Two clergymen have gone where few politicians have dared to tread: placing a friendly wager on the outcome of baseball’s American League Championship Series.
The Texas Rangers are battling the New York Yankees in the best-of-seven series, which now returns to Arlington after the Yankees won 7-2 Wednesday in New York. Texas, however, holds a 3-2 edge, with the winner advancing to the World Series.
Rector Jim Burns of Church of Heavenly Rest in New York City and Rector Luke Back of Church of Heavenly Rest deep in the heart of Texas have a bet on the outcome. The wager was food, of course.
Back offered tenderloins from Perini Ranch Steak House if the Yankees win. Burns came up with an equally unique New York offering.
“If Texas wins, I will be sending Luke a NY Nosh basket,” said Burns. “That is what we call the treats of bagels, lox and other Yankee munchies.”
There is a history here. Back in the 1800’s there was a PECUSA church in Abilene, Texas. The Abilene parish was meeting in a wooden building. They were given $1500 to build a stone building with the proviso from the donor to name it The Church of the Heavenly Rest as the donor was a member or former member of the parish in New York City. I say this as I was a member of the parish in Abilene back in the 1980s. As a matter of fact the stones from that first stone building are incorporated into the overall structure of the current building. The current building is a beautiful structure that resembles a small limestone cathedral. I believe, unfortunately, that the Abilene parish along with the Diocese of Northwest Texas is revisionist.
This is my parish, actually. Fr. Luke just arrived and he seems wonderful. He came to us from Oklahoma. CHR is moderate with strong, diverse views. The glue that holds it all together is our worship, which is stunning, extremely reverent, and quite Anglo-Catholic. Good, sound preaching, too. (except when one of the local theology professors fills in which, thankfully, isn’t often.)
As for the diocese, it’s a typical tale — mostly liberal clergy and mostly moderate to conservative laity which hold them in check. It’s a tiny diocese and I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that going extreme in either direction would seriously threaten the diocese’s very existence but there would be far more hell to pay if the liberals ran amok. This is conservative West Texas, after all.
Forgot to add that the NY rector would be getting the much better treat! Perini Ranch is famous for its fabulous meats; some of it is offered in the Saks Fifth Avenue catalogue at premium prices! Perini Ranch is in Buffalo Gap, just outside of Abilene. Beautiful area, also home to the Shades of Hope treatment center that’s found favor with celebs. I’ve seen Ashley Judd in town on more than one occasion. She was apparently visiting family who were being treated at Shades of Hope. Just some added color…