Daughter of This Land

Thy veil, oh daughter of this land, is plush and rich, and it has been set about with branches of Cornish palms and with flowers of rose and bindweed. Thy lips of honey and currants taste, and of apples too. The air about thee smells sweet of tea olive, and thy cheeks glow bright as the orchid of the Hebrides. The form of thy body is cut, as from Anglesey's stone, and thy belly soft and curved as the hills of Devon. The flesh about thee is soft and smooth as the midlands' fields, and warm like woolen woven by the hands of angels and their kin.

With eyes like stones pulled from each the Thames and Tyne and a smile which gleameth like Britania's blade thou ignitest within me a flame, a burning which wouldst fell the most chaste of men and bring them to weakness. A brow which is strong, and gentle yet excites such flame as to burn through all of the forests. Hands like mighty Dover's cliffs and delicate with not so much as a single flaw, and shaped by the skill of a master.

My Muse, my love, my darling, my sweet, and my inspiration art thou. From thee doth come my prose, inspired, and to thee do I owe my passion, eternal.

I am, and shall be all consumedly yours,

Forever

Do you believe the words that Christ spoke?

I believe that Christ is truly and perfectly present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist because He spoke the words, "This is my Body" and also "This is my Blood". I believe this because Christ spoke the words, "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him." Christ clarifies that He is speaking not in metaphor. The Body and Blood of Christ are not metaphorical. It is a true and perfect sacrament, requisite of all Christian people. Christ has also said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves." Christ speaks not of symbols or ordinances. Christ speaks not of mere actions in accordance to His command. He speaks of real food and real drink. He speaks of His mortal flesh sanctified by His nature having been offered to and made accessible us forever in the Holy Eucharist! Christ has given us access to his very own flesh saying, "This is my body given for you." In the Sacrament of the Eucharist we receive His Own Flesh and His Own Blood. Christ makes no mention or symbols or representations, of metaphors or hyperbole. Christ, the King of Kings, The Incarnate Word, The Son of God, and God Himself has spoken plain words, "This is my body" and "This is my blood."

Do you believe the words that Christ spoke? I do.

Fast Food vs. Public Education

A Waffle House Grill Operator with no experience or education beyond 10th grade makes on average about $8 an hour. After a few years of experience he or she can potentially increase that wage up to $11 per hour.

A Career Status North Carolina Public Elementary School Teacher of a class made up of 25 students who has 5 years of experience and a minimum of a Regionally Accredited Bachelor's Degree makes approximately $16 an hour based on a 190 working day calendar and a 10 hour working day (7 am-5 pm) which includes a 15-30 minute working lunch with his or her students. A North Carolina Public School Teacher is also expected to complete any work that is not finished within the work day at home.

These statistics are from www.ncpublicschools.org and www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Waffle-House-Salaries-E6491.htm. These statistics have been calculated before taxes.

Disney Wedding Music

What is more perfect for a wedding than the childhood reminiscence of princesses and heroes, of happy endings and happily ever afters? What brings back these childhood memories better than the music from the Disney Films that imortalize and epitomize these very ideas! Here are a few ideas for Disney music in a wedding order to make your special day even more perfect, romantic, and memorable!

Prelude:

I’m Wishing (Snow White)

or

You’ve Got A Friend In Me (Toy Story)

or

Some Day My Prince Will Come (Snow White)

or

Beauty And The Beast (Beauty And The Beast)

or

The Second Star To The Right (Peter Pan)

Bridal Party Procession:

Can You Feel The Love Tonight (The Lion King)

or

Once Upon A Dream (Sleeping Beauty)

Bridal Procession:

A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella)

or

I See The Light (Tangled)

Unity Ceremony:

A Whole New World (Aladdin)

or

If I Never Knew You (Pocahontas)

Musical Interlude:

Kiss The Girl (The Little Mermaid)

or

Something There (Beauty And The Beast)

Recessional:

Love Is An Open Door (Frozen)

or

Aloha ‘Oe (Lilo and Stitch)

or

That’s How You Know (Enchanted)

AS THE WIND

As the wind; my passion is unseen,

though the whipping and the whistling,

through the trees of woody green,

are felt and can be noted,

and may make emotions lean,

though as it is with the wind,

my passions, yet, remain unseen.

THE MUSE

Thy neck as sculpted marble,

above the temple of thy flesh doth stand;

upon it poised the pinnacle of thy unblemished face,

which radiates with beauty and shines of sacred light of joy and happiness and grace.

