Behind an able man, there are always.

The above title shows you the exact wording of the funny fortune inside John's cookie tonight. This beats my all-time favorite, which read, "Alas! The onion you are eating is someone else's water lily."

I returned through more sleet and snow from a two-day retreat with other priests in the diocese to find that John fell on the ice while walking the dog yesterday, and now has a sprained ankle.

On my way back from the retreat, I stopped in Iowa City for a luncheon at the home of the new president of the University of Iowa. She hosted twelve of us from the Association of Campus Ministers. Her chef prepared some lovely dishes and the conversation was exceptional.

After I unpacked, it was time to head to our home parish to accompany the Taize Eucharist for Advent. So afterwards, we decided that some Chinese takeout sounded good. But we're not so sure about that "able man." There are always...slippery sidewalks?

Sunday Dinner

I'm gathering ideas for what to serve hungry university students on Sunday evenings following our 5 p.m. Evensongs (which range from Taize to traditional choral to jazz). Pizza seems to be the ever-popular choice, but this is a university city with food coops and sushi bars; Ethiopian, Italian, Mexican, Irish and Middle Eastern eateries are found within easy walking distance of the church. I suspect that students' taste buds are more adventuresome than they once were. I don't wish to serve boring food, but neither do I want to serve weird food. We don't have much $$ in the budget. Help!

Key Lime Pie

At our Senior Retreat last weekend, some of us talked about being given words or phrases shortly before delivering a sermon, as a challenge to use those words in the sermon. "Key Lime Pie" were the words proposed for the next one of us that preaches.

I'm up tomorrow for the final day of Play Church Eucharists. Shall I take on the Key Lime Pie challenge? I don't know what I'll actually do until the moment comes, but you're all welcome to vote or take bets. In the meantime, this post is making me crave fresh limes.