Transportation problems

That evil petrodeath fueled van has broken down. We're now in Chicago. It's going to be Sunday before we can be on the highways and byways again. Our eta to SOV2 is now sometime Monday barring further problems. This is all somewhat disappointing. Not that we were making great time before, having to stop every 20 miles so Syb Joe could visit a restroom. But the good news is that would be able to visit a local parish in Chicagoland. Originally we were going to St. Sabina. I've always admired what I've heard about that parish. But it turns out it's on the east side of town, so we're too far away. But this wonderful womyn I was chatting with outside the repair facility recommended another parish. I believe it's called St. John Cantius.

Fire with Fire

The Gorebertine syblyngs are finally on their way! We got kind of a late start as we had a disagreement about whether or not to take a petrodeath fueled van. The van belongs to members of the DLA (Druidical Liberation Army) who were staying with us. They've offered to take us down to your wonderful parish as they were on their way to Florida. They made some valid points I believe about using technology to fight technology. I'm even posting right now from a "wireless notebook". Although I don't see how a telegraph is involved. Much easier than when I tried using the internetweb with a telegraph key. Hopefully we will be in the arms of our fellow syblyngs at SOV2 soon.

SHOCKING NEWS AT SOV2!!!!

Hey! Well... the worst has happened. Last Sunday, while we were celebrating Pentecost at SOV2, the Bishop of Knoxville was over at that old rad-trad church "Holy Ghost", making the announcement of the "real" new North Knoxville parish.

As you all know, we have been fighting for over a year to be formally recognized as one of the parishes of Knoxville. We really went out on a limb, getting private financing through Dr & Mizz Argot, forming our own faith community, and whatnot. We even put up with the intrusion of the malevolent "Adoro" into the parish.

In fact, I consider "Adoro's" presence to be the factor that tipped the scales against us.

So what now? Do we fold up tent, give up, and sell our beautiful church building to the East Tennessee Rationalists? I say NO! We're here, we're loud, and they'll have to get used to us! Sure, they can send their stormtroopers over to harass us, they can have the Knights of Columbus pour lime on our lawn to spell out "heretic", they can pay off the Knox News Sentinel to pretend that we don't exist, but WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!

As a first step, I have contacted the Augustinian Order of St. de Mello to appeal to them to make us a "priory." My understanding is that if we get to be a priory, then we can do whatever we want. Also, I have sent a letter to Archbishop Pilarczyk of Cincinnati asking if we can be a sattelite faith community for his diocese. Finally, what I like to call the "nuclear option", we can declare schism, just like Martin Luther did back in the day. It worked out for him, why not for us?

I'll be announcing a F.C. meeting about this topic in the near future.

On a related note, Fr. Juno is very upset about this announcement and is making all sorts of crazy comments about being "deceived". I have assured him that he knew full well our "interim" status, but I'm afraid that I have had to have him confined to the rectory under the personal care of Maryann Mcgronk and her "spirit team."

In order to make it through this crisis, I have authorized an emergency payment to the Fr. Richard McBrien Retirement Fund, in hopes that he will be able to make a personal motivational appearance here. Fr. Curt Kane has also offered to come to our parish to assist as A.P. while Fr. Juno is out of commission. Ché and his EcoChurch folks have blockaded all of the entrances to the church grounds. Please be careful entering the property as they have dug a number of trenches and put sharpened sticks in them.

Thank you for staying "in the walk" with us as we navigate these turbulent seas.

Fr. Tim

Congregants Dress Code for Pentecost

Hey! I read an interesting suggestion from someone named "Cathy of Alex" about having the congregation wear costumes on Pentecost, and I thought it was a really neat idea. Of course, Ché has had the rainbow sash thing going on here every week, so that won't be a big deal. Just to avoid confusion, and so everybody can recognize everyone else's love-offering, I am going to require you all to abide by the following code:

Rainbow Sash: Support of GLBTNA rights
Black Armband: Support of the divorced & remarried receiving communion
Red headband: Womyn's ordination
Red headband w/ black stripe: Womyn-only ordination
Blue T-Shirt: Opposition to war in Iraq
Blue striped T-Shirt: Opposition to all war
Green bead necklace: Opposition to pollution
Green Head-Band: Proponent of Solar Power
Beanie-cap with fan on top: Proponent of Wind Power
Baseball-cap with two bottled waters & curvy straws: Proponent of hydro-power
Red boots: Campaign against General Pinochet
Brown Trousers: Opposition to wood products
Purple Scarf: Pro-Choice
Purple Scarf with Orange Sash: Free Abortion On Demand
Red Stole, Alb, Miter, and Vestments: Opposition to Clericalism
Pink Slippers: Draft Nancy Pelosi for President campaign

I will be asking Kate Po to print copies of this list and place them in the pews. Please note that this list has been carefully designed so that people can have multiple causes on display. I would also ask that anyone who normally refuses communion, but wants to make a public protest, please walk up to communion backwards and I will know not to offend you by offering you communion. We have installed mirrors around the church so that you can see behind you and minimize the risk of tripping.

