Friday Five: The Water and the Word

From the RevGals...

1. When and where were you baptized? Do you remember it? Know any interesting tidbits?

Well, we emerse as Disciples, so I remember it very clearly. I was baptized on Palm Sunday in 1986. I was in fifth grade and had just completed Membership class. I remember wanting to take communion before my friend, Becky. So I made my confession of faith, not really understanding what it meant. I stood in front of the congregation in my junior choir robe and was SO nervous, but I very clearly remember our minister, Marvin, smiling his very gentle smile as he asked me, "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the son of the Living God and have you accepted Him as your personal Lord and Savior?"

The baptism itself was in our beautiful, but little baptistry at Eureka. I think there were at least three girls baptized that day. The baptismal seemed HUGE and deep and I remember Marvin wearing his waders over his suit. I also remember being annoyed that I didn't feel much different afterwards.

2. What's the most unexpected thing you've ever witnessed at a baptism?

I baptized a woman in our church who was a larger woman. Our baptistry is RIDICULOUSLY shallow, so I always tell folks that it is imperative that they bend their knees as I lean them back. As I dunked this lady, she lifted up both feet and kept her legs straight. Essentially, she was floating, only with more splashing. Consequently, she had some problems standing back up and I kept saying, "PUT YOUR FEET DOWN!!" as firmly as I could until she did. That was just awkward. Though it did give my youth group at the time some hilarious fodder for a very irreverent cartoon.

3. Does your congregation have any special traditions surrounding baptisms?

In our congregation, as soon as someone wants to be baptized, we do it. We don't require it to be during the service. That's a little weird to me.

4. Are you a godparent or baptismal sponsor? Have a story to tell?

I AM a godparent. First, of my nephew Rhys, who was baptized recently. I missed his baptism. I'm also a godparent of Ethan and Caitlin, children of my childhood friend and her husband, one of my dearests from seminary. Because we baptize after the "age of accountability," godparents haven't traditionally performed much function in Disciples tradition.

5. Do you have a favorite baptismal song or hymn?

It's not a baptismal hymn, per se, but I love Go, My Children with My Blessing. I love the line that says, "In my love's baptismal river, I have made you mine forever."

I especially think it's perfect for people who performed baptisms in the creek out back behind the church. Great image.

Friday Five: February Celebrations

The RevGals have a new Friday five with an option -- Superbowl or Holy Days. My guess is most of us church nerds are choosing #2.

Candlemas/ Imbloc/ Groundhog day/ St Brigid's day- all of these fall on either the 1st or 2nd February.
1. Do you celebrate one or more of these?
I've never really known about any of them other than Groundhog Day until this year.

2. How do you celebrate?
Dennis and I usually try to watch Groundhog Day which is one of our favorite movies. That's been about it.

3. Is this a bit of fun or deeply significant?
It's been just fun. But this year, I learned about WHY we celebrate Groundhog's Day when we do. (Do you know this? It's 1/2 way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox!) And Candlemas suddenly made MUCH more sense and had more significance. In fact, I wrote my newsletter article this month on Candlemas. Sort of. So, we may have to find something to observe in the future. My inner Episcopalian really wants to jump on board these things.

4. Are festivals/ Saints days important to you?
Formal festivals -- not so much other than the big'ns. But, my mother was always GREAT at making any celebration special. I never knew any other kids who observed MayDay, but we sure did.

5.Name your favourite Saints day/ celebration.
St. Patrick's Day. We really only observe it and Valentine's Day. But my mom has the BEST St. Patrick's Day celebration I've ever heard of. And it involves no beer.
But it does have a Leprechaun Basket.
You?

Friday Five: Deep Freeze Edition

From the RevGals:
1. What is the thermometer reading at your house this morning?

This morning when I looked at it, it was -7. I'm assuming it's warmer now. Probaby -3.

2. Snow—love it or hate it?

Um, if those are the only two options... love it. Especially in theory. In actuality, I begin to tire of it in mid-January. By February, I loathe it. Aren't I a typical midwesterner that way?

