I headed out this morning
1. Attended the Tuesday morning peace vigil at the plaza. The Federal building is located at Dearborn and Jackson in downtown Chicago. I looked at the streets surrounding the building. They were lined with Homeland Security white SUV's on the Federal building side. Then it hit me, by the end of today, the office of the next president of the USA may be located in this building. That is why all the HS boys in black outfits with guns, radios, etc. I wish I had a camera. It became real to me. This is election day and the next president might be from Chicago, Illinois!
Both Senators Durbin and Obama have offices there. Every Tuesday we take 2 copies of the weekly flyer to them. This morning Br. Brian and Sr. Mary Kay were escorted by three security folks to the offices and down. Mary Kay told them, "We are not planning an action this morning." They replied, "That's okay mam." Stuck to them like glue. I thought what a hoot. Two folks from our peace group have been making that trip for 7 years!
Br Brian and I had a good laugh about "being excommunicated" for attending the ordinations of the women on Saturday. I asked Brian, a brother in the RCC, "Brian, how does it feel?" He quickly replied, "Freeing!" All the feedback I have received has been very positive except for the exclusive language of the hymns. (They cut and paste the words with out cleaning them up. It will be my feedback to the planning committee.)
Four of us went off to have coffee before heading home. Mostly we talked about the election!
2. Then on to the MD's for a check on my hemoglobin which is low. I have to keep taking the 18mg of iron each day until she gets the results back from the blood tests. My blood pressure was up but I said, "It is the excitement of the election day!" She decided to give me my flu shot because I hadn't received it from work yet.
3. On to the Dominick's grocery to get a shingles vaccine shot, recommended for we over 65. That little puppy cost $214 with a copay of $30 for me. But I know how painful shingles can be and I do not ever want to get a case of them. Hospice patients frequently get shingles because their immune systems are weakened. So get your vaccine if you don't already have it and are over 65!!
4. I had gotten some bulbs I wanted to force. After a discussion with my sister Judy and a call to a local flower/plant shop, I planted them in a dish and tucked them into the refrigerator for the mandatory 2 month cooling down period. Obviously if I wanted them for my birthday January 3, I should have started the process much sooner! Sigh. I will see if I will be successful. I know my mother of the green thumb always was, darn it. The remainder I tucked into the garden. Hopefully they will bloom next year. The bulbs I planted last year had already sprouted, dug a couple up by mistake. This is not good. They shouldn't sprout till next spring!
5. Then I decided, after reading my email, that I could spend some time making calls for Obama-they were focusing on Indiana after I personally voted. So off to the polls. Only one other voter there. Great time to vote immediately after lunch. I walked to the local state reps office about a mile away and got a list of voters to call. I made the third call to each number. After we finished with Indiana we started on PA but we ran out of time at 5:30. Everyone wanted to head to the Grant Park party for Obama!
6. I needed to come home and begin to clean and pack for this weekend when I will attend the Call to Action national conference in Milwaukee. I will facilitate a caucus "Support our Veterans, Support our Families." But here I am typing this blog and not doing the chores!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Prayers for the Election and Our Country
Our local Pax Christi offered to sponsor an Hour of Prayer for the Elections at St. Gertrude's here on the NE side of Chicago. Seven people came to the hour of prayer. The lighting was subdued in a RC church 100 years old. One small candle burned on a cloth in the front of the church. A side altar was filled with photos honoring the dead (The feast of All Souls and All Saints was this weekend.)
We had planned for a song, 1/2 hour of silence, a prayer, then a song and prayer to close on the hour. Our musician, who is a chaplain at a Children's Memorial did not come. I read my prayer of St. Francis for peace. Then we sat in silence.
I did not know what I would experience in prayer and the beautiful silence filled with peace just as on Saturday during the ordinations. An image of Jesus by my side appeared and "we were to walk the land asking blessings upon our country." It wasn't really an image but a "feeling/sense" that Jesus was present with me. I found us at the collapse of the Twin Towers just as I had 9/11 during prayer. Jesus held my hand as we asked for the blessing and healing of our country at this site. I began to weep, tears streamed down my face throughout the prayer which lasted about 30 minutes.
Next we headed to MA, I had seen whales off of Boston and we blessed the creatures of the sea. We had visited an Audubon Bird Sanctuary where my sister Judy had worked years ago, I think CT, we returned there to bless the birds of the air. We blessed the East coast, tide pools and the ocean. Then to Rochester NY where I attended Mary Ramerman's ordination. Blessing Niagara Falls in all their beauty.
Philadelphia where I attended a Matthew Fox week long seminar on Creation Spirituality. On to Michigan and my birthplace-Detroit, Southfield of my childhood, the Mackinac bridge, Taquamenan Falls. We went to WI and the beauty of the Lake where I heard my first loons, and saw the great migration of Canada geese-wave after wave over head. To IL and the beauty of Chicago, and the huge lake of lotus found in S. IL. Headed to Mt Rushmore and the beauty of S. Dakota. The mountains of Montana and the hot springs. Washington State and Mt St. Helen's. Down to CA and the redwoods and the Pacific ocean. The mountains and lava beds of Idaho.
