tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-317817342012-01-24T14:40:36.780-06:00<b>There are only <i><b>two</b></i> possible lifestyles: Gospel and <i>not</i>. Full stop.</b>Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.comBlogger8991100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-30766239213520436932011-11-06T18:49:00.003-06:002011-11-06T18:54:30.668-06:00

Signs that the anti-Episcopalians are fracturing over the issue of women's ordination: http://livingtext.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/amia-fracturing/. This confirms my belief that many of the anti-Episcopalians have nothing in common besides their varied "beefs" against The Episcopal Church. It appears that dogmatic sects tend to splinter over ever-finer and more purist pseudo-dogma. Thank God for

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-91247870192382752612011-11-06T17:49:00.004-06:002011-11-06T18:13:49.881-06:00

My "Google alert" informed me of this service, in which the priest and some 70 members of the former St. Luke's Episcopal parish (Bladensburg, Maryland) were received as members of the Roman Catholic Church. I was struck by the photograph that ran in the Catholic Sentinel. It shows Roman Cardinal Donald Wuerl confirming Mark Lewis, formerly the priest of that parish. But Lewis appears in a suit

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-24251519344869860402011-10-09T21:08:00.004-05:002011-10-10T16:12:08.759-05:00

I already explained the approach our Stewardship Committee takes in my parish. But there's one more thing. At each service through October, a Stewardship Team member has to make an announcement during the "notices," so that the Stewardship Campaign remains in the minds of our parishioners. Today was my day to make the announcement.I know I have a Southerner's tendency to ramble, so I wrote my

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-89841475800472663332011-10-09T17:04:00.008-05:002011-10-10T15:59:11.505-05:00

I am now a member of the Stewardship Team in my parish (Grace Episcopal Church in Jefferson City, Missouri). For a long time, there was a committee that conducted the "Every Member Canvas" to solicit annual financial pledges to the parish. But our parish vision changed, and we now work year-round to remind the parish that stewardship is a Gospel mandate that makes claims on us every day – not

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-2776704753501909412011-08-30T21:21:00.003-05:002011-08-30T22:21:20.368-05:00

Like many of you, I have been watching and worrying about my friends along the East Coast who were in the path of Hurricane Irene. While I take it all seriously, I know that some moments of silliness are going to come out of the saddest situations. This is one of them. A TV station invited people to share their photos and captions/explanations. This is one of them. To all my English

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-26104139726500357072011-08-18T23:39:00.001-05:002011-08-18T23:04:21.687-05:00

I just finished reading Scott Turow's Limitations. In it, Judge Mason ponders one of his clerks: "John has slid into an increasingly reclusive and eccentric middle-aged bachelorhood.... It is routine to see him by himself in the courthouse cafeteria at lunch .... John never mentions any social engagements, and the common assumption seems to that he's gay. George ... still tends to doubt it.

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-50137177249542485112011-08-18T22:52:00.003-05:002011-08-18T23:03:48.473-05:00

Every now and then, I seem to take a vacation from my blog. This has been one of those periods. I read the blogs of many other friends who delve deep or who write frequently. I am in awe of them. I'm going to try to write in my voice, without being daunted by the bloggers whom I admire. They are better bloggers than I. If I write briefly or quickly, so be it.

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-88535304253055583952011-05-26T07:37:00.001-05:002011-05-26T09:15:10.965-05:00

I’m not theologically educated, but I have heard a lot about mindfulness. I've read we should be more mindful about the things we do moment by moment and day by day.I have shared fun conversations with Maria Evans about how we both love to serve at the altar. She talks about loving to serve with the shiny, holy things, and I resonate with what she writes. If you have been watching my blog, you

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-81094791537893971022011-05-23T20:21:00.002-05:002011-05-23T20:26:26.817-05:00

I started writing here after Sunday morning, May 8. I wrote on Facebook that weekend: “Heading to Grace Episcopal Church, then the bike trail ... expecting to find God in both places.” I promised to blog more about that. I found that ride much richer than I expected … and I’ve been blogging ever since. I’ve already blogged about the first parts – the church parts. Now I can move beyond that

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-87343479850576220772011-05-22T19:42:00.004-05:002011-05-23T20:25:45.962-05:00

As I wrote earlier, I am sharing a bit of my “spiritual autobiography” for some new Facebook friends – several of whom are deeply skeptical of “Christians,” since the “Christian” brand has now been hijacked by right-wing Christianist extremists. I am trying here to explain why I love the Episcopal Church and how and why I characterize myself as a Christian. I'm sorry I've been out of the

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-24230633447339008752011-05-11T08:00:00.004-05:002011-05-23T20:25:07.567-05:00

I have a hunch this post is going to meander all over the place. So if you enjoy meandering, read on. Otherwise, you probably should go find a more focused blogger.Sunday morning I posted this “status update” to my Facebook page: “Going offline. Heading to Grace Episcopal Church, then the bike trail ... expecting to find God in both places.”I posted that partly because I have gathered some new

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-56364808319515401292011-05-09T07:20:00.005-05:002011-05-09T11:43:50.214-05:00

You know that my mother died in October 2007. You have also seen some of the sweet “Mother’s Day” posts around the blogosphere. I trust it will not surprise you that I didn’t join in the paeans to mothers.If you’ve been following, you know that I have ambivalent feelings about my mother. She let my father beat me. Eventually, we had a profoundly honest conversation, and I understand why she

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-34518428241967243252011-05-04T07:36:00.003-05:002011-05-04T20:18:20.237-05:00

Not much has pleased or amused me about the assassination of Osama bin Laden, but – no surprise here! – MadPriest has succeeded where others have failed.He writes:10 years ... trillions of dollars ... thousands of soldiers dead ... state of the art technology ... and the US finally found Bin Laden . . .in his house! Puh-leeze don’t quibble with me that bin Laden was a guest in someone else’s

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-86704190889514915862011-05-04T06:21:00.002-05:002011-05-04T20:17:17.933-05:00

After my blog Monday night, I was pleased to hear this four-minute segment on NPR lastevening about the reaction of some students to the assassination of Osama bin Laden.[No transcript of the segment is available, so I've quoted liberally from the audio.]NPR acknowledges that thousands of students congregated at the Boston Common, then interviews Boston University students who are “celebrating

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-49556789517447116902011-05-02T22:19:00.006-05:002011-05-03T00:11:20.136-05:00

The news came across the wire: The U.S. Military had murdered Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the attacks on the U.S. in September 2001. Most of the people of my generation responded with some mixed feelings. Children of the ‘60s, many of us decried the violence. In my Facebook posts, I decried the goal of murder rather than justice. Several of us –and I among them – lamented the

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-41957487598452080702011-04-27T07:38:00.001-05:002011-04-27T07:38:00.369-05:00

Mocha came home with me nearly three years ago. I’ve written about her here before. She was dumped at my vet’s office. While there, she met my Scotty, and they fell into deep friendship. While she was a love-bunny with Scotty (now departed this earth), she has never become relaxed with me in these three years. She will be affectionate when I am sitting on the sofa … if she comes of her own

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-20725593696620357372011-04-24T18:52:00.003-05:002011-04-24T19:19:40.442-05:00

Without a doubt, my experience of this Holy Week has been shaped by a sermon that my friend and blogging colleague Elizabeth Kaeton shared with some of us this week. It's a sermon that Briallen Hopper (a student at Yale Divinity School) preached last Sunday, on the day called Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. Ms. Hopper blogs here at the Huffington Post. Dan Savage posted it here. He wrote:

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-19437889834530588702011-04-23T20:28:00.006-05:002011-04-24T14:24:00.406-05:00

“Are You Alright?”“Are you alright?” That’s the question that one of our ministers asked me this Good Friday evening as I left the nave.NO! I am not all right!Our liturgy encourages us to move deeply into the days and seasons of the year.I got home on this Good Friday at about 5:00 p.m. I had a couple of hours to dwell with the meaning of this day.Part of my Holy Week discipline is to pay

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-58041657268264211872011-03-21T23:49:00.002-05:002011-03-22T00:25:24.901-05:00

[I hope that you all have been able to see the TEC webcasts of all the plenary sessions. They are supposedly there, but my browser hasn’t let me access them. I hope you’ve been able to see them.]In the 1st plenary session, we were greeted by Bonnie Anderson, President of the House of Deputies. She remarked that the session was historic in two ways.First, she said this was the first time that the

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-79882052613716939562011-03-21T23:25:00.002-05:002011-03-21T23:29:36.115-05:00

There is very much I want to share with you all about the SCLM consultation. But, alas, weariness has thwarted me. I had an automotive calamity on the drive home from Atlanta on Saturday, so that I only arrived home at 5 a.m. on Sunday, and I’ve been physically and emotionally wiped out since then. [At church Sunday, my priest gave me a “godly admonition” to go home and sleep as long as I could …

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-85739036873957214312011-03-21T00:49:00.005-05:002011-03-21T00:55:52.001-05:00

There and Back AgainI don’t generally share – either here or on Facebook – advance notice of times when I am going to be out of town. But some of you know that I’ve been out of town for the past few days. I left on Thursday morning, and just returned home at 4 a.m. on Sunday. I traveled to Atlanta to attend a meeting of the Episcopal Church. Specifically, I was one of our diocese’s two General

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-17182131030735981692011-03-13T08:32:00.001-05:002011-03-13T16:26:06.437-05:00

Deep thanks to John White for giving us this first-person account of Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori's visit to the Diocese of Albany.As you will recall, Albany is one of those dioceses that has distanced itself from the Episcopal Church, taking a conservative stance on the "issues of the day." The conservative majority in Albany endorsed the so-called Anglican Covenant even before the final

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-31984574083489373252011-03-12T22:44:00.003-06:002011-03-12T22:52:04.739-06:00

When I awoke Friday to the news of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan … and its widening scope along the Pacific shore lines … I was astonished by the destruction and felt the need to pray. My prayers were plebian. I give thanks to the Revs. Jennifer Phillips and Ernest W. Cockrell for crafting this one, which I copy here with permission.Merciful God, in your hands are the caverns of the earth,

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-49558490035288826842011-03-09T20:57:00.005-06:002011-03-09T21:10:43.308-06:00

It happened again. Of course, it always does, for Ash Wednesday comes ‘round every year.I needed it this year perhaps more than some years. This liturgy suited me today. I needed the reminder of my creatureliness, my smallness in this world and in the cosmos. And my smallness even in my community.This year, it was hard to hear – but in a healthy way – “Remember thou art dust, and to dust you