3. What is winter like where you are?

This winter is snowy and cold and much like a proper midwest winter. Most other winters lately have been mild with not much snow, ice or any kind of precipitation. I like the snow. We'll actually deserve spring this year.

4. Do you like winter sports? Any good stories?
In my life, avoiding the Epiphany blahs at church is a winter sport. Which makes for lots of good stories, none of which are printable.

5. What is your favorite season, and why?
I think I like spring best, especially the spring thaw around St. Patrick's Day when the earth greens and the it is still cold and it seems like the promise of color and blooms is just around the corner...

Bonus: Share a favorite winter pick-me-up. A recipe, an activity, or whatever.
Well, the bed is large, has flannel sheets and a down comforter and my husband is nice and warm... :)

Friday Five: It's Almost Christmas edition

From the RevGals:

What was one of your favorite childhood gifts that you gave?

When my Sublime Aunt and Jetsetter Uncle were dating, we found out that he would be coming to Christmas but we didn't have a present for him. We had at our house, a book of upholstery samples (incidentally given to us by Sublime Aunt) and my sister and I chose two samples: One a manly grey and one a (manly?) purple and, in a matter of minutes, sewed them together. Then we stuffed it with fiberfill and because it didn't yet have that certain je ne sais quoi, I wrote his name in cursive on it. With a crayon.
I think Jetsetter Uncle takes this pillow with him every time he flies anywhere.
What, JU? You don't? You don't have it anymore? You didn't have it 15 minutes after you left the house that day?
Oh, fragile world. C.r.u.m.b.l.i.n.g.
It's probably better this way.

What is one of your favorite Christmas recipes? Bonus points if you share the recipe with us.

I wouldn't say it is my favorite, but it's one I use most often, though interestingly, not so much this year.
Chaotic Christmas
one part Martha Stewart dreams
one part April McClure Stewart inability to plan
one part quirky congregation of older folks who do things like...well...die
one part unpredictable winter weather
Mix together. Sprinkle with perfectionism, computer problems, and Christmas carols.
Let fester.

At the point all seems lost, insert Holy Spirit, Mystery of Incarnation, Candlelight and Communion...

Oh, also helps to add a pinch on the husband's rear. Spices things up. :)

What is a tradition that your family can't do without?

Lucia Nights at Bishop Hill
The Muppets' Christmas Carol
Black Adder's
Christmas Carol
Good live choral music.
Roo and I trying to play Christmas carols on the same piano bench.
The after-dinner naptime wrestling match for the spot by the fire.
A Christmas eve service.

Pastors and other church folk often have very strange traditions dictated by the "work" of the holidays. What happens at your place?

Our church service is early in the evening and when I was unmarried, I would leave directly after the service and stop in Peoria, IL for midnight mass at the cathedral. I haven't done that since Dennis and I have been married and each year I miss just worshiping rather than "performing."

So... this year we are going to make a concerted effort to arrange things so that we can go to the 11 p.m. service at the Disciples church across the river. I find myself needing to be shown the manger by someone else on Christmas eve. Anyone else like that?

If you could just ditch all the traditions and do something unexpected... what would it be?

Sublime Aunt and Jetsetter Uncle took that pillow and went to Hawaii by themselves this year for 10 days. (j/k about the pillow).

I think that would be an ok tradition to start someday.

Friday Five: Remind you of anyone?

Sort of.



Perhaps.



Closer.



Definitely.


Uncanny.

Friday Five: Movies I could see again and again

Follow the Fleet -- Gramps taped this Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film for us off Turner Movie Classics when I was in high school. Roo and I devoured it. The great music, costumes, and sweet story were captivating. You can hear me humming this on random days...We joined the navy to see the world. And what did we see? We saw the sea. We saw the Atlantic and the Pacific, and the Pacific isn't terrific, and the Atlantic isn't what it's cracked up to be.