Jesus and I blessed each place, all sacred ground. Prayers for our country had become prayers for the earth itself. Down to New Orleans, I graduated from LU-NO with my masters in theology. Ft. Stewart in GA where Jason was stationed with the 3rd ID. Down to FL to Gainesville and Jason and Jodi-blessings on their engagement. To Tampa and blessings for Lisa and her family.
Then I found myself back at Walter Reed, walking the halls of the hospital and praying for all the wounded soldiers and their families and friends. Our country is so beautiful and its people need a vision and leadership worthy of them. It was good to be able to hold our country in my prayers and in my heart.
We gathered in a small circle, held hands and asked God's blessings as we vote tomorrow.
I am so thankful to have taken the time for prayer for our country.
We had planned for a song, 1/2 hour of silence, a prayer, then a song and prayer to close on the hour. Our musician, who is a chaplain at a Children's Memorial did not come. I read my prayer of St. Francis for peace. Then we sat in silence.
I did not know what I would experience in prayer and the beautiful silence filled with peace just as on Saturday during the ordinations. An image of Jesus by my side appeared and "we were to walk the land asking blessings upon our country." It wasn't really an image but a "feeling/sense" that Jesus was present with me. I found us at the collapse of the Twin Towers just as I had 9/11 during prayer. Jesus held my hand as we asked for the blessing and healing of our country at this site. I began to weep, tears streamed down my face throughout the prayer which lasted about 30 minutes.
Next we headed to MA, I had seen whales off of Boston and we blessed the creatures of the sea. We had visited an Audubon Bird Sanctuary where my sister Judy had worked years ago, I think CT, we returned there to bless the birds of the air. We blessed the East coast, tide pools and the ocean. Then to Rochester NY where I attended Mary Ramerman's ordination. Blessing Niagara Falls in all their beauty.
Philadelphia where I attended a Matthew Fox week long seminar on Creation Spirituality. On to Michigan and my birthplace-Detroit, Southfield of my childhood, the Mackinac bridge, Taquamenan Falls. We went to WI and the beauty of the Lake where I heard my first loons, and saw the great migration of Canada geese-wave after wave over head. To IL and the beauty of Chicago, and the huge lake of lotus found in S. IL. Headed to Mt Rushmore and the beauty of S. Dakota. The mountains of Montana and the hot springs. Washington State and Mt St. Helen's. Down to CA and the redwoods and the Pacific ocean. The mountains and lava beds of Idaho.
Jesus and I blessed each place, all sacred ground. Prayers for our country had become prayers for the earth itself. Down to New Orleans, I graduated from LU-NO with my masters in theology. Ft. Stewart in GA where Jason was stationed with the 3rd ID. Down to FL to Gainesville and Jason and Jodi-blessings on their engagement. To Tampa and blessings for Lisa and her family.
Then I found myself back at Walter Reed, walking the halls of the hospital and praying for all the wounded soldiers and their families and friends. Our country is so beautiful and its people need a vision and leadership worthy of them. It was good to be able to hold our country in my prayers and in my heart.
We gathered in a small circle, held hands and asked God's blessings as we vote tomorrow.
I am so thankful to have taken the time for prayer for our country.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Work for Obama, Vote for Obama!
I headed out to Gary Indiana this morning to go door-to-door for Obama.
I had two different partners: Darryl, in his 30's, African American. His son attended the same pre-school as Obama's daughter. Darryl met Michelle at school functions. The second a single mom Pam; my age with a daughter who had to move from New Orleans because of Katrina. She is living in Atlanta but wants to go "home" to NO. She too is an African American. We all found common ground on economic justice issues.
We went to a third world part of the city.
I had my camera but was ashamed to take a photo.
My heart wept for the good people of America forced to live like in broken down homes
because we as a nation do not believe that the "common good" exists.
So many were seniors.
I know how much they need to have help to maintain and remain in their own homes.
One of the windows had a bullet hole.
Most folks would not come to their door but spoke through it.
There were burned out homes, boarded up homes, few kept up lawns or wooden parts of their homes like porches, front doors.
Obama brings the promise of change because he has lived and worked in such places as these. He has visited Kenya. AND Obama does not deny his roots but says, "Let us work together so all children can reach the position I have today."
I was so happy to be in this neighborhood. My heart said, "America needs to reawaken to its communitarian roots. We need to learn that we are all one and to live it." I call it Christianity. What a way to spend the day. It brought back my own living in poverty in the Michigan of my childhood. My father was a janitor and we had a family of seven children.. We had no hot water till my teens. We drove to Hamtramack each week so my mother could wash clothes and we could take baths. My mother and dad grew our food.