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-88649125945474922312011-03-08T19:55:00.004-06:002011-03-08T21:28:41.785-06:00

I have much more personal to say about my own journey and thoughts. But at the moment, I need to pause to share this news from TEC.I'm one of the two Deputies from our diocese who will be attending the consultation in Atlanta March 18-19. I'm glad they're going to make a webcast available and happy to share this news with all of you.Here's the announcement from TEC:Office of Communication to live

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-63927660961544195082011-03-07T22:25:00.006-06:002011-03-07T22:54:15.496-06:00

Some of you know that I went on a trip to Lui (our companion diocese in South Sudan) in early 2006.When I landed in Lui after 26 hours in transit, I got a bit freaked out. I was half a world away. I was with people in our diocese whom I had met only once. I was in an alien part of the world. The rest of our team went out the first day to visit our friends in Lui. But I could not. I was

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-48692027754432691562011-03-06T19:00:00.003-06:002011-03-07T02:23:57.340-06:00

Here's a blog that I drafted (but did not post) last month. It still makes sense to me. I don't know about the rest of you bloggers, but I know I have a tendency to rant. Sometimes in my blogging, I forget that I am talking about real people ... even if they are people very far away from me, like the Archbishop of Canterbury or the schismatics of the Southern Cone. The local event made me realize

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-31218896904748393482011-03-06T17:45:00.001-06:002011-03-06T17:53:44.626-06:00

The fact that I have been unable to blog here for more than two months alerts me (and probably many of you) to the fact that Something is Wrong. Indeed, something has been very wrong. I’ve had a voice problem. Not the sort that musicians have. But the sort that an individual has … an individual who has been writing in one voice and begins to question herself.An event occurred in my parish in

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-8140934439969553112011-01-15T22:18:00.001-06:002011-01-16T19:36:43.097-06:00

Having recently passed my 56th birthday, I think I can safely post and chuckle along with this. Thanks to my friend Bruce for sending it along.During a visit to my doctor, I asked him, "How do you determine whether or not an older person should be put in an old age home?" "Well," he said, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup & a bucket to the person to empty the bathtub." "Oh

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-61682353567324711492010-12-17T07:23:00.002-06:002010-12-17T20:40:00.315-06:00

Calling all Episcopalians who care about The Hymnal 1982 and about the congregational and choral singing in our churches!The General Convention in 2009 called for a feasibility study on hymnal revision. Resolution B004 charged "Church Publishing Incorporated, working with the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music [SCLM], to conduct a feasibility study on the need for revision of The Hymnal

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-51428306712668319272010-12-16T19:47:00.001-06:002010-12-16T19:49:00.295-06:00

Events of the past few days have certainly caught me up short and have required me to reconsider some of the ways I’ve been thinking, talking, and writing. Those have been some pretty heavy thoughts with a great deal of reflection, soul-searching, and Old Testament-style “beating of the breast.” [If you're on Facebook, you may have a little more context about this.]In the midst of all that, I was

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-75452865521621742602010-11-29T06:15:00.003-06:002010-12-16T19:36:08.338-06:00

Yesterday, our delegates to the convention of the Diocese of Missouri (held last weekend) reported to the parish about the convention. In years past, we delivered a dry summary of legislative actions – the budget approved, action on resolutions, people elected. At the end of convention last weekend, we agreed we wanted to take something quite different to the parish. We wanted to reflect on our

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-47817074816002497732010-11-28T21:49:00.003-06:002010-11-28T22:24:14.946-06:00

I wrote here about my standing for election as a Deputy to the 2012 General Convention. Frankly, I didn’t expect to be elected, particularly since all of our 2009 Deputies were running for re-election. And we had a marvelous deputation in 2009.Against my expectations, I was elected to serve as one of the Deputies to the 2012 General Convention. For you wonks, I am L4; I garnered the 4th-highest

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-88447950006558653942010-11-18T22:02:00.001-06:002010-11-18T22:03:40.387-06:00

Tomorrow, I will be traveling to St. Charles as a delegate to the annual convention of the Diocese of Missouri. I always look forward to convention – which I also term “my big fat Episcopal family reunion.” Over the past decade – perhaps because of my role as Chair of the Companion Diocese (with Lui, Sudan) and visiting many parishes – I have grown to know very many people throughout the diocese,

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-27624203895084842812010-11-05T06:13:00.005-05:002010-11-05T06:13:00.472-05:00

I am happy to commend to you an essay written by my friend David Fly. He gave it the title, “Magical Mystery Tour.” It’s online here, and it is magical. It might refresh your vision of ministry – baptismal and ordained – and love for the church in these times.I’m tempted to copy the entire essay here, but I don’t want to hog the hits. So I’ll just provide this snippet from early in the piece:Over

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-17994638377400636322010-11-04T23:11:00.002-05:002010-11-05T02:13:21.073-05:00

For the sake of my sanity, living in the benighted middle of Missouri, I really should return to my “home” newspaper, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, more often. This evening I spent some time catching up with Mike Luckovich’s editorial cartoons.Well in advance of this week’s elections, he wrote:I may be doing a cartoon on John Boehner. If the Republicans take the House, it will be historic

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-83197934056974939992010-11-02T19:12:00.004-05:002010-11-02T21:47:17.880-05:00

