[Magdalen] Feast.

[Joseph Cirou]

I am  so pleased with Bishop Brudde of Washington--simple things, her beatific smile, her enthusiastic singing with the congregation, her beautiful homilies (haven't heard a bad one at National.) I am an online parishioner for the times when I can't get out. I know a lot of listsibs are not happy with National Cathedral. I would go there regularly if I lived in the District, but I'd also go to a number of other parishes, including places where they swirl umbrellas (of which I am particularly fond) I have been quite impressed with St Gregory of Nyssa at one time, and quite unimpressed at others. They pick some nice music, but they don't always sing it very well. In fact it's been very bad on occasions.  I am a LOT higher than Anne Markle; but I was edified by the liturgy at St. Raphael's whilst she was the rector. I enjoyed Bruton Parish Church where the Presiding went a few weeks ago. I think it classically low (crucifers with white gloves is not low and lazy--and I see quite a few places with the acolytes wearing gloves quite naturally) I am also surprised at the large number of AME and Presby acolytes at the National Cathedral's acolyte festivals. 

I enjoyed the 20 second show and tell at a recent Acolyte Festival and the A and E's give quite a show without being over the top

Joe
-----Original Message-----
>From: Marion Thompson <marionwhitevale at gmail.com>
>Sent: Dec 28, 2015 9:17 PM
>To: magdalen at herberthouse.org
>Subject: Re: [Magdalen] Feast.
>
>It reflects the missional, church planting craze that is abroad in our 
>Diocese these days.  How could we possibly attract new people if we are 
>not serving up the same white bread approach as everyone else?  
>Unfortunately, there is a powerful and deeply-entrenched group that has 
>resisted our switch to being a-c _since the early Sixties_.  They 
>virtually drove away our previous priest and his predecessor (in my 
>nearly 8 yrs there).  Then they complain because nobody stays more than 
>four or five years!  They ran the Food Bank for 13 years (and kudos for 
>that although they were pretty unChristian to the users).  Now, probably 
>to their surprise,  some others of us have stepped up to the plate and 
>have a new good group of volunteers, a number of whom are food bank 
>customers themselves and love to be able to give back.  The fact of the 
>food bank and our location in a depressed area south of the 401 highway 
>has moved us from 'unsustainable' to 'strategic', but even if we were 
>full every Sunday there would be little more money in the plate from the 
>number of bums in seats.   So HQ's view is that if we are just like the 
>four churches north of the highway we will more easily be linked with 
>them for financial reasons. That is why we've been issued with this 
>wretched man who is doing what he is doing with the bishop's blessing.  
>Heigh-ho.
>
>Marion a pilgrim
>
>On 12/28/2015 8:33 PM, Roger Stokes wrote:
>> On 29/12/2015 00:50, Marion Thompson wrote:
>>> Sadly, the faithful remnant will struggle on, but he is the bishop's 
>>> man and he reflects what is her view, that we must change, that there 
>>> is no future for niche churches.
>>>
>>> Marion, a pilgrim
>>
>> That is unfortunate (to say the least) and is a denial of the breadth 
>> of the Anglican tradition.  I note the feminine pronoun in relation to 
>> the bishop and wonder whether she wants to shut down any possibility 
>> of difference which we are told officially is allowed.
>>
>> Roger
>>
>