"How we see the world is how we learn to value it." --Ellen Davis, Biblical Scholar

So, I realise that my last entry about church drama has everything to do with church politics and a dying church. No questions about it.

It frustrates me, as I know that this is what I'm supposed to do.

I'll be rewriting the email that I wrote. It's sat in my drafts folder of my email for forty-eight hours. And probably needs to stew a little longer. Rash behaviour does not suit me, and does not work in this case. Also, sitting over coffee might also be something to consider. I'd love to have an object lesson in play: give her materials to build things, but no tools, as well as a long list of dos and don'ts (with more don'ts than dos), but that would be mean, even if it did prove my point. Being mean is not something that one does when attempting to take the moral high road, I've decided.

What exactly is so scary about attempting growth? Yes, ideas change. People do, too. That doesn't mean that change is a bad thing. It's just a different thing.

It's like the SW just doesn't want to attempt it because it would be easier to give up.

I don't give up so easily.

And I don't want to see my parish die, either.

Well, I'm going back to Episcopal General Convention, God willing.

I've got to raise $1500 (at least) in order to go, because it's in Anaheim. And California's freakin' expensive. I may set up a secondary LJ account to sell stuff, but I'm not sure right now. All I know is that the diocese can only afford to give me $200 as of now. I have to pay for my transportation there, I'm assuming my $350 for the entire five days there (in other words, I'm not sure the diocese will cover all of that), and food and other incidentals. The good thing is that I don't have to buy a camera. And I'm more than likely going to end up writing yet another article for the West Missouri Spirit, which will be cool, no lie.

So, here's where I need your help.

Please pray for the following:

Money.

It's an obvious thing. And yes, I did do the geek girls calendar, so that should help with a bit of the money problem (maybe?), but at the same time, $1500 for a week in California is expensive. Food will be expensive, flying out there will be expensive, activities will be expensive (somehow, Disneyland is on the agenda. I'm wondering who's paying for it. If I am, I'm sure as hell -not going-...and apparently, it's on my ticket, so no, I'm -not going-. But, I do get a day to enjoy California. This could be nice), yada, yada, yada. Plus, I have to cover my rent that month, too, and I'll be on unemployment (which, while good, won't cover everything). And yes, I know people aren't made of money. And yes, I know, this economy sucks. I went ahead and put Father Mike on notice that there was a big chance I may not make it out there, so we'll see.

Travelling mercies.

Since I believe I'm traveling by myself cross-country, I'm going to need those travelling mercies. Since it's also July (the ninth through the fourteenth, if memory serves right), it means that it'll be one of those peak travel times.

Anti.

Yes, I'll be away from him for a week. Hopefully, he'll be okay, but I do worry about the silly boy.

More ministry discernment.

As I wrote about this three years ago (really? Has it been that long ago already? Really?) in this entry, discernment's been something I've been working on for a while. I'm not sure if I'm anywhere closer, but I am sure that I do learn a ton from events like this. And I want to see what I can take away to impact my students here in Maryville.

So, yes, while I'm sad I can't make Lilies, at that same point, Young Adult Festival/General Convention only happens every three years. This is my second one, and because I won't be a young adult for too much longer, it may be my second-to-last one (my last one may be at 28...we'll see). I know I can't afford both, and in this case, I think it my duty to my church, my students, and my own spiritual life to go to GC.

So please, if you're of that type, please pray.

Thanks.

Well, if it's not SCA in my life, then it's church stuff. (always.)

Here we go. I have less than a week to put together something for my college aged kids for our kick-off Sunday. I'm thinking another movie night, but even I'm getting sick of those.

So.

Imagine yourself in college/back in college/college-aged, etc. What would get you through the door? What would get you involved? What would minister to you?

I know I'm missing questions. Answer ones you have. (It helps me fill in my own blanks.) I'm wanting inexpensive, profound, and something I can get done by Saturday night at the latest. Denomination of the ministry is Episcopalian, but is open to all faiths and backgrounds.

If you have something to post, even if it's silly, please post it. I welcome answers.

First off, I do apologise about not doing a follow-up on the Presiding Bishop and Diocesan Convention. I am going stir-crazy with activity. (I'm seriously living out of a suitcase for the next two weekends. Yay, events!) In fact, I'm trying to pack for Crown Tournament tomorrow. Martinus is supposed to pick me up at two tomorrow afternoon, and I still have to do laundry, shower, clean my feastgear of dust, and pack. BRWAR! Going insane! You're welcome to join me! I promise I don't bite...hard.

Anyway.

Friday dawned beautifully sunny, but yeeks, it was cold. Ended up going for abour thirty minutes without a nametag, but yet, everyone knows who the hell I am. Seriously, I realise this is Diocesan Convention, but how is it everyone knows who I am? Oh. Right. Young Adult Ministry and getting called up to speak in front of EVERYBODY at the last Convention. Yep. That'd do it. It was mostly education sessions and worship (I went to two: Little Prayerbook on the Prairie, about the history of the Diocese of West Missouri and one on reconciliation from Paul's point of view. Also interesting, but I definitely got a lot out of the history one. Understandably, being the history geek I am.) By the time the evening rolled around, people started milling about, buzzing about one of two things: the presidential election and when the PB would arrive, which she did, later that evening. I met her at the social hour prior to dinner, which was pretty nifty. Where was a camera when I needed it?