I don’t know about you, but I’m totally plugged into the news reports tonight about the election results. Here in conservative Missouri, I assume I will again be in the losing column on just about everything.Probably like most of you, I was sickened by the negative ads that all the candidates – Democrats and Republicans – ran this year. There were a few exceptions, but most of the candidates

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-16049319563230773992010-10-24T18:16:00.002-05:002010-10-24T18:17:23.648-05:00

Deep thanks to all of you who have supported me (with jokes, prayers, and counsel) while I prepared today's sermon. I promised to post it here, and so I shall.Here's an aside: I went surfing through Google Images, seeking an image that conveyed the image I have of the Pharisee and the tax collector who went up to the temple to pray. But not one of them fit the mental image I have. (The one I used

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-49101187153085077382010-10-20T17:48:00.007-05:002010-10-20T18:36:58.970-05:00

Thanks for all your comments. Unfortunately, I won't be able to write "Lightning Strikes: Act Two" until at least Sunday p.m. I am the preacher this Sunday, and all my thinking and writing energy has to go into that sermon. (Especially since I've had a day of yucky illness today. Dang it!)The lectionary for Sunday is a doozie. You can find the collect and readings here. Our parish is using Track

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-81528376864222046102010-10-17T21:54:00.003-05:002010-10-17T21:59:39.513-05:00

A Comedy – Act OneI had a business trip to Madison, Wisconsin, which should have been October 6-8. I went in my own car. Some of you know that I had been dreading this trip – did not want to do it.On Saturday before the trip, I took my car in to my regular mechanic, asking them to do an oil change and all the regular maintenance, plus – as I put it to them – “Check it all out so that I don’t end

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-48255792821261611882010-10-17T00:22:00.004-05:002010-10-20T18:57:56.770-05:00

I was amazed and moved by the video of Councilman Joel Burns’s October 12 remarks at the Fort Worth City Council meeting, broadcast in its full 12+ minutes on one of the national news channels. His words and the images he showed struck me deeply. I watched and listened, and I didn’t move a muscle. I just wept quietly, and felt deep gratitude for Councilman Burns’ courage in making that statement

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-32241849086952694362010-10-17T00:04:00.003-05:002010-10-17T00:11:48.852-05:00

From the time of Scotty’s death until now, I have had little energy for this blog. I've posted a few items with little commentary. I had to spend time in grief. In some ways, I am still there, grieving the loss of my big orange boy.And then work had me in travel status for much time.Tonight, the dam has opened, and I am writing again. I have no idea how much longer it will remain open.This "grief

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-53989966303759176692010-10-16T23:43:00.000-05:002010-10-17T01:50:43.570-05:00

In the past couple of weeks, many of you – if you’ve e-mailed me directly – have received an “auto-reply.” That’s because I’ve been “on the road” for most of this time, due to business travel. I don’t post that information in advance, because it would seem imprudent to let people know when I am going to be away from home. But I have had business trips to Wisconsin and within Missouri that have

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-89604501817317058852010-10-04T22:27:00.003-05:002010-10-04T22:30:30.371-05:00

I was grieved by the news of Tyler Clementi's suicide, after he was “outed” in a most humiliating way by his roommate and a “friend” at Rutgers. My heart groans for that young man. It reminds me of Lee Davenport, Alan Cheney, and others I have known who killed themselves rather than confronting the hatred they would have faced as gay people.I was reminded of the story I told a while back. I

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-6039519026014281562010-09-28T20:52:00.002-05:002010-09-28T20:56:03.161-05:00

I encourage you to read the post at my Lui (Sudan) blog.I am deeply committed to our Companion Diocese relationship with the Diocese of Lui (Sudan). I'm not going to say more now.

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-60060448094605301492010-09-22T21:22:00.002-05:002010-09-22T21:27:00.103-05:00

... from Brother Tobias of In a Godward Direction, commenting here on Scotty's death:"The cost of love is pain."Ain't it the truth?

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-61313336745099565592010-09-21T21:06:00.004-05:002010-09-22T21:32:52.884-05:00

Dear friends, you have walked with me over the last few days, and I am humbled by your kindness. It seems only fair to tell what is about to happen.As I write this, I wonder how much more I can cry. I’m writing this here, but I expect I won’t spend much time online. I have spent this evening with Scotty. This is an odd thing I observe: I expected Scotty to nap. But he does not. He scarcely closes

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-21860312506549533472010-09-20T22:59:00.005-05:002010-09-21T00:21:51.736-05:00

This is a follow-up to my post last night. As you will have gathered, I desperately need a liturgical resource for prayers over my dying cat, and I yearn for a sound liturgical guide for his death. One of the things I treasure about The Episcopal Church and the churches of the Anglican Communion is that we place a premium upon the Incarnation. We take a serious view of Christ’s incarnation as a

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-4849042722809669822010-09-19T23:54:00.003-05:002010-09-20T07:05:31.842-05:00

An Appeal to the Bishops & SCLMWhile I contemplate Scotty’s probable death, I thumb desperately through the Book of Common Prayer. I search the Web. I find no prayers that I can pray with him while we nestle together on the sofa … with me knowing he is near death. I find no prayers I can offer while we are at the vet’s before his death. I find no prayers that I can pray at his death. I find no

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-53645781010909172252010-09-19T22:42:00.002-05:002010-09-20T07:06:19.104-05:00

