Because you're in the public eye, and God knows you need to look good.

Posts in category Beautiful Holidays

Happy Easter!

Mar31
2013 1 Comment Written by PeaceBang

Good morning, lovely darlings! Christos voskres, as my Baba taught me to say!

PeaceBang is just finishing up her sermon over a cup of coffee, rejoicing in the triumph of Love over violence, fear and death, and soon going to rustle up some kind of pretty outfit before she heads over to church for breakfast.

My favorite BTFM-related Facebook status of the day so far came from a colleague in interim ministry. She writes,
“Just realized – new dress + not warm yet = panty hose! Happy Easter anyway.”
Indeed!!

And here, because PeaceBang is always reminding folks that Jesus was not a white Breck girl, is my Easter Jesus for today (click to enlarge):

Go preach your little hearts out! Love, love, love and kiss of peace, PB

Pisanki!

Mar22
2013 1 Comment Written by PeaceBang

Isn’t it lovely how the holidays and holy days connect us to our ethnic traditions? I always think of my Baba this time of year. She was Slovak and celebrated Orthodox Easter and she is the one who introduced me to Jesus, who was not someone we were interested in in my household. But Jesus wasn’t a person to my Baba, he was big time God. She had crucifixes all over the house that my siblings and I secretly snarked about to each other, and she used to come into my bedroom when I was a little girl to tuck me in and sprinkle me with holy water. Oh, Baba! The whole concept of Jesus as a radical reformer, man of the street and healer was sacrilegious to her. Every time I tried to broach the subject of christology with her when I was in Div School, she would just look uncomfortable, change the subject, and force more pierogies on me.

I love the springtime holidays because they’re about food and feasting just as much as they’re about worship. Not only is there the big family dinner known as Seder for Pesach, I have a tradition of hosting dinner for clergy friends on Easter night. I appreciate so much how planning the food for my pals and their kids helps me stay balanced between theological reflection and domestic planning.

Holy Week, Batman!

Mar22
2013 8 Comments Written by PeaceBang

Darlings, how are you? What’s on the horizon? A huge week of liturgy, Seders, meetings, formal gatherings, lots of public witness on Good Friday… check in here! What’s on your mind as you prepare? IS it inappropriate to wear a poppy orange trench coat for a Stations of the Cross observance in the city?
SHOULD I wear socks for Maundy Thursday service even if I know I’ll be taking them off? CAN I do an Easter egg hunt in a dress and snow boots? Should I try to both cook the brisket AND lead the Passover seder?

So many questions, so much to think about. Love to hear from you. MWAH. – PB

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Mar17
2013 2 Comments Written by PeaceBang

Let’s be careful out there on the roads and in our closets. There will be a lot of drunk drivers on the roads, I’m afraid, and a lot of fashion disasters among the clergy if we’re not eternally vigilant:


God forbid.

St. Brigid, protect us.

Getting Lenty Wit’ It

Feb13
2013 3 Comments Written by PeaceBang

Hello, darling ones!

Are you all home from church services? Are you all Lentified? Lentlicious? Ready to do forty days of deep contemplation, reflection on your mortality and abstinence from chocolate, caffeine, tobacco, Facebook, or celebrity gossip? What’s it gonna be? Anything? How will you observe the lengthening of days leading to Holy Week?

Jewish pigeons, can I just say, “Purim?” Purim! I was going to preach on Esther but you know, I spent hours reading midrash and materials about the whole megillah (I love that I can use that expression in the literal sense when referring to the Book of Esther) and nothing flamed in my preacherly heart. Probably because just while some ideas were gelling we got hit by a vicious blizzard and my preacherly heart wandered onto other topics. Esther will have to wait for another year to get a whole sermon to herself.

What’s been going on with me is that I am being ridden by the writerly spirit really hard lately, which is not a new occurrence and I have learned to just roll with it. The spirit says write, so I write. This means that I am working on a book chapter, a few articles, sermon and church materials, and blogging. It means that I am not so much thinking about clergy image. So if you want your daily dose of PeaceBang you’re more likely to find fresh content over at www.peacebang.com for awhile.

Like this reflection on the Ash Wednesday service I attended tonight. I’m not kidding – the preacher was dressed in casual camping wear and he was just perfect. He’s a retired pastor and the vibe he communicated was homey, comfortable, sitting with grandpa around the fire while he tells wonderful family stories. His casual attire was also very clean and neat, and he is a handsome man with a beautiful face. Which is to say, don’t get sassy and try this look if you’re in active service. You’d have to step it up with some leather shoes, at least.

Posted in Tips For The Menfolk
← Older Entries

Categories

About

BTFM is an independent on-line ministry of the Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein.