"Worthy is the Lamb...."

Last night I had dinner with my friend, Betty, at Longhorn and we talked a long time. Unfortunately she has not been able to find a job after being laid off from my former company. Her sister, also laid-off from her job, has recently begun taking some classes to add to her skills but Betty is concerned that she might have the "old dog/new tricks" syndrome and not be able to handle school again. She has not totally dismissed the notion, but I can see where it can be frightening to take classes at this point in her life. These would not be classes just for fun or interest, but rather something with which she might be able to support herself.

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Here is Betty at Justin's birthday party last month. We have been friends for more than a decade---wow, that sounds like a long time when stated that way.......

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This morning I got to church in time for Bible study and what an interesting topic it was! We are studying our vocations as Christians, with our subject matter today coming from Titus, where St. Paul gave the instructions and guidelines for what makes a qualified minister/elder. Blameless, above reproach, good reputation, all things necessary to make a good strong church leader. I truly enjoy studying about these things, serves to be grounding for me. Only two kids in Sunday school today so Kathy B. had an easy time of it!

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Kathy and Suzanne played the pre-service music which I could only hear bits of as I stood outside the doors greeting with Gretchen. What a wonderful musical team they are! In fact, they were so good that when the MIDI quit suddenly mid-hymn, the congregation kept singing and the two ladies quickly jumped in with live music. I thought they had planned it that way, the way it flowed nearly seamlessly from MIDI to 'a cappella' to live music! It moved me! The hymn was from the Supplement, "Speak, O Lord", and not all that familiar to most. Later we sang and they played "The Lamb" which was also quite lovely. "Worthy is the Lamb, whose blood made me His own! The Lamb is reigning on His throne."

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I sat with Twila on the far side of the church in a calculated attempt to support the singing since we were using one of the newer liturgies this a.m. She was alone so it was nice to share the pew with her. Little Sarah was in front of us and kept working her way down the pew, sneak a peek at me, and then scurry back down to her parents. Twila had Altar Guild and since her co-helper was not there, she asked if I would help her. Of course I will! Suzanne even teased me because after I was done washing the communion ware, I mopped my face with a paper towel. Yes, I am perspiring---I had my hands in hot, sudsy water and it spread to my face!

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Twila and I grabbed lunch at Aron's on the way home, with me bringing home half of mine! Twila did a good job on her lunch with no leftovers but had to stop at Publix on the way home to get supplies for making a special soup for her grandson, Daniel, who was coming for dinner. She just loves to spoil her grands! Justin always loved his Grandma Twila's cooking, which he enjoyed when he used to hang out with Mark. But I do make good sloppy joes and I believe it will have one right now!

Thinking about some of Friday's events and such...

As you might recall, Friday morning Justin, Judy J. , and I were part of the "honor guard' our community put forth to welcome back a fallen airman, Scott Speicher. His procession, for those familiar with Jacksonville at all, followed Roosevelt Blvd. (Hwy. 17) north to downtown. There was a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Wall, although I do not think they actually stopped the procession at all. The parade went on passed Speicher's church and his high school, out to NAS Cecil Field where he had trained and from where he was deployed. The route then took the procession down Argyle Forest Blvd., passed Good Shepherd, where the preschool kids, some parents and the staff, stood with flags in salute.

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The photos on-line showed views looking north from the cemetery toward I-295, and the traffic was gone. The only vehicles appearing were the motorcycles leading the hearse and other vehicles in procession. This brought back memories of our having the same effect on traffic with our funeral procession on a Friday afternoon. Blanding Blvd. is about the busiest roadway in the area and our extended-length procession from the church to the cemetery certainly ruined some people's schedules that afternoon in 2001.

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I was able to see the "missing man formation" fly-over as they must have flown over the cemetery during the 21 gun salute and playing of Taps. Judy J. was on her way back from church after standing with the children and saw the "missing man" leave the formation and "punch a hole in the sky". She called from her car to tell me about it and I told her they came over the house too. Quite spectacular a sight and experience for our community!