Anglican Togetherness

In all my two years as an Anglican, I think one of the things I've appreciated most is the stability and restfulness that comes from an ideological/theological/practical commitment to togetherness. Even though St. Aidan has been without a priest for nearly a year, a priest's absence was felt a lot less than I thought it would be. I expect the same might be true in this next year as our diocese presses on without a bishop. It's definitely not that we don't need these people. But what I've found so encouraging in the absence of these centers of community is the way that others so seamlessly step up to fill in the gaps. Church life could resort to a time of coping, limping from week to week until we receive another shepherd. But I think that the functional togetherness we experience in community with one another is a really real and significant testament to the unity we have as Christ's body. In the absence of those tasked with providing a shepherd's presence and care, Christ himself doesn't cease to be our shepherd and true center. I think this time of striving without a priest has been really helpful for me to understand Anglican community a little better. And as a result, I will be a little extra grateful for Fr. Dean Pinter's arrival August 1, and all the new experiences this new chapter will bring!

A Model Sermon

A big thank you to Father Allen for yesterday. I really appreciated how he avoided a moralistic "we all need to be loving" and instead told us how this text might make us angry with its impossible expectations--but that there is One who perfectly loves this way, and we can follow him in loving that way as we walk with him, that impossible love coming into our own lives more and more. The focus of the sermon wasn't on our need to obey, but on our inability and Christ's ability. Thank you.

Posted by Eric

Grace and Peace to my St. Aidan Family

Greetings in the Name of our LORD and KING.

Just wishing you all Grace and Peace this Christmas, as I will not be around this year. But, i will be back soon after the new year. Take Care and God Bless.
Neil
Jude 24-25

Thank you

Been meaning to post here for a while. Was I the only one who found the prayer yesterday especially meaningful, helpful, nourishing? Went I went back for prayer, I told the person praying for me that I actually had been experiencing some healing in my life, and I just wanted it to continue. Denise prayed that the Holy Spirit would "seal up" (her words) the work that he had been doing--perfect. And she didn't really know my situation. But it was just the perfect prayer.

I wonder if others had the same experience? Perhaps we can confess, if not sins, then the ways we were helped yesterday, to each other.

Posted by Eric

"The Gospel of the Forty Days"

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

The texts for this week are as follows: Acts 4:32-35; Ps 133; 1 John 1:1-2:2; and John 20:19-23

Over the course of forty days, until Christ's Ascension, the disciples learned the warp and woof of resurrection. In early tradition this became known as "the Gospel of the Forty Days." In essence they were taught by the living Lord how to read the scriptures which led to a renewed theology (understanding of God) and a renewed ecclesiology (the identity of and mission of the people of God). They then went out and shared this three-part renewal with the then known world.

I can't help but wonder what it would be like for us to allow the living Lord to lead St. Aidan into the ways of renewal over the next forty days, helping us recover the sheer joy and adventure of the scriptures and, just so, God and, just so, our identity and mission! It could happen; it could happen for you! Let's not underestimate the power of Easter! "Holy Spirit, breath of God, renew me and all the world!"

Please post thoughts on the texts or on Easter season as separate posts and not as comments on this post so we can easily skim through them.

Posted by Allen+