Random Thoughts

 

January 24, 2007

 

 

 

      Here is one for you, from the current edition of “The Christian Century.”  “Employees at Grand Canyon National Park are not permitted to give an official estimate of the age of the canyon, due to pressure from the Bush administration.  ‘In order to avoid offending religious fundamentalists, our National Park Service is under orders to suspend its belief in geology,’ according to Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.  ‘It is disconcerting that the official position of a national park as to the geologic age of the Grand Canyon is ‘no comment.’’  Meanwhile, a book claiming that the Grand Canyon was formed by the flood at the time of Noah remains on sale at the park.”  How about that!!

      Further evidence that the church is failing to reach America’s youth.  In a recent poll it was found that approximately 75% of young people between the ages of 18-25 believe it is either essential or very important to be wealthy. 

      Other evidence, however, that the church is reaching some people.  Our Bible studies on Sunday mornings, Monday evenings and Tuesday mornings are terrific if I do say so myself.  They are terrific not because of the teacher/facilitator but because of the thoughtfulness and eagerness to learn among those who attend.

      I went to my first horse race on opening weekend at Oaklawn Park.  Corned beef is the specialty there.  It is good alright, but very expensive when one factors in the amount of money I lost.  There is more to the betting on horses thing than getting a couple of tip sheets and going with the ones most often selected to do well.  I’ll either have to figure it out or not go again.  I think I’ll try to figure it out, it was exciting.

      The defection of most of 15 parishes in the diocese of Virginia is shaping up to be quite a battle of wills and legal strategy.  The defectors have sued to take the property with them.  The diocese, of course, is fighting that.  And fight they should.  The property does not belong to the people who left, it belongs to the diocese and the Episcopal Church.  This will be worth watching.

      We had a good annual meeting on Sunday January 21.  We offered a greatly improved budget to the congregation and I told them that if they were really interested in growth they would need to be open to change.  I didn’t say what the change might be but I will float some of it here.  One thing we are going to do is to utilize children and youth more regularly in our liturgy.  That means, of course, they will continue to be acolytes, but more than that.  I want them to be lectors, greeters and ushers.  There is no reason why they should not do those things.  And as they do them and tell their friends about it, more children and families will want to be a part of such a church.  We are also tinkering with the idea of offering one service in the summer, at 10 AM, followed by some kind of adult Christian Ed.  Maybe a book study would be in order.  Let’s see how this flies.  I have something else in mind too but I’m going to hold off on that as Lynn Payette and I work out the details.  Stay tuned.

      I had been sort of longing for some cold weather in the midst of a very mild winter.  Now that it is here I wish it would go away.  I’m ready for spring, ready to do some fly fishing in Heber Springs. 

      I have written this in about 15 minutes just to get something new on the website.  Sorry for the lack of content.  I’ll try to get more serious next time.