Your smile, the muse of bards,

the theme of song, the stuff of ecstasy;

thy beauty timeless as the very song of love,

a beauty given solely to thee, from some great power above.

A dove of radiant beauty,

above the clouds; across the gleam of day;

above the Earth you glide and dance across the sky,

as you ascend those below you gaze at thee in awe as you fly.

A Message of Hope

In this day the heathen shall rejoice and the blasphemer shall be glad. The pagans shall revel and godless shall dance. For heathen and the blasphemer and the pagan and the godless, they know only what has passed away but they have no hope. They have no fathom of events to come. Those who mourn have hope, for we know by faith that the sun brings warmth. For when the feasts of the pagans end and when the cup of the blasphemer runs dry, and when the stores of the heathen are barren, and when the godless whither away, hope will remain in them who trust the Lord. Rejoice today all ye that do not fear the Lord, and say "Your Lord has died! Your God has perished and his body mangled and given to the earth." but when the morning comes the earth shall be opened. He who had been put to death shall conquer death, and he who was scourged will be glorified! Over the veil of death He shall rise, and our hope shall not be lost, for in His Glory we shall have Glory, and in His life we too shall live, for even as the things of earth shall pass away, the things of His Kingdom shall remain!

A Delicious and Simple Meat Pie!

Most people think of meat pies and instantly go one of two directions. Either they lean toward a Pot Pie or they just go yuck! But neither of these is what I think of. My image of a meat pie is one which is best described as a meatloaf packed with vegetables in a crust. And boy is it yummy! So to try it out yourselves, here is what you'll need:

1-2 lbs of ground meat (Turkey, Beef, or even Sausage)
2-3 cups of chunked root veggies (If you use Sausage you may just want to put potatoes in)
Various spices and seasonings (I like to use Kitchen Pepper for which you can find the recipe on My Wife's Blog)
3-4 cups of flour
2 sticks of butter
Salt
A little bit of very cold water
1 Egg
A Pie Dish
A cup or mug
A brush for an egg wash
A Mixing Bowl
A Pie Crust Tamp (or just fingers will do)

We will start by making the crust! It is very simple. Using your hands on the counter knead together the flour and butter until you get a thick doughy consistency. Add a little salt and a few drops of very cold water. (You can also do this in a bowl with a mixer) It should have a texture similar to playdough. Let the dough rest for a moment before you put it into the pie dish. Using the pie crust tamp (or just your fingers) evenly press the dough into the dish so that it looks something like this:

With the remaining dough you can roll out a top crust. I find it is easiest to put the dough between 2 layers of wax paper and roll it flat, adding a bit more flour so that it doesn't stick or tear. Put both the pan and the top in the fridge to cool down and harden. 

Next we make the filling! Take your ground meat, add spices as you desire, and mix in your veggies. It is almost too simple! In my filling I used ground beef and a frozen veggie mix (carrots, potatoes, and celery) because it was cheaper. Make sure that the veggies are evenly distributed. It should look something like this:

Now you may remove the crusts from the fridge and fill the pie. Be sure not to over fill the crust. 2/3 to 3/4 full is plenty. Both the crust and filling will expand as they cook. Pack the filling in very tightly. To put on the top crust I like to lay out the top, flip the entire pie over (this is why packing it tightly is key) and cut the edge of the top crust to the shape of the pie. Using a cutting board or something flat I flip the entire pie over again so that the top is now actually on top. Crimp the edges and make cuts in the crust like so:

These cuts prevent the crust from tearing or buckling and the pie cooks. The crimping seals the edges and makes it pretty. Add an egg wash and bake in a 400*f oven for 30-45 minutes depending on how thick the pie is. 

Once it is finished cooking you can either serve it hot or cold. When Cold it makes an exceptional breakfast dish! This dish is an excellent choice for a working class High Tea or Supper in the evening!

Enjoy!

High Tea vs. Afternoon Tea

It is often confusing to Americans when they hear the worda High or Afternoon Tea. The common misconception is that High Tea is a formal event attended by the upper crust and that Afternoon Tea is a leisure time in the middle of the day where tea and sweets are served. The truth is that Afternoon Tea is the more formal of the two.

Afternoon Tea became popular among the upper classes as a sort of stop gap between lunch which is served around noon or 1 pm, and supper which is served around 7 or 8. With up to an 7 hour gap betwen meals, you can imagine that one might get hungry between them. The meal that is now known as Afternoon Tea was  introduced for that purpose.

Afternoon Tea is a light meal, traditionally consisting of an assortment of sweets and/or light sandwiches, designed to tide one over until supper, not to fill the stomach. As an institution of the upper classes it naturally developed a very formal and ceremonious nature.