Announcements May 20

Here's the announcements:

There will be a workshop on nonviolent confrontation and the preferential option for the poor. This is the first of a series in social justice issues. Call Ché Lovell with any questions.

A printed copy of Fr. Curt Kane's presentation on exploitation of Appalachians will be included in next week's bulletin. We are printing extra copies of the bulletin as I know you will want to get a few copies for your friends.

The VOTF meeting for May has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict with the liturgical committee. VOTF members are encouraged to attend the social justic meeting in lieu of the VOTF meeting.

The next EcoChurch meeting will be combined with the SOV2 Youth Group meeting and will feature a viewing of "An Inconvienient Truth". The meeting will be held in the Youth Hall. Space is limited, so reserve your place by calling Eugene Kramer or Ché Lovell. The meeting is tomorrow, Wednesday night at 9:30pm in the Parish Hall.

The Parish Council met Thursday to discuss forming a new buildings & grounds committee. Following are the new guidelines:
-The parish is now entirely no-smoking except for pipes
-The north campus area is designated as "natural" so only indigenous species will be planted
-The south campus are will be left in its pristine kudzu cover
-The B&G committee needs volunteers for Saturday clean-up. See Todd Turk to sign up.
-Although the "Green Grounds" proposal was voted down, the B&G committee has agreed to purchase hybrid "green-power" lawn mowers and to do all trimming by hand. An anonymous donation was made by Dr. Argot to cover the $45,000 cost for the Green Power Mowers.

DVD's of the Easter Vigil are on sale now. See Todd Turk for a copy - he will be selling them after all masses for the next four weeks. As a reminder, less than 10% of the people who pre-ordered these DVD's have actually paid or claimed them. The DVD was a major investment for the parish and as of now we are about $10,000 in the hole. Please step up and help your parish out by purchasing a few copies of the DVD. They make great solstice presents! As an incentive, the Womyn's Club has agreed to offer one hour of guided spirit-maze wandering for anyone who buys two DVD's (womyn only).

Announcements May 13

Hey! I forgot to 'blog my announcements from Sunday, so here they are. Also, some parishioners have complained that this 'blog seems to be all about disagreements among the parish staff. To those parishioners I have to say (lovingly) judge not. The members of the parish staff put in long hours for not much of a salary. If this 'blog gives them a place to sound off a bit, then I think it can be a good sign to all of us on how to resolve our differences in a loving, faithful way.

So, here's the announcements:

The liturgical committee will be meeting in the parish hall to discuss upcoming changes. Anyone with questions should call Maryann McGronk at the parish office.

There will be a workshop on nonviolent confrontation and the preferential option for the poor. This is the first of a series in social justice issues. Call Ché Lovell with any questions.

The VOTF meeting for May has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict with the liturgical committee. VOTF members are encouraged to attend the social justic meeting in lieu of the VOTF meeting.

The next EcoChurch meeting will be combined with the SOV2 Youth Group meeting and will feature a viewing of "An Inconvienient Truth". The meeting will be held in the Youth Hall. Space is limited, so reserve your place by calling Eugene Kramer or Ché Lovell.

As a reminder, liturgical dancers must be registered with the music ministry. YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE TO BE PART OF LITURGICAL DANCE. We don't want a repetition of the scene at the Easter vigil mass. Call Todd Turk for details on this exciting ministry.

Maryann McGronk has told me that we will try to have an RCIA class this year. This would be a really big deal for us since we were not able to have a class last year.

The Parish Council will be meeting Thursday to discuss forming a new buildings & grounds committee. Council president Todd Turk asked me to remind the parish that the Parish Council has voted down the "Green Grounds" proposal due to the unpleasant aroma in the trial run.

Fr. Curt Kane of Appalachian Peace Alliance will be here next Sunday to give a presentation after mass on the work his ministry is doing helping the poor of Appalachia resist economic exploitation and develop reliable alternatives to mass production.

Finally, big thanks to Fr. Juno Aroymba for hosting the "Taste of Kenya" night last week. For those of you who missed this event, we had a great time and will definately want Fr. Juno to serve up that tasty bean dish at the next potluck supper.

Here we are!

Hey! Welcome to the 'blog! If you got here by mistake, welcome! If you got here on purpose, it works! Pastoral outreach isn't what it was - this 'blog is only one of the great new tools we have for reaching out to our congregation and beyond.

I'm supposed to use this to cut down on the announcements after mass, but hey, you know me! I'll be posting news from the parish as well as little things I think might be good for meditation or social action.

Keep coming back! I promise this 'blog will be exciting, fun, and informative!

PS: Thanks to parishioner Ngyuen Tran for helping me get started on Blogger - mom & dad you must be proud!