Made the leap

[SumTinWong]

Maybe it is my English roots, or maybe it is just a silly whim, but my wife and I are attending St Paul's here locally and will remain here unless we are called elsewhere. After reading some of the posts here it seems that i am jumping on board as everyone is abandoning ship, but all I can say is I feel really good about this choice, and I am happy which is a wierd feeling for me when it comes to church :)

[karen freeinchristman]

Maybe it is my English roots, or maybe it is just a silly whim, but my wife and I are attending St Paul's here locally and will remain here unless we are called elsewhere. After reading some of the posts here it seems that i am jumping on board as everyone is abandoning ship, but all I can say is I feel really good about this choice, and I am happy which is a wierd feeling for me when it comes to church :)

:)

I'm happy for you, Uncle Bud!

I hope that you and your wife will be strengthened and edified through St. Paul's, and that God blesses you richly with all you need to serve him.

[SumTinWong]

Hey hanks.I wish many of my friends would feel the same way but this is not the most popular choice to go at this time. But I am not for once in my life going to try and worry about being popular, instead I am going to worry about my family and my walk.

Thanks for the welcome:)

[romaneagle13]

Welcome, Bud! I know how you feel. I came in two years ago and didn't realize at first that I was walking into a church with so much upheaval. But after comparing it to the church I left (Roman Catholic), I felt that it was better to have the differences of opinions, because it meant that at least you had the opinions. And the choices and the democracy...something I had never experienced in the "that's just the way we do it, that's just the way it is, because the Pope says so" way of doing things in the Catholic Church. (Now I'm not saying that's wrong, some people really like it) But I needed a different direction and more religious freedom. I don't know what religious tradition you came from, but I think you'll find that the freedom of thought and democratic structure is a definite plus.

Welcome aboard! Not all of us are leaving! :wave:

[AnglicanCelt]

Woohoo!

Glad you're joining us. And I'm very glad to see that you're relying on the Holy Spirit to guide where you're worshipping.

[Ravenonthecross]

i was thinking about, attending an Episcopal Church on Sunday, and i've got a few questions. Does the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) generally, practice open or closed communion? Also, are shorts permitted to be worn as appropriate clothing. (guy shorts that are knee length)? I don't want to be rude i just want to be prepared. And no, i haven't talked to anyone there yet, as i'm usually shy about doing so.

[AnglicanCelt]

i was thinking about, attending an Episcopal Church on Sunday, and i've got a few questions. Does the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) generally, practice open or closed communion? Also, are shorts permitted to be worn as appropriate clothing. (guy shorts that are knee length)? I don't want to be rude i just want to be prepared. And no, i haven't talked to anyone there yet, as i'm usually shy about doing so.
Depends on the church. My broad congregation would have no problem with it, but high church they might.

As for communion, it is open, for the most part. I'm sure you'd find the oddballs out there.

[karen freeinchristman]

i was thinking about, attending an Episcopal Church on Sunday, and i've got a few questions. Does the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) generally, practice open or closed communion? Also, are shorts permitted to be worn as appropriate clothing. (guy shorts that are knee length)? I don't want to be rude i just want to be prepared. And no, i haven't talked to anyone there yet, as i'm usually shy about doing so.
I'm in Church of England, and at my church, shorts in hot weather would be fine. Open communion.

My parents church (in California) is ECUSA, and again, shorts are fine. Some people wear them, but some people don't. I don't think that people look down on you for wearing shorts. Open communion there, too.

P.S. - I'm glad to hear they are "guy shorts"!!! Girl shorts on a guy are just... yuck. :D

[No Swansong]

i was thinking about, attending an Episcopal Church on Sunday, and i've got a few questions. Does the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) generally, practice open or closed communion? Also, are shorts permitted to be worn as appropriate clothing. (guy shorts that are knee length)? I don't want to be rude i just want to be prepared. And no, i haven't talked to anyone there yet, as i'm usually shy about doing so.


While you would certainly be welcomed to communion it would not be fair to not point out to you (I noticed your faith icon) that receiving communion in an ECUSA church is a very serious matter to the Roman Catholic Church. In essence receiving communion is considered a type of self-excommunication. If you intend to remain Roman Catholic I would certainly speak to your pastor/spiritual father about it before hand.

[SumTinWong]

Thanks for all the welcomes!

