Emily Mellott

I don’t think I’m “from” Jersey, yet, even after living here 9 years, but today I am very proud to be a resident of The F.U.C.K.I.C.E Garden State.

YouTube video by TearsForFearsVEVO Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Official Music Video)

Sermon soundtrack this weekend: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGCd...

Friends from Minneapolis reporting to me that things are at the point where folks are being hidden in other people's houses and we are in the "again" part of "never again" which the "never" was supposed to preclude

To preach well is to do this boldly, humbly, in the name of God. Generative AI is not alive, it does not know God, it does not know human beings, it has taken no vows of faithfulness and pastoral responsibility. It has absolutely no place in the holy task of preaching. 🕯️

Ack! Praying for smooth surgery and good healing!

Also, amen!

“…they rise to fail.”
I think I may need to be listening to that a little more often

I was there with a family member last summer, and we carefully and intentionally read the signs, worried that this might happen.

I’ve often wondered why we don’t repeat the renunciations and affirmations when we “renew our baptismal covenant” as in the Vigil liturgy. (It makes more sense to me that the whole congregation doesn’t do so at an actual baptism - but why not renew the fundamentals at congregational reaffirmations?)

Senators and Congress people across the political spectrum must reject and condemn the illegitimate kidnapping of a foreign head of state, before and as well as the “plan to run the country of Venezuela“

Christmas vacation in a nutshell. But add cat.

A brown tabby with a white nose and chest, curled on a red and white blanket against a blue sofa, cushion, squints in disapproval.

Apparently not everyone is fond of the descants #9LC

Best thing about listening in my own house for #9LC: being able to belt the Wilcocks descants with the choir.

Worst thing: Announcer instantly and continuously talking over the postlude

I don't stand at home for all the congregational hymns in #9LC, but I'm always on my feet for Adeste fideles

And phew, was that a windy sail #9LC

Just got the baby to sleep, and now we're waking him up with a frantic shipping report. #9LC

Some year I will have the sermons completely done before #9LC so I'm not marking up manuscript while I listen, but for now, I'll enjoy the coincidence of the gospel words I'm exploring echoing across the Atlantic.

There's just something about the Tavener and the King's Chapel acoustics...shivers. #9LC

Closing my eyes and listening to the congregation as if I can hear the one voice of my friend there today. Next best thing to being there myself. #9LC

We’ve had that before, and recently

I’m pretty sure we had a North American student last year or ‘23, too.

This chorister is fierce in his narration of Adam and Eve's dramatic moment. #9LC

I always cry at those first three notes. #9LC

especially in times of war, or of national anxiety, or of disaster

Two things can be true:

You should not take off your shoes and put your feet on the chair ahead of you.

The Secretary of Transportation is not a serious person

Please forward newsletter to me? I believe this is just the spiritual instruction I need to bring to our staff meeting for reflection this week.

I just want every person to consider this in its distilled form.

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The President of the United States is unilaterally levying a tax on every citizen because he didn't like a commercial.

Ooh, breakfast for dinner!

If it didn’t go to Seattle on the way from Rockford to Franklin Park, they weren’t even trying.

For what it’s worth, the FB groups in my part of NJ have been telling each other for months now that our steep electricity costs are because of data centers.

“Coming soon: The Presidential Palace, an exclusive private club at a brand-new golden resort in central Washington, DC.