Tribute to a Friend

The holiness and the hecticness of the last two weeks
has subsided. It is the Monday morning after Easter
and so far so good. A few phone calls to return but
enjoying the momentary calm and quiet. Two
funerals, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday,
Sunrise service and the grand finale of Easter Sunday
celebrations including a Baptism/Confirmation
are officially behind me.

This week's main task is to sort through all the jokes
and funny stories I've collected and/or been given for
the past year. Some will be used as part of this
Sunday's Holy Humor liturgy. Long ago, Easter
Sunday through Bright Monday - which will be next Monday,
April 20th - these seven days after Easter were filled with
picnics and parties marked by joy and laughter as folks
stretched out the celebration of Jesus' Resurrection.
Practical jokes were normal and numerous for clergy and
laity alike. The rationale behind all this wholesome mischief
and mayhem was that God had played the biggest and best practical
joke of all time on the Devil by raising Jesus from the dead.
What better, more appropriate response than a week filled with
mirth and merriment?

I'm not exactly up to the mirth and merriment level
yet. I think a good long nap, absolute quiet and doing
absolutely nothing for a few hours is in order. There is
much to ponder. Time is needed to mull over the events
of the last two weeks and let their impact sink in. There
is one impending change which hangs like a cloud of
sadness as I plan next Sunday's fun.

Rev. Lauri Craig arrived in Phoenix about three months
before I arrived in Pennellville. We have worked well together
over these last six years - as colleagues, then confidantes,
and now good friends. What fun we have had planning something
new and different each year for the Down by the River Service!
What adventures we have had moving the service inside one
of the churches when the weather refused to cooperate. I worked
the desk while Lauri, Bob and the dogs did the CROP Walk
where we raised money for hunger - global and local. We did
our best to publicize each other's fundraisers and not have
two at the same time. For the most part, we succeeded.
We have shared leadership at worship services at Syracuse
Home, done a few funerals together and covered for each
other while away on vacation.

We were constantly trying to involve more of the community in
activities and projects sponsored by the Southern Oswego County
Council of Churches. Most have probably forgotten our first and
only community Thanksgiving dinner? It seemed like a good idea
at the time. Our "Heart to Heart" kit project (making kits for kids
for Church World Service to distribute at disaster sites) was a
resounding success though much more time consuming that we
had imagined. If you have ever attended the annual Youth Awards
banquet, you have heard one of us bless the food and one give the
Benediction. We were also part of the Baccalaureate service at
JCB each June. And each September 11th, we participated in the
Memorial Service at Henley Park.

There have been many meetings held over lunch at Larkin's and
other local eateries. We also discovered the luscious latte available
at the State Street Cafe. We have done a variety of things for Lent -
always taking a lead at the weekly lunches, sometimes sharing a study
group, frequently planning joint services for Holy Week. As we stood
behind the altar table on Maundy Thursday consecrating the elements for
Holy Communion, we realized that this would be our last service together.
It was a sad realization.

We have been there for each other when our mothers' died. We have
both appreciated working with Doug and Gordon Tappan on way too many
funerals these past six years. We share prayer concerns and pray for
each other's parishioners on a regular basis. Sometimes we've even been
able to visit each other's people in hospitals and nursing homes.

It is hard to say good-bye to what has been a huge part of our
relationship - providing pastoral care and spiritual leadership
for the Phoenix community. We have worked together easily and
can look back on many, many collaborative worship experiences
which hopefully have been spiritually nourishing for those
who attended. I will miss working with Pastor Lauri. We have
weathered many seasons together. And now, as it says in
Ecclesiastes 3, "there is a time to weep,and a time to laugh."
It will be time for both in the two weeks ahead. Though
Sunday, April 26th will be Pastor Lauri's last Sunday as my
colleague in ministry here in Phoenix, I thank God that it
will not be our last day as friends. But the 26th will bring tears.

Here's an email contribution which will hopefully bring
laughter on the 19th, Holy Humor Sunday. My apologies to
blondes everywhere, including my sister Andrea.

The True Meaning of Easter in Canada

Three blondes died and found themselves standing before St. Peter.

He told them that before they could enter the Kingdom,
they had to tell him what Easter represented.

The first blonde, a American, said "Easter is a holiday
where they have a big feast. We give thanks and eat turkey."

St. Peter said, "Noooooo" and he banished her to Hell.

The second blonde who was British said, "Easter is when we
celebrate Jesus' birth and exchange gifts."

St. Peter said, "Noooooo" and he banished her to Hell.

The third blonde, a Canadian, said she knew what Easter was,
and St. Peter said, "So, tell me."

She said, "Easter is a Christian holiday that coincides
with the Jewish festival of Passover. Jesus was having Passover
feast with His disciples when He was betrayed by Judas, and the
Romans arrested Him. He was nailed to a cross where he died. Then
they buried Him in a tomb behind and sealed the entry with a very
large stone."

St Peter said, "Very Good.'

Then the blonde continued, "Now, every year the Jews roll away
the stone and Jesus comes out. If he sees his shadow, we have six more
weeks of hockey."

St. Peter fainted

A time to laugh? Or a time to weep?