Dear friends, this is what you might call a premonitory note. I write it here with Scotty, my orange tabby lover-boy, by my side.Scotty, my stud-muffin, in 2006I know that many of you are keeping more serious, human vigils. I know of your battles and trials. But I must ask that you also keep Scotty and me in your prayers.I’ve used here a photo from a while back. I do not want to post a current

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-71235688269915956662010-09-16T08:15:00.002-05:002010-09-17T23:48:37.070-05:00

I probably would not tell this story, were it not for Grandmère Mimi’s insistent reporting on gay kids … or kids who are thought to be gay … like this one and this one.In the more recent story, Grandmère Mimi raises the questions of the school’s culpability. And there is much to question there.In telling my story, I certainly do not mean to minimize the horrors that these kids today are suffering

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-59213137644157542222010-09-10T21:53:00.003-05:002010-09-10T21:58:05.115-05:00

I’ve had a good couple of days, thanks to my day job. I’m just returned from two days and nearly 600 miles on the road. One fine digitization project, and visits to eight courthouses.I love road trips! But I prefer the ones that are bathed in sunshine. Unfortunately, this one fell during the monsoons that are the remnants of a hurricane, so it was more a “pontoon trip” than a “road trip.” I have

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-54112572555034523252010-09-04T19:57:00.000-05:002010-09-04T20:00:37.394-05:00

Listening to NPR’s interview this morning with Ann and Nancy Wilson, who comprise “Heart,” I heard a marvelous comment:The hardest thing you’ll ever learnis which bridge to crossand which bridge to burn.Ain’t it the truth? Now in my mid-50s, I find myself less and less clear about which bridge to cross and which to burn.

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-67442051981592870412010-09-03T21:21:00.006-05:002010-09-03T21:42:52.683-05:00

The care and preservation of historical documents is my life and my work.When I heard Glenn Beck claim he had held George Washington’s 1st inaugural address, I was suspicious. Even a state archives guards its treasures. I know that the National Archives would do more so.The story is now out at Mother Jones. Beck never touched the document that he discussed in a nearly-tearful moment in his rally

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-11200646631540138682010-09-02T21:34:00.000-05:002010-09-02T21:35:49.870-05:00

I've recently been pondering the possible forms of clergy abuse, clergy boundary violations, and when and whether one should confront the clergy person or speak with one's priest.So I was pleased to see Kirkepiscatoid's blogpost: "Oh, you wanted me to GUARD the sheep?"She raises good questions about the sick games some clergy play.There's no doubt I agree with KirkE that sick clergy need to be

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-51017401386159437692010-09-01T22:46:00.003-05:002010-09-01T22:47:21.521-05:00

I'm grateful to my friend Tom Woodward for sending this one along to me.As Tom writes: "If you're not aware of who Maggie Gallagher is, she's the in charge of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), a particularly vicious and hateful anti-gay group."I love how this cartoon exposes the hypocrisy of the typical people who oppose same-sex marriage.

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-88933508547163614242010-08-26T07:05:00.000-05:002010-08-26T07:05:00.359-05:00

This has no theological significance! I just loved the picture. So cute!

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-2748407106207826802010-08-21T19:05:00.006-05:002010-08-21T22:22:37.685-05:00

Thoughts of the DeadRead this one in a minor key.I've been thinking about funerals today. The Unapologetically Episcopalian Facebook page linked to this a while back. But I hated the gory visuals that were included on that version. This one's more peaceful to me.I could listen to this over and over. In fact, I have listened to it over and over today.I've heard it sung during Tenebrae. But one

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-40189861779932455352010-08-12T20:35:00.003-05:002010-08-12T20:38:53.248-05:00

In the last couple of weeks, there has been much conversation about Anne Rice’s repudiating “Christianity” … “in the name of Christ,” as she put it. [See her comments on July 28 and following.] On July 28, she wrote:Anne Rice For those who care, and I understand if you don't: Today I quit being a Christian. I'm out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being "Christian" or to being

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-64736929551537408142010-08-09T19:46:00.001-05:002010-08-09T19:46:45.080-05:00

Admittedly, that’s a teaser headline. I don’t watch Fox News, but I expect that their talking heads are still exploding at the California Supreme Court’s decision last week to overturn Prop 8 and thus re-open marriage to gay and lesbian couples. However, people responding on the Fox News website apparently do support gay marriage. Now that is a news flash![BTW, Need I tell you how very much I

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-18744378798597702662010-08-08T21:34:00.001-05:002010-08-08T21:38:29.359-05:00

If you know little else about me, surely you know that I love serving as crucifer, that I take the ministry of acolyte very seriously, and that I could easily be accused of being a “liturgy nazi” in our little parish.This morning, I was reminded of the benefits of “cross-training” among those who serve at the altar. I was serving as one of the two Lay Eucharistic Ministers. After the offertory,

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-31734786325521737352010-08-03T22:21:00.001-05:002010-08-03T22:24:24.872-05:00

In Which I Voice My Political Opinions, At the Sure and Certain Risk of My JobOh, shame. Oh, woe. Today I did something I have never done in my life. On this Primary Election Day in Missouri, I went into my precinct and … I took a Republican ballot for the primary election. I have never before done that in my life. But in my town/county/district, there are very few Democrats running. In fact,

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-21705470698437556872010-07-30T23:34:00.001-05:002010-07-30T23:36:52.504-05:00

