Pigeons,
PeaceBang just does not have it tonight. She wrote most of her sermon and prepared most of the service on Thursday and frankly, the energy of her congregation and the Holy Spirit are going to have to do the rest, because I just do. not. have. it.
I gave a little preaching workshop this morning to a group of lay people and I said that while many a wonderful sermon has been murdered in its cradle by zombie-like delivery, it is also true that energetic, fully-embodied delivery can make a mediocre offering live, as I well know from my own experience.
So if you’re dropping by, please drop a comment. Many of you write to me off-line, but it would be nice to have you “tawk amongst ya-selves” too.
How’s everyone doing? How’s your self-care?
How’s your spirit?
How is it with your people?
Whatchya wearing tomorrow? Whatchya got going on?
I have so much ironing to do I’m sure I’ll be in a sweater and skirt. Sweaters don’t gotta be ironed, yo.
My nerves and digestion are a mess lately from a combination of the election and the flurry of sabbatical planning I’ve been doing in addition to the usual full and rich calendar of ministerial activities I always have in the fall. Seriously, if I had known how much time and energy it takes to plan and organize a sabbatical, I’d have called my old college roommate, Mary, and put her on an hourly payroll (not that she would accept it). Mary is the most wicked organized girl you’ll ever know, and she’d have done all the research and correspondence and ticket-purchasing and all the paperwork lickety-split.
Not that I’m complaining. I’m a lucky lady, but I just don’t have it tonight. Can you get some of it for me?
I completely agree that sometimes (my husband would say ALWAYS) delivery is, if not everything, then pretty close. He says it’s a good sign when, on Saturday night, I say “I got nuthin” because I really try to sell it from the pulpit the next day. I prefer to think that the Spirit intercedes . . . but as a practical matter, I’m not sure where a desperate attempt to engage the people leaves off and the Spirit begins.
I’ve had nuthin for months now. And I’ve been envying your Sabbatical plans. I’ll pray that you can hang on with your well manicured fingernails until you get out the door and off into your adventure. Once you get started, I’m sure it will be refreshing.
I’ll be teaching a confirmation class tomorrow on the sacraments and prayer, followed by a presentation to the congregation on our latest healing retreat. Thanks to regular perusal of B.T.F.M.(thanks, PeaceBang, you’re awesome), “What Not to Wear”, and some shopping directions from my sweetly snarky 20 year old daughter, who announced that she was personally going to “defrump” me, I will NOT be wearing something 2 sizes too big for me-as was the case only a couple of months ago! Probably beige slacks, topped with a white wrap & tie blouse over a tan camisole, brown heels and a chunky deep brown beaded choaker with matching earrings. Most of which I need to go iron shortly.’
[Brava! And it’s fun, isn’t it? – PB]
Hm, I wonder if it’s something in the New England air. After Connecticut Diocesan Convention (when my ENFJ got a great E workout), and an incredibly busy week, I also had nutthin’ for a sermon. I banged out a little something last night on the bribe of pizza and a movie. All my laundry is in piles all over my living room, and we won’t discuss the state of cleaning around here right now. It must be the fall…
My clothes came to me in a dream. Seriously. In my dream, I saw my favorite purple argyle sweater and black trousers, so I’m a girl in black with a purple argyle sweater.
Can I charge the church for working hours if I’m working in my sleep? [That’s a very good question, because I work in my sleep all the time! LOL!- PB]
I’m running out of it, but I’ll share. Looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. For now, back to the Fellowship to teach the Coming of Age class.
Oh, and I wore a marvelous blue striped shirt under a gray suit with a blue tie and a raw silk stole in rainbow colors.
m
I started wearing the same black knit dress for all church services. I put on various jackets and sweaters over it. In hot weather, the dress and a stole. In cool weather, I take off the jacket or sweater and wear a robe. If I’m going to be visible as in a wedding, I wear black Misook pants, because otherwise the hem of the dress hangs below the robe and looks messy to me. Having a “uniform” makes getting ready for church very quick and easy. The dress is washable only –no dry cleaning allowed. Misook brand. It was expensive somewhere between $500 and $900 I think (it seemed ridiculous for one synthetic knit dress) but it has held up well and works for me. I now have five Misook things, and they are my favorites especially for travel, and among the few knit things I wear, because they don’t cling. I always check the sale rack if I go to Nordstrom to see if I can get some discounted Misook, but it has turned out that the only ones I’ve decided are right for me have been in the full price goods. I think the line is for the mature set and not a youthful look, but once you’ve crossed that point where you look better IN your clothes than without any, Misook is a good bet.
[I SO applaud the idea of a personal “uniform,” which is really a more technical way of saying that you have a “look” that works for you, that fits, you can feel confident in, and is worth paying for. When you’ll get tons and tons of wear out of a garment, it’s worth paying more for. I just looked at Misook collection online –very classic and beautiful stuff — and I think you’d rock the Ottoman jacket. Thanks for the testimonial, Diane! – PB]
So my good friend just volunteered for daily prayer coordinator here at school, and that gives me the kick in the seat I needed to start pushing and expanding my skills on a regular basis. I still feel like I “don’t have it,” but I’m going have to make myself approximate it!
Today’s outfit: gray slacks, black shirt, black boots with a chunky heel, plain silver earrings, and a grey-and-black necktie for a funkier look at school, to swap out for a plain silver necklace for work in religious school later. I’m far more comfortable looking a little more offbeat in the seminary environment than when I actually walk into the synagogue and start teaching!