[Magdalen] Please pray for Ascension, Chicago

[James Oppenheimer-Crawford]

One major failing of TEC is the refusal to talk straight about almost
anything. God forbid we should tell the musician why we are put off.

I realize that it is due to a lack of confidence (Yes, I feel this way, but
I could be the only one, or perhaps my feelings are just silly or stupid).

And when people talk about stuff they communicate, and they both remember
the other is a human being, not some object for one's anger.



James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
*“A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved,
except in memory. LLAP**”  -- *Leonard Nimoy

On Mon, Aug 31, 2015 at 10:09 AM, Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Thanks for your prayers...we need 'em!
>
> The hard part for me is seeing the divisions among parishioners: those
> angry about the rector's staff changes and those not. I've been trying
> not to be in one party or another but focused instead on continuing to
> do what we're there to do. Those who must see each parishioner as
> being in one camp or the other see me as a supporter of the rector,
> and that's accurate. Not that I'd support everything a rector could
> ever do or say, but I don't see the demon in him that those of the
> other camp are seeing. I let him know I'm pro-parish and pro-staff.
>
> I have to say it was refreshing last Sunday to be at St Mary's,
> Asheville. Perhaps it has conflicts like many parishes, but they
> weren't evident. Perhaps they're not evident to our visitors either
> unless they happen to listen to certain folks at coffee hour.
> Yesterday I served as subdeacon and helped the priests greet after
> Mass, and one guy (who's not necessarily a member of either "camp" but
> complains about everything) said he doesn't like Jeffrey Smith's
> hymn-playing. I listened for a while and then suggested he chat with
> Jeffrey directly about it. Imagine that: talking directly with
> someone! I've heard Jeffrey ask for feedback on whether he'd been
> playing too loudly; the parishioner he asked sort of blushed and said,
> "Yes, a bit too loudly," and guess what: Jeffrey doesn't play as
> loudly and the hymns are going very well (I don't "get" the other
> parishioner's complaint about hymn pacing and breaths...I've heard
> organists elsewhere who don't keep time well and don't allow for
> breaths, but not Jeffrey).
>
> On Mon, Aug 31, 2015 at 8:45 AM, Marilyn Cepeda <mcepeda514 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > Scott, so many of us have been where your parish is. My prayers for all
> > Concerned.
> >
> > Marilyn
> >
> > On Mon, Aug 31, 2015 at 8:38 AM Susan Hagen <susanvhagen at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Oh Scott, I'm sorry.  Prayers for the hard times ahead.
> >> Susan
> >>
> >>
> >> On Mon, Aug 31, 2015 at 9:02 AM, Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> > Please pray for our parish...the following happened yesterday:
> >> >
> >> > SPECIAL NOTICE
> >> >
> >> > A special meeting of the Vestry was held today, in response to the
> >> > Junior Warden's demand that the Rector resign. This action seems to be
> >> > the culmination of the past seven months' concerted campaign of Save
> >> > the Ascension and others to undermine Church of the Ascension's common
> >> > life and work. The Vestry adopted a resolution censuring the Junior
> >> > Warden and asking for her resignation.
> >> >
> >> > Also at this meeting, the Rector offered to tender his resignation in
> >> > an effort to end the discord. The Vestry voted not to accept his offer
> >> > of resignation.
> >> >
> >> > This is a time for continued prayer, for respect, forbearance, and
> >> > patience. If you have questions, please direct them directly to the
> >> > Rector or Senior Warden.
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > Scott R. Knitter
> >> > Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Before enlightenment pay bills, do laundry.  After enlightenment pay
> bills,
> >> do laundry.
> >>
> > --
> > Marilyn (Owens, Palmero) Cepeda
> > Mobile, Alabama
>
>
>
> --
> Scott R. Knitter
> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
>