Some of my blogging friends and colleagues have done a fine job in commenting on the recently adjourned meeting of the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion. I'm grateful for their commentary, for ... frankly ... I have grown weary of the whole Anglican Communion sturm und drang.And Matthew Davies -- God's gift to Episcopal News Service! -- has provided fine journalistic posts about the

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-40180253544635295952010-07-29T21:56:00.004-05:002010-07-29T22:09:41.082-05:00

I have this date on my calendar every year: the day on which eleven women were made priests in the Episcopal Church. Had that event not happened, I'm not sure I'd be an Episcopalian ... or even a Christian.Each year, I contribute to the altar flowers on the Sunday nearest that date, in thanks for the courage of those women and the bishops who ordained them … and in thanks for the ministry of all

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-68225763321824400392010-07-28T20:54:00.006-05:002010-07-28T21:07:40.148-05:00

With our rector on vacation and 12,000 miles away, our former rector [Harv Sanders] returned to the parish last Sunday to preach and celebrate the Eucharist for the first time in more than four years. He delivered a marvelous sermon; if you are on Facebook, you can read it here.In his sermon, Harv mentioned those times when we feel like “prayer is like talking to the wall; it's as though there is

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-36333573021202334182010-07-27T20:12:00.005-05:002010-07-28T07:25:15.167-05:00

With a hat-tip to Louie Crew for finding this incredibly hypocritical story from Zimbabwe.Ecumenical News International (26 July 2010)Daily News ServiceMugabe condemns churches that allow gay marriagesHarare, 26 July (ENI)--Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has lashed out at churches that allow same-sex marriages, and said gay rights would not be included in a new constitution being written for

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-30864618744735010582010-07-24T08:15:00.000-05:002010-07-24T08:15:00.518-05:00

Daniel Schorr is dead. It feels like the end of an era. I sat in the car and wept last evening as I heard the news from NPR.I’ll confess it: I am a total NPR junkie. I wake to it in the morning. When I get to my car after work, it’s already on. On weekends, I plan my activities around it. On Saturday mornings, I especially waited for the segment in which Scott Simon would talk with Daniel Schorr

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-15512817257953563102010-07-21T14:34:00.005-05:002010-07-22T21:41:12.549-05:00

One of the sad things about living in this small town is its small-minded, right-wing newspaper. I subscribe so that I can keep up with the local news (relying on NPR and PBS for the national news). But the "opinion" page sickens me. I miss the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where I used to live.I recently discovered that Atlanta's award-winning editorial cartoonist has his work online. Go here to

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-21935530956265401572010-07-21T07:33:00.004-05:002010-07-21T22:27:05.087-05:00

Y’all know me by now, so you know my southern genes lead me to tell long tales in order to get to my point. So settle back and listen to my too-long story. Or don't, if you lack the patience.When I came to Missouri in 1998, I had spent my life in the South. And most of my adult life had been spent in dyed-in-the-wool liberal Atlanta. The sainted John Lewis was my Congressman. Then there was a

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-89141843638771169582010-07-20T22:29:00.002-05:002010-07-20T22:33:22.733-05:00

My blog-friend Elizabeth Kaeton asks a series of trouble-stirring questions over at her blog. Or at least they are trouble-stirring for me.She observes the shortage of seminary-trained clergy in the Episcopal Church. She acknowledges that many Episcopal parishes are hard-pressed to afford the salary, housing, auto allowance, pension contribution, and health insurance of seminary trained priests.

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-27412864809970355062010-07-14T22:27:00.003-05:002010-07-14T22:32:38.728-05:00

Yet again, I have endured another July 14th. Each year, it slams into my gut like a sledgehammer.Since it’s been 33 years, I generally don’t remember July 14 is coming.But there comes a moment where I have to sign a note “July 14,” and then it slams into me.It happened again today. While I was at church today, mourning and celebrating the life of a member of our parish … I realized it was also

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-39640629777463311132010-07-12T20:38:00.001-05:002010-07-12T20:48:54.622-05:00

We've had a fairly intense few days in my wee parish, as one of our own has died too young ... too sadly .. after too much suffering. I haven't had time to write here, as local concerns are foremost. Of your mercy, say a prayer for Janice, who has now joined the saints in glory, and for her teenage son John who has lost his only parent. While the Church of England sings the most recent verse in

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-40749701387306013652010-07-06T07:10:00.003-05:002010-07-06T07:17:23.699-05:00

Elizabeth Kaeton has written a most thought-provoking essay at her blog. It’s an over-simplification to say this, but I’ll say it anyway: She asks why all our metrics of parish growth and health are based on the number of people who plop their butts in the pew on any given Sunday and how much they drop into the offering plate. That is to say, we worship at the Golden Calf known as ASA [average

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-75647995974434275652010-07-05T15:49:00.006-05:002010-07-05T16:39:30.280-05:00

OK, KirkE, challenge accepted. What do you make of this?Thanks for discovering (and sharing with us) this marvelous time-suck. It's a procrastinator's dream. Posting in haste, I'm not about to comment on the insightful parts of your blogpost, except to say a quiet and sincere "Amen."

