[Magdalen] "leaving church" was -->Re: Prayer request

[Lynn Ronkainen]

I've found this subject personally relevant and  interesting (where it's 
gone beyond Molly's request) as last Sunday, I whiled away an hour after 
church talking to a couple who were good friends at my 'former church (of 22 
years)" - one of those rip roaring 'parking lot conversations'. They have 
also, finally, decided to leave after 40 years.  We had a bit of a 
reminiscence and a bit of a bitch session about the "amazing" stuff that has 
occurred and continued to occur since January '06.  I had frankly hoped that 
said 'new rector' had finally attracted enough new people to tip his balance 
with those more attracted to his 'high church' ways, and his 1/3 page ad in 
The Living Church, etc, etc, etc (apologies to Yule Brenner), but apparently 
that has not happened, and recent developments, which we did not discuss, 
have sent people jumping overboard in droves.  Is what it is. I was able to 
talk, share, listen, sigh, tear-up, and finally part for my drive home, 
without any feelings of deep sadness.  Time and life since then (on the 
'other side' of MANY life changes since '06) have eased the divide.  I think 
this priest will probably be there a long time, as his personality, shall we 
say, may be a deterrent to search committees who might come calling.

sigh
Lynn
ps. in the Living Church photos, I realized he has completely replaced the 
simple and meaningful wooden altar furnishings originally designed for this 
church(very sentimental to this very contemporarily designed church 
building) with ornately carved altar, pulpit, priest/assistant's chairs and 
marble walkway up the aisle to altar area (elevated and formerly carpeted, 
and now marble, which I understand a number of adult readers and LEMS have 
slipped on and some fallen, since they were installed) and the very pricey, 
very large Icons he had 'written' for behind the altar, hung at a 20' 
elevation (I thought Icons were made to be looked at/into when using as a 
prayer/meditation aid?) .

My email has changed to: houstonKLR at gmail.com

website: www.ichthysdesigns.com

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have not a 
single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave me." 
attributed to Erma Bombeck

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Cantor03--- via Magdalen" <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 12:59 PM
To: <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Subject: Re: [Magdalen] Prayer request

>
>
> In a message dated 4/28/2015 1:44:01 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> oppenheimerjw at gmail.com writes:
>
> I never  told anyone why I left.  I never needed to tell that story. 
> Those
> who know already know; those who don't will not be benefitted by  another
> story of whatever spin they decide to put on  it.>>>>
>
>
> My first exposure to a militant Evangelical TEC clergyperson, who was
> virulently anticatholic, resulted in my leaving a parish for nearly ten
> years.
>
> When the "coast was clear" I returned.  It wasn't long afterward that 
> there
> was a priestly ordination at that parish, and the disliked clergyperson 
> was
> invited back to give the ordination sermon.  I was singing in the  parish
> choir at the time, and debated showing up, but in the end did so.
>
> I'm sure my participation in the choir was noticed by my  nemesis.
>
> At the reception following, a parish warden came up to me and
> informed me that there were at least a half dozen other former
> church members present who had their own story of alienation secondary  to
> the Evangelical clergyman, who ultimately left the parish under a  cloud.
>
> This wasn't a happy moment, but I must admit it was somehow  satisfying.
>
>
> David Strang.
>
>
>