research and to call for making embryonic stem cells
more widely available to researchers.
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We'll be updating the web-page sometime after August 15th, in part because the webmaster will have more free time after that, and I'll be given the reins to make the appropriate changes.
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I haven't been blogging this week. Working a bit on the clambake, some of the brochures and setting the calendar.
Today I spoke with one of the parents about confirmation class. Since it s a small church and most of the kids play sports, its not easy to set the schedule.
I know sports are important, but how long are they important for?
I will probably have two sets of confirmation class: one for kids right after school [3:15-4:00] and another for kids with sports [7:30-8:15PM]. I think that would be flexible enough, but I'm worried that that wouldn't be satisfactory.
Today I preached about complaining. I argued that sometimes complaining was good. It sometimes reveals that we are in a liminal state. It might be that we are more attentive when we are in two places, in transition, learning new things.
On the other hand, we might just like complaining.
I stopped when I saw someone in the congregation yawn. I realized I was going on too long.
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Today I spoke with one of the parents about confirmation class. Since it s a small church and most of the kids play sports, its not easy to set the schedule.
I know sports are important, but how long are they important for?
I will probably have two sets of confirmation class: one for kids right after school [3:15-4:00] and another for kids with sports [7:30-8:15PM]. I think that would be flexible enough, but I'm worried that that wouldn't be satisfactory.
Today I preached about complaining. I argued that sometimes complaining was good. It sometimes reveals that we are in a liminal state. It might be that we are more attentive when we are in two places, in transition, learning new things.
On the other hand, we might just like complaining.
I stopped when I saw someone in the congregation yawn. I realized I was going on too long.
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