Hello Eric,
I've always enjoyed your comments on here but never knew you were a priest! My husband and I grew up in a non-denominational evangelical church that emphasized "discipleship" (as opposed to academic training) and church planting. Being sincere youths we found ourselves planted into Trenton NJ and became the pastor and the p…
I've always enjoyed your comments on here but never knew you were a priest! My husband and I grew up in a non-denominational evangelical church that emphasized "discipleship" (as opposed to academic training) and church planting. Being sincere youths we found ourselves planted into Trenton NJ and became the pastor and the pastor's wife. We always read a lot, however, and eventually were cast out of this particular church group because we could not agree to all the doctrines, teachings, and mandatory stuff we were supposed to go along with. That was kind of a defining moment of our lives. Ever since we have tried to 'go to church' but never found one that seemed alive and well. I suppose it is simply up to us to be alive and well ourselves and trust God to work things out. It feels wrong to raise our children without church community, but the Quakers we have been worshipping with for 7 years have failed to spark anything much the kids could grasp on to. I do love the silent worship after having endured sermons of varying quality 3 or 4 times per week for the first half of my life. I'm sure I'd love to be in your church -- I have no fantasy of looking for perfection -- just earnest companionship as we follow The Way.
Thank you, but fortunately for you, my church lies the other side of the Pacific Ocean :) Yes, earnest companionship, people with whom to share bread :)
I appreciate the Quakers. George Fox’s famous pulpit was but a few miles from where I grew up in a quiet corner of Northern England.
As to churches that are ‘alive and well’, I think they need to discover that God is their Life, we all do. It’s a demanding work to find our satisfaction in God. In my tradition we’ve entered Lent, a time for reflecting on our dusty existence which cannot of itself live. There may be hope in the exhaustion of the modern church which implicitly says to God, “we’ve got this! See you at the end!” but is running on fumes. Eventually we all fall into Gods Arms, better to stop avoiding it - but I’m rambling also :)
Hello Eric,
I've always enjoyed your comments on here but never knew you were a priest! My husband and I grew up in a non-denominational evangelical church that emphasized "discipleship" (as opposed to academic training) and church planting. Being sincere youths we found ourselves planted into Trenton NJ and became the pastor and the pastor's wife. We always read a lot, however, and eventually were cast out of this particular church group because we could not agree to all the doctrines, teachings, and mandatory stuff we were supposed to go along with. That was kind of a defining moment of our lives. Ever since we have tried to 'go to church' but never found one that seemed alive and well. I suppose it is simply up to us to be alive and well ourselves and trust God to work things out. It feels wrong to raise our children without church community, but the Quakers we have been worshipping with for 7 years have failed to spark anything much the kids could grasp on to. I do love the silent worship after having endured sermons of varying quality 3 or 4 times per week for the first half of my life. I'm sure I'd love to be in your church -- I have no fantasy of looking for perfection -- just earnest companionship as we follow The Way.
Clara
Hi Clara
Thank you, but fortunately for you, my church lies the other side of the Pacific Ocean :) Yes, earnest companionship, people with whom to share bread :)
I appreciate the Quakers. George Fox’s famous pulpit was but a few miles from where I grew up in a quiet corner of Northern England.
As to churches that are ‘alive and well’, I think they need to discover that God is their Life, we all do. It’s a demanding work to find our satisfaction in God. In my tradition we’ve entered Lent, a time for reflecting on our dusty existence which cannot of itself live. There may be hope in the exhaustion of the modern church which implicitly says to God, “we’ve got this! See you at the end!” but is running on fumes. Eventually we all fall into Gods Arms, better to stop avoiding it - but I’m rambling also :)
Grace to you
Eric