Green Card -- I don't know why, but I love this movie. Maybe it's the music (I had the cassette of the soundtrack for a long time). Maybe it's the greenhouse. Maybe it's Gerard. It's flawed and McDowell is really not great, but... I love it.

Rushmore -- The beginning of Bill Murray's renaissance, I remember being just delighted when I saw this one in the theater by myself during seminary. It was like discovering a little treasure.

Intolerable Cruelty -- Probably one of my favorite movies of all time, Dennis and I have seen this more times than we can count. Those Coen brothers are just so clever. And George AND Catherine are just gorgeous.

Goldeneye -- I do love me a spy movie and this one is my favorite James Bond, probably because it's got a smart Bond girl, and Judi Dench, to boot. And then there's Pierce running about in post-Soviet Russia AND Sean Bean... lovely.

For the record, I like movies. And there are lots more that I could see again and again. These are just some from a long list.

Friday Five: On my mind this morning

1. Yesterday would have been my grandmother, Ga's, 97th birthday. I thought about her a lot yesterday. Ga was raised in several orphanages as a child and had several families adopt her and then return her before she was permanently adopted by a Methodist minister and his wife when Ga was 10 years old. Ga was 40 when she had my mother, her third and last child. She lived in Eureka and we spent LOTS of time with her in our childhood. Friday night sleepovers at her house were routine for a long while. She died my junior year of college. I will always miss Ga.
2. I exchanged my cast this week for a removeable splint. This means I can shower with minor effort. Blessed, blessed shower.
3. Yesterday Daniel and Annalivia and I made a fruitful trip to the Quad Cities. We bought canvas bags at Hobby Lobby to pack with worship activities each week for the kids at church. (It's a "build-it-they-will-come" sort of thing.) And we went to a consignment store there and I was able to get Daniel's entire fall and winter wardrobe of brand name clothes very cheaply. Annalivia already has all the clothes she could possibly ever need for winter.
4. I am looking forward to the appearance of Daniel's bottom teeth. They are making him, and everyone else in the family, miserable.
5. Tonight I am leaving my family and going to Springfield for a Eureka College alumni board meeting. In continued revelation of my dorkdom, I'm most looking forward to being able to listen to The Message for six hours.

Anything on YOUR mind? Feel free to link here.

Friday Five: Songs for a sultry evening... in the 80's...in Britain...or New Jersey

It's been in the 90's and humid and icky here. These help.

1. Beyond Belief -- Elvis Costello
2. Your Latest Trick -- Dire Straits
3. More Than This -- Roxy Music
4. In Your Eyes -- Peter Gabriel
5. Tunnel of Love -- Bruce Springsteen

Friday Five (or not): Total lack of motivation

The RevGals Friday Five was about habits today -- establishing good habits/ breaking bad habits. You'll notice I'm not playing. I have nothing constructive to add to the discussion, I think. I am embarrassed to say that I've not established any good habits. Everything I do that is good is intermittent at best. And I'm mortified to think of all the bad habits that are not only established but firmly entrenched. So I'm being an ostrich about the whole thing. Friday Five? What Friday Five?

In fact, I'm sitting here in a slightly dark house. I've pulled all the curtains and the kiddos are both asleep and I thought perhaps I'd take a nap, too. They were both up at a little before 6 this morning and today's grumpiness has far outshone (or perhaps out-dinged) the grumpiness of the other day so I thought a nap would be in the best interest of all of us.

But I'm also feeling as though it would be a very good idea to do the dishes and straighten up the house, and perhaps even mop the floor so that we could head into this weekend with a good deal of order around us.

So I'm sitting at the computer doing neither.

But, on a postitive note, I finished the church newsletter today and went to church for about 2 1/2 hours. That was good for all of us.

And now I'll at least do the dishes and mop the kitchen floor. Then perhaps I'll take a little rest if the children remain asleep. First steps. There. That's part of the Friday Five.

Friday Five: Rivers in the desert

Songbird writes:

I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19, NRSV

As we near the end of the long journey toward Easter, a busy time for pastors and layfolk alike, I ponder the words of Isaiah and the relief and refreshment of a river in the desert.

