I hear some folks say as long as they have God/Creator they don’t need community or church or anything like that. I am here to say God/Creator has put people in your lives to go through the journey with. No one is an island and you need to be in a place where you can get support and care. Having a place where you can find spiritual roots can only help you grow. Yes you can encounter the divine in nature but the challenge is to encounter it on a city street or in traffic. Doing faith alone is a true challenge but doing with people who might be a little annoying can be a greater experience that will help you get through all seasons of ones life.
Tag Archives: church
My Faith Community Responds To Charlottesville
Fr. Quinn Parman, who is my priest at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee addressed the Charlottesville unrest we have seen over the last couple of days. Some Sundays you have to speak on current events so that we know how best to respond. It was also a reminder that Christ’s people upon their baptism should reject evil like we have seen and to love one another.
This is a link to the sermon he preached this morning. Sermon From Fr. Quinn Parman on Charlottesville
Pentecost Sunday 2017
The seven-week liturgical season of Easter immediately follows the Triduum, climaxing at Pentecost. This last feast recalls the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ disciples after the Ascension of Jesus. Pentecost is also the birthday of the church. At St. Peter’s Episcopal Church this morning we will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit that continues to inspire and change the world.
The Parish Webmaster
Working on the church website has been a fun exercise in learning new stuff. I am hoping it tells the story of St. Peter’s Episcopal. When they say content is king they aren’t kidding. When you are doing such a thing you have to pull information from various places and ministries of the parish. We are using a system from Digital Faith which has provided a good CMS among other tools. It is almost like a portal too. I am not a stranger to this sort of thing because it’s the third church I have done websites for. This is a task that is being done with a team of others who are making a great contribution as well. Check it out at http://stpeters.org
Honoring Saint (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta
Today at the Vatican, Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa of Calcutta as the newest Saint of the Catholic Church. Her charitable works have been noted in history and she made her community and the world a better place. Her life was focused on helping the poor and needy which has inspired many to do the same.
At church this morning my Sunday school class said this prayer that is attributed to her.
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and some true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight.
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough.
Give the best you’ve got anyway.
You see,
in the final analysis it is between you and God;
it was never between you and them anyway.
Rambling About Catholics
Whenever someone says that Catholics aren’t Christians it saddens me. If it were not for the Catholic church Christianity today wouldn’t exist. Catholics represent over a billion believers in Jesus Christ and did all the heavy lifting in the early church. They worship Jesus, not Mary as some would believe. Many protestants are ill-informed about what Catholics are all about due to what they have been taught by their clergy who seem to ignore Church history. Scripture is not the only guide in the lives of believers. The church existed long before The Bible and much of faith was transmitted by oral tradition and customs passed down from one believer to another.
Think about how many colleges, schools, orphanages and hospitals have been founded by those people of Catholic faith who follow the examples of grace, peace, piety and most importantly love. Mother Teresa and many of the saints of the church who have written creeds, prayers and more have been Catholics.
I am an Episcopalian and by faith I am closely related spiritually to my Catholic brothers and sisters who I can tell you are more Christian than some you see on TV. Catholic also means Universal which there is a church Universal which includes all of Christianity. I don’t even have a problem with the role of The Pope.
Yes Catholics have had some serious issues over the years which lead to the Protestant Reformation and the split of people of the United Kingdom from the church during the reign of King Henry the VIII. In modern times documented issues of abuse have damaged their reputation but there are probably just as many protestant churches who have skeletons in their closets.
For a protestant to say that Catholics are not Christians is coming from a place of willful ignornance and disrespect.
I don’t agree with their stand on women in the priesthood and they have a way to go in other gender and sexuality issues but good things take time to change. The Eucharist I believe can be open in their tradition while maintaining their spiritual views on the bread and wine. Many of my Catholic friends are progressively minded and they will be a part of the changes of the Church in the future.
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