As far as i was told the communion is open in the Episcopal church but the church you attend might not be happy that you are doing it when it is not RC so I would be careful if I were you.

[Finella]

Welcome, Uncle Bud! I'm glad you're feeling good about your decision -- I would definitely follow where you are being led.

Ravenonthecross -- IN all my cradle-Episcopalian history I can only think of one or two ECUSA churches my family visited in the summer on vacation where we felt a little out-of-place because of our dress (my mom wore dressy pants and got odd looks from people, but no open hostility or confrontation). It didn't seem to matter how high- or low-church the place was, it just seemed to be the general sensibility of the parish. So go with your gut and I'm sure you'll be fine.

[Mary of Bethany]

Hi, Uncle Bud -

I'm glad you've found a home that you and your wife are both comfortable in. I certainly enjoyed my ten years in the Anglican Catholic Church after leaving Baptist churches, and I learned so much about the catholic faith. It really was a good time for me. I'm happy for you. It's important that you find a place that you and your wife can attend together, and hopefully she will convert!

:crosseo:

Mary

[TomUK]

Welcome Uncle Bud!

It's great to have you on board.

[TomUK]

i was thinking about, attending an Episcopal Church on Sunday, and i've got a few questions. Does the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) generally, practice open or closed communion? Also, are shorts permitted to be worn as appropriate clothing. (guy shorts that are knee length)? I don't want to be rude i just want to be prepared. And no, i haven't talked to anyone there yet, as i'm usually shy about doing so.

As far as i'm aware practically all Anglican Churches have open communion. However while we'd be happy to serve you Roman Catholic Churches tend not to look too favourably on their membership on receiving communion in an Anglican Church. To me that seems a little silly ( :sorry: ) but it's ultimately up to your own conscience i suppose. However even if you only decide to come once then pretty much any Anglican Church would be delighted to have you. The issue of shorts is a tricky one. Personally i'd suggest that you err on the side of caution for your first visit. Many places would be fine with them but it's probably worth seeing what the general attitude is first.

[Ravenonthecross]

i talked with the pastor at the church i was thinking of going to for sunday services, he said it's not a problem (concerning the shorts), and that they do have open communion. So, i guess i at least temporarily overcame my shyness/nervousness, and garnered up the guts to ask the pastor about these issues, and with God willing, all will go well. Praise be to Lord Christ Jesus.

[AnglicanCelt]

i talked with the pastor at the church i was thinking of going to for sunday services, he said it's not a problem (concerning the shorts), and that they do have open communion. So, i guess i at least temporarily overcame my shyness/nervousness, and garnered up the guts to ask the pastor about these issues, and with God willing, all will go well. Praise be to Lord Christ Jesus.
You'll be fine, Raven.

[Ravenonthecross]

thanks for the vote of confidence. I guess i need to be a bit more secure. I'm not shy with my friends, because most of them i've known for years, but around complete strangers, or new folks, i'm very shy, and apprehensive. But once i get to know folks better, this fades very fast. Sorry about the thread hijack!:sorry:
Anywho thanks folks for your advice on my concerns. It's much appreciated!:clap: Christ Jesus Bless all you kind folks!

Sincerly, Your brother-in-christ
Matt

[Ravenonthecross]

Sorry folks, i'll pass on The Episcopal church, i attended it on Sunday, and didn't like it's protestanty plain feeling. It felt like a lack of reverence to The Lord's house, that the feeling of that it gave me,
seemed to spit in Christ's face. Anywho, i've found The Lord's true Church in Eastern Orthodoxy, and plan on attending an Orthodox Church soon, and starting my conversion process in the Orthodox Church. Peace, and may God's love with you, my Christian Brethren and sisters!
I'm sorry if any you folks are offended, but that's how i felt, and i might as well be honest. God bless you all, and May Christ's peace be with you all.

[higgs2]

Sorry folks, i'll pass on The Episcopal church, i attended it on Sunday, and didn't like it's protestanty plain feeling. It felt like a lack of reverence to The Lord's house, that seemed to spit in Christ's face. Anywho, i've found The Lord's true Church in Eastern Orthodoxy, and plan on attending an Orthodox Church soon, and starting my conversion process in the Orthodox Church. Peace, and may God's love with you, my Christian Brethren and sisters!

Best of luck to you in that. Perhaps you could reword your critique a tiny bit so it is not so offensive to Episcopalians? I'm sure you didn't mean for it to be. "Not my cup of tea" would be a suggestion.

