[Magdalen] Fwd: Re: St Paul's-on-the-Hill, St Paul, MN

[Jim Guthrie]

The article that was referenced indicated that the church was, shall we 
say, a museum of its past. Scott may think that one can;t infer anything 
from the article as written, but i think we can.

David writes:

 >IMO, the parish failed because it abandoned its "museum" Liturgy (the 
usual Anglocatholic flagship style) and this destroyed its unique 
qualities.
 >A large percentage of members drove long distances to experience this 
enriched liturgical style. When the clergy of Saint Paul's-on-the-Hill 
 >pulled the altar out, and jettisoned Solemn High Masses, these people 
no longer were willing to drive the distance and membership tanked. >Why 
drive 50 miles for the same liturgy as their local Saint 
Swithins-in-the-Swamp right across the street?

Driving a long distance to go to church because of its "unique liturgy" 
indicates that the congregation is not interested in **being church**I 
think, but rather enjoying the music and the showmanship on Sunday 
mornings. I doubt that's a crowd interested in driving 3-4 times a week 
for meetings and mission-related and fellowship activities that make a 
church what it needs to be, let alone vestry and vestry committee meetings.

Some may think that a church can run on auto-pilot, but even if there 
are local people willing to do the work -- they will burn out or die out 
(or both) and there's no one left. And in the case of some churches, 
those driving a long distance may think they deserve a huge say in the 
way things are run, because they drive that distance, resulting in 
conflict with those in the parish **doing the work**, And such conflict 
will drive people away too -- especially those left working while the 
complainers are driving home for another week.

If those driving the 50 miles were really interested, they'd join their 
local Saint Swithins-in-the-Swamp and become a trusted leader who will 
help lead the parish to a level of churchmanship they find more 
comfortable. In short, I;m not sure driving 50 miles for the Sunday 
Morning Liturgy is doing the wrk we have been given to do.

YMMV.

I have friends who take the train in from Long Island on Sundays to go 
to Holy Apostles or Transfiguration on Sundays -- but they can (and do) 
get to NY for parish activities as well. .

Cheers,
Jim

PS And we know those driving 50 miles and back for church on Sunday when 
St Swithins-by-the-Swamp is down the street aren;t caring much about 
global climate change and other global stewardship issues, but that's 
another thread <g>.