Home again

Robert's prayer at the end of the night was really wonderful, as we all stood holding hands with our neighbors. He hit the mark.

Other parts of the day included:

-the three amigas having a very poorly timed laugh attack at the beginning of the Serious Mental Illness report;
- Laleza having her photo printed in the GA daily news, and collecting copies for everyone she ever met;
- Eulando's appointment as bathroom monitor;
- David's orchestration of the purchase of a gift to the Presbytery from the commissioners (but I'm not gonna tell you what it is, because it's a surprise!);
- Jesse back in a sports coat,(but at least he left the tie in his room);
- Cece making her mama proud with her poise at the microphone;
- Katie taking me on a brisk after dinner walk around San Jose;
- Larry rolling his eyes a lot at the comments coming from behind him (that Nancy Nutter is a wild one!)

And that's all the people I can keep track of!

Friday was a really long day, with pain and frustration for everyone at some point. I am so grateful for the good humor, support and graciousness of my fellow commissioners from Charlotte Presbytery. What a great group of folks!

Saturday also ended up being longer than anticipated, with another long wait at DFW, sitting in the plane on the tarmac for several hours as we waited for thunderstorms to pass. With two out of two stops there being somewhat disastrous this week, I'm not looking forward to my return there NEXT week!

We arrived home at 1:30 this morning, and got to bed around 3. I was up, preaching the 8am service at Grace (and the 10:15 one, too) grateful to be able to utter coherent sentences.

Thanks for sending us a commissioners, and please continue to pray for the PCUSA: staff, ministers and members.

it's laaaate

Today was a very full day. I tried to pace less... the three amiga's behind me (Joanne, Nancy, Shirley) were at their raucous best. I spoke to a resolution I wrote and it got good support in the house and passed. CeCe spoke eloquently on a motion from her committee. I got to see Tamara up close at the end of the evening (almost midnight), when I closed in prayer. This is as serious as I'll get on this blog... there were some issues of significance to many. I will say that our Charlotte group was very supportive of each other, even when voting differently. I tried to acknowledge these differences and highlight our unity in the closing prayer as rows stretched across the hall with hands held.

Let us pray…

Heavenly Father,

We are divided on much. Chances are that the person beside us voted differently on significant issues, passionately held. It is so easy to see one another as “the enemy” and yet you declare those who hope in the Lord Jesus Christ to be family.

You declare it – in Christ, we are one family! Yet, we struggle so to experience it! Some of us believe truth is at stake; some of us believe justice is at stake; some of us distrust each other, and we struggle with other issues that would drive us apart. Some leave rejoicing; some leave in sorrow; some are not sure what they feel.

What hope do we have apart from your grace through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? What hope? Grace seems a fragile flower in a room full of elephants.

Give us a vision for your grace – unconditional, true, winsome, and strong. Help us see the person on our left and on our right, not as the enemy, but like us, a broken son or daughter for whom Christ has died. Help us cling to your Word and live in your Spirit.

We ask it in Jesus’ name, Amen!

Thursday night. late

We met from 8:30am to 11pm, so am feeling punchy. Jesse DID show up without a tie- a nice red madras sort of shirt- it's a good look, Jesse. Robert paces a lot, Eulando does his funky chair exercises (and nearly fell off the chair, which we found very amusing), I cross stitch, Cece and the YAD next to her share a pair of earphones for music (one ear each), Shirley passes around tootsie roll pops, and I won't tell you who plays computer games (it's not me!- I'm busy cross stitching while I listen... a Celtic knot; I thought it appropriate to the occasion). And all the while, every one of us listens closely to the debates and knows exactly what is going on with each item of business. That last part seems to be outside the realm of possibility for a number of commissioners from other Presbyterys. The Charlotte folks are on it!

We've all been grateful for the goodie bags provided by the Presbytery, courtesy of Tamara and Warren. Juice, water and treats have gotten us through long hours of plenary.


Things have been fairly peaceful at the assembly, although they are moving slowly. Tomorrow will be a really long day, I think, with a lot of important things on the agenda, including the election of the new stated clerk.

moving along

We completed our first day of plenary (actually, just 2/3 of a day, since this morning was set aside for reading reports. Some shopping might have taken place, as well. How am I going to get all this stuff home?)

The Moderator is moderating well, I think, with good humor and confidence. We installed the vice moderator, who became Presbyterian at the church where I was baptized, and where my parents met, Vermont Avenue Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles.

Our our Jesse Hite has made his report, so there are bets being made about whether or not he'll feel compelled to wear a tie tomorrow. Nancy is getting her picture taken a lot by the techies, and Eulondo does sit-ups in his chair (you gotta see it to understand). Robert Austel made a geek point at the microphone, but besides that and Jesse's report, the Charlotte group has been quiet. Well, we've not really been quiet, but we haven't made formal presentations, just the peanut gallery comments. Who knew how funny Nancy Nutter is???

We're doing serious business in the midst of it all, and working through committee reports. You can get the official business from the PCUSA website, but you won't get reports on lifes with the Charlotteans there!