[karen freeinchristman]

Sorry folks, i'll pass on The Episcopal church, i attended it on Sunday, and didn't like it's protestanty plain feeling. It felt like a lack of reverence to The Lord's house, that seemed to spit in Christ's face. Anywho, i've found The Lord's true Church in Eastern Orthodoxy, and plan on attending an Orthodox Church soon, and starting my conversion process in the Orthodox Church. Peace, and may God's love with you, my Christian Brethren and sisters!
Sorry to hear you had an unsatisfactory experience.

[Groce]

Sorry folks, i'll pass on The Episcopal church, i attended it on Sunday, and didn't like it's protestanty plain feeling. It felt like a lack of reverence to The Lord's house, that seemed to spit in Christ's face. Anywho, i've found The Lord's true Church in Eastern Orthodoxy, and plan on attending an Orthodox Church soon, and starting my conversion process in the Orthodox Church. Peace, and may God's love with you, my Christian Brethren and sisters!

In a way I am glad you turned us down. The current path of the ECUSA and other Anglican Churches do spit in His face. But the liturgy you attended might have been particularly bad. I have been to some that were as you described. I have also looked in to the EOC, but since I am in Korea I have not had the opportunity to speak with a EOC priest or visit a church. This might help, it has me. http://www.ourlifeinchrist.com/archives.htm It seams as if the water is ever higher around my feet ( or maybe the ship is lower). Keep me posted on how it goes, for I am looking to make the same swim when possible. I am about to swim out the mouth of the Thames and make for the Bosporus with all haste.

[SumTinWong]

sigh...

The EOC has plenty of problems believe me, and as far as spitting in the Lord's face. . . Man, I just don't know what to say about that. The church I have been attending is very proper.

[RedneckAnglican]

Sorry folks, i'll pass on The Episcopal church, i attended it on Sunday, and didn't like it's protestanty plain feeling. It felt like a lack of reverence to The Lord's house, that seemed to spit in Christ's face. Anywho, i've found The Lord's true Church in Eastern Orthodoxy, and plan on attending an Orthodox Church soon, and starting my conversion process in the Orthodox Church. Peace, and may God's love with you, my Christian Brethren and sisters!

doesn't sound like any Anglican Church I've gone to...doesn't even sound like the Episcopal Churches I've gone to...the Churches in this area are VERY proper...

[AnglicanCelt]

We're very proper, too, even for being a Broad congregation in the middle of nowhere.

I'm sorry that was your experience, Raven.

[Aymn27]

sigh...

The EOC has plenty of problems believe me, and as far as spitting in the Lord's face. . . Man, I just don't know what to say about that. The church I have been attending is very proper.
Amen...the EO Liturgy is just to ethnic for me, a Westerner, and the repetition - wow - I'm just not impressed with the Liturgy, but I understand some people are. The more I read Acts, the various letters and the ante-Nicene fathers, the less taste I have for grandious liturgical worship. Seems to me it was Word shared, mealed Shared in the power of the Holy Spirit. All this liturgical correctness seems to be either left overs from the Judaizers or an adaptation of the pagan temple cults in Rome and Greece. Now don't get me wrong - I don't think there's anything wrong with that as there is certainly Scriptural grounds for worshiping as such. But, I tend to find that those who feel strongly about liturgical correctness tend to become fixated on the rituals rather than the true faith that is symbolized by those things used in the rituals. It must be human nature to bind oneself to legalism, at least for some personalities. That whole worship style is just not appealing to me.

[SumTinWong]

Amen...the EO Liturgy is just to ethnic for me, a Westerner, and the repetition - wow - I'm just not impressed with the Liturgy, but I understand some people are. The more I read Acts, the various letters and the ante-Nicene fathers, the less taste I have for grandious liturgical worship. Seems to me it was Word shared, mealed Shared in the power of the Holy Spirit. All this liturgical correctness seems to be either left overs from the Judaizers or an adaptation of the pagan temple cults in Rome and Greece. Now don't get me wrong - I don't think there's anything wrong with that as there is certainly Scriptural grounds for worshiping as such. But, I tend to find that those who feel strongly about liturgical correctness tend to become fixated on the rituals rather than the true faith that is symbolized by those things used in the rituals. It must be human nature to bind oneself to legalism, at least for some personalities. That whole worship style is just not appealing to me.
I dunno about any of that. The EO church that i attended it was very powerful but I thought it was excessive. Much of the liturgy I am told is what it is like to worship God in heaven. Not sure I believe that, but to each their own.

i did find the EOC I attended rather ethnic, and I guess the liturgy a bit wordy but overall it wasn't too unpleasant. I actually enjoy the original liturgy far more than St John C's revision.

