It is not proper for a preacher to explicitly say “Vote for X” in a sermon. That could lead to serious trouble with IRS. Our clergy at St. Mary’s are very careful about not crossing this line. However, after listening to Moses as Union Organizer (mp3 link) this morning I thought of my old math textbooks: Identifying X was “a trivial exercise for the reader” (listener). I am OK with this.
As mia_mcdavid wrote early Friday morning, we were extremely busy all last week. She left out a few things–notably all the meetings she had about our children, and my full week at work. There was nothing terrible that happened during the latter, but it there was a lot going on. The weekend was even busier.
The Rev. LeeAnne Watkins, Rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church was obviously having a really good time at this morning’s Eucharist. It was a delight to be part of the event. Continue reading
Incense is psychoactive: Scientists identify the biology behind the ceremony
New study in The FASEB Journal shows how and why molecules released from burning incense in religious ceremonies alleviate anxiety and depression
Sadly, in general the Episcopal churches in Minnesota do not use incense nearly as much as those in Chicagoland.
By way of Dvorak Uncensored and this post in episcopal.
This morning our church service ended with a parade through the neighborhood. It was led by one of our younger members carrying a Holy Spirit banner. Our Rector said that this banner had been carried at the consecration of Gene Robinson to the Episcopate. Two thoughts immediately went through my head:
Today is Pentecost, one of the three chief festivals in the Western Christian church year. It would be hard to imagine a complete lack of coverage of Christmas or Easter but Pentecost, the least commercial or secularized of the three days, doesn’t receive much media coverage at all.
I rather like it that way.
Today is the Feast of Pentecost. At St. Mary’s, as at other churches I have known, part of one of the Bible lessons was read in multiple foreign languages (See Acts 2: 1-11). Afterwards a small but very clear voice in the congregation said: “That was freaky.”
From Hilbert Space to Dilbert Space, and beyond 