The Lambeth Shortfall

I think I have stumbled onto the perfect solution to the 2008 Lambeth Conference financial woes. This gem is the gift that keeps on giving! The $1,000,000 bill can go directly into the bank (or, the john) - and then the ABC can sell the replica chocolate bars as a fundraiser here in the U.S. Of course, he'll have to sell a lot of candy; but if he moves fast, he can get some quick cash at the shopping malls before See's sets up their Christmas kiosks.

If anyone has seen an accounting of the finances, please send me a link. If the wealthier churches in the Communion are being asked to contribute additional money, it's reasonable to find out what went wrong so it won't happen again.

Happy 38th Anniversary to...

...Fred and his wife. Since Fred is a gentleman - and leaves his wife's actual name out of his postings - let's call her Wilma. Though it's been many a year since I've seen an episode of The Flintstones, I recall Wilma was beautiful, smart and loved her Fred; so the name fits if she doesn't mind :-)

A celebration calls for a cake, of course. I think something sweet, spicy and a tiny bit old-fashioned is in order. So Fred, and your lady love and wife: happy anniversary, and the cake has no calories unless you eat it!

My Favorite Spice Cake

3/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature (not melted)
1-1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
3 large eggs
3 cups sifted cake flour (sift, then measure)
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1-1/2 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. (adjust racks so top of cake pans are in the middle of the oven). Prepare two 9" round cake pans for baking: lightly grease and flour, then line bottoms with wax or parchment paper. Set aside.

Sift together the pre-sifted flour, baking soda and spices (use a fine sieve if you don't have a sifter). Set aside.

On medium speed of mixer, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs. Using a rubber spatula, or the very lowest speed of the mixer, alternately mix in small batches of the flour mixture and buttermilk. Divide batter evenly between the two pans.

Bake 35-40 minutes in pre-heated oven. Note: be sure to stagger pans in opposite corners, away from oven walls, and slightly apart. When 35 minutes have elapsed, test cake by lightly touching the middle of one layer. As soon as no imprint remains, cake is done. Cool layers 10 minutes in the pans, then on baking racks (remove paper liners before racking). When cakes are completely cooled, brush off excess crumbs and frost with caramel or buttercream frosting.

Caramel Icing

1/3 cup heavy cream
6 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons white sugar
3 cups confectioner's sugar (measure, then sift)

Heat together the cream and butter, set aside. Caramelize the sugar to a medium brown color; add scalded cream mixture and whisk to dissolve all the sugar. Pour mixture into a bowl, and gradually beat in the sifted confectioner's sugar until fluffy. Add a little extra cream or milk if the frosting is to stiff to spread easily on the cake layers. Fill the two layers then frost top and sides. Add candles if appropriate.

(Leonardo, your chocolate cake is next).

Brownies for Father Scott

I have it on good authority that our friend Fr. Scott had a difficult day. And that he likes brownies. These are what I call the "real thing" - not cakey, not an imitation of fudge - just right. I believe the original source was the back of a Bakers unsweetened chocolate box, but now it's just the family recipe.

Old-Fashioned Fudge Brownies

4 squares Baker's unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter
4 large eggs
2 cups granulated white sugar
1 cup sifted flour (you can just shake it through a fine sieve)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x9" square metal baking pan.

Melt butter with the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave; cool slightly. Beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl until foamy. Gradually add the sugar, beating well after each addition. Blend in the chocolate mixture. Stir in the flour (or mix on lowest speed), making sure it is completely incorporated into the batter. Stir in vanilla and nuts. Bake 40 minutes in preheated 350 degree oven. There is no real test for "done"-ness, but brownies will be slightly separated from the sides of the pan and a slightly shiny, thin crust will form on the top. Be sure to cool brownies completely before cutting - or be prepared for a mess.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

Here is a portion of the latest happenings in Fort Wrath, Texas.

Should you consent, we gladly offer ourselves for this important work and stand ready to work with those you might designate.

And here are the "we":

Katie Sherrod of the Diocese of Fort Worth reveals an attempt by several clergy, with the apparent support of their bishop, to take the Diocese to the Roman Catholic Church. According to the document William A. Carey, Charles A. Hough, Louis L. Tobola, and Christopher Stainbrook - leaders in the Diocese of Fort Worth claiming the "unequivocal support" of Bishop Iker - proposed to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Fort Worth that the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth become a Roman Catholic Diocese.

