M:Hb=C:wG

A Collect for Saturdays

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world didst rest
from all thy works and sanctify a day of rest for all thy
creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties,
may be duly prepared for the service of thy sanctuary, and
that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the
eternal rest promised to thy people in heaven; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Putting away all earthly anxieties is easily said, easily prayed, less easily done. Waking early, my heart and mind are instantly on Christian, born yesterday noon, touched and blessed two hours later, being treated for infection in the NICU at GulfCoastHosp. My anxiety could hardly be higher than the parents’ anxiety, but it is intense. Prayer list, dear friends, and thank you.

For the first time in a decade, our fig trees are producing. Not enough to set up a fruit stand, but enough to pick a few morning and again evening, eat a few, freeze some, hope to preserve some. Both trees, bearing on the east, sunny side only. It’s surely forbidden to pick figs from branch to bowl on Sabbath (not to mention lifting and carrying the bowl), surely not forbidden to pick figs from bowl to mouth on Sabbath. How about from branch to mouth: would that be the same as picking grain on the Sabbath?

Seems to me that today is somebodys’ birthday, maybe yesterday but thinking it’s today. es-apostrophe because they are twins. Maybe we can sing “Happy Birthday” at children’s time tomorrow. Tuesday will be Linda’s birthday, but no song or sparklers in church. Her birthday present has been waiting in a cardboard box in the family room for several weeks now. The box has evolved into a handy table for my coffee, wine or ice water; a cover for it would be another nice gift..

Apparently physics and theology have collided: Mass is to Higgs boson as Creation is to Word. 

Some rabbis might agree that seeing figs after a decade of famine makes picking them joyful rest and recreation, not work. 

Christian. Kyrie, eleison.

Tom