Oh, I'm so sorry that I haven't written in ever so long. Lent came, then Easter, then the very brief "post-Easter lull." Now we're on to preparations for the Strawberry Festival on May 18, and I'm busy with ever so many things: summer plans, garden-planting, journal writing, and composing a first-person essay on "Hope" for the retreat of the Worker Sisters and Brothers of the Holy Spirit later this month.
Last week Krista Tippett wrote her "On Being" newsletter and mentioned "Thundersnow and Cherry Blossoms." I misread and thought she wrote about "Thundersnow Cherry Blossoms" (no "and"), and thought, "Oh, yes, that's so exactly right! That's exactly what my backyard cherry tree looks like this week - thundersnow!" And now as I glance out the window, the petals are falling in the spring breeze - like very light snow. Beautiful, pink snow.
I love the Great Fifty Days of Easter. It's a time of reading John's Gospel, my favorite, in church - and today was my second-favorite of the resurrection appearances - the first also being John's: Mary Magdalen in the garden. Today was "Feed my sheep, tend my lambs, follow me." Has anyone read "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader?" I always imagine the Sea of Galilee looking just like the water Lewis describes near the end of that wonderful, magical book, with the little lamb on the shore saying, "Come and have breakfast." Lamb of God. Indeed. So here is my sermon, which took the form of a kind of guided meditation. I've known for a week just how I was going to do it, and I did.
Download Easter 3C, April 14, 2013 I hope you read it; I hope you like it. I just listened to one by my friend and colleague Ginny Wilder on the internet, and it's so much like mine that it's a little scary. Mind-meld, or something. Here's a link to hers -- I do love listening to that beautiful southern voice - it's a great storytelling voice.
Spring has truly sprung here. I have much I want to write to you about, including the aforementioned piece on hope -- coming soon -- watch this space!
Ann--a lovely sermon, filled with vivid details, sounds and sights and smells. However, I object to your suggestion that Jesus doesn't respect retirement; did he not say, "Blessed are the geezers, for they shall laze about and watch golf"? I'm pretty sure he said that.
Posted by: Jack Shifflett | April 14, 2013 at 03:22 PM