For this Friday Five, name five practices, activities, people or _____ (feel free to fill in something I may be forgetting) that for you are rivers in the desert.

1. Purposeless driving
I love to just set out and think...pray...drive. It's nice to see where I end up, but what's along the way is even nicer.

2. Hanging wit' my sistahs
My three sistahs are renewal itself -- my favorite way to recharge. If I could bottle Kali's wit and Lil's laugh and Rissy's phrasing, well... no one would buy it, but I'd be awfully happy.

3. Listening to good music... or not
Sometimes I like to listen to Palestrina or Vaughan Williams or Rachmoninoff really loudly. Sometimes I want to hear Fred Astaire or the Andrews Sisters. Sometimes it's Uncle Tupelo or Paul Simon in the background. But sometimes quiet is what my soul really needs.

4. Having an empty dining room table
Yeah, it sounds weird, but clearing off the table in the parsonage's open living plan offers visual respite like nothing else.

5. Watching Dennis and Annalivia play
I love, love, love it when the loves of my life have laughter just bubbling up between them. That is beyond refreshing; it's sacred to me.

Friday Five: A Matter of Taste (following instructions this time)

Ok. Well, I did this with things I don't like that others around me do. Now here's what I do like -- this is a much easier list:

1. Routines and schedules
Not that I follow them or keep to them, but I like the idea of them, which I think most of my free-flowing family does not

2. Sleeping through the night
Daniel, the person who has been closest to me most recently (i.e. inside of me) does not like to sleep more than an hour and a half at night. Me -- I'm fond of a good 8-10 hours.

3. Keeping water IN the sink when doing dishes
Annalivia is currently exploring how well containers with no tops or bottoms hold water. Apparently she hasn't reached a verdict yet because the experiment continues...

4. A church with members under 40
Ummm, I would think this would be a no-brainer for most church folks, but given the actions of the beloved folks here, I believe otherwise...

5. Blogging
I think everyone I know should have a blog. It would be nice to see how they'd answer this.

Friday Five: A Matter of Taste

From the Rev Gals:

"My mother loved figs.

I only like them in a Newton.

It's all a matter of taste.

Name five things you like a lot that some close relative or significant other did/does not like. This could be food, movies, hobbies, music, sports or whatever springs to mind."

edited to add: Well, apparently reading instructions is not one of my loves. Here's a list of things I DON'T like that others in my family do. Ooops. Read my list following the above instructions here.

1. Ham
My family members all love ham, especially for Easter. My mom is really an excellent cook and prepares ham in a way that makes it really as good as ham can get, but I really don't like ham. And Dennis can't really eat it, so we never do. But we are definitely the odd folks out in our family.

2. Animals
Not a fan of animals, especially indoor pets. This puts me at odds with 80% of my friends and 59% of my family.

3. Retentively clean cars
I mean , they look nice, but why have one? Cars are for getting one from place to place. If a spare pretzel on the floor destroys that, well...

4. The Lord of the Rings movies and books.
Saw the first one -- 3 hours of my life I'll never get back. I think this puts me at odds with approximately 99% of my conservative Christian friends and 95% of all boys between the ages of 8 and 17.

5. The hymns "I was there to hear your borning cry", "Here I am, Lord" and especially, "Spirit of Restlessness, Gentleness and blah blah blah" (not its real title)
They just seem to go on and on to me. And one of them has been in almost every ordination service ever, including mine (Borning Cry -- my home church's choir picked it out to sing for me, so I kept my mouth shut.) This puts me at odds with 98% of all clergy and nearly 100% of female clergy.
Please -- try not to hold it against me.