ANyway I wouldn't paint them with such a broad brush.

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Congratulations on finding a Church home Uncle Bud!

May God bless you and your wife on your walk with Christ! :)

[Ravenonthecross]

Sorry folks, if i came off a bit harsh, it's just that i was there for the mass, and after a while, it just didn't feel, to me , as if they were worshipping God properly, it may have been just me, but i had a bad feeling about it and eventually left. Sorry about my earlier post, in hind sight, i realize i was a bit too harsh, even for my own posts.

[karen freeinchristman]

Sorry folks, if i came off a bit harsh, it's just that i was there for the mass, and after a while, it just didn't feel, to me , as if they were worshipping God properly, it may have been just me, but i had a bad feeling about it and eventually left. Sorry about my earlier post, in hind sight, i realize i was a bit too harsh, even for my own posts.
That's OK, Raven. We forgive you! :)

[SumTinWong]

Hey everyone makes mistakes buddy i have made my fair share. I am glad you have found a home, may God guide you and keep you !

[Aymn27]

Sorry folks, if i came off a bit harsh, it's just that i was there for the mass, and after a while, it just didn't feel, to me , as if they were worshipping God properly, it may have been just me, but i had a bad feeling about it and eventually left. Sorry about my earlier post, in hind sight, i realize i was a bit too harsh, even for my own posts.
Hey Raven,
Weren't you formerly RC? I completely understand the "bad feeling" - it takes a while for the "going to hell" for attending Protestant services feeling to go away. And it is a very big mental hurdle to jump over to the Anglican church when the RCC teaches it's orders are invalid. Personally, I've always liked the more "protestant" type services - even in the RC. I used to go to a Life Teen mass that was somewhat charismatic. When I would attend youth gatherings (I was a youth minister) people would always talk about how that mass was "almost protestant" - it wasn't my church so they didn't know I attended there often. I don't know - the fancy churches with the marble altars, etc just doesn't seem to grasp who/what Jesus was about as much as simple, personal gatherings - just my feeling (and I've always been rather fond of Franciscanism as well- maybe its just my personality).

May God illuminate your path on your journey. I'm glad you've found a home.

Blessings,
Aaron

[Colabomb]

Hey Raven,
Weren't you formerly RC? I completely understand the "bad feeling" - it takes a while for the "going to hell" for attending Protestant services feeling to go away. And it is a very big mental hurdle to jump over to the Anglican church when the RCC teaches it's orders are invalid. Personally, I've always liked the more "protestant" type services - even in the RC. I used to go to a Life Teen mass that was somewhat charismatic. When I would attend youth gatherings (I was a youth minister) people would always talk about how that mass was "almost protestant" - it wasn't my church so they didn't know I attended there often. I don't know - the fancy churches with the marble altars, etc just doesn't seem to grasp who/what Jesus was about as much as simple, personal gatherings - just my feeling (and I've always been rather fond of Franciscanism as well- maybe its just my personality).

May God illuminate your path on your journey. I'm glad you've found a home.

Blessings,
Aaron
The service at my old church was very simple. And I loved it dearly.

[SumTinWong]

The service I attend is very simple, but it is very proper and very uplifting is the only word that comes to mind. I feel as though I have been uplifted when I leave.

[CherryB]

[quote=Aymn27]Hey Raven,
I completely understand the "bad feeling" - it takes a while for the "going to hell" for attending Protestant services feeling to go away. And it is a very big mental hurdle to jump over to the Anglican church when the RCC teaches it's orders are invalid.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________


Im amazed that you said that, over here in Essex England there is no bad feeling or does anyone mention about going to
hell for attending a protestant service and the RCC do not teach that the Anglican orders are invalid.
My husband is RC and on alternate Sundays we attend each others churches, I cant take communion in my husbands church but he can in mine.
I do different works for the RC church and my husband does the readings sometimes in my church.
There is defiantly no bad feelings here.

