Sunday, November 8, 2015

Athair ar Neamh, Dia linn

Today we observe Sabbath rest at Wee Kirk.
Last night our reflective worship service was remembering St. Martin and the Martinmas.
The worship space looks so nice lit predominately by the lanterns.
This year we walked the driveway to the sidewalk and sang the songs of light.
The lanterns were made while I was on vacation and they panted them this year.  Very pretty.
And this year we used battery candles in the walkers candles and the white luminaries which kept the conversation about wind blown lights down and people more focused on the walk.

Just before worship the police chased a deer that had been hit by a car on to the church property.  Then they shot it (twice) and of course left it there.
It was rather disconcerting to hear the gun shots as some of us were inside preparing the worship space for the service.

Unfortunately some of the children and youth who were outside helping to set out the luminaries saw everything.  The police gave no warning except to cover their ears, not their eyes.  Yet, the ones who were there came back into the church seeming unaffected.  The only comment I heard was "gross".  Of course it was a mercy killing and the poor thing was put out of it's misery, but there was a callousness.

The good that came out of this is that the deer will be processed and at least a portion of the meat is going to a family who can use help with groceries.  This was decided after the service and I was a bit disappointed that the person in charge of the deer removal had to be reminded to share the meat when the sermon had been all about sharing - and food had been the specific example. Sigh.

On another note Wee Kirk as two new folk who are worshiping with our community on Saturday nights.  This change has been good for the soul of our little community and it has been a way for our community to reach out and encouraged people to come to this different service of quiet and reflection and gratitude.

So now we observe a sabbath rest.
I remembered this Enya piece  -- it is a perfect Sabbath prayer for my Wee Kirk today ...
The words follow with the English translation.....


(English Translation to the right)
Athair ar Neamh, Dia linn (Father in Heaven, God bless us)
Athair ar Neamh, Dia liom (Father in Heaven, God bless me)
M'anam, mo chroí, mo ghlóir (My soul, my heart, my glory)
Moladh duit, a Dhia (Praise be to you, oh God)

Fada an lá, go sámh (Long is the peaceful day)
Fada an oích' gan ghruaim (Long is the night without gloom)
Aoibhneas, áthas, grá (Wonder, joy, love)
Moladh duit, a Dhia (Praise be to you, oh God)

Móraim thú ó lá go lá (I praise you from day to day)
Móraim thú ó oích' go hoích' (I praise you night after night)

Athair ar Neamh, Dia linn (Father in Heaven, God bless us)
Athair ar Neamh, Dia liom (ather in Heaven, God bless me)
An ghealach, an ghrian, an ghaoth (The moon, the sun, the wind)
Moladh duit, a Dhia (Praise be to you, oh God)

Móraim thú ó lá go lá (I praise you from day to day)
Móraim thú ó oích' go hoích' (I praise you night after night)

Athair ar Neamh, Dia linn (Father in Heaven, God bless us)
Athair ar Neamh, Dia liom (Father in Heaven, God bless me)
M'anam, mo chroí, mo ghlóir (My soul, my heart, my glory)
Moladh duit, a Dhia (Praise be to you, oh God)


Saturday, November 7, 2015

By way of introduction

A couple of days a go I received a blog prompt from RevGal Blogs:    When you were 8(ish), what did you want to be when you grew up?
This was my answer:
A nun. The Sound of Music had just been released. Once my parents and Roman Catholic relatives explained that one to me. (It’s pretty hard to be a nun when you are a Presbyterian.) …that’s when I truly understood my obsession with musical theatre.

At this point in life (and part of the reason for beginning this blog) is because I am currently in "places" for Act III of this musical of my life.  So here is a brief introduction.

Act III 
Scene: Living in the Mitten State 
At Rise: Serving "Wee Kirk" (a small little community of believers and seekers of Jesus Christ) 
The Cast: 
The Barrister - partner/husband for the last 30 + years. He is older, wiser, and one of the most laid back people you could ever meet. A lawyer by trade, a peacemaker by nature. Darling Daughter 1 - Sharing space, life and love while working on her advanced degree and attempting to earn a living with her (vocal) music degree. She is also an artist. She channels my mother in keeping the house clean.                                                                Darling Daughter 2 - in her last teen year, a bass major at the local college (yes another music degree). She is a writer and actor. She is also a rebel without a cause since her family gives her nothing to rebel against. Funny, sarcastic. 
The Dog - small, cute with the personality of a pit bull
RevMo - Me.  

Begin Again

This is an experiment
 
Perhaps a mistake.

I have had an on line journal for a long time, but to begin to put thoughts “out there” for public scrutiny is a completely different ball game.  I haven’t even gotten the set up of this page the way I want it, but then again, I haven’t been able to arrangement life the way I want it either.

So commences the blog.

We’ll see how it goes.