Now, I have posed this question before, but, will the real servant-leaders please stand up?

Apparently, a growing number of clergy want to be the greatest among us. And of course scriptural lessons are conveniently forgotten. Lessons like "the first shall be last and the last shall be first," and "if any man wants to follow me let him give up all he owns and take up the cross," and "feed my sheep". Wow, we have an the most incredible group of self-centered, self-appointed, "look at me I can be on the Primates Council" group of clergy I have seen in a very long time. Everyone wants a piece of the action. Power corrupts absolutely, and absolute power power corrupts absolutely. (I read that somewhere). So we have bishops like deposed John David Mercer Schofield, Iker, Howe and Duncan that do all sorts of conniving and contriving deceptions to get their share of that power. And we have those like Akinola, Orombi, Venables and Jensen that believe that they are the way, the truth and the light! And then we have people like Minns and Guernsey that couldn't get a consecration in the United States, so they went to foreign lands to get what they have sought, without regard to how this affects the everyday people in the pews of the Episcopal Church.

Permit me to show at least what one other person thinks clergy should be:

“You are the salt of the earth.” The flavor you bring to priestly ministry is your personal zeal and the motivation to serve God with a generous heart. Your hands will be anointed by the Holy Spirit to offer to God the sacred mysteries of our faith and to bless those whom you serve. You are not anointed to be some kind of ecclesiastical functionary but rather one who is sent to awaken faith in Christ among those who have grown drowsy and to strengthen in conviction those who believe.
There are some in the Church today who do not look forward in hope with the eyes of faith but tend to be preoccupied with looking back in some kind of nostalgia for a Church they never experienced . . . I encourage you to study the history of the Church as a living and developing tradition and not to look back as Lot’s wife did or you might end up being a pillar of salt rather then the “salt of the earth.”
Those looking back want to give to the Church new forms of triumphalism, juridicism, and clericalism. The triumphalist wants to exercise authority through aggressive condemnation and excommunication and believes that the Church not only has the truth but also all the answers to every modern dilemma. Christ is indeed the Truth but we must seek out with humility and in light of the Gospel how to respond to the many and varied demands of living in today’s world. We are a servant Church which proclaims the truth in love. We do not impose the gospel on the world. We seek to persuade by grace.
The juridicist searches out laws new or old to justify personal positions or ideologies in the Church. Especially they like to focus on liturgical practices. They incline to creating unnecessary hoops for people to jump through. The Church, of course, needs law to insure good order. But the purpose of all laws in the Church is the same as for all the works of the Church: “propter homines and propter nostram salutem” - for us, for our good and for our salvation.
The clericalist exaggerates the authority of the priest creating a new authoritarianism. The clericalist operates as if the priest is entitled to special status and privilege in the Church and in society. He gives little merit to collaboration with the laity. The ordained priest, however, represents Christ the Head and Good Shepherd of the Church. As Head of the Church Jesus came not to be served but to serve. As Good Shepherd he gave His life for the flock. The good priest patterns his life on Jesus the servant of God and remembers that the whole Church (Head and members) is the Body of Christ.
I have always treasured the words of my first pastor when I was newly ordained: We are here to serve the people and to do it with a touch of class.
“You are the light of the world.” Light first of all gives off warmth. As the sacramental presence of Christ the Eternal High Priest you bring a caring and warmth by your presence. The presence of the priest in celebrating the liturgies of the Church is one of faith and not just of style. Like Christ in the Eucharist you need to be a real presence among the people. This does not mean that you need to be at every event but it does mean that you need to be with the people outside of church on Sunday, with families when they are hurting, with the sick and dying - to anoint them and to bring some words of comfort and to give some of your time, to be there when they need the healing and comfort of the Lord Jesus and his friendship. The shepherd stays with the sheep. The priest who rarely leaves his room puts his light under a bushel basket and gives little light to the people of God.
Your light will burn brightly if you are men of prayer. I am not talking at this point about saying prayers or presiding over the liturgy. Neither am I talking about spiritual exercises as such. I am talking about hearing the word of God, the prayer of receiving the word of God deeply in your minds and hearts. Jesus said: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” The First Letter of John reinforces this teaching of Jesus: “Whoever keeps His word, truly has the love of God been made perfect in him.” Only the priest who prays is spiritually alive.
After being a priest for forty years I realize each day how terribly weak and inadequate I am. God has anointed us as priests to represent Christ and to serve in His name. So often we blur this image, but in a marvelous and mysterious manner God accomplishes His will though our ministry. “Do you love me?” the risen Jesus asks us as He did Peter. Like Peter we respond: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Then Jesus says to us, in spite of all our denials, in spite of all our limitations, “Feed my lambs…tend my sheep…feed my sheep.”

