- Aug 11, 2015
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Hello to you all! Allow me to introduce myself and tell you a bit about myself if I may.
I have lurked around these forums for a very long time, but this is my first time posting. As of 3 weeks ago, I regained my faith in Christ. For about the last 4 years, I had been a practicing Buddhist of the Jodo Shinshu tradition (Shin Pure Land). I don't really recall what caused me to lose my faith back then which made me a Buddhist, but 3 weeks ago some neighbors who are good friends of mine and are Christians talked with me (not really with the intention of bringing me back to Christianity) and I can't explain it, but something really clicked and I feel like a fool for giving up on Christ when I did.
Back then I didn't know the finer details of my faith. I had tried exploring many of the various denominations including the RCC (baptized as an infant with an RCC family), Southern Baptist, PCUSA, United Church of Christ, Church of Christ (where I was baptized as an adult 11 years ago) UMC, ELCA, EO and TEC. Yes I did a LOT of church hopping back then, but not all immediately after the other. I am talking about 7 years of being an active Christian and also what I was exposed to as a child being only a Christian in name-only.
TEC is where I felt the most comfortable and felt like it was what I needed. I liked having that tradition, the liturgy, the open communion. It felt incredibly welcoming and where I should be.
Since I have taken up my faith again, I knew exactly where I would be going again. And while I am now in a different city than I was 4 years ago, the Episcopal church I have found is great. A touch smaller than the last, but also that may have been for the fact I attended the 8 am service rather than the 10 am service.
Now I do realize the Episcopal church is going through some tough times, but I can look beyond those problems. Using the American 1978 Book of Common Prayer, I have been doing the Morning, Noon, Evening, and Compline offices, everyday over the last 3 weeks and it has felt wonderful! In addition to that, I have been using the Revised Common Lectionary (which has the daily listings) for more daily readings. I realize I could just use the Daily Office alone for my readings, but I get just that much more Bible reading and study done this way, plus it prepares me for what will be covered the following Sunday and what was just covered.
Anyhow, I apologize for the length of this post. It has been a long time coming. I have spent the last 3 weeks reading over the prior posts of the last few years so I know roughly what has been covered and maybe if I had any questions (I did), perhaps they would have been answered (they were). So I figured this was the time to finally show myself and join in on the fun.
I hope to join in on many of the discussions and I look forward to a great time here with you all.
God bless.
I have lurked around these forums for a very long time, but this is my first time posting. As of 3 weeks ago, I regained my faith in Christ. For about the last 4 years, I had been a practicing Buddhist of the Jodo Shinshu tradition (Shin Pure Land). I don't really recall what caused me to lose my faith back then which made me a Buddhist, but 3 weeks ago some neighbors who are good friends of mine and are Christians talked with me (not really with the intention of bringing me back to Christianity) and I can't explain it, but something really clicked and I feel like a fool for giving up on Christ when I did.
Back then I didn't know the finer details of my faith. I had tried exploring many of the various denominations including the RCC (baptized as an infant with an RCC family), Southern Baptist, PCUSA, United Church of Christ, Church of Christ (where I was baptized as an adult 11 years ago) UMC, ELCA, EO and TEC. Yes I did a LOT of church hopping back then, but not all immediately after the other. I am talking about 7 years of being an active Christian and also what I was exposed to as a child being only a Christian in name-only.
TEC is where I felt the most comfortable and felt like it was what I needed. I liked having that tradition, the liturgy, the open communion. It felt incredibly welcoming and where I should be.
Since I have taken up my faith again, I knew exactly where I would be going again. And while I am now in a different city than I was 4 years ago, the Episcopal church I have found is great. A touch smaller than the last, but also that may have been for the fact I attended the 8 am service rather than the 10 am service.
Now I do realize the Episcopal church is going through some tough times, but I can look beyond those problems. Using the American 1978 Book of Common Prayer, I have been doing the Morning, Noon, Evening, and Compline offices, everyday over the last 3 weeks and it has felt wonderful! In addition to that, I have been using the Revised Common Lectionary (which has the daily listings) for more daily readings. I realize I could just use the Daily Office alone for my readings, but I get just that much more Bible reading and study done this way, plus it prepares me for what will be covered the following Sunday and what was just covered.
Anyhow, I apologize for the length of this post. It has been a long time coming. I have spent the last 3 weeks reading over the prior posts of the last few years so I know roughly what has been covered and maybe if I had any questions (I did), perhaps they would have been answered (they were). So I figured this was the time to finally show myself and join in on the fun.
I hope to join in on many of the discussions and I look forward to a great time here with you all.
God bless.
