Pensieves
Episcopal News Service. June 21, 1984 [84135]
Ven. Erwin M. Soukup, Editor of Advance, Diocese of Chicago
- You know how men and women become crooked. Like a river, they follow the line of least resistance.
- Then there's the mayor of the great little "Second City" who said, "If you moved everyone out (fired them) with a shady background, there wouldn't be anyone left to do the work." Makes you reflect on what kind of "work" is being done... and to whom.
- New organization: The Church of Monday Night Football. We discovered the match book that promotes it. For $7 you can be a "Conversion Member". You get card, scroll, a decal, a T-shirt and a cap. Oxnard, Calif. is the home parish, and it accepts Master Charge and VISA. Wekidyounot.
- People who sing their own praises, we notice, are usually singing solo.
- We recently heard the best advice we ever heard: don't give it.
- As Christians we have been enjoined to love one another and make each other happy -- even if it means leaving each other alone.
- A current ad in Your Church offers Lincoln Log church buildings. We don't mean like the ones we played with as children, but full-size. Practicality, availability, affordability are the watchwords for the supplier of these churches. (Complete with oil lamps and pump-organs?)
- The London Church Times reports that a local undertaker sent a letter to Dorset's vicar announcing the arrangements of a funeral and the selection of hymn: "Internal Father, Strong to Save", and "Amazing Grave." A rather sepulchrous service, it would seem.
- But on the brighter side: when the silver was stolen from St. John's Church, McLean, Va., the congregation turned to prayer. Lo and behold! The stolen silver turned up in a paper bag on the doorstep of nearby St. Mary's in Arlington.
- According to Ruth Leger Sivard, author of World Military and Social Expenditures, the current world military budget is $660 billion. She also reported that in 1983 (the year proclaimed as the "Year of the Child") 30 children died each minute for want of food or inexpensive vaccines; 11 million children died before their first birthday for lack of nourishment; and 120 million children in the world have no schools to attend. Say something about priorities?
- Memory jostled while reading something else: "Westminster Abbey" is properly called the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter in Westminster.
- Then there is the man who always rides escalators in department stores rather than elevators because he wants to get the exercise.
- And finally, we heard of the local rector who received a note from a bride at whose marriage ceremony he had recently officiated: "I want to thank you, Father, for bringing my happiness to a conclusion."