Madre's Missives

It probably wasn't most brilliant idea I ever came up with to get a tattoo in college (junior year, March 12, 1993 to be exact), but at least it was a Trinity symbol. I had been thinking of getting a tattoo for a while, I just didn't know what to get done. When I saw the triangle of three fish embroidered on a kneeler pad in Cleveland, OH, I knew that was it. Before it registered in my mind that I was a paying customer and could make the artist change the design (even if he was big and scary-looking), "Ace" was already working on the outline, which is well...permanent*. 

"As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says." (1 Corinthians 14:33-34)

More often than not, this passage is quoted to keep women in line, to remind us that we are prohibited from being pastors because we Scripture tells us that we are not permitted to speak in church. It's usually quoted by men, and frequently with a scowl.

Having just coordinated three Higher Things Amen conferences this summer, I have a few post-conference reflections to share...

Worship
Once again, conference worship (TEN total services in 4 days, plus nightly Prayer at the Close of the Day in small groups) was a huge highlight of the conferences. Worship at HT conferences is pretty much the same as it is in many of our home churches all across the country, using the liturgy and hymnal. Yeah, we find some pretty amazing organists. We're pretty sure that Chris Loemker has a secret set of arms like some Hindu organ-playing demi-god. Oh, and Pr. Cwirla wore his "bling" stole for the Divine Service at Amen - Irvine. But other than that, things are pretty normal.  

A transgender man, Thomas Beattie, who made headlines after announcing he was pregnant, has given birth to a baby girl at a hospital in Oregon,the U.S. the People magazine reported.