Friday Five: Artsy Crafty

From the RevGals:

"During Lent here at Suburban Presbyterian Church, we are exploring the creative and liturgical arts, with classes and speakers dealing with storytelling, iconography, dance, visual art, writing, and so on. The theme is "A Beautiful Thing," inspired by the story of the woman anointing Jesus and his declaration that "She has done a beautiful thing for me." (Mark 14, NIV)

We are working on the notion that everything we do can be considered a beautiful thing--a creative offering to God--whether it's gardening or scrapbooking or accounting or sorting clothes at the clothes closet or child-rearing. And so:

1. Would you call yourself "creative"? Why or why not?

I would because I like to create. One of my favorite things about being a pastor is that there are so many opportunities to be co-creative with God. What other job is there where one can choose fonts for a newsletter or make banners or put words together or arrange music and images and get to count that as paid time? AND ministry, to boot?

2. Share a creative or artistic pursuit you currently do that you'd like to develop further.

I really like to play with photos digitally. Here's a couple of my recent experiments with one-color "pops":

And I really do like to do print media things -- newsletter, flyers, etc. And I like using my musical abilities to direct our church choir. Right now we're working on a lessons and carols type thing for Easter Sunday. I'm really pretty excited about it. As a trained musician, I always hated singing in church choir, but directing it -- that's actually fun.

3. Share a creative or artistic pursuit you have never done but would like to try.

I've been wanting to do some artwork with the collage media -- basically using a whole lotta Mod Podge to create something. I have a couple of images in my mind that I'd like to get out at some point. There just never seems to be time.

4. Complete this sentence: "I am in awe of people who can _____________."

Play piano well. I'm downright jealous. After 8 years of piano lessons, I should be one of them, but I think I practiced for about 35 combined minutes during that time. Oh, if only I could tell 9-year old April that she'd regret getting creative about how to shirk her practice time!

5. Share about a person who has encouraged your creativity, who has "called you to your best self."

I am blessed to come from a family who understood the need to be creative. My mother required that my sister's teachers would let her have time to draw instead of asking her to put her paper and pencil away. Around our home, we always had lots of music, lots of crayons and markers and pencils and REAL watercolors, space to dance, etc. And we had art and music and dance lessons when we wanted them, which I'm sure was a difficult financial burden. So , I guess I'll always be grateful for my family's commitments to creativity, but especially the efforts of Mom.

Friday Five: Tourist edition

I feel a bit like I've been under house arrest since Daniel was born and it's been so bloody cold and the snow is endless, so, enough with the whining; I'm playing this Friday Five.

1. What is one place you make sure to take out-of-town guests when they visit?

I try to take them out-of-town, I suppose. Industrial northwestern Illinois is not exactly a tourist attraction.

2. When visiting another city or town, do you try to cram as much in as possible, or take it slow and easy?

I am definitely a try-to-cram-it-all-in type. Then I always want to go back and really explore a place.

3. When traveling, where are we most likely to find you: strolling through a museum, checking out the local shopping, or _________________?

Trying to be a hip local, if possible. One of my favorite things to do is to go to a cafe and order the local treat (i.e. beignets is New Orleans, brioche in Salzburg) and watch people. People watching and treat-eating are great ways to experience a place.

4. Do you like organized tours and/or carefully planned itineraries, or would you rather strike out and just see what happens?

I'd much rather strike out, but do like to do my research. We have many copies of well-worn Frommer's guides here, though I've not been to most of the places detailed therein.

5. After an extended trip, what do you find yourself craving most about home?

My bed, and though this sounds weird, my bathroom. I really like not having to pull everything out of a suitcase to get ready in the morning.

Friday Five: Ch-ch-ch-changes

A la the RevGals

Change is a given in life, yet it's not easy for any of us. So strap on your seat belts and let's talk about it:

1. Share, if you wish, the biggest change you experienced this past year.

Well, being pregnant with our second child and first son is a big one (until Monday that is, hee, hee!!), but being pregnant and having all three of us live through our auto accident was probably bigger this past year.

2. Talk about a time you changed your mind about something important.

I changed my mind about evangelical and conservative Christians this year. My mindset was stupid and ignorant before I met some amazing women online who are intelligent, humble, passionate, inquisitive... and, oh yeah, evangelical. It's been SO, SO, SO good for me to meet Christians outside my church box.

