[Magdalen] Suzie and Center Aisle

[Sally Davies]

This looks set to start up That Discussion about fingers and germs again,
but I really like to imagine it, Jay1

Sally

On Monday, June 29, 2015, Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:

> In the Lutheran church I attend, the baptismal font is up front on the way
> to the communion rail and always contains water. Many people (not all, but
> certainly all the misplaced Episcopalians!) dip their fingers in the font
> and make the sign of the cross on their way to communion.
>
> On Mon, Jun 29, 2015 at 2:35 AM, Sally Davies <sally.davies at gmail.com
> <javascript:;>>
> wrote:
>
> > 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 <javascript:;>> 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:;>
> > > <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
> > >
> >
>