While the Anglican World Turned...
On the way back from attending a funeral for my Aunt Jo in San Antonio this weekend, I stopped by St. David's in downtown Austin for the 11:15 service yesterday morning. As a stranger in their midst, I was warmly welcomed and felt right at home in this beautiful, historic (1848!) and bog-standard, mainstream Episcopal parish.
I was baptized at St. David's over 47 years ago and, of course, yesterday was one of the days specially appointed for baptisms in the church calendar. At the request of the usher, I was honored to be asked to read aloud one of the prayers for the people (which were read by various people, standing all througout the congregation - a wonderful touch):
Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit. (BCP, p.305)
And me just some, lone visitor in the pews! ;) I'm certain no one there knew how touched I was by being asked to participate, but it sure helped me get past all the current "Episcopalian brouhaha" and remind me why I love this church so.
Then we took communion, sang some more hymns, were blessed and, after shaking the rector's hand & thanking him, I walked out renewed into the bright, late morning sunshine of my hometown...
(Note: St. David's rector, the Rev. David Boyd, graduated from Nashotah House in 1984 - I wonder if our Fr. Jake knows him. And any of my church-going friends are definitely encouraged to visit St. David's if you're ever in Austin. It's a lovely, warm & welcoming place - their rector and vestry should be proud ;)
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3 comments:
Its just a joy when we get it right isn't it?
I liked reading about your aunt, too. A good life.
Out of all the stray bits of liturgy floating in and out of my head, "marked as Christ's own forever" is the one phrase that can't float through without me smiling from head to toe. Out of all the things I am, "marked" brings such joy just to think the words.
And I think of my godchild, so happy I was when she was marked as Christ's own, so happy still that she is my spiritual charge. She's 16 and in the very depths of her searching, searching, lost, lost, don't believe in nuffin'! stage, the only question is how long it will take her to search enough to turn around and see that she was found the whole time. Hmmm... I think she might be emergent, do ya think?
Janet
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