3. Bishop John Shelby Spong wrote a controversial book called "Why Christianity Must Change or Die." Setting aside his ideas--what kind of changes would you like to see in the Church?

I'd like to see us actually DO church rather than worrying so much about BEING church. And care more about being like Jesus than Ford Motor Co. (which isn't doing so well, for the record.)

4. Have you changed your hairstyle/hair color in the last five years? If so, how many times?

Yes. Quite a few times since 2002, though not many since 2005 when my daughter was born, other than to let it grow far too long between cuts! It's been long and brown and flat; shorter brown and flat; shorter, brown, and fluffy; shorter, brown, streaked and fluffy; even shorter and blonde; even shorter and even blonder; short, dark brown; short and red and yellow and brown; and now shortish and just brown.

5. What WERE they thinking with that New Coke thing?

It was the 80's. Shoulder pads, Aquanet, Working Girl ... we could list "what were they thinking?"s all day long...

Secret suspicions confirmed

Lovely Psalmist (or as I affectionately refer to her, "Psalmy") posted this great little diversion. See her place for all the hat tips and in the meantime, go find out about your inner aristocrat(s).

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Exalted Highness Duchess April the Incontrovertible of Lower Wombleshire

Known in some parts as:

Milady the Right Reverend April the Undefeated of Westley Waterless Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

You know... it's just been so difficult convincing the plebians of Westley Waterless to exalt me in the manner to which I became accustomed in Wombleshire.

Alas.



edited to add:
Her Eminence the Very Viscountess Annalivia the Precocious of Piddletrenthide Under Booth

and
Venerable Lord Dennis the Profuse of Yetts O'Muckhart
seem to be out of the loop on proper treatment of us also. (Yes, that's the royal, "we" in use there.)

Now -- leave our chamber.

Five random things I've realized

In no particular order or relevance...
1. Funeral preferences tend to vary regionally
2. Most of the people around here whose families want their funeral service to be in the church are generally of two ilks: more rarely, the incredibly devout and devoted who have been instrumental to the life and work of the church; and more popularly, those who have not darkened the door of the church in the last 20 years or their entire lives
3. I have not actually worn my winter coat more than an hour this winter (i.e. since Dec. 21)
4. There are still people who believe that there is no such thing as global climate change
5. My last haircut was really terrible

Friday Five: Yuletide Favorites

From the RevGals:

1) It's a Wonderful Life--Is it? Do you remember seeing it for the first time?

I do remember seeing it for the first time when I was about 12 years old at Ga's house (my maternal grandmother's house). I wasn't really a fan, and honestly, still am not. I have loved the Buffalo Girls song since I first saw it, but other than that -- I can take it or leave it for the holiday season. And I tend to leave it.

2) Miracle on 34th Street--old version or new?

I'm really a big fan of the old version. And apparently, someone else in my congregation is, too, because last year, someone "borrowed" my version after we showed it in the Fellowship Hall and never returned it :( So, no Miracle on 34th Street this year.
I do love Maureen O'Hara and Natalie Wood, and for that matter, John Payne, because they are such great idealized/ unrealistic characters. And I think Edmund Gwenn is just one of the best Santas ever.

3) Do you have a favorite incarnation of Mr. Scrooge?

Michael Caine, Michael Caine, Michael Caine!! As I explain here, he is the best Scrooge ever, in my opinion.

4) Why should it be a problem for an elf to be a dentist? I've been watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for years now, and I still don't get it.

From watching Elf, I learned that elves eat lots of candy, syrup, etc. So, they probably lose their teeth early. If they knew about dental care, the employer (i.e. Santa Claus) would eventually be forced by the union (i.e. Elfen Local 503) to provide dental coverage. The cost would then be passed on to the consumer which, in this case, is unsuspecting parents who are already overwhelmed by rising costs in the private sector. This might require elfen labor to be outsourced to penquins on the south pole who are paid far less, but make products of lesser quality.
We don't want that, do we?And besides, you don't want to mess with the Elfen Unions. I believe Keebler learned that first hand.
edited to add: I should state -- I am just attempting to explain the reasoning here behind this assertion that elves cannot be dentists. I fully support equal rights for elves, Hermione.

