Anyone up for a chat thread?

[BelleC]

Here's a cheerful thing to wake up to on a Monday morning.

Arson against places of worship in my city has become so bad that the police have sent round information on how to lower our risk and things to think about, security-wise.

I know of several fires that have caused a media splash here, but I don't hear much from overseas. Is this a problem in your areas, too?

I'm so sorry to read that!

I think basic vandalism tends to pop up more often here than arson. Sometimes the vandalism seems to be random and probably rebelling teens. Also vandalism to grave sites pop as up sometimes. In the current climate I think mosques are more likely to be targets here but you never know. Is there anything the targeted churches there have in common? Any clues as to who is setting them on fire and why?

 

[Paidiske]

I know that some of the burnt churches have a history of an abusive priest.

But not all, by any means. I think hatred of the church has just grown that hot (if you'll excuse the very bad pun).

 

[Paidiske]

Ahh... just back from retreat. I wonder how long I can make the serenity stretch out...?

 

[Goatee]

Ahh... just back from retreat. I wonder how long I can make the serenity stretch out...?

Would love to go on a retreat.

Man, i am a massive sinner!!! Why does the devil keep holding onto me?? Cant stop sinning!!!

 

[BelleC]

Ahh... just back from retreat. I wonder how long I can make the serenity stretch out...?

Right now I'm in the after-church peace bubble. So I have an inkling of how you feel!

It was my second time going to the Anglican Church and once again it was really, really good. I was away on vacation and I was really looking forward to going again. I really can't say how long it has been since I felt that way about church!

 

[BelleC]

Would love to go on a retreat.

Man, i am a massive sinner!!! Why does the devil keep holding onto me?? Cant stop sinning!!!

We are all massive sinners!!! Maybe if I pray for you and you pray for me we'll do better.

 

[Goatee]

I am beyond praying for

 

[Tigger45]

I am beyond praying for

Have you confesses it to your priest? Maybe can help you with this.

 

[BelleC]

I am beyond praying for

That will simply never be true. I'm praying to an infinite God with infinite love, mercy, and power so as hopeless as you may feel right now your sins still aren't bigger than infinite. Stop looking at yourself and look at Him instead. Get outside look at the sky, the trees, the birds, the ocean, just everything, and remember the God who was powerful enough to create it all out of nothing loves you. Jesus came for hopeless sinners like you and me.

Luke 5:31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

 

[Goatee]

That will simply never be true. I'm praying to an infinite God with infinite love, mercy, and power so as hopeless as you may feel right now your sins still aren't bigger than infinite. Stop looking at yourself and look at Him instead. Get outside look at the sky, the trees, the birds, the ocean, just everything, and remember the God who was powerful enough to create it all out of nothing loves you. Jesus came for hopeless sinners like you and me.

Luke 5:31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Thanks. I fall into temptations all the time!

 

[BelleC]

Thanks. I fall into temptations all the time!

Ha! You just fall into them? sometimes I go looking for them!

Remember there is a difference between being tempted and entertaining temptations. Even Jesus was tempted by devil but He gave it the heave ho. Ask Him for the strength to do the same. I stand by my advice on the change of scenery. It's pretty hard to feel tempted when you get busy feeling thankful for God's goodness and creation.

 

[Shane R]

Ahh... just back from retreat. I wonder how long I can make the serenity stretch out...?

This reminded me of a little incident last weekend. We were visiting some extended family in New England and attended Mass with my wife's grandparents. Within five minutes of the conclusion of the Mass, someone was angrily honking their car horn at the exit to the church parking lot. Their peace and serenity didn't last long at all.

 

[graceandpeace]

Church vandalism & arson happens in the US, but I wouldn't say it's overly common. There was a church vandalized in my neighborhood a few months back, but in the larger region I don't know about many cases.

 

[Shane R]

In my experience in small town USA, church vandalism usually meant high school age folk forcing the door in an effort to take the wine.

 

[Paidiske]

I'm like a little child at Christmas when new books I've ordered arrive. Today I've received four:





There's a bit of a theme...

 

[Shane R]

An ordination and high mass Friday. I am the left-most chap in the picture - by the door.

 

[Paidiske]

Who are the gents in cassock, cotta, stole and zucchetto? That's a very odd combination!

 

[Shane R]

Who are the gents in cassock, cotta, stole and zucchetto? That's a very odd combination!

Priests. One thing about the continuing church culture is some variety in vestment. Some guys try to be more Roman than Rome, some more Anglican than Canterbury, and even a few who wish to be more Eastern than Antioch (whatever that all means). The prescribed attire for clergy was cassock and surplice (which, it seems, practically included the cotta as an acceptable variation) with red stole and zuchetto for canons and priests. Pectoral crosses were left to personal preference. I always wear one and my mentor (one of the canons) never does.

My set is Roman; that is: single breasted cassock with buttons and square collared surplice. That was partly personal preference and partly due to financial considerations as to what I could find the best price on. I also have a blue reader's tippet, but that was a no go for this mass. When I am ordained to the diaconate, I will be presented a stole and dalmatic and possibly a thurible.

 

[Paidiske]

Here the customary dress for ordinations would be alb and white stole for clergy, academic dress for ordinands. In the cathedral, cassock and surplice would be for non-Eucharistic services only (although there are always a few people making a point of being evangelical who wear cassock, surplice and preaching scarf when told to wear alb and stole).

Hats, apart from mitres, are almost unknown here. One rather eccentric priest is known for wearing a Canterbury cap. I've certainly never seen anyone in a zucchetto in real life.

My diocese doesn't vest its ordinands in dalmatic or chasuble on the day, but the parish where I served my first curacy was very Anglo-Catholic so I wore both there. In my current two parishes I am only permitted to wear a chasuble at Christmas and Easter, and that in the more Anglo-Catholic of the two. (My vicar is evangelical and not comfortable with chasubles).

 

[BelleC]

I'm like a little child at Christmas when new books I've ordered arrive. Today I've received four:


There's a bit of a theme...

I hope you are able to give a bit a review when you're done!