[Colabomb]

[quote=Aymn27]Hey Raven,
I completely understand the "bad feeling" - it takes a while for the "going to hell" for attending Protestant services feeling to go away. And it is a very big mental hurdle to jump over to the Anglican church when the RCC teaches it's orders are invalid.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________


Im amazed that you said that, over here in Essex England there is no bad feeling or does anyone mention about going to
hell for attending a protestant service and the RCC do not teach that the Anglican orders are invalid.
My husband is RC and on alternate Sundays we attend each others churches, I cant take communion in my husbands church but he can in mine.
I do different works for the RC church and my husband does the readings sometimes in my church.
There is defiantly no bad feelings here.
Unfortunately, the official teaching of the Worldwide Roman Catholic Church is that our orders are invalid, and thus so is our eucharist. You may have a priest that is a bit more accepting, but he is in violation of Roman Catholic Doctrine.

[karen freeinchristman]

Hey, CherryB - Welcome! Nice to see you here! :wave:

[No Swansong]

[quote=Aymn27]Hey Raven,
I completely understand the "bad feeling" - it takes a while for the "going to hell" for attending Protestant services feeling to go away. And it is a very big mental hurdle to jump over to the Anglican church when the RCC teaches it's orders are invalid.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________


Im amazed that you said that, over here in Essex England there is no bad feeling or does anyone mention about going to
hell for attending a protestant service and the RCC do not teach that the Anglican orders are invalid.
My husband is RC and on alternate Sundays we attend each others churches, I cant take communion in my husbands church but he can in mine.
I do different works for the RC church and my husband does the readings sometimes in my church.
There is defiantly no bad feelings here.



I am glad you found such a working relationship between the two but your situation begs the question does your husband's pastor know that he receives communion in an Anglican church? Technically this is a form of self-excommunication in the Roman Catholic Church.

[CherryB]

Hey, CherryB - Welcome! Nice to see you here! :wave:

Hi there:wave:
Nice to see you too,
Have you come across any bad feelings in your area of England?

[karen freeinchristman]

Hi there:wave:
Nice to see you too,
Have you come across any bad feelings in your area of England?

Well, I can't really comment on that because I don't know for sure if we have had any RC communicants or not. Some people at the communion rail do cross themselves, but I suppose they could be from an Anglo-Catholic background (most people in my church do not cross themselves). We do have very good relations with the nearby RC church, though. Every year our local churches all go to the RC church and we do the stations of the cross together. The RC church is part of our ecumenical grouping called "Village Churches Together". The joint services held several times per year at a different church each time do not include Holy Communion, so it doesn't come into the equation.

[CherryB]

[quote=CherryB]



I am glad you found such a working relationship between the two but your situation begs the question does your husband's pastor know that he receives communion in an Anglican church? Technically this is a form of self-excommunication in the Roman Catholic Church.
Yes he does know and has not said anything against it,
in fact this thread has made me realize that I live in a forward thinking area because all the churches, Christian centres, Mosques and synagogues get on with one another.

[karen freeinchristman]

Yes he does know and has not said anything against it,
in fact this thread has made me realize that I live in a forward thinking area because all the churches, Christian centres, Mosques and synagogues get on with one another.


hey, CB, what part of the UK are you from? We have a few brits on here. I'm in the Northwest, on the Wirral.

[CherryB]

hey, CB, what part of the UK are you from? We have a few brits on here. I'm in the Northwest, on the Wirral.
Im in Essex, the South East, 50 miles from London

[No Swansong]

[quote=jtbdad]
Yes he does know and has not said anything against it,
in fact this thread has made me realize that I live in a forward thinking area because all the churches, Christian centres, Mosques and synagogues get on with one another.


While I am not sure that being in a "forward thinking" area is a good thing. I am truly happy for you and your husband to expeience a situation in which you can share in each other's faith tradition.

[No Swansong]

[quote=CherryB]


While I am not sure that being in a "forward thinking" area is a good thing. I am truly happy for you and your husband to expeience a situation in which you can share in each other's faith tradition.


Has anyone noticed that the quote function is malfunctioning?

[AnglicanCelt]

Just slightly.

[pmcleanj]

That's not all that's malfunctioning on my
system. Graphics are gone and replaced by
text. Lines do not wrap. Formatting needs to
be hand-coded.

Maybe it will get better by morning...