The Nov. 7 edition of "Turning Point," an ABC television news magazine show, included the blessing of the relationship of a same-sex couple at Trinity Church, San Francisco. Ed Finley and David Gillis were among four couples profiled as they prepared for various forms of blessings.

The Rev. Robert Cromey, rector of Trinity, who did not officiate at the blessing, was interviewed on camera. "It looks like a wedding," he said. "It feels like a wedding."

Fr. Cromey said he sought approval from the Bishop of California for ABC's cameras to show the service, but he allowed the cameras inside even though the bishop's approval was not given.

"It's a civil rights issue," Fr. Cromey said, when asked about church approval of same-sex blessings.

Admitting that I am woefully naive and that my head is often in clouds or sand, I must ask, did I miss something? Did the church say it's OK to do this?

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Want to put some life into the sermons at your church? You could try what the Rev. Peter A.R. Stebinger is doing. Fr. Stebinger, rector of Christ Church, Bethany, Conn., does what he calls an "offering plate sermon" whenever there is a fifth Sunday in a month.

"We hand out pieces of paper and people write questions on them," he writes. "I answer them as best I can, in less than five minutes. They are placed in an offering plate and I just reach in and draw one out."

Fr. Stebinger reports the following were in the plate on a recent fifth Sunday: "Please talk about the Trinity. Was there always a Trinity?" "How do I know if I have really forgiven someone?" "How has the Episcopal Church changed in the last 50 years? What changes do you foresee in the future?"

"The congregation says they like to see me sweat," Fr. Stebinger reports. "It is stressful but fun for me and very spontaneous. Oh yes, they are always anonymous."

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Everyone must be watching license plates. The Rev. Richard A. Swan of West Frankfort, Ill., sent a photo of his, KRYGMA 1. The Rev. Rodger Patience of Lake Geneva, Wis., saw 2 COR7 1. Deacon Anna Gulick of Wilmore, Ky., spotted O BJYFL. The Rev. Philip Morgan of Howe, Ind., reports his plate reads PADRE.

A couple of reports from Phoenix: David Clymer saw HVENLY and the Rev. Donald W. Monson pondered XDYD4U. I saw ROM 5 8 and staffer Julie Erkenswick spotted HLY GOD.

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Note to Curt in Berkeley: When last we heard, five diocesan conventions had adopted a resolution favoring establishment of a liturgy for the blessing of same-sex relationships.

David Kalvelage, editor