I am but one person in the pews. I am not sure what I want in clergy, but I know this much: Do you love me?” the risen Jesus asks us as He did Peter. Like Peter we respond: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Then Jesus says to us, in spite of all our denials, in spite of all our limitations, “Feed my lambs…tend my sheep…feed my sheep.”

Google Alerts

One of my Google news alerts is very broad: "Episcopal Church." Every once in a while I get a group of returns that reminds me we are a church, not a political party. Here's one from a few hours ago.

Google News Alert for: Episcopal Church
(Aug 14, 2008 2:32 AM EST)

Diocese pays tribute to homeless man
Roanoke Times - Roanoke,VA,USA
Stephen Stanley, associate rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Roanoke. He gathered about 20 of Hopkins' family members and friends, along with diocese...

Uptown church opens doors to eastern NO congregation The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com - New Orleans LA,USA
Annunciation Church, a member of the Anglican Communion* and the Episcopal diocese of Louisiana, will move its primary Sunday service to 10 am and Jubilee...

Listening for music, not gunfire The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com - New Orleans,LA,USA
Father Bill is pastor of a colorful congregation at St. Anna's Episcopal Church at 1313 Esplanade Ave. It has a tradition of reaching across boundaries...

School supplies help those in need Marshalltown Times Republican - Marshalltown,IA,USA
St. Paul's Episcopal Church has been collecting donations of school supplies and will give them away to those in need Saturday and Monday at St. Paul's...

*What's this thing of recent months about an individual church being a "member of the Anglican Communion"? Pretty much a given...it's an Episcopal church in the U.S. No wonder everyone is confused.

BTW - let me know if you recognize the church in the photo.

The "Average Anglican"

For a while now, we have been hearing that the "average Anglican" is black, female and in her late teens or early twenties. A woman of great faith and a life of great hardship - yes, a woman who deserves our respect (and she probably deserves my two-bedroom condo for her family). After shaking off my annoyance with the terrible practice of "averaging" race and gender, I always come back to one thought.

When I was a young woman, the world was my oyster. Raised in the Washington, DC suburbs at the end of the Baby Boomer generation, I was well-educated, attractive, and knew which fork to use without thinking about it. Should I go back to grad school? When will I marry, how many children? I was traveling all over the country, learning new things, different music and food to experience...I think you get the picture.

Yes, I my ego might have been a wee bit big, but I quickly picked up that I had a lot to learn - and to enjoy the process. But one thing is certain: even though I was "average" for a woman raised Episcopalian on the East coast (there were many just like me), the Bishop of Washington and the Presiding Bishop didn't think the church should revolve around me, and certainly not the path of the entire Anglican communion. And there I was, living just a few miles away from the National Cathedral!

Yes, our "average Anglican" deserves our respect - and a decent place to live, a future for her children, and a place to worship without fear. Are Peter Akinola and Henry Orombi looking out for their future and their faith when they condemn my LGBT friends and neighbors? Is this hatred feeding, housing and educating their children? I wonder if Christian love and a giving attitude toward the home flock might be just the impetus needed to "compete" with Islam, and perhaps they should stay home and give it a try. And allow us the same respect for our societal concerns and norms that they purport to want for theirs.

Just some mid-week thoughts.

(p.s. does anyone want to organize a fund-raising BBQ for the Lambeth deficit? I make great sides but need someone to work the grill).

Is this the part where....?

Everyone will find a different Sunday blessing in this - may your Sabbath day be filled with God's love.
Lynn and Fred