Dee passed by the Rotunda hall on her way to church yesterday, on foot. There must have been a gala celebration Saturday night for there were tulips scattered around in the bushes and on the sidewalk. They appeared deserted, as though a surfeit of frivolity, left to wither.
She made a note to check on her way back home to see if they were still there. They were. So she gathered up a bouquet, and here they are on a windowsill overlooking our view of Dave's Cafe.
.........
On Sunday, April 3rd, Minister Deb Howland preached her sermon from behind the communion table at the foot of the pulpit. Here at the raccoon news we have seen a metaphor of Rev Deb's pulpitry as being like Elton John's Pinball Wizard.
With her hands firmly but supplely on imaginary flippers on the sides of the antique pulpit, she has steered the silver balls with a scriptural majesty we feel fortunate to have witnessed, 'lucky' to have had her at the old and beloved First Congregational United Church of Christ in Waukesha WI.
Sadly, Rev. Deb is an interim minister. A search is underway for a called pastor which will culminate sometime this fall. But with guns blazing, when necessary, she has striven to do a Paladin number for this weary group of churchgoers. She has had little to lose, for she is, by her own choice and UCC policy, a temporary employee. That gives her license to untangle knots, and she, in 'blind' faith, has done so, just like Elton John's Wizard. She's become one with the machine.
The raccoon news feels it is important to go over that again. The Utube link we used for the song in late March doesn't seem to work well. Try again, please.
Lyric:
Ever since I was a young boy
I've played the silver ball
From Soho down to Brighton
I must have played them all
I ain't seen nothing like him
In any amusement hall
That deaf, dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball
He stands like a statue
Becomes part of the machine
Feeling all the bumpers
Always playing clean
He plays by intuition
The digit counters fall
That deaf dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball
He's a pinball wizard
There has to be a twist
A pinball wizard's got such a supple wrist
(How do you think he does it?)
I don't know
(What makes him so good?)
Well... He ain't got no distractions
Can't hear those buzzers and bells
Don't see lights a-flashin'
Plays by sense of smell
Always has a replay
Never tilts at all
That deaf dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball
He can't beat me now
I've always been the champ
I know every trick
No freak's gonna beat my hand
Even at my usual table
He can beat the best
His disciples lead him in
An' he just does the rest
He's got crazy flipper fingers
I've never seen him fall
That deaf dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball
He's a pinball wizard,
There has to be a twist
A pinball wizard's got such a supple wrist
He's a pinball wizard
He scores a trillion more
A pinball wizard
The world's new pinball lord
He's scoring more
He's scoring more
I thought I was
The Bally Table king
But I just handed my Pinball crown to him
To him
To hi-i-i-m
I've played the silver ball
From Soho down to Brighton
I must have played them all
I ain't seen nothing like him
In any amusement hall
That deaf, dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball
He stands like a statue
Becomes part of the machine
Feeling all the bumpers
Always playing clean
He plays by intuition
The digit counters fall
That deaf dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball
He's a pinball wizard
There has to be a twist
A pinball wizard's got such a supple wrist
(How do you think he does it?)
I don't know
(What makes him so good?)
Well... He ain't got no distractions
Can't hear those buzzers and bells
Don't see lights a-flashin'
Plays by sense of smell
Always has a replay
Never tilts at all
That deaf dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball
He can't beat me now
I've always been the champ
I know every trick
No freak's gonna beat my hand
Even at my usual table
He can beat the best
His disciples lead him in
An' he just does the rest
He's got crazy flipper fingers
I've never seen him fall
That deaf dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball
He's a pinball wizard,
There has to be a twist
A pinball wizard's got such a supple wrist
He's a pinball wizard
He scores a trillion more
A pinball wizard
The world's new pinball lord
He's scoring more
He's scoring more
I thought I was
The Bally Table king
But I just handed my Pinball crown to him
To him
To hi-i-i-m
Rev. Deb's message yesterday was aimed at preparing us to become truly Open and Affirming (O & A) of the lesbian, gay, etc. community. Officially, not just by the tacit policy we thought we had. We have had discussion groups aimed at the goal, which should be a slam-dunk.
By bringing her O & A sermon to the communion table, the message resonated more strongly than ever!
For more info: http://www.ucccoalition.org/programs/ona/who/list/
.........
If you are in Wisconsin, don't forget to vote tomorrow!