I wanted to take them all in. To work together to rebuild the broken homes, so many people are homeless, these homes are needed. Obama has his work cut out for him. I think he is up to it. We have our work cut out for us. We ARE up to it! Let us change the paradigm of selfishness to sharing. The future is ahead of us and I have hope.
You still have a day, get out and help his campaign however you can.
So many of the people we contacted had already voted,
help folks in your neighborhood get to the poles.
I had two different partners: Darryl, in his 30's, African American. His son attended the same pre-school as Obama's daughter. Darryl met Michelle at school functions. The second a single mom Pam; my age with a daughter who had to move from New Orleans because of Katrina. She is living in Atlanta but wants to go "home" to NO. She too is an African American. We all found common ground on economic justice issues.
We went to a third world part of the city.
I had my camera but was ashamed to take a photo.
My heart wept for the good people of America forced to live like in broken down homes
because we as a nation do not believe that the "common good" exists.
So many were seniors.
I know how much they need to have help to maintain and remain in their own homes.
One of the windows had a bullet hole.
Most folks would not come to their door but spoke through it.
There were burned out homes, boarded up homes, few kept up lawns or wooden parts of their homes like porches, front doors.
Obama brings the promise of change because he has lived and worked in such places as these. He has visited Kenya. AND Obama does not deny his roots but says, "Let us work together so all children can reach the position I have today."
I was so happy to be in this neighborhood. My heart said, "America needs to reawaken to its communitarian roots. We need to learn that we are all one and to live it." I call it Christianity. What a way to spend the day. It brought back my own living in poverty in the Michigan of my childhood. My father was a janitor and we had a family of seven children.. We had no hot water till my teens. We drove to Hamtramack each week so my mother could wash clothes and we could take baths. My mother and dad grew our food.
I wanted to take them all in. To work together to rebuild the broken homes, so many people are homeless, these homes are needed. Obama has his work cut out for him. I think he is up to it. We have our work cut out for us. We ARE up to it! Let us change the paradigm of selfishness to sharing. The future is ahead of us and I have hope.
You still have a day, get out and help his campaign however you can.
So many of the people we contacted had already voted,
help folks in your neighborhood get to the poles.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Four Women were Ordained Today
I have been a member of the Roman Catholic Church all of my life.
I have been a member of the Women's Ordination Conference for at least 30 years.
I was a board member from 1999 to 2005.
I have been called to the RC priesthood since the early 1980's.
In the year 2002 seven women were ordained on the Danube. Rome immediately excommunicated them (Rome never excommunicated pedophiles nor the bishops that moved them from parish to parish-to victim after victim)
I have been to 7 ordinations of women. Two at Rochester NY, Canada, KY, MN, MO, and now Today for the first time Chicago! We have 3 more candidates preparing in the Chicago area.
The ceremony was held at St. Paul's UCC church in Lincoln Park. The music was outstanding. About 375 people came! The most poignant moments for me were in that part of the ritual called the "Laying on of hands." This is done in total silence. First the bishop lays her hands on the four ordinands, then all priests and clergy who have been invited, then members of the congregation invited to do so by each ordinand. The congregation became silent, the quiet deepened as each of the persons called forth gently layed his/her hands on the head of each women. Blessing upon blessing as we decended into the reality of kindom of Godde being made manifest. What a gift of Peace for my soul. In the quiet stillness of my soul, Godde's love poured out and forth to all whom shared the very same space. I prayed especially for Jason and Jodi and their coming marriage one year from now.
It is the experience of Christmas and Easter and reconciliation and healing all at the same time. The fullness of being. That wonderful gift of Godde.
I have been a member of the Women's Ordination Conference for at least 30 years.
I was a board member from 1999 to 2005.
I have been called to the RC priesthood since the early 1980's.
In the year 2002 seven women were ordained on the Danube. Rome immediately excommunicated them (Rome never excommunicated pedophiles nor the bishops that moved them from parish to parish-to victim after victim)
I have been to 7 ordinations of women. Two at Rochester NY, Canada, KY, MN, MO, and now Today for the first time Chicago! We have 3 more candidates preparing in the Chicago area.
The ceremony was held at St. Paul's UCC church in Lincoln Park. The music was outstanding. About 375 people came! The most poignant moments for me were in that part of the ritual called the "Laying on of hands." This is done in total silence. First the bishop lays her hands on the four ordinands, then all priests and clergy who have been invited, then members of the congregation invited to do so by each ordinand. The congregation became silent, the quiet deepened as each of the persons called forth gently layed his/her hands on the head of each women. Blessing upon blessing as we decended into the reality of kindom of Godde being made manifest. What a gift of Peace for my soul. In the quiet stillness of my soul, Godde's love poured out and forth to all whom shared the very same space. I prayed especially for Jason and Jodi and their coming marriage one year from now.
It is the experience of Christmas and Easter and reconciliation and healing all at the same time. The fullness of being. That wonderful gift of Godde.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)