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-16843381341466921382010-07-01T06:15:00.000-05:002010-07-01T06:15:01.398-05:00

If you’ve been reading here, you know that The Episcopal Church has chosen to make Lauren Stanley some sort of sacrificial lamb. For whatever trumped-up reasons, they and/or the Bishop of Haiti have recalled her from Haiti. Their press release raised more questions than it answered.I have learned from a friend of hers that Lauren’s VTS doctoral classmates have designated today as “Blame Lauren”

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-76033301687613783002010-06-29T01:46:00.001-05:002010-06-29T01:50:32.852-05:00

Ever since the BP oil disaster, I have been listening to the news and especially listening to Grandmère Mimi. Add her to your blogroll, if you haven’t already.By the way: It’s not a “spill” or a “leak.” It’s a full-fledged cataclysmic disaster. No matter how the BP executives or others may want to spin it.For most of my adult life, I’ve been a hiker, bird-watcher, lover of nature. I used to live

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-50727637947321846692010-06-26T20:42:00.006-05:002010-06-26T21:01:18.881-05:00

“So long, and thanks for all the fish”I was dismayed to read this week from Episcopal News Service that the Rev. Lauren Stanley “is no longer to be involved” as TEC’s missionary to the Diocese of Haiti. Lauren posted the news here.You will remember that Lauren Stanley was TEC’s missionary in Haiti. And you may remember her full-blown joy, as I do, as captured in the photo here.Lauren Stanley is

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-66198079942047457222010-06-26T19:30:00.001-05:002010-06-26T19:36:42.365-05:00

For some people in the Anglican Communion, “diversity is a problem.” Episcopal News Service posted this story, in which the Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, decried the diversity in the Anglican Communion. Katie Sherrod has an account of Canon Kearon’s egregious statement to our Executive Council.For other people, reaching across boundaries reveals unity and

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-63793869404549267252010-06-26T16:45:00.000-05:002010-06-26T16:49:34.277-05:00

Katie Sherrod has produced a beautiful, haunting photo essay on the Anglican Covenant. It may be the most moving and articulate essay I’ve seen on the subject … even after all these years of Covenant talk. It’s poetry, by my definition.Here’s just a snippet from near the conclusion: And I know this is exactly what the proposed Anglican Covenant will do to the Anglican Communion.It seeks to wrap

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-14299884809678320072010-06-19T08:25:00.004-05:002010-06-28T22:19:58.286-05:00

This is just too funny! Thanks to TexasBishop for posting this on Friday.Note: This tiny size is the only size TwitPic allows me to post. If you click on the image, it will take you to the TwitPic page. Please do that, so I don't get in trouble. Here's a bit larger version, but go here for the full-size drawing.Let the people say, “Amen!”06/28/10 Postscript: Dear friends: Bosco today has

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-30872624432740101352010-06-18T22:47:00.004-05:002010-06-18T22:59:56.036-05:00

Over at Preludium, Mark Harris posted the questions the Executive Council was going to pose to Kenneth Kearon, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion. I was grateful to see the questions. And I’ve been grateful for the subsequent reports about the conversation.One commenter, who calls himself “Sam,” made this comment:Sounds like a bunch of whining to me.Why can't our members on EC

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-36852721031154408302010-06-18T12:35:00.002-05:002010-06-18T12:38:38.365-05:00

Blame Ann for getting me hooked on Jesus and Mo. Today's strip seems oddly relevant to our Anglican situation. Substitute Rowan for Mo, and it pretty well fits, don't you think?

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-59821034683907205482010-06-18T07:13:00.009-05:002010-06-18T20:04:32.331-05:00

I am going to assume that you readers are following the news. I will assume that you know +Rowan (or someone higher than him at Lambeth Palace*) forbade +KJS to function or vest as a bishop, and that he (or someone higher than him at Lambeth Palace*) forbade her to wear the mitre that a bishop would generally wear. You can find relevant posts on Twitter or in the blogosphere by searching “

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-74712165254764129402010-06-17T20:37:00.005-05:002010-06-17T20:45:24.823-05:00

I haven’t tried to blog about the many developments in the recent drama in the Anglican Communion. I have relied on others to cover and comment on it all: the two Pentecost letters [the fearful angry one from Rowan Williams, and the brave Christian one from Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori] … the over-reaching letters from Kenneth Kearon booting Episcopalians off Anglican Communion

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-56714938136553210872010-06-12T23:28:00.008-05:002010-06-14T21:08:48.626-05:00

[Preface added Monday, June 14: Late Saturday night, I committed here an act of “blog-blurterry.” Yes, I just now invented that word; but most of you bloggers probably understand it. Occasionally, one shoots “blurts” into the blogosphere, rather than well considered and carefully nuanced essays. That certainly was the case in this one. I should have saved it as a draft for more thoughtful

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-5363778850392053002010-06-07T19:40:00.005-05:002010-06-07T19:54:28.426-05:00

As I wrote earlier, I spent most of my time last week preparing to preach in my parish. It was quite the week! I hope to post a little piece about the process of preparation and about how I experienced the day. For now, I’ll just say it was a very good day, that I enjoyed preaching, and that I received very positive and humbling feedback.I tried to post this last night, but I kept getting the "

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-42077375110356297312010-06-03T21:59:00.003-05:002010-06-03T22:20:26.301-05:00

As Viewed by Diana Butler BassDiana Butler Bass has posted an intriguing essay at Beliefnet: “Rowan Williams and Katharine Jefferts Schori: Anglican Smack-Down.” Many of us have been focusing on the theological differences in the two letters and what they may signal for the relationship between The Episcopal Church (U.S.) and the wider Anglican Communion.Butler Bass takes a different tack. She

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-92028711145064614512010-06-03T14:51:00.004-05:002010-06-03T14:56:43.693-05:00

NOT!But I am afraid this has been a recurring problem as I've begun actively trying to write ye olde sermon.Thank you, Dave Walker. You always seem to know just what to draw.Cartoon by Dave Walker from here. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.See ... I'm doing it again. Alas ...

