I will be the first to admit that the world of construction is not an area that I am the most comfortable with. Growing up my father was a plumber and for a short time worked for himself, and I have two uncles who were in the business as well. As pastor of the church it falls to me to follow up on things that need to be done around here, and I kind of enjoy it.
Last November we signed a contract with a local roofer for some repairs on the church. No big deal just some little things needed to be done to stop some leaks. If you ever build a church don’t put a dome on the top they always leak. Anyway they guy never showed up and we paid him half of the contract price in advance. For my small church that it a lot of money as far as cash is concerned. So in February we started to call to get the money back. We got another estimate, cheaper than the first one, and we wanted to get the work done. Well here it is May 4th and the money still has not been returned. I have tried calling, they make all sorts of promises but never follow through.
So off to the Police I go. It seems here in Massachusetts anyway, if a contractor takes your money and does not do the work that is a contractor violation which is larceny. So the cops called the guy and told him that he either pay or face the judge. Supposedly we are getting a check by Monday, if not we go see the judge. On top of that, he called me yesterday and left a very insulting message.
So we wait again. The police officer that handled everything was very professional and she was so mad that someone would treat a church, any church, this way. I will never understand how people can do business this way. All we want is the money back. In the mean time more damage has been done to the church because of the once small leak. Oh well…
Shepherd of Souls Podcast
The first episode of Shepher of Souls Podcast is up. Please give it a listen and see what you think.
Facing East Podcast
As mentioned before, Fr. Greg and I have a new podcast you can listen to it here. Feedback would be nice, good or bad.
Blogger’s Choice Awards
So I noticed today that I have 13 votes. Pretty good I would say. If you have not voted yet, click the link on the sidebar and vote for me today. You will need to register, but it is free.
New Podcast
Fr. Greg and myself recorded a podcast today. This is the first episode of what we hope to be a weekly podcast. Just two priests kicking back. We are calling it facing east. Not very theologically heavy like I said Just two priests kicking back. Sort of drive time kind of thing. I am still editing the podcast and I will try and get it online latter today or tomorrow.
Letter to Cho
Some asked after church on Sunday for a text of the letter that I read at the end of my homily. If you listened to the Podcast you also heard this. I must tip my hat to my friend Deacon Raphael for posting this.
To Cho:
I am a Hokie.
You can not strip me of that, or
My love, my passion or my truth.
My innocence is mine on the cross
And you cannot have it.
You will not now nor ever
Have power over me.
The truth is I miss you.
I wish that I could have shown you
His love, His passion, His truth.
It has set me Free
And I wish that I could share that with you.
I missed you.
I am sorry.
So I must tell you now:
Even though you took innocent lives;
Even though you tried to put fear in our hearts;
Even though I hurt to the core;
Even though my eyes are tired of crying;
Even though my campus, my home, will never be the same…
I forgive you.
And I love you.
Erica
Bishop to participate in immigration bill rally
I meant to post this earlier but other stuff got in the way. If you are in the Worcester area today at 4pm the rally will be held in front of City Hall. There is an article in the local Worcester paper if you wish to read.
Sunday April 29th
Sunday homily from St. Michael’s Orthodox Church.
Title: 32 are gone because 1 was lost.
Topic: Forgiveness
Virginia Tech showing forgiveness
From the Boston Globe:
Virginia Tech showing forgiveness, little anger toward campus gunman
By Sue Lindsey, Associated Press April 28, 2007
By Sue Lindsey, Associated Press April 28, 2007
BLACKSBURG, Va. — Kelly White and her two children visited the semicircle of memorials on the Virginia Tech campus, leaving 32 pink tulips — one for each victim in last week’s massacre. They also placed a tulip on the stone for gunman Seung-Hui Cho.
“Forgiveness is part of being freed from anger,” said White, a Blacksburg resident with relatives who attended the school. “I try to teach my children that God loves everyone.”
Cho slaughtered 32 people in the worst shooting in modern US history. But there has been little outrage directed toward him around campus.
He is memorialized alongside his victims, and many students preach forgiveness and talk about him like a troubled family member.
Caroline Merrey, 22, jumped to safety out a classroom window in the building where Cho killed 30 people and himself. She said she was angry at Cho, but also feels sorry for him. “I don’t know how I can be feeling both of those things at the same time, but I do,” she said.
Campus leaders, experts, and those touched by the tragedy say there are several reasons for the spirit of forgiveness. Many people are too overcome by grief to think about anything else. The fact that Cho killed himself provided enough retribution, some say. Others say the forgiveness is rooted in the strong Christian values of this area.
And there is also the loyalty to the “Hokie Nation.”
After a student organization placed the stone memorials in a semicircle last week on the main campus lawn, senior Katelynn L. Johnson added a 33d stone for Cho. Johnson said she told almost no one about the stone because she feared a backlash.
She came forward after someone took it away, because she was outraged by the brief removal of the rock. She says she accepts all “fellow students, faculty, and alumni as Hokies” no matter what problems they have.
“I believe his life had value no matter what he did,” she said. “We lost 33 people.”
Johnson said she has received hundreds of messages supporting placement of the stone for Cho.
Johnson said she has received hundreds of messages supporting placement of the stone for Cho.
She only got a few negative responses, and only one from the Tech community.
After the first stone for Cho was removed, someone else came forward and placed a new one there. As of Thursday, the stone remained.
The appearance and disappearance of the stone reflects the community’s struggle to come to terms with the massacre.
Virginia Tech has not included Cho in its memorial services for the 32 victims. A bell chimed 33 times Monday on the campus lawn, but university officials said the first chime was to start the ceremony.
Officials also released 32 balloons into the air to remember Cho’s victims.
The university so far has had no contact with Cho’s family and does not plan to award him a posthumous degree as it will the students he killed, spokesman Mark Owczarski said.
Baba Knocks Self Out Making Sign of the Cross
Los Angeles, California, USA — 65-year old baba Masha (St Mary of Egypt) Harrison today knocked herself out when making the sign of the cross. Used to the military-crisp and somewhat exaggerated crossing method sometimes seen in other babushki, Mrs Harrison forgot she was wearing a cast on her right hand, and in making her usual swift, powerful move toward her forehead for the beginning of the ancient symbol, thwacked herself hard enough to cause her to temporarily lose consciousness. Fortunately she was caught in her fall by her husband, Ralph (St Raphael the Archangel) Harrison. Mrs. Harrison quickly regained consciousness, and contined the service with slightly more subdued gestures.
Just some fun!
from www.theoniondome.com