January 31, 2019
You’ve likely heard this wisdom: Don’t take impetuous actions or say impetuous words when you’re HALT. That is, hungry, angry, lonely or tired. When you’re HALT, your present moment is very small. Long term consequences have been crowded out, almost as if they don’t exist. I think boredom is another danger. Out of boredom, one might needlessly needle someone. Know what I mean?
At my church I wear the hat of Historical Chairman. As such I watch over the long term, the larger present moment, otherwise known as tradition—Judeo-Christian, United Methodist, and local congregation. One way I do that is to present displays to illustrate each season of the Christian year. This is more joy for me than I can even describe!
Perhaps I can describe it a little by sharing a report I gave to our church council this week. A note of explanation: We’re in the season of Epiphany, which takes us this year from Epiphany Sunday–January 6–all the way to Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday–March 6. Are your eyes glazing over yet? Well, an emerging epiphany for me is that people like rhyme. A lot. Rhyme can take swathes of information, consolidate it, present it in a way that makes eyes shine–far better for eyes to shine than glaze over! So, enjoy the poem, and the images that follow.
Historical Committee Report to Church Council
January 29, 2019
Phoebe H. Dishman, Chair
‘I don’t deny that there should be priests to remind men that they will one day die. I only say it is necessary to have another kind of priests, called poets, actually to remind men that they are not dead yet.’ – G.K. Chesterton
A happy hat at Trinity
Is mine again to wear
Curator of church seasons
Also known as historical chair
It’s clear historically speaking
That there are several reasons
The church should organize itself
According to the seasons
The seasons teach our story
Repetition works it in
The colors and the images
Touch us deep within
Advent and then Christmastide
Epiphany and Lent
Eastertide and Pentecost
And now the year’s half spent
Then here comes Ordinary Time
Another half a year
Leads us up to Advent
Again to Christmas cheer
And then it’s January
Wise men from afar
And then a dove and a blessing
Epiphany—here we are
There is of course an exhibit
In the cases in the West Wing
We hope it brings a smile
We hope it makes you sing
Star of wonder star so bright
Star with royal beauty bright
West Wing leading still proceeding
Help us shine the holy light
Epiphany’s ours for another month
Ash Wednesday marks its end
And then we’ll curate Lent
On that you can depend
And all to fortify
And all to open our eyes
And all to impart a grateful heart
Grounded and growing and wise
Everlasting Arms 