I was thinking about the coffee hour quilt the other day, which for those who weren't at SP last year is here. Missing Street Prohpets came to mind when I started putting names to blocks. I wasn't around here for about seven months myself in 2007, although I lurked, mostly for coffee hour because I was curious what everyone was up to, and at the same time noticed what I saw as  a subtle shift in the dynamic -- and certainly in diary topics -- while I watched. I also noticed that participation was not as vibrant either, although I don't mean that necessarily in a negative way, just that there seem to be fewer long discussions, and some might add less acrimony too. I may be wrong -- I can be wrong occasionally.

We have noticed the rising cost of food in our supermarkets lately, and I am sure you've seen the same thing. For us, the rising cost of fuel to deliver many goods from abroad and the US has not really been offset by the rising value of the loonie. In Canada, at any rate we aren't yet suffering from shortages, and I haven't seen too many articles suggesting how to use a pound of hamburger to feed eight people like we saw in the 7os when the price of beef skyrocketed past 35 cents a pound.

The Order of Morning Prayer adapted from Book of Common Prayer, Canada (1962)

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

PRAYER OF GENERAL CONFESSION

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, We have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep, We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, We have offended against thy holy laws, We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults. Restore thou them that are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

It's Thursday (Hmmm) and it's 5.15 CDT.  It's coffee time.

And I imagine as soon as I post this someone will be ahead.

Snow is melting slowly but surely and my house is full of flowers destined for the altar on Easter Sunday.  Good Friday is a statutory holiday in Canada and nothing is open, especially not flower places, so I have to get them way ahead of time.  This year it will be orange and yellow, but the daffodils were all sold out so we're making do with some pretty wild coloured daisies.

I just finished a cup of tea and a toasted hot cross bun. They had hams on sale at the grocery store so I am cooking that tonight -- with asparagus and roasted potatoes.  What are you having for dinner, or a snack?

Today is Maunday Thursday.  For those unfamiliar with the term you can go here and it will be explained.  At some churches, the tradition is to wash the feet of some or all of the congregation. The BBC reported a new twist yesterday: Bishops were travelling about polishing shoes.

For a change from the Noon Day Prayer, I invite you to join with me for an adapted service of Compline from the Book of Common Prayer (Canada, 1959), although please remember that this order of service is intended for the evening.
       

A Service for Mid-day, adapted from the Book of Alternative Services of the Anglican Church of Canada

O God, make speed to save us.
    O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

This morning you will find the format for noon day prayer a little different.  On Thursdays I will offer the Prayers for Mid-day or the service for Morning Prayer from the Book of Alternative Services of the Anglican Church of Canada.  There is some adaptation.  The Bible readings for the day follow the Grace.

(ed note: Bumped by paxpdx. Happy to hear Rain's doing well, and thanks, Aunt Arctic, for putting the pot out this morning!)

You know the place -- the one with unlimited refills so when you leave there you are so jumpy that you hop out the door. So if you start this early, you may be frazzled by dinner time.

I don't drink coffee very often, and when I do its decaf, but Rain asked me to put this up while she was recuperating, and since I am already working at the computer, I decided to do it early so I wouldn't forget when I got totally immersed in immigration issues.  (Not your kind of immigration issues, historically Canadian ones.) No politics allowed in the coffee shop today, please. It doesn't appear likely that we are going to have an election any time soon, and I like it that way.  

This is just to say that until the seal hunt ad is removed from this site, I will no longer be participating.

Coming from people who have killed thousands of innocent Iraquis so that they can keep running their SUVs, this sentiment is despicable.

I am not willing to engage anyone in a discussion about this until they have read some history about Newfoundland and its economy, or unless they are willing to admit that killing people is as sickening as killing seals. the proliferation of which affect the livelihood of an entire province.  

or has it already been posted and I can't find it?

Seems coffee hour is getting either earlier or later these days.  Here it is 6.30 CST and I have my tea in hand waiting for the usual banter which makes my day -- and it's not there. Again.

This leads me to believe that front pagers who are apparently tasked with putting on the coffee are getting fed up with it, or maybe because no one else (except dirkster did once or twice) wants to, I am wondering if coffee hour is maybe going the way of the dodo bird.

Hijacked yet again by PD, who was just about to put up an announcement - the site may be going down for a little while tonight while the new comments come online. No ETA, unfortunately. We suggest you go infest rmj's comments section. No green tea, Auntie?

Bumpted by Mahanoy: Sorry y'all! ACC Tournament's on, so the whole world has kinda stopped. Enjoy Auntie's delicious tea and biscuits!

We've got Blueberry and Chinese, and Oolong and Earl Grey and even Orange Pekoe and English breakfast over at the tea tent, but it's getting stuffy in there and the grass is getting trampled so it's time to move the tea trays over to the coffee hour where they belong.

I am two finger typing so this won't be long, but I read an article in The Winnipeg Sun this morning that I wanted to share. The MCC is collecting funds for relief kits for families in Iraq.

Here's the URL http://www.mcc.org/iraqrelief/