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-20116721624300836382010-06-02T21:37:00.001-05:002010-06-02T23:39:05.320-05:00

And now we have the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church responding to Rowan’s letter. I have often been critical of our Presiding Bishop and her writings, but you’ll hear no criticism from me for this letter. It is gentle and yet quite firm – even poetic and expansive. “We are who we are.” “We invite you into deeper engagement.” It seems to me that she hit this one out of the park. Please

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-819344919483843012010-06-02T21:15:00.004-05:002010-06-02T21:24:58.633-05:00

I am determined to focus my energies on my sermon prep. In keeping with that, I have not commented on the odious Pentecost letter of the Archbishop of Canterbury in which he comes out swinging hysterically because the Episcopal Church consecrated a godly priest as a bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles. Nor will I call attention to his venom against one of our new bishops, compared to his

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-72825450181779720342010-05-30T02:24:00.005-05:002010-05-30T03:10:47.755-05:00

Dear friends –It has generally been my habit to spend Saturday catching up on some of your blogs. But I unplugged Friday night and didn’t turn on the laptop Saturday until very, very late. I hope to stay mostly unplugged through most of this long weekend.And why?Because – God help me! – I am preparing to preach.Some of you will recall that I preached in another parish of our diocese last year. I

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-86988632393070115472010-05-30T00:42:00.003-05:002010-05-30T00:46:58.217-05:00

I have already written to thee, most excellent Theophilus and Theophilians, of the utter hypocrisy that Archbishop Williams appeared in Washington, D.C., last week leading a conference on “building bridges” between the Christian and Muslim faiths, while doing his best to destroy all that is best within the Anglican Communion.The Apostle Matthew has done a fine job of documenting Rowan’s miracle

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-65354599582973473202010-05-26T07:00:00.003-05:002010-05-26T09:51:36.206-05:00

Episcopal News Service reports that "Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is chairing the ninth annual Building Bridges Seminar in Washington D.C. from May 25-27."Quick! What do you think may be the important bridges that Rowan Williams might need to help build?This is the Rowan Williams who took less than 12 hours to condemn the election of Mary Glasspool as a bishop suffragan in the Diocese

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-10089251789231600772010-05-25T23:10:00.004-05:002010-05-25T23:15:43.183-05:00

I hear Rowan Williams is on U.S. soil. My little fox-buddy has only one question:

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-82622870733750378252010-05-25T23:00:00.001-05:002010-05-25T23:02:30.158-05:00

You know I'm a fan of ICanHasCheezburger. This one made me chuckle ... especially since I now have a fluffly little "no no kitteh."

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-41378038696955372592010-05-25T21:29:00.000-05:002010-05-25T21:30:49.521-05:00

It appears that President Obama and the U.S. Congress might actually look again at the "Don't Ask/Don't Tell" [DADT] legislation. I hope they will. I just finished watching a segment on the Rachel Maddow Show, where she interviewed U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), an Iraq veteran, who said it was a non-issue when he was in Iraq.14,000 loyal Americans have been kicked out of the military since

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-61657893294522172922010-05-24T22:35:00.003-05:002010-05-24T22:44:44.022-05:00

Times must be tough for those nominal “Episcopalian” fundamentalists who think they are the Guardians of The Faith Once Delivered to the Saints. Despite all the hissy-fits they have offered since 2003, our church has moved forward in ordination of gay/lesbian persons to all orders of ministry and in same-sex blessings.Apparently, it makes some of them hysterical.Having lost on virtually every

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-14222516388622274212010-05-24T21:09:00.007-05:002010-05-24T21:31:10.464-05:00

I have a terrible confession to make: I don’t think I’ve ever said morning prayer on my own. I admit it’s a defect in my life as a Christian and Episcopalian.But mornings are generally crazy for me. I set my alarm for 6:30 on workdays and just barely have time to make it to work at 8:00 . I have no leisurely time in which to pray. Generally, it’s a flat-out race to tend the cats, make the bed,

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-81799175495682982342010-05-18T00:08:00.005-05:002010-05-18T00:19:53.744-05:00

I had hoped to be out in Los Angeles for the consecrations of Bishops Jardine and Glasspool, but it didn’t work out. I have watched the news about the event. By most accounts, it was a glorious, joyous day.By sheer happenstance, our consecration in Long Beach was happening alongside the local gay pride event. So, of course, the homophobic Neanderthals showed up. Apparently, our friends had to

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31781734.post-80105388813994257892010-05-17T12:56:00.000-05:002010-05-17T12:56:00.502-05:00

Episcopal News Service reports that the Rev. John Danforth has been honored at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest. Some of you may recall he was a U.S. Senator from Missouri. Some will recall his marvelous work in bringing peace to Sudan, which ended the years-long civil war. Those of us in Missouri honor him as a priest; he’s still canonically resident here and is a regular parishioner in

Lisa Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881671380217888810noreply@blogger.com5