Tag: episcopal

Education For Ministry – Year Four #Episcopal #Anglican

Tonight, I begin the fourth and final year of my religious studies course Education for Ministry. I have surveyed the old and new testaments; church history and this year is theology. This promises to be my favorite year, but I know it will be challenging. This gets into the mechanics of faith, and I am ready for it.

The course is produced by The University of The South which is an Episcopal University in Sewanee, Tennessee. I have learned a lot studying with others and I am grateful for the experience.

In Service To The People of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

It’s been a long time since I have worn an alb in service as a Lay Eucharistic Minister at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Today it felt great to be back in action helping my priest and deacon serve communion to all at church this morning.

Holy Week Begins – Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in each of the four canonical Gospels. Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week, the last week of the Christian solemn season of Lent that precedes the arrival of Eastertide.

To all celebrating may this be a time of Holy reflection and keeping the events of this week in your thoughts.

The Season Of Lent 2021 #Lent

For many in the Christian community today begins the season of Lent. This 40 days before Easter is a time for self reflection, penitence, forgiveness and thinking of ones life and mortality. Pope Francis offers this list of things one can do to observe and participate in during this season. Everyone should find something they can do from this list.

The Coronavirus pandemic began right before Lent of 2020 so it seems the season never stopped. There has been much sacrifice and loss in these days and thinking about this time in life and history giving up something isn’t what people really want to do.

Lent can be for everyone. There are universal themes that believers and non-believers can latch on to. No matter how this season of life finds you may you be encouraged, strengthened and cared for.

Sunday Reflection: Serving In Service

I miss serving on Sundays at Church as a Lay Eucharistic Minister. Due to COVID-19 my parish, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church is meeting outdoors and taking precautions to keep our members safe. This means communion, which is served in two-parts, bread and wine that is the body and blood of Christ we are only serving the bread which is safer to serve. (I would normally serve the wine which comes from a chalice which is a common cup everyone drinks from by a very ancient tradition).

Much has changed in how we live our daily lives. Everything seems different and it’s challenging to all of us to adapt and adjust. For me my faith has helped out with that. Other folks are finding comfort in their own ways. My hope is for a future where we can return to the ordinary but the normal will be redefined.

Service on Sunday is important to me but keeping my family, friends and strangers safe and well is so much more important. God calls that being good to my neighbors and myself.

Reasons For Watching Church Online #episcopal

As a church-going type person, I have sat through many digital worship services in these days of COVID19. Currently, my parish is meeting outdoors in-person to keep people connected yet safe. YouTube and Zoom have been instrumental in keeping many churches going and offering their parishioners the Word and Sacraments.

This graphic is a humorous take on watching church online. I do like the no parking, coffee, and relaxing in my pajamas but I would never ever mute my priest. He’s pretty good at sermonizing and that sort of thing.

No matter how you practice your faith I hope you have found a way to stay connected and to receive blessings from your spiritual community.

The Fourth Sunday Of Advent At St. Peter’s Episcopal in #Chattanooga

My priest, Fr. Quinn Parman preaching the Eucharist on the fourth Sunday of Advent at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. This Advent season has indeed been very different but our parish has indeed adapted by meeting for worship outdoors and socially distanced. Peace of The Lord be with us all in the days ahead as we head toward Christmas day and a new year.