Busy Busy Busy

Well it seems like its been longer than it should since my last post so let me tell you what's been happening.

First, the Parish Council and I decided we needed a fundraiser. Both churches have termites ($2,000 is the low bid), both need rugs ($3,000), our driveway is getting almost impassable due to potholes and rain errosion, and . . . well you get the idea.

So we started a PARISH PLEDGE program where parishioners will pledge a certain amount and have until DEC to pay what they pledge - and to kick it off we would have a picnic. So I crank up the computer and generate a pledge letter, pledge envelopes, pledge forms - all using mailmerge so each letter, envelope, and form has the parishioners' name and address. Its great!

Next its the picnic, someone on the Parish Council offers to find a place that will let us use their beach, coordinate food, etc. and that is off and running. Great!

So Sunday comes and the pledge envelopes get picked up, people seem to understand the need and it looks like we're on our way with a sizable donation already submitted. The day of the picnic I take off with the van and pick up over 20 people, each carrying a pot for the potluck picnic. The day was great, I swam with the kids, the food was great and all in all a wonderful family day. "It was off da chain mahn!"

At the end of the picnic I bring Ginni home, planning to go back and pick up people for their rides home -but- (there's always a but) before I could head back I have a rather dramatic allergic reation to something that I either ate, or encountered while swimming, and ended up at the clinic needing an injection (Ginni's comfort level of the health-care system here took a nose-dive after this little adventure). Suffice it to say it was a poor end to a great day, but all in all it was a success. (Now to see if the pledges come in).

While all this was in the works - one of our parishioners dies after a long illness. She was someone we had brought communion to on Sunday afternoons for months, but her passing is being felt by many people. So - our first funeral.

Bahamian funerals are a BIG deal. The body is shipped to Nassau (there is no funeral home on our island). The body is then shipped back in the hearse which brings the body to the Church. It lies in state all day Friday, all night, and Saturday is the funeral. People come by all throughout the day to view the body and there can be much crying and shouting as people express their emotions freely.

Tomorrow is Saturday - the funeral day. The family has put together a 6 page glossy program for the funeral - and it is quite a program. Funerals begin with a pre-service, this is where eulogies are read and it can be the most emotional time. They have 3 with a solo between each one, followed by AS I KNEW HER, a recollection of the deceased life (I hope an hour will be enough time). After the funeral there is a walking procession from the church to the cemetery - often with a brass band. It should be interesting.

From the funeral we will go to the family's home for food and drinks, a gala event to be sure, but after my allergic reaction at the picnic I think it might be wise for me to skip this part. (Although Bahamian parties are a hoot).

Next week we go to Nassau for our monthly clergy meeting and I'm already booked with an allergy doctor to see if we can find out what it was that I'm allergic to. I'll let you know.

Till next time