High Tea, on the contrary, is a working class meal designed to replace dinner or supper. Served between 6 and 7 in the evening the designation of "High" is believed to refer to the high backed chairs of the lower classes or the high stools found in pubs where the meal was sometimes served and not to the ceremony or formality. Someimes the meal is also referred to as "Meat Tea" designating that it is a heavier meal which included more sustenance (such as meat) for working class men and women as opposed to the frilly light fare of Afternoon Tea.

Irrational Numbers... Irrational Thoughts...

There is no such thing, in practice or in theory, as an "irrational" number. Numbers, by their very nature, are rational. Numbers are measurements, tangible or not, and each have a definitive end, and can therefore not be irrational. The nature of so called "irrational" numbers is not to be irrational but contrarily is perpetual specificity. For instance the number abbreviated as pi is defined as 3.14159265359 and so on. While the specificity of it's end may be essentially inconceivable it has a definitive end preventing it from continuing beyond 3.15 because it is defined as less than 3.15 but it is defined as being more than 3.14, and so on it is defined as being less than 3.142 and likewise more than 3.141. Essentially the number is perpetually specific, but not irrational.

Penance and Preparation

The Season of Lent has come again. As we enter this season of penance and prayer we prepare ourselves for the triumphant entry of Christ into the Holy City. Lent is not only a time for fasting and prayer, but it is a time of purging and preparation. As we prepare ourselves for Christ's coming in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and for Holy Week and Easter it sets our hearts and minds to the knowlege and understanding of perpetual advent, as we await the eminent return of our Lord. As we fast this Lenten season let us not forget the reason we are purifying our bodies. We await Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem, into our hearts, and his triumphant return to claim, once again, his Eternal Kingdom.

A Cute Little Tea Cozy

This is a cute little project I did this evening because my tea got cold earlier in the day before I was finished enjoying it and it made me very sad... So I went to the store, got some fabric, and put together a Cozy to keep my tea warm a bit longer. After seeing how cute it turned out, I put together these simple instructions so that you can make your own at home! It isn't much, but it is quick, easy, and cute! Have fun trying it out!

 

The Power of Tea, Part 2

                       

The "Teatanic" tea infuser by FRED

To compliment my previous post about tea I thought I would continue on with some cool tea accessories! Kettles, teapots, infusers, teacups, spoons, tea boxes... Everyone who really enjoys tea naturally enjoys the odds and ends that go with it. Here are just a few of my absolute favorite little bits to accompany you at tea time!

After a nice long day of work, who doesn't like to relax and sink into a nice hot... Cup of Tea! 

Mr. Tea by FRED

For the art aficionado, the cat lady, or just a tea enthusiast, this charming Tea-for-One set is a must have!

From The Metropolitan Museum of Art

You knew it was coming some time... The two things that scream ENGLISH are Tea and Dr. Who!

Every Whovian needs a Tardis Tea Pot

Instead of being a tea loving introvert, try sharing a cup of tea with a friend!

This modern Tea-for-Two designed by Mark Huang

Happy Brewing!

The Power of Tea, Part 1

Tea has been a driving force in the western world for hundreds of years, and in the East it has been so even longer! Today so many people have cheapened Tea into a drab and granted part of life. Where is the joy in that? Fortunately some people have made enough of a fuss about Tea in their lives that some companies have started to get their act together and begin producing fun and exciting Teas and Tea related products! Being a Twining's snob myself I naturally have to point in that direction first. Twining's has been making quality Tea for years! 308 years to be exact! Their traditional black, green, and red teas are some of the best in the world, however the Twining's lines of herbals and blended teas are also invigorating! Most Twining's teas are available both in bags or loose.

Another phenomenal tea company (and also a personal favorite) is Teavana! In addition to an adventurous selection of traditional old world teas, Teavana is one of the fleeting few companies that carries an exciting selection of traditional  Mate teas!

Lastly, but certainly not least among tea companies, is Bigelow! As one of the new kids on the block (Having only been established in 1945) the Bigelow company has done well to make a name for itself. Either as a long time lover of fine tea or as a brewing novice, Bigelow offers a delightful and more affordable range of teas of all sorts!

A few other brands that I have found are quite good are:

-Red Rose (Which we all know for their delightful little figurines)

-The Queen's Choice (Which I am sure that she has never heard of) I found this tea, believe it or not, The Dollar Tree store. I wasn't quite sure at first but I was surprised at the quality of the tea. I find that it is a superb tea, especially for the value!