For some reason, I always get suckered into going to the banquet, which usually ends up pretty darn good. This year was no different...except I then realised it was catered by dun dun DUUUUUUUN! Aramark. Yep. I can't escape. Ever. Food was still pretty good, but I felt so bad about wasting so much of it because there was a TON of it left over from my plate alone. Conversation was great. I sat with St. Augustine's this year (which is ALWAYS a treat. Love them so much).

The Bishop's Shield awards were given out, and then the PB was called to speak. Short message about how helping the poor is our mission. I won't contest that point, but I'd like to amend that helping everyone is our call to mission. And it goes past that point to actively ministering to them. Meh. I know, I've already spoke of my theological differences with Bishop Katherine. I'll stop. Anyway. Bishop Barry gave Bishop Katherine a desk plaque with "The Buck Stops Here" engraved on it. If you know anything, absolutely anything about Missouri history, you'll know that our thirty-third President is from the surrounding area. Oh, Barry. I had to mention to our table that we had a silly Bishop. I still maintain that we do.

Saturday was filled with voting, as usual, and for once, I didn't have to count ballots, I didn't have to vote, and the deliberation process this year was oddly subdued. Not that I mind. I don't. The measures that were voted on weren't even that controversial. For once! The PB came back in from visiting with the youth, right as the courtesy resolutions were being spoken, and she sat right next to me. Blew my mind. After that, we finished with a hymn, and I went home to my parents. (There is much talk of me going to General Convention again this year, in Anaheim. We'll see.)

Sunday was the day of the end of the Emmaus Era in the diocese, marking several growths and changes for (hopefully) the better. Celebrating that with the Eucharist, the PB being the Celebrant, it was interesting. I was told I should try and process in, but as there wasn't a place for Young Adult Ministers to do so, I was made a Junior Junior Warden on the spot and told to go process with the Junior and Senior Wardens. Yay, vestry! Bishop Katherine avoided all of the weird stuff she's said in the past, and continued with what she noted in her previous address about helping the poor, even in times of uncertain financial problems looming on the horizon. (My only question is, what about the poor within our own churches? What do we do with them?) Asperges were done (rather forcefully. It felt like a good steady rain for a while), as well as a rather traditional Celebration Eucharist. Not quite Rite I, but definitely not Rite III. Like Rite II, but more sombre.

And then I went home to Maryville.

It's all I can write right now. My duffel is looking at me, empty. And I need to pack, now. (I just wish my napkins would dry faster!)

Up next? Crown Tourney! YAY! I'll be back Sunday sometime. And don't forget to change your clocks back.

ALSO.

If you ordered a geek girls calendar on the first printing, they are being shipped now. If you would like me to autograph my page for you, now is the time to let me know.

So much for event high.

While my joints feel much better today, I miss being around everyone. Good thing that people in BFS want me to let them know when I'll be in town next. :D Hee hee. At this rate, outside of Diocesan Convention, the next time I'll be in town will be...Thanksgiving? Christmas? Sometime in there?

I guess this means I get to plan which event is my next one. Decisions, decisions. I also have to work around church events, too, like Diocesan Convention, when the Presiding Bishop is coming. While I don't agree with everything she says, I want to respect her office and at least meet her.

I know I'll be at the following:

Crystal Ball (Shattered Crystal [Midrealm], November 8-9)
Queen's Prize (No Mountain, January 10-11)

Kris Kinder may be a go, as might Twelfth Night. My fear is that Twelfth Night is back-to-back with QP, so expenses may be tight. And, I like spending time with Anti. Lord knows I don't often enough because of our work schedules. (I so commiserate with you, scooterheather.)

In non-SCA related news, my Mac is here! In town, at least. The boy should be picking it up, hopefully, tomorrow, so I get my computer! YAY!

Lastly, I'm going to try and filter things so that people who are interested in the day-to-day stuff aren't reading the SCA stuff they don't care about and vice-versa. So.

If you want to be on my SCA filter, let me know.

If you want to be on my life filter, let me know.

If you don't care, and want to read about it anyway, let me know.

If you think I'm missing a filter...you should probably specify what sort of filter I should have and then let me know.

Night!

Had a bit of a grumpy day. Started off with moving my brother back into his room at the college. Saw my stepdad, which was good. Saw my stepdad covered in poison ivy, though, was not. He's redder than a beet, poor guy. Ran into people from church, who asked if there was anything I wanted to add to the table at the school's business and organisation fair. Was told that I needed to have something about Poiema, the Compline service for students. The fair is tomorrow morning, and since I can't be there, I have to do something to summarise it in a nutshell. *sigh*

Ran errands, which took most of the afternoon.

Came home, called people to see if they could take fifteen minutes to model a few photos for the board. Was told that some would be there, but no one showed up, so I ended up shooting photos of my hands. Ran to Walmart to get prints, and that was closed. As was HyVee's photo centre. That sucked.

So, it was off to figure out contingency plan five million ninety thousand. I think it looks okay. Opinions?

Needless to day, I'm a little grumpy, and I'm a little angry with a few people over this whole thing. I just hate the fact that I bend over backwards for some of them, and they can't come and help me for fifteen minutes of a day that they're not doing anything. Bah.

Mean people suck.