Bailey's Epistle

I volunteered to make this posting. I'm at least acquainted with most of you and want you to know how much you're missed. My human sprung me from "doggie jail" on Easter Monday and we drove all day to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We've been here almost two weeks now. We've had lots of long walks on the beach. One day there was a high surf warning and I had great fun chasing sea foam and crab shells blown by the wind. My human spends lots of time with her nose in books!! She came away from the monastery chanting the psalms each day during Morning and Evening Prayer - not sure my ears are up to this - they're pretty fine tuned and sensitive! She's working on a quilt - that is when she's not taking the sewing machine apart to fix it. Today we picked up Melissa and Andrew at the airport in Norfolk and they all took me to a doggie "happy hour" sponsered by Outer Barks.

Lynne - April 17th

The Easter Vigil at Holy Cross began at 5:15 a.m. About 60 of us, who had been moving together from the foot washing on Maundy Thursday through Jesus crucifixion on Good Friday, gathered on the porch of the monastery for the Lighting of the New Fire and the blessing of the Paschal Candle. We then processed, singing “the light of Christ, thanks be to God” into the dining area overlooking the Hudson River where we heard again the Story of Salvation. This year it was Ezekiel’s description of The Valley of Dry Bones that grabbed my attention. I thought of how “dry” my spirit had become and how during this sabbatical time God is breathing new life into me. Just as the sun came over the horizon, we processed in the midst of clouds of incense to the monks “chapter room” where baptismal water was blessed and vows renewed. The Prior of the monastery invited us into the water to which he had added some wonderfully scented holy oil. I washed my face in the water and was reminded how my hands smelled on the day of my ordination to the priesthood when Bishop Griswold anointed them with holy oil. Finally we processed into the church where we proclaimed, “Alleluia, Christ is Risen” and the monastery organ was heard for the first time since Ash Wednesday. There was incredible joy amongst us as we celebrated Holy Eucharist. I felt Christ alive in our midst. To see pictures from the Vigil and to read some great sermons go to the Holy Cross website at www.holycrossmonastery.com Following Easter breakfast I said goodbye to the monks and headed for the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Lynne+

Hello Lynne, Bailey and any others!

I have followed the directions (my daughter used to say "derstructions" which was her combination of instructions and directions), and hope this appears if I press the right buttons! Lynne, hope all is going well and that by now you and Bailey have reached the ocean! We are enjoying better weather and some signs of spring. I am particularly ticked at the magnolias (Iowa's version of magnolias) that are in bloom but without a leaf on the trees! Is that the norm? Tomorrow Ron celebrates his 72nd birthday and we will enjoy dinner out. Am looking forward to this blogging experience - my first! Mary Jo

Maundy-Thursday morning - April 9,2009

It is Maundy Thursday morning. After several days of clouds, rain and snow flurries, the sun has come got and the sky is clear and blue. I’ve delighted in watching spring come to New York: the tiny green leaves on the trees, the wildflowers in the woods, the bulbs beginning to blossom all over the monastery grounds. I’ve been reading Affluenza: The All Consuming Epidemic which traces, beginning in the 1950s, the increasing materialism of our culture and describes in great detail the negative consequences of this focus on having things for the quality of our lives and the life of our planet.




I’ve been praying with the monks: Matins, Eucharist, Noonday Prayer, Vespers and Compline. (I think we’ve chanted almost the entire Psalter while I’ve been here – and that’s a lot of psalms!) I’ve been moved by the nightly ritual of the Prior sprinkling us all with holy water at the end of Compline which begins the Great Silence that continues until after breakfast. Mostly I’m filled with gratitude - thank you so much for this time. I’ll be thinking of you on Easter morning as you baptize Amira and Zoey in the light of Christ’s resurrection.

Lynne+