Scott Gunn

@scottagunn.bsky.social

Jesus follower | Priest | Episcopal | Anglican | Author http://amzn.to/2l8O1kL | Exec Director of Forward Movement

Flight attendants in the US usually say something like “place your luggage in the overhead bins on their sides like books” but tonight we’ve evolved to “put your bags in like tacos.” Sure, literacy is on the decline. But our promised future of taco trucks is coming.

The collect today is a banger. We do need the leaders of our church to realize that self-denying is their first duty. Not getting more power, more prestige, or a more money. Sacrifice first. ⚓️

O gracious God, we remember before thee this day thy servant and apostle James, first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the Name of Jesus Christ; and we pray that thou wilt pour out upon the leaders of thy Church that spirit of self-denying service by which alone they may have true authority among thy people; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Someday, I'd like to live on a continent where you can ride a train with some reasonable expectation it will be on time. That continent is not North America. Looking at you, Via Rail and Amtrak.

Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by thy grace we may be healed of all our infirmities and know thee in the power of his endless life… Amen. 🙏

Welcome new followers! I post about coffee, Christianity (the merciful kind, not the mean kind), and occasional political rants. I try to follow people back. If I didn’t follow you, tag me in a post and I will see you and follow! (As long as I can tell you’re a human being and not a troll or a bot)

I’m old enough* to remember back when public PA announcements were recordings of actual people. The robotic AI voices we get these days are…tedious. And often hilariously wrong in cadence and pronunciation. * That is, I’m not a toddler.

I was off the rota, so I visited another church today. It was SO nice that the celebrant kept the rubric requiring silence after the fraction. I wish more priests offered this gift to God’s people. ⚓️

You know, I’m beginning to think the hard push for deregulation, the dismantling of regulatory and research agencies, and the dismissal of inspectors general was a bad idea. I mean, who knew that it was a good idea to keep an eye on our food supply or to monitor disease outbreaks?

I don't eat beef these days, but if I did, I'd have some roast beef to celebrate England's victory over France. What's old is new again, including a national rivalry that Hogarth cashed in on 250 years ago. (Yes, I'm engaging in gross caricature, not unlike the attached engraving.)

Print of an 18th century engraving: O The Roast Beef of Old England, & C. William Hogarth (1697-1764)

No, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Morning prayer has ideas. ⚓️