Comments for Rectors' Blog http://blog.stmarks-ral.org St. Marks Episcopal Church in Raleigh, North Carolina Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:25:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Anniversaries of the Spirit’s Work by Carmen Reeve http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=69&cpage=1#comment-8 Carmen Reeve Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:25:35 +0000 http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=69#comment-8 This is Keith, not Carmen. I was a student at Bromsgrove, a boy's only (then) private C. of E. boarding school (Public School in the U.K.) in 1944 when the news reached us that R.O Hall, a graduate (an Old Bromsgrovian) had ordained the first woman priest (The Rev. Florence Li Tim-Oi) and he was greatly honored for this "brave action" then, and indeed a special honorific wooden memorial was almost immediately hung in our assembly hall. This is Keith, not Carmen. I was a student at Bromsgrove, a boy’s only (then) private C. of E. boarding school (Public School in the U.K.) in 1944 when the news reached us that R.O Hall, a graduate (an Old Bromsgrovian) had ordained the first woman priest (The Rev. Florence Li Tim-Oi) and he was greatly honored for this “brave action” then, and indeed a special honorific wooden memorial was almost immediately hung in our assembly hall.

]]> Comment on Suspenseful Afternoon by jmelnyk http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=53&cpage=1#comment-7 jmelnyk Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:40:25 +0000 http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=53#comment-7 I believe B033 was the Episcopal Church's attempt to step back, let the emotions in the Communion cool and invite everyone to meet somewhere in the middle. We were the only ones to move. After three years of restricting our legal, moral, ethical, and spiritual process of ordination in an attempt to hold communion our House of Deputies have said "enough." If the only way to have a meeting of the minds is for the Episcopal Church to completely abandon our LGBT sisters and brothers as well as our understanding of the gospel, then we choose the gospel. My prayer is that the House of Bishops will see that the only action they have is to stand firm for their faith. That those who oppose full sacramental inclusion of LGBT members will never accept anything accept complete surrender. It is the House of Bishops time to stand for the gospel. I believe B033 was the Episcopal Church’s attempt to step back, let the emotions in the Communion cool and invite everyone to meet somewhere in the middle. We were the only ones to move. After three years of restricting our legal, moral, ethical, and spiritual process of ordination in an attempt to hold communion our House of Deputies have said “enough.” If the only way to have a meeting of the minds is for the Episcopal Church to completely abandon our LGBT sisters and brothers as well as our understanding of the gospel, then we choose the gospel.

My prayer is that the House of Bishops will see that the only action they have is to stand firm for their faith. That those who oppose full sacramental inclusion of LGBT members will never accept anything accept complete surrender. It is the House of Bishops time to stand for the gospel.

]]> Comment on Baptismal Covenant Resolution by lmartin http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=36&cpage=1#comment-6 lmartin Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:23:23 +0000 http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=36#comment-6 This reminds me of that line in so many Spirituals, "Can I have a witness?" And in respone, the "witness" "testifies" in glorious song that moves the soul. I'm going to pray that Lorraine be a Spirit-filled Witness Saturday morning. May her testimony move those who listen to understand how speaking the words of the baptismal covenant makes those promises easier to remember. Now, when confronted with difficult situaitons, those words often pop into my head. I almost always think next of the congegation standing and saying the words together. What a wonderful reminder of the faith community who stands with me as I try to live into that covenant, no matter how difficult that may be. This reminds me of that line in so many Spirituals, “Can I have a witness?” And in respone, the “witness” “testifies” in glorious song that moves the soul. I’m going to pray that Lorraine be a Spirit-filled Witness Saturday morning. May her testimony move those who listen to understand how speaking the words of the baptismal covenant makes those promises easier to remember. Now, when confronted with difficult situaitons, those words often pop into my head. I almost always think next of the congegation standing and saying the words together. What a wonderful reminder of the faith community who stands with me as I try to live into that covenant, no matter how difficult that may be.

]]> Comment on Baptismal Covenant Resolution by jmelnyk http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=36&cpage=1#comment-5 jmelnyk Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:56:05 +0000 http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=36#comment-5 Will be saying prayers on Saturday for the hearing - my guess is a lot of lay folks will especially feel drawn to having the words of the covenant on their own lips! Well done! Prayers this evening for the ABC to speak a word to the convention that bears the marks of Christ's compassion and grace. Will be saying prayers on Saturday for the hearing – my guess is a lot of lay folks will especially feel drawn to having the words of the covenant on their own lips! Well done! Prayers this evening for the ABC to speak a word to the convention that bears the marks of Christ’s compassion and grace.

]]> Comment on Facing East by cmn-w http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=13&cpage=1#comment-4 cmn-w Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:32:57 +0000 http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=13#comment-4 Thanks for setting up this blog, Lorraine! I am looking forward to your impressions. The title of this post reminds me of a Zen koan that Thomas Merton repeated: "The madman runs to the East. His keeper runs to the East. Both men are running to the East. Their purposes differ." Say hello to folks from WNC for me. Mike Thanks for setting up this blog, Lorraine! I am looking forward to your impressions.

The title of this post reminds me of a Zen koan that Thomas Merton repeated: “The madman runs to the East. His keeper runs to the East. Both men are running to the East. Their purposes differ.”

Say hello to folks from WNC for me.

Mike

]]> Comment on On the road to General Convention Anaheim by SCasanova http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=6&cpage=1#comment-3 SCasanova Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:46:51 +0000 http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=6#comment-3 My prayer for the GC & Rev. Lorraine: May God trouble the waters of those who have been complacent. May God stoke the fires of those who have been impassioned for true inclusion in the Kingdom of The Lord. May God open the hearts of those who desire to truly listen to the Holy Spirit. May God give comfort and understanding to all who desire to do His will. Shalom Kol Tuv My prayer for the GC & Rev. Lorraine:
May God trouble the waters of those who have been complacent.
May God stoke the fires of those who have been impassioned for true inclusion in the Kingdom of The Lord.
May God open the hearts of those who desire to truly listen to the Holy Spirit.
May God give comfort and understanding to all who desire to do His will.
Shalom Kol Tuv

]]> Comment on On the road to General Convention Anaheim by jmelnyk http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=6&cpage=1#comment-2 jmelnyk Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:39:33 +0000 http://blog.stmarks-ral.org/?p=6#comment-2 All the colors of the rainbow - all the diversity of the human race - all gathering in General Convention this coming week - with prayers that diversity will speak - a word of inclusion and the grace of God! All the colors of the rainbow – all the diversity of the human race – all gathering in General Convention this coming week – with prayers that diversity will speak – a word of inclusion and the grace of God!

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