This and That

Today, I want to offer several short items.

St. Paul’s on 9/11

 

I have been running a series of posts on Lionel Deimel’s Web Log looking back on poems and essays I wrote in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. In my most recent post, the eighth in the series, I talk about and reproduce my poem “9/11 Memorial.” The poem describes the service held at St. Paul’s on the evening of September 11, 2001. If you attended that service, my poem may bring back memories.

Parking Lot Lights

 

I last complained about lights for the parking lot being out May 13, 2011. (See “Physical Plant Notes.”) When I was leaving the church for home after choir rehearsal on September 9, the three lights on the building that are supposed to illuminate the parking lot were not working. This is really dangerous. I was backing up my car near the door where I knew choir members were exiting, yet it was difficult to see if anyone was behind me or not. Happily, I ran over no one.

The good news is that, after the September 15 choir rehearsal, the lights were on.

Someone told me last week that the outdoor lamps for the east window were on in the evening. They were not on last Thursday, however. The lights, which were intended to illuminate the stained glass over the high altar at night, should never be on. The glass is very dense, and the lamps, which, no doubt, consume a good deal of electricity, have little effect on how the windows look from inside the church. (Installing the lamps was an interesting idea, but an unsuccessful one. They probably should be removed.)

Ministry Fair

 

St. Paul’s held its more-or-less annual ministry fair today. I bought a container of gazpacho left over from last night’s Harvest Dinner. After making some croutons to throw atop the cold soup, I had gazpacho for lunch. I also added pepper sauce and sea salt. It was yummy! (On my fondness for the Spanish soup, see my post “Gazpacho.”)

I also took some time to look at the display for the Property Commission. This was somewhat disappointing. The Commission seems only to be looking for people with strong backs, not strong minds. Maintenance of our physical plant is important, of course, but the Property Commission should also be a body that develops policy. See my last post on this subject, “A Better Way to Involve Parishioners in Physical Plant Changes.”