Theodora
01-10-2005, 10:18 AM
I'm so thankful that your recent church experience went as well as it did! Amazing to find someone at the church so "in tune" with your "body language"---or whatever...that she sat you near the back so that you could leave if you wanted to. AND....to have a pastor both affirm your being there AND not to lay claims on his place as the only place where you might "fit"---well....that must have come as a special grace, didn't it???!?!
After a difficult fall, I too am back to exploring options in the churches. May share more about that "later." At the moment, I'm needing a rest after yet another strange night of sleep/non-sleep. A special joy yesterday, however, was that I had my husband with me when we went to an early Eucharist at one of our "former" churches....where it developed that our former priest at another church of the same denomination...was there to do the baptism of a great-niece! Not only have I missed this man a LOT since his retirement last January, but, for various reasons, I haven't really been able to have the kind of church experience for Christmas as I would have hoped. That said, to find "my" priest back in action and just the other side of the altar rail when I went to receive communion was special and memorable....."Where two or three are gathered together....." !!!
??? Not sure if any of that makes sense without more background on it, but it's there for what it's worth. Please do continue to pray, if you would, for good discernment in direction and "choices" this winter/spring. With our Marine son soon headed for Iraq, it is all the more important to do what we can to "stay grounded" and in community where possible. Yesterday, it seemed that we had found a bit of it again....and that was wonderful.
Thanks again for sharing a bit of hope out of your world.....!
Grace and peace to you and yours this day.
Theodora
After a difficult fall, I too am back to exploring options in the churches. May share more about that "later." At the moment, I'm needing a rest after yet another strange night of sleep/non-sleep. A special joy yesterday, however, was that I had my husband with me when we went to an early Eucharist at one of our "former" churches....where it developed that our former priest at another church of the same denomination...was there to do the baptism of a great-niece! Not only have I missed this man a LOT since his retirement last January, but, for various reasons, I haven't really been able to have the kind of church experience for Christmas as I would have hoped. That said, to find "my" priest back in action and just the other side of the altar rail when I went to receive communion was special and memorable....."Where two or three are gathered together....." !!!
??? Not sure if any of that makes sense without more background on it, but it's there for what it's worth. Please do continue to pray, if you would, for good discernment in direction and "choices" this winter/spring. With our Marine son soon headed for Iraq, it is all the more important to do what we can to "stay grounded" and in community where possible. Yesterday, it seemed that we had found a bit of it again....and that was wonderful.
Thanks again for sharing a bit of hope out of your world.....!
Grace and peace to you and yours this day.
Theodora