5) Who's the scariest character in Christmas specials/movies?
* The Bumble
* The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Muppet Version
* That Mean Magician Who Tries to Melt Frosty
* Your Nomination

I do think that the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is pretty scary. Even Gonzo and Rizzo can't hold out against him. So he gets my vote.
Unless you consider Baldrick of the future in A Blackadder's Christmas Carol. His posing pouch is pretty terrifying.

Fa-la-la-la-la Friday Five

'Tis the season to deck the blogs with Boston Charlie, as Gramps would say... So, here y'are RevGals.

1. A favorite 'secular' Christmas song.

I love Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas as sung by Ella Fitzgerald. I also love the Glenn Miller Band's version of the Nutcracker Suite. That's great background music for Christmas parties.

2. Christmas song that chokes you up (maybe even in spite of yourself--the cheesier the better)

Breath of Heaven -- the one sung by Amy Grant, especially since becoming a mother. I remember thinking it was SO melodramatic when it first came out. Now it gets me every time. Of course, that could be gestational hormones...

3. Christmas song that makes you want to stuff your ears with chestnuts roasted on an open fire.

O Holy Night. Mainly because it's usually sung by people who have no business singing it. Unless you are of the caliber of Julie Andrews back when she could sing (and have independent varification from someone not-related to you and not in any way associated with the show American Idol or its knock-offs), please, spare us...

4. The Twelve Days of Christmas: is there *any* redeeming value to that song? Discuss.

It was made into a kick-rear pop-up book by Robert Sabuda. And one of my favorite ornaments is a buckeye pod from Eureka College campus painted to look like a pear. That's redeeming enough for me.

5. A favorite Christmas album

I love the Boston Camerata's A Medieval Christmas, A Renaissance Christmas and A Baroque Christmas boxed set. They get a lot of play time here. Secularly, Have Yourself a Jazzy Little Christmas tops my list!

Friday Five: Adventually

While it is not Advent YET in the liturgical world and I usually don't officially acknowledge it until it happens, since all my sermons are done (hurrah!) and most of the bulletins are finished (double hurrah!!), I feel I am more qualified to comment on the encroaching season than perhaps in past years. So, thanks to the RevGals...

1) Do you observe Advent in your church?

We do. And we actually observe it in pretty grand style, for us, since I've become the pastor. We use purple, by the way, which I have to admit is the only thing that makes sense to me for Advent. Blue -- not getting it.
Only thing is our Advent "wreath" is a HIDEOUS white iron candle stand that belongs in one of those late night goth programs on public access television. If you produce one of those, contact me and I'll see about accidentally leaving the church open to arrange a robbery.

2) How about at home?

When I was single, I tried. I always had a great devotional and an appropriately abstract Advent "wreath", I just never actually used them consistently. Now, with the Little Bug at the brink of awareness, I'm planning to figure out some more concrete (and consistent) ways to celebrate every day.
I guess I do mark it by not decorating 'til after it arrives, and generally Dennis and I have sat in front of our lit Christmas tree with the house lights off every night for a little while talking about life. That's a nice informal tradition I hope we can keep.

3) Do you have a favorite Advent text or hymn?

I love People, Look East. That's one of my favorites that we never sing. I also love Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence and O Come, O Come, Immanuel when it's sung well. The one that we use here which has grown on me to the point that I would say I reallly like it is When God is a Child . We use it for lighting the Advent wreath each week and I like it because it actually has the Sundays in the right order. Fancy that.

4) Why is one of the candles in the Advent wreath pink? (You may tell the truth, but I'll like your answer better if it's funny.)

To butch up the purple?

5) What's the funniest/kitschiest Advent calendar you've ever seen?

There are SO many. I think it's rarer that they AREN'T kitchy!