Diocesan Office

October 31, 2007- Forget the Search Committee and the nasty finances; the big news this past week was UNICEF Sunday.

Forget the Search Committee and the nasty finances; the big news this
past week was UNICEF Sunday. I think the kids had the rest of us
outnumbered at 10:30 and they just about took over the place. I knew
something was up, or I was in trouble, when Sarah, reading the Gospel,
looked me straight in the eye and read the words from Luke, "...regarded
others with contempt!" What a relief when I realized she was looking
at someone behind me who was about to continue the Gospel reading. And
off they went from there. What a great job they did in the service,
and then in the fashion show to follow.

Back at the Search Committee, this was the week we realized the
reality of the workload we have accepted. With the completion of the
draft of the survey form, Stover Babcock pulled out a timeline that
looked like it came right from Scrooge. Somehow our little group has
to sort through the results of the surveys, which will be going out
next week, and the focus group sessions, that seem to be planned for
roughly mid November, and digest, debate, write and publish a coherent
and appealing parish profile in 8-12 weeks. Goodness, we spent two
weeks just hashing through six pages of questions! My hope is that we
can develop a vision and some themes, but frankly that seems like a
daunting task right now. Your contribution by sharing your vision in
the survey or at the meetings would certainly be a help. All I can say
is if we have to do multiple meetings for several weeks to get done, I
want a vacation for Lent.

November 18 seems to be the date targeted for "Pledge Sunday." John
Mattix and Tom Fairchild are doing a really great job writing letters
and speeches, and planning mailings. If everyone would just raise
their pledge 1% for every hour of effort they have put in, we'll be in
great shape. Seriously, if we could just think about the points they
will be offering, we will understand the importance of the effort this
year in particular.

Finally, don't forget the All Souls Requiem Concert, being performed
by our choir along with two others. It will be 7:30 PM this Friday
night, November 2, at St. Albans in North Wilmington. It's an original
piece, by their choir director; Barbara Tilton is doing a solo, and
they are being accompanied by the Elsmere String Quartet (that's
Elsmere, Delaware). St. Albans is at 913 Wilson Road, the extension of
Murphy Road, which used to be 141 before DELDOT got creative with the
loops. If you go on I-95 it will give you a chance to experience those
very loops at the foot of Concord Pike. Just keep to the right onto
Foulk Road, then turn right onto Wilson, it's just down the road on
the left. I'm told its two hours with intermission, so take the
"missus" out for dinner and get some "kulcha." Allow some time for the
traffic though, I'm warned.