[Magdalen] Suzie and Center Aisle

[Sally Davies]

Thanks for sharing, that was lovely.

I was struck by the comment about making the waters and grace of baptism
more visible in  our churches - such a simple point but so relevant.

We are very far from the "here is some water, why can't I be baptised"
question that is the climax of my favourite story in Acts. Instead, baptism
involves an entire fal-de-rol, a special service, and I guess for an older
catechumen, a process of teaching first. It's just not available to people
in the same way that Communion is.

Even my Pentecostal friends whose chuch makes a huge deal of adult baptism
and performs a lot of them, has to prepare a great big baptismal bath and
set up a service for that purpose.

Perhaps our churches should have an inner courtyard with a fountain or
water pool, like the house churches of the early Christians that have been
excavated in Asia Minor.

Sally D



On Monday, June 29, 2015, James Oppenheimer-Crawford <
oppenheimerjw at gmail.com> wrote:

> I was a bit overwhelmed by the power of Susan's message.  How wonderful
> that she was the one to be there for that young lady.  Grace and Sophia was
> there -- indeed it's hard to say where it was not.  The grace that called
> that lady to make her bold move. The grace imparted to Susan in the immense
> privilege of being the one to answer that call.
>
> We are used to an economy of scarcity, but the divine economy is one of
> abundance, like the loving mother who opens the screen door of her back
> porch and calls all the kids in for milk and cookies. And the cookies and
> milk will never ever run out.
>
> I don't understand the Eucharist at all, and am beginning to realize that I
> shouldn't worry about that. It's still there. Period.
>
> 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 Sun, Jun 28, 2015 at 11:55 AM, Grace Cangialosi <gracecan at gmail.com
> <javascript:;>>
> wrote:
>
> > I have just finished reading and commenting on Susan Buchanan's opinion
> > piece in Center Aisle, the Dio. of Virginia's General Convention
> > newsletter. It is beautifully written and makes a strong case for open
> > communion. I commend it to you:
> >
> > centeraisle.net
>