50 Days
Posted by Brian June 03, 2006
Hmmm. Tomorrow is Pentecost. And my last entry here was posted on Holy Saturday. That means that it’s been FIFTY DAYS since I posted anything here. Sorry, Mom! (I figure you’re the only one who is still checking.)
So, I guess I’d better say something, or else change the subtitle of the blog…
Let’s see.
Speaking of Pentecost, I’ll be reading the Gospel in Greek during worship tomorrow. Actually, there will be lots of people, reading it in lots of different languages, all at the same time. The deacon will announce the Gospel, then we’ll all read in our different tongues, then the deacon will read it again in English. We did the same thing last year, and I was still reading in Greek after everybody else had finished. It made me nervous, and I began butchering the pronunciation. This year, I’m going to read faster, and if I’m the last one still reading, then I’m just going to cut it short. Nobody will know, anyway. 
Other Pentecost practices at St. Michael’s: Everybody is supposed to wear red. And they have big poles with streamers which they wave around over the congregation (like wind) while we all sing Veni, Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit). Sounds cheesy, perhaps, but it’s actually pretty cool.
What else?
In a month, David and I will be visiting the Grand Canyon.
My sister had her third baby - my first nephew. She told me, helpfully, “He needs a baby blanket!” (I made one for each of her first two kids.) So, I’m working on something. I don’t want to spoil the surprise by saying what it is, but I will say this: It is the Cutest Thing Ever!
I switched my laptop computer from Windows to Linux. So far, everything is cool (and free!) except that I’m having trouble getting my wireless network card to work. Blah. What a bother to be tied down by a wire!
We might go to the zoo today. Or the farmer’s market. Oh, and it’s almost time for the peach orchard to open. Hooray!
OK, so there you have it, my very exciting 50-day update. I’ll try to be more diligent in the future.
By the way, I have no idea what that picture is, but it’s the coolest thing which came up when I did a Google image search for “50″.
Maybe she’s harvesting wheat. Doesn’t Pentecost have something to do with that too in the Jewish calendar?
I’m hoping for a Pentecost baby. In that case her middle name will be Fiamma–Italian for flame. Maybe she’ll even have red hair like yours!
I guess the previous post shows I’m not the only one still checking!!! That sounds cool about you and others all reading the gospel aloud. What scripture exactly is that? Wish I could be there to hear it. And why does everyone wear red? So when exactly are you and David visiting the Grand Canyon, and is it a vacation trip just for that? And when are you going to come see your new nephew?
Brent,
A Pentecost baby named Fiamma sounds awesome, but from reading your wife’s blog, it seems like that didn’t happen. Maybe you could name a nearly-Pentecost baby Fiamma anyway.
Mom,
It was cool. I made sure I wasn’t the last one reading this time! I think the last guy reading was reading in Spanish.
The Gospel for Pentecost was John 20:19-23:
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
All the readings on Pentecost are about the Holy Spirit. We also read (just in English) the account in Acts of the Spirit coming like a wind with tongues of fire, and the disciples preaching the Good News in many languages.
Red is the liturgical color for Pentecost. It reminds us of fire, a symbol of the Spirit.
We will be at the Grand Canyon the week of July 4, yes, for vacation.
I’m thinking of coming up to see Brice around Labor Day.
I haven’t been checking but I’ve been meaning to send you pictures of real Azaleas since I read you Azalea post.