tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-873059253261642303.post2789155585044159753..comments2023-11-02T10:50:42.128-05:00Comments on CLOSED: Praying, taking a deep breath, trying to stand in the place God wantsTLF+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01650010433581488888noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-873059253261642303.post-24685749286325911102009-01-10T12:36:00.000-06:002009-01-10T12:36:00.000-06:00I for one am very grateful for your electronic 'cy...I for one am very grateful for your electronic 'cyberspace' and 'phone' ministries...for the witness that you hone in times such as these...wrestling with God in sincerity and truth...it shows because as you (and Melissa, in her devotions, ministry, personal struggles too) grow, seek and make more and more space for Him, you are filled with Him, His beauty, power, light...and we get to partake of it...<BR/><BR/>Thanks for really loving and living Jesus.<BR/><BR/>May the Lord be with you and cover you and uphold you with His wings...fill you with all goodness and truth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-873059253261642303.post-34714780773566285762009-01-09T19:59:00.000-06:002009-01-09T19:59:00.000-06:00Thanks, Andrew and Scott!Andrew, I hope to post mo...Thanks, Andrew and Scott!<BR/><BR/>Andrew, I hope to post more on initiation and discipleship. Deacon Phil Snyder at <I> The Deacon's Slant </I> has some good thoughts, too.<BR/><BR/>Glad you took the time to post and your illustrations are painfully on target about the state of the church. There is much remedial work to do, even in ostensibly "orthodox" settings.TLF+https://www.blogger.com/profile/01650010433581488888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-873059253261642303.post-82321747394425581832009-01-09T17:06:00.000-06:002009-01-09T17:06:00.000-06:00I can identify with you on this one. My own mothe...I can identify with you on this one. My own mother was what I would call an "institutionalist enabler", but I guarantee that she is rolling in her grave at what has become of the church now. <BR/><BR/>On the main topic...It is hard NOT to get political in the current environment....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-873059253261642303.post-30103067835439236962009-01-09T13:18:00.000-06:002009-01-09T13:18:00.000-06:00A couple of comments:Don't apologize for the polit...A couple of comments:<BR/><BR/>Don't apologize for the political posts. I happen to disagree with you on one of them (the “War on Poverty”), but I enjoy your thoughtful forays into politics. It is where we all live, and we have to engage in political issues in order to be faithful disciples.<BR/><BR/>And I agree with you about the “full initiation” into said faithful discipleship, which ought to involve Confirmation as well as Baptism. In practical terms, I miss Confirmation as something meaningful in the church, and in individual people's lives. Our priest periodically invites interested persons to “join the parish” by coming forward, introducing themselves to the congregation with a “few words about yourself,” being prayed over, and signing the parish register. No mention of Confirmation, or reception from another communion. If the question arises (which it rarely does), the priest will reply that “this ceremony simply means you have joined this parish. If you want to also join the wider Episcopal Church, you will need to go through Confirmation or Reception when the Bishop visits.”<BR/><BR/>The question arose in a big way recently. A woman in the parish entered the discernment process for the Diaconate. After getting a ways into it, it came up that she had “joined” the church in the above way, coming from a free-church background, and had never been confirmed. Whoops. She was hauled off to the nearest parish where the Bishop was visiting and given a quickie confirmation.<BR/><BR/>It goes further even than the loss of Confirmation. In our parish (and, I gather, many others in TEC), all are welcome at communion, including un-baptized persons. It is part of being an “open and welcoming” parish. While I do not think that the Roman Catholics have it quite right in limiting it as they do, neither is it appropriate to eat at the Table until you have come through the Door.<BR/><BR/>Today I figured out that I can actually comment on your blog. I have enjoyed it for quite some while, and look forward to it. Blessings be on you.<BR/><BR/>Andrew (from a neighboring not-quite-so northern plains diocese)Castanea_dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13041129689248653381noreply@blogger.com