Category Archives: Episcopal

Next Via Media: April 5th – “Sin”

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Via Media is a powerful resource for building Christian community, bringing people into the Church who previously have felt alienated or unwelcome. Our Church stands on the threshold of a marvelous evangelism opportunity, and the actions of General Convention 2003 opened the door. Via Media is the resource we need to open the door even wider and keep it open for all who seek the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The next Via Media Lenten program resumes on Tuesday, April 5th at 6:30pm at Holy Innocents (after Holy Week and Easter Week). The simple supper of soup, bread, and salad will be hosted by St Columba. The next topic under discussion will be Sin. That ought to be a lively topic!

This past week’s discussion on “The Bible” ranged widely and enjoyably as everyone responded to the video, which this week featured two members of the Episcopal clergy who are also bloggers: AKMA, and Susan Russell.

There was much discussion of “the three-legged stool” of Anglican theology, where Scripture, Tradition and Reason are the legs that support our faith. This time, participants were given homework… which I’ve just remembered is one of those “things left undone” that will have to be tackled later.

Please try to make some time to come to the next Via Media meeting if you’re in the area, it’s an interesting and thought-provoking program, and the soup is good too.

Let Us Not Be Too Comfortable?

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Day by Day: Eleven

Luke 12:32. Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Once a friend brought a wolf to our house, and though he was a very well behaved wolf, he stirred up a good deal of anxiety in the household. Our cat, often troublesome, disappeared into the winter night. When we found him he had to be forced to come in from the cold. In the aftermath of the wolf’s visit, I wrote the following prayer:

Lord, days and even years go by and we are satisfied that in the routine of our daily lives we are not only comfortable, but secure; and then the wolf comes, and we know better. We are grateful, despite our selfishness and our tendency to be a nuisance, that you care for us; that you are stronger than the predators that wait in the shadows; that you are willing to search for us in the cold and darkness of our terror; and that at last you will bring us into your house…

Today is the anniversary of the Madrid terrorist attacks. If you recall, terrorists (many of whom were later killed or captured) left 11 backpacks full of dynamite on commuter trains that morning, and detonated them via cell phone. Hundreds were killed, maimed, or injured.

At this moment, an important international summit on democracy, terrorism, and security is just ending. Many of the participants, members of the “wired” generation, either blogged the meetings they attended in real time, or took photos with their cameraphones – such as this one of the five minutes’ silence that was observed by all Madrid in honor of the hundreds of victims who were lost one year ago today.

In an increasingly “wired” world it’s good to know that technology can be used for peace and democracy and not only for terror and anarchy. Let us pray that people of goodwill, and of all faiths, can someday banish the wolf forever.