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These are the slides which I promised my class Sunday February 28. Click here to see them.
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TED'S SPACE...comments and ideas March 4. I struggle with the idea that working on the budget is holy work. I lie awake at night. I break pencils. Curse at spread sheets. Finally, what happens is a combination of prayerful concern and economic reality: a sort of wise as serpants, innocent as doves kind of moment. The foundation is the generosity of God shown in the gifts and donations of people for the work of the Church so that we can strengthen each other to do the work of God in this troubled world. The struggle is holy, and the people of Saint Boniface do it well. The staff and vestry have had to make hard decisions in recent times. We took a big hit last year when we cut salaries 20 to 25%. This reflects the reality of most of our households. We all have choices to make. Here's a look at where we are at the moment. Our first draft was the "dream" budget. Our March 1 draft is the realistic plan for 2010.
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ON A PERSONAL NOTE: HEALTH
I was surprised how many of you read my Letter to the Editor in the the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Written a few days earlier, my guess is that it was saved for the "feel good" letters on Christmas Day. The emergency was occasioned by Judy's fall in our yard as we moved a kayak on December 12. In my defense, it was her idea to move the kayak! A bilateral fracture of the sacrum led to severe pain and ultimately to a procedure called sacroplasty and another visit to the hospital. Recovery is slow, and now (Jan 6) steady and I'm using some personal time to work on my home health care merit badge. While expressing thanks for the prayers and concerns of the parish, I want those of you reading this to have the true story since we've heard such interesting variations (kayak hits wall, wife falls down stairs, husband has surgery, wife breaks leg, and many more). And, by the way, we continue to be impressed by the quality and compassion of the many emergency and medical staff we have met along the way. I had been scheduled to be away for a continuing education course the first week of January and have postponed that. Also, our extraordinary staff have been taking care of a good deal of my work. Thanks to each of you!
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Christmas Letter 2009
Ted's annual Christmas letter available here.
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TED TEACHES: IT'S YOUR FUNERAL
Planning to teach a class on end of life issues and the media debate about national insurance and physician advice, I took a break and went for a swim. First I lay in the sun to rest, and looking up saw the neighborhood vultures in the afternoon thermals and thought "That's not a plan, I'd better get moving..." As it turns out, about 70% of us have done less planning than that, so read on for more ideas. After all, IT'S YOUR FUNERAL....
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Homily at Requiem for Russell Bechtel-Karlson
After he retired, Russ volunteered as a priest in this parish from the early 1990's. His ministry touched all of us, and his annual appearance as Saint Nicholas will never be topped. He was a good priest and friend to so many. At Russ' request, his Requiem was at a Sunday Eucharist. The text of the homily may be found here.
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Someone has to work at the beach!
RECTOR'S BIOGRAPHY
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