Pensieves
Episcopal News Service. September 3, 1981 [81233]
The Ven. Erwin M. Soukup, Editor of Advance, Diocese of Chicago
It really happened department: Youngsters in a Church school first grade were normally given juice and cookies during their morning break. One Sunday, the teacher had no cookies, and she substituted peanut butter on crackers instead. As the children left, one of them was heard to comment: "Home cooking at last!"
It's been our observation that the person who stays out of church because it's filled with hypocrites is doing the right thing. One more won't help.
It's true. The following did appear in a letter from the rector and building committee of a parish. (General Contractor) Don Fox "cut his bid to a bear (sic) minimum to do this job for his parish." We're not lion. And you can be sure that this is one contractor who won't duck his responsibility with a lot of horse-play.
A congregation may not believe what the preacher says in his sermon. It will believe what it sees the preacher doing.
The Rev. Larry Davidson, editor of The Oregon Episcopal Churchman, passes this along: During one of Bishop Bigliardi's episcopal visitations, the rector greeted him and announced to the congregation: "...(the bishop) is, in case you don't know, the ecclesiastical leader of this diocese and our Chief Pastor." Then added, pointing to the bishop's crozier, "And that's why we have that crook up there."
Monday is a terrible way to spend 14.3 percent of one's life. Unless it's begun with the Eucharist or the Divine Office.
Not-so-hair-raising facts while looking up something else: Absolom was not caught by his hair in the branches of that tree; and Delilah did not cut Samson's hair. Look for yourself -- 2 Samuel 18:9 and Judges 16:19.
Finally, the American Holiness Journal tells us that the man with the clear conscience sometimes only has a poor memory.