Another Holy Week is in the book – and it was very nice. While attendance for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services was down some from previous years (I really wish our local schools would not take spring break during Holy Week every year), we set a record for attendance at the Easter Vigil (and that was with no baptisms) and had a packed house today for Easter Sunday. The church looked great! We had a crew of twenty something folks buzzing around Saturday morning, mowing, power washing, weed eating, painting, decorating and cleaning. It was fun to see and participate in. The Easter Vigil was absolutely amazing – our story tellers really rocked the house this year! And the music – wow. Our Chamber Ensemble did 4 spirituals, one after each of the story teller’s presentations and they were outstanding, spirit filled gifts. Our music leader, John Westley Hodges, is really a blessing to our church. Our own seminarian, Clelie McCandless, preached the homily and we renewed our baptismal vows as I aspurged the congregation. A beautiful candlelit liturgy of the word led to the first Alleluia of Easter and then Eucharist.

Today was special also, with great music, high energy, LOTS of bell ringing and a church full of KIDS! So much fun. One of our families provided an Easter egg hunt before church which was awesome, and a wonderful reception after the service.

An extra blessing was having my two daughters home for Easter weekend and we all had a great time. And of course, following lunch and after all 3 kids got on the road – the post Holy Week nap! SWEET!

Now I move into short timers syndrome as the clock ticks down to my Sabbatical – starts May 15th!

It’s the week before Holy Week – the most wonderful time of the year! From Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday it’s crazy busy and great! I’ve said it before, although I had been confirmed several years before, I really BECAME an Episcopalian when I finally “danced every dance” for Holy Week. Maundy Thursday with the incredible example of servant ministry in the washing of feet, followed by solemn stripping of the altar and leaving in silence, the all night altar of repose before the Reserved Sacrament, to Good Friday with the church stripped bare and the saying of the Solemn Collects and veneration of the cross, to the glorious Easter Vigil, salvation history told by candlelight and the first Alleluias of Easter, and the glory of Easter Sunday – our liturgies allow us to experience the passion and resurrection of Christ in such amazing ways.

I know it’s really difficult for folks to attend every service of Holy Week, I really do. But I wish, for at least Thursday through Sunday, people would make it a priority, carve out that time, and let the liturgies of our church transport us, change us, and remind us of what it’s all about to follow Jesus.

I am also getting excited about my Sabbatical! Plans are coming together, plane tickets bought, reservations made – it’s almost here! I am equally excited for my parish – the sabbatical time will allow them to not just catch their collective breath, but to participate in some very exciting workshops while also remembering their own ministry as leaders and disciples, without me getting in the way of that.

I have more to say soon about the Sabbatical and some things that are already bubbling up about that time. Meanwhile – make plans to dance every dance of Holy Week yourself, wherever you may be.

Due to my absence from when I was in the hospital and subsequent recovery time, we postponed our Annual Meeting to March 13 – the 1st Sunday of Lent. And in our never ending effort to confuse people, we changed the worship service time to 10:00 am (from 9:30), AND re-instituted Sunday School at 9:00. Did I mention we made all these changes the weekend of the switch to Daylight Savings Time?

Nonetheless, it was a very good day. Despite a lot of our families out of town for spring break (I really wish schools would not take the WHOLE last week of Mardi Gras off – it kills participating in Ash Wednesday services, and hurts 1st Sunday of Lent as well…..price we pay for being in the middle of Carnival happiness I suppose), we had a good turnout for both Sunday School and church / meeting.

We elected two new vestry members and discussed the budget. I gave a charge to the Parish, reminding them of our “grasshopper” theme and also talked a little about my upcoming Sabbatical.

During lunch we made the “big announcement”. We have struggled mightily with our 2011 budget, and after much hard work and another terrific donation from the Diocese of Florida, as well as pay cuts for me and staff, we got it down to a $28,000 deficit. Then, in answer to prayer, an anonymous donor offered a $15,000 matching fund gift. So we launched the “Grasshopper Fund”, hoping to raise the full $15,000 (and more we hope) by Easter Sunday, so we can proceed on into 2011 without the anchor of a big deficit around our necks.

Our folks were really excited to hear of this and pledges to the Grasshopper Fund are already coming in. It was also the 7th anniversary of my arrival as Rector, making me the longest serving Priest of this place by almost a year. Year 8 will be great!

A good day!

First I must thank those who supported me to return as a Deputy to General Convention 2012. I am delighted to be there and to represent our wonderful Diocese.

Along with Fr. Scott Lenoir and Fr. Jeff Reich, I helped lead a workshop on Communications at our Diocesan Council. It was a blast! We had a standing room only crowd, and the three of us worked well in discussing and showing both print and electronic communications tools. I think it was well received – will see once the evaluations are in!

Council was fun as usual, and the focus on Mission, coupled with the Mission Marketplace and the excellent workshop offerings enhanced what is always a joyful event. And with my election as Deputy, and Danny Meadors as 1st alternate in the Lay order, St. Patrick’s is once again the most represented of Parishes per capita at General Convention!

This weekend the Diocese is sponsoring a conference on the Anglican Covenant. I will not be able to attend due to the ongoing medical issues I am dealing with. 6 hours a day of IV antibiotics do not lend themselves to travel (I skipped a dose to make it to Council last weekend and got in big trouble!). I will be with them in spirit and continue to study the Covenant and to read all I can the various opinions on it. It will be a very important part of our work at GC2012 I am sure.

Health wise things are improving. The cast was removed Monday and the wound looks really, really good. My LW was a bit concerned at first, but so far the healing appears to be on track. I am supposed to miss 2 more weeks of work, and I am mostly non-weight bearing for a week, although I have started rehab and am walking a little around the house. How GREAT it feels to be without crutches! This nightmare began October 6th and I am really excited to make positive progress after a difficult time. What a blessing in my life to have a wife not only skilled and knowledgable in all things medical, but who takes such good and loving care of me. Believe me, this is not a blessing I take for granted.

I miss St Patrick’s folks very much and hope I can see them all this Sunday in some capacity. Praying today for all those facing difficulties from this wintry weather, especially the homeless, first responders, and those who travel. Stay safe folks!