Happy Brewing!

Mass Vestments: Usage and Origin

When someone who is unfamiliar with Catholicism walks into a Catholic Church one of the very first things that they are likely to notice is the lavish ornamentation of the Church.  In the East they would notice thousands of beautiful Icons written with bright colors and gold and silver leaf. In the West they would see statues and dramatic paintings of saints and angels. Once a liturgy begins they may notice that the clergy and servers are wearing ornately decorated and embroidered vestments. What   many people, both Catholic and protestant, fail to understand is that everything in the Church has a purpose. From each individual vestment that the ministers put on to the color of the fabric, to the moment that the ministers move the books on the altar, every article, item, symbol, and gesture in the liturgy has a meaning and a purpose. Today we will be going over the individual vestments of the ministers in the Western churches, their origin, and their purposes.

The outermost garment of the Priest, called a Chasuble, is the last one to be put on and will most often cover all of the other vestments. Its origin is the Casula, or “little house” which was a full, bell shaped cloak for traveling. The Chasuble has been retained as a symbol of Charity, and the yoke of unselfish service for the Lord which is imposed upon the Priest at his ordination. For this reason the Chasuble should properly supersede, and cover all others. The Chasuble is also often understood to represent the “seamless garment” of Christ. The Chasuble may take many forms, from the small and ornately decorated Roman style which developed in the 18^th century, often called a Fiddleback on account of its shape, to the ample cut Conical and Gothic styles which originate in much earlier periods. In the Eastern Churches the equivalent vestment is the Phelonian.

In the place of the Chasuble, Deacons and Subdeacons at Mass wear what are known as the Dalmatic and Tunicle (respectively). The Dalmatic is a calf length tunic made of fabric matching the Priest’s Chasuble which originates from Dalmatia, a province of Greece. The Tunicle is typically a bit shorter and derives its name from its shape simply as a tunic. Both the Deacon and Subdeacon wear all of the same vestments beneath the Dalmatic or Tunicle as the Priest, with the exception that the Subdeacon omits the use of the Stole. The Bishop may also wear the Dalmatic beneath the Chasuble, as the Bishop has received the fullness of the Priesthood. In the East a Bishop will properly wear an entirely different vestment, similar in appearance to the Dalmatic, called a Sakkos.

Beneath the Chasuble is worn the Stole, a long strip of fabric worn about the neck. For Priests the stole should be crossed or secured in the front. For a Bishop the Stole may hang free. For a Deacon the stole is properly worn over the left shoulder, pulled across the chest and joined at the right hip. The Stole is the symbol of authority, originating from the scarf worn by magistrates in the Roman Empire. The Stole is properly worn at any rite, office, or liturgical function. In the Eastern Churches the equivalent vestment for priests is the Epitrachelion. For Deacons and Subdeacons the corresponding vestment is the Orarion. 

Less common in modern use is the Maniple. Constructed similarly to the Stole, the Maniple is a band of cloth worn over the left forearm. Originating as a towel or handkerchief the Maniple symbolizes the labor and hardships that result from being in the service of Christ. In the Eastern Churches the ministers wear a pair of liturgical cuffs, which serve a similar function to the Maniple.

Worn around the waist is the Cincture, or Girdle. Its origin being a belt to gird the garments worn underneath it, the Cincture has come to symbolize the chastity and continence of the minister. In some places the Cincture may take the form of an ornate or decorative belt, however it is most commonly seen in the form of a simple cord or rope with knots or tassels at the ends. In the Eastern Churches the Cincture is called a Zone and is typically more similar to the ornate belt form instead of a simple cord.

Beneath the previous vestments is worn an ankle length white robe called an Alb. The Alb is a symbol of innocence and purity. The name comes from the Latin word albus, which means white. Any baptized Christian may wear the Alb, as it is also the garment of Baptism. This is why in many parishes you will find lay readers and assistants wearing the Alb. The Alb is typically a plain linen or cotton robe but occasionally it may be adorned with embroidery, appareling, or lace. In some places the Alb may be made partially or entirely of lace. In the Eastern Churches the Sticharion takes the place of the Alb.

Beneath the Alb should be worn an Amice. The Amice consists of a square or rectangle of linen and has strings or ties so that it can be wrapped around the body and tied in place. It represents the Helmet of Salvation and originally took the form of a hood similar to the hood or arming cap worn by a soldier beneath the helmet. Like the Maniple, the Amice has widely fallen into disuse however in recent years it has seen resurgence among traditionalists.

