Rector’s Ramblings – September 26, 2024
Today’s Rambling is going to ramble – fair warning. It’s that kind of day, right? First, we’re all watching as Hurricane Helene bears down on the Florida panhandle and South Georgia. She’s a big storm – perhaps one the largest, geographically speaking, in the last century. She will be something like 450 miles wide later today. It seems we will be spared from the worst of her fury, yet we’ve already had multiple tornado warnings in our area. We know well how terrible hurricanes are, so we are all praying for those in harm’s way, those who will respond to emergencies caused by the storm, and those who will rebuild once things have calmed down.
Today is also the “day-after” our first Wednesday Night at Christ Church. Last night was incredible. We served nearly 100 people and had an excellent presentation on St. Anna Alexander. There were a few hiccups on the registration side, but we sorted those out. I am sorry for those who called this week hoping to register for last night. We are sticking to our deadlines so that we can report numbers to the chef on Monday morning.You can find the links to register for upcoming dinners in this week’s email, so don’t forget to do so. The phone deadline is Friday at 2 pm, but the online deadline is midnight, Sunday each week. We have amended the subscription to an 8-week one, allowing you to sign up for all the remaining dinners and eliminating the need to do so each time you want to come.
My only other comment about last night is my gratitude for volunteers. Hector and Gerard made us a delicious meal – so delicious that we sold almost every single bit of the leftovers at the end of the night! We also benefited from a host of parish volunteers who made it possible to host such a dinner. I actually think our dishwashers were having fun back there! The kids who participated in the children’s programming had a blast, too, and I’m grateful for our leadership with them. We will continue to need volunteers, so don’t hesitate to sign up!
The other thing banging around my brain today was an episode of delayed memory. As I was reading last night, for some reason, I had an image of our bishop doing the “Here’s the church” rhyme – the same rhyme I used in a sermon a couple of weeks ago. Suddenly, I realized that my illustration was based on his usage of it – last year! The tag must have fallen off when I pulled it out of some drawer in my brain. I didn’t remember where the idea came from when using that illustration. I even shared that sermon with our bishop, and it never clicked into place. I sent him a note last night, confirming that he had used the same illustration and apologizing for not giving credit. He told me not to worry about it. He shared a story of another preacher giving advance permission to use content without attribution – because preachers often borrow from each other. Still, it was a good illustration, even if it wasn’t mine, so it’s worth the nod back to the bishop!
So, today is a day for praying, giving thanks, and being humble simultaneously. Which is pretty much like every other day, I suppose. So, it’s not that today is “that kind of day,” but they all are. How about you? What are you praying for today? What do you give thanks for? And where and how might God be pointing you towards humility? Stay safe, and make the most of your day, whatever it brings.
Tom+
A Prayer as Hurricane Helene Approaches
Most gracious God, you have created an amazing world in which we are allowed to live and move and have our being. We are so very grateful for the paradise that we call home, and the way we are enveloped by the beauty of your masterpiece. We are humbled by the power of your creation, especially in moments when storms disrupt our lives.
We ask you to be near all those who are in this hurricane’s path; with all those who have already had to suffer through it; with those who have lost loved ones; with those who are afraid. We pray for the safety of those who are evacuating, that they would arrive safely at their destination. We pray for those who will stay in place, that they would be spared from the worst of what the storm will bring.
We thank you for the first responders and the government officials and employees at all levels who are working for safety now, and will work to restore essential services after the storm has passed. We pray that neighbors would be kind to one another as they are put under stress, and that unity and care for one another would be the primary focus of all our energies.
Bless us with gratitude for the many gifts we are given, and the patience and humility to endure the hardships of extreme weather. Watch over our island and coastal homes, as well as all the other communities people love as much as we love ours. Protect us and all those we love – all your children. Let us look forward to clear skies and a new day dawning even now. We ask all these things in the name of your son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in whom we put our hope and trust, now and forever. Amen.