Mother Laura rightly said: Can you believe Daylight Savings Time is here already? It’s hard to get used to the new, earlier onset. My family has been getting up and out a little late and a little sleepy in the mornings.
And can you believe that in two days it will be Palm Sunday for Western Christians? Our Lent is almost over, while our Orthodox sisters and brothers, whose liturgical year follows the older Julian calendar, are just starting theirs. Nicholas did a recent book report on George Washington, and we were surprised to find out that our first President’s birthday was originally Feb. 11, since he was born just before the change to the Gregorian calendar. Apparently the change almost caused rioting, as some indignant people were sure that they were being cheated out of eleven days of their lives!
To help you adjust–and enjoy the process–here’s a Friday Five about time and transitions….
1. If you could travel to any historical time period, which would it be, and why?
I’d like to hop, skip, and jump through time to meet some of my heros: Brigid of Kildare, Elizabeth I, Hildegard Von Bingen, Teresa of Avila, Florence Nightingale, and Emily Dickinson.
2. What futuristic/science fiction development would you most like to see?
Teleportation. I’m getting ready to fly to D.C. I’d much rather have my molecules scrambed here and reassembled there. Not to mention I wouldn’t have to put up with TSA.
3. Which do you enjoy more: remembering the past, or dreaming for the future?
Dreaming for the future. But I have to watch it or all I do is dream. Action must be taken to make those dreams come true.
4. What do you find most memorable about this year’s Lent?
This is the first year I’ve been a senior pastor and having to get used to preaching every week. The really bumming part is due to family illness, I will bein D.C. the next two weeks, so I won’t preach for Palm Sunday or Easter! I’ve preached on Palm Sunday before, but this would have been my first Easter. I’ll have to wait until next year. (If you would like details to the family illness to pray for us, please email me at shawna (at) shawnaatteberry (dot) com.)
5. How will you spend your time during this upcoming Holy Week? What part do you look forward to most?
I will be in D.C. The two things I want see while I’m there are the Smithsonian and the National Cathedral. I will see if there is a church close to where I’m staying to observe Holy Week.
Thanks everyone!
Oh, so sorry about the illness, Shawna. Prayers ascending.
Try to see the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception too, okay? It’s the RC equivalent of the National Cathedral, not that far away from it if I recall correctly, and stunningly beautiful.
I’d love to meet Brigid of Kildare too…great play btw 🙂
Ooh, enjoy DC! It’s a great place to visit. We lived there for for three years back in the Dark Ages. 😉 Sadly, for some unknown reason I never went to the National Cathedral.
Sounds like a great trip to D.C. And I’m with you on both the Smithsonian and the National Cathedral. Come to think of it, I remember when they used to broadcast the National Cathedral Easter service on NBC every year.