These vestments serve many purposes within the Church. Vestments are traditionally very ornate. They glorify Christ’s presence as the Lord and King. Through Apostolic Succession the Priest, when before the Altar of God, stands and acts in the place of Christ (in Persona Christi) and reenter into the sacrifice of Christ’s Body and Blood. As Christ offered bread and wine to the Father and consecrated them to become His Body and Blood, the Priest at the Mass stands in His place offering bread and wine consecrating them into the same Blood and Body of Jesus. In addition to honoring and glorifying Christ’s presence, the use of vestments removes the focus from the Priest himself, instead to the actions in which he is engaging. They remove the temptation to view the priest as an individual and reinforce that, at least during the Mass, he is acting in Persona Christi.

While all vestments are not an essential part of Christian worship, they play a very important role in maintaining the things which are essential. Vestments perpetually remind us of the real reason that we worship; that is to seek and to serve Christ.

Today is the 1st anniversary of my Ordination as a Deacon in the Old Catholic Diocese of Saint Mary. This year has been difficult in many ways, but through it I have learned, grown, and been fulfilled in ways that I could never have imagined. With the support of my family and friends I have survived this year. Thank you Bishop William Collins for your trust, encouragement, and support. Thank you Msgr.William G. Jones for your mentoring and support. Thank you Bishop Ron Shelton, and Bishop Ed Morrow for your prayers and support also. May God bless you all!

NOT A VESTMENT

Contrary to common belief (in the modernist mindset of 21st century America) that black doctoral gown that a Baptist, Methodist, or Presbyterian preacher wears is not a vestment. It is an academic gown and a means to display his educational credentials to preach and teach. The use of the academic gown by clergy developed in the reformed churches upon the rejection of the use of vestments. In much of the Anglican tradition the common Eucharistic Vestments (Chasuble, Stole, Maniple, Alb, and Amice)  were suppressed as being papist superstition while the Surplice and Cope were retained. Because these are not Mass Vestments to which specific superstition was attached Anglicans did not see the need to suppress their use. The Surplice, worn with the cassock, tippet, and academic hood became essentially the norm as far as vestments go in the Anglican use. On the other hand the more reformed (Calvinist, Puritan, Zwinglian) christians all together reject the use of vestments. Instead of vesting these traditions used the academic gown as the ministerial wear of clergy. 

As I stated above, the stole is a proper vestment and in particular it is a mass vestment. It represents the yoke of service to God. The academic gown is the symbol of the very rejection of vestments. To combine the two a theological oxymoron. 

Just a petpeve...

Coronation Tapestry is a beautiful fabric, and is very pretty on some vestments. It makes for a lovely orphery or trim. It can be a beautiful accent fabric. Here are some examples of tasteful use of Coronation Tapestry.

On occasion however too much of a good thing becomes a problem. Here are some examples...

Here is my final thought...

All things in moderation...

Now I'm done...

The Sacrament of Baptism is one instituted by Christ in the Gospels when He makes of Himself an example being cleansed with water at the hands of John the Forerunner (or known as John the Baptizer). The command was given then that Baptism should be administered in the name of The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Ghost, thus instituting the modern Trinitarian formula for the sacrament. The historical theology of Baptism is that Original Sin is passed to a child by his parents, just as any other trait would be. Because of this understanding it is understood to be the responsibility of a parent to have it washed away. Not dissimilar to feeding, bathing, and dressing, Baptism is a choice made by the parents of a child for his or her benefit. At Baptism a child's parents (and often godparents) make solemn vows to raise the child, teaching them the doctrines and traditions of the faith, so that in due time the child may confirm before a bishop that he or she has accepted and believes that which they have been taught. 

The Gospel according to St. Matthew, Chapter 28, Verses 18-20

The Authorized Version (KJV):

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one instituted by Christ in the Gospels when He grants the authority to the Apostles to forgive and retain sins (Verse 23), as He had received from the Father. Christ also at this time passes the essence of the Priesthood, Persona Christi, placing the Apostles in relation to himself the same as He is in relation to the Father (Verse 21). Christ, in this very instant, passes on the authority to act in His place, in Persona Christi, to the Apostles and with that the authority and responsibility to perpetually pass and to protect that same authority for future generations. This passing of Apostolic Authority received from the hands of Christ is what we have come to call Apostolic Succession. A succession, a lineage of pastoral authority, descending through the generations of the Church, granted directly to the Apostles by the breath and hands of the Living God, Jesus Christ.

The Gospel according to St. John, Chapter 20, Verses 19-23

The Authorized Version (KJV):

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

23 whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.