#Lent14 begings tomorrow

Happy Mardi Gras!










Be sure to go to your local Episcopal or Roman Catholic church this evening and get your fill of a delicious pancake supper.






Lent is the traditional penitential season of the Church Year. For the past three years, rather than " giving up " something this season, I've challenged myself to " take on" some sort of discipline. I've found this to be a more spiritually-fulfilling practice than one of fasting from something. Each person has his or her own Lenten disciplines & all that bring us closer to Our Lord are worthwhile.




This year, I am taking on making time for more " study" time. I've been lax in my study of Scripture and other spiritual-type works. I asked a friend of mine who attends another parish in the diocese for her recommendations


 Although I am naturally curious, circumstances, financial or otherwise, have been used as an excuse to focus less and less time in study. Our Church is built on the " three-legged stool": Scripture, Tradition & Reason and more Reason can be gleaned by study.


When I was active in the EfM program, " study" was a part of my routine. Since we lack an EfM group at my parish right now , I've found less time to study anything. This is sad, as I am a lifelong learner but when one does not drive & has limited funds it is a challenge to find opportunities to deepen one's faith through study Ive looked at several books {e-book format}online and saw a cornucopia of selections.


Be well, and may we all be blessed with a holy Lent. .

Las Posadas

 
 We at Small Parish is observing Las Posadas this Advent. Images of the Holy Couple will make their rounds to homes within the parish during Advent. A bit of research  revealed to me today that  traditional Las Posadas is a novena { nine-day prayer period} that starts December 16 and goes through until Christmas Eve Night { December 24} 

Best Dude and I will host the Holy Couple on Tuesday . I am looking forward to this , although both Best Dude and I are not *quite* sure what Las Posadas will look like for us, but we are anticipating this spiritual practice with joy.

One Bread, One Body

I've been on vacation for the past 11 days , and it has been wonderful.

The majority of my time here in Appalachia was spent at my godparents' campground in Ohio. I swam, boated, and hiked all over the place & visited with several friends from high school . One of the highlights of my time at the lake was a long-awaited { 16 years!!} reunion with a friend from First College.

Naturally I took many photos & eventually I will pare down the " best of the best" of the vacation photos for public viewing.

Today I will go to Roman Catholic mass at St Pauls' Roman Catholic Parish here in Steel Town, PA. While it is true that I am a proud Episcopalian, at heart I am a high-Church Anglo-Catholic. As a matter of fact, when I was in the middle of my faith-identity crisis---I {albeit briefly} considered officially returning to the Roman Church. There are a myriad of reasons why I felt led to Anglicanism, but the main reason is our style of worship & other Traditions mirror that of the Roman Church.

Some of my Roman Catholic friends will totally disagree with me, but I feel that Anglican & Roman Catholics ARE different branches of the same Body of Christ. My reasons for choosing the Anglican way over the Roman  had to do with human-made rules.

We are all part of One Bread & One Body.

Amen.

Viva la Papa!{ and yes, I am an Anglican!}

Viva Papa Francis !

I am an Anglican, and very very proud of my Episcopal Church.  I am spiritually " home" as an Episcopalian & will eventually die as one & wish for my life to be celebrated at a high_Church Rock-n-roll Mass. { complete with incense, ringing of bells & chanting of the Psalms}

That being said, the more I learn about Pope Francis I, the more I feel that he is the person to lead the Church Universal. I think that we will  eventually witness a new, more compassionate era in the history of Christianity. I was not a fan of Benedict 16---and I have many reason  which I do not wish to discuss in a public forum. Email me at sarahbethstaugs@gmail.com if you wish to know what my misgivings were about Cardinal Ratzinger's leadership.

                                  Here is one of my favorite photos of the new Bishop of Rome:

I left the Presbyterian Church  mostly in part due to my lack of spiritual fulfilment in their Calvinist worship services. In retrospect I know now that I only stayed as a Presbyterian for as long as I did because it was all I really knew. The Presbyterians baptized & nurtured me as a teen & young adult & I am thankful to them for providing me with that good foundation in Scripture-literacy.

  My father's family are Irish-American Catholics, so { although I never was Roman Catholic by practice] I've grown up with an appreciation of Roman Catholic tradition and {ESPECIALLY} Roman Catholic liturgy. During all my years as a Presbyterian I always thought that Communion was not just as " memorial" of Our Lord's sacrifice. To me, the pomp & circumstance of a Sunday Mass is NOT about any of the people present --it is about glorifying God using the elements given to humanity by our loving Creator. The first time I attended Sunday mass at Small Parish I knew I came HOME & it was a glorious feeling.

 Through my entire existence on Earth I have always struggled with the social positions that are taught as part of Roman Catholic doctrine, as I am of the opinion that God gave us minds for discernment.  my libertarian principles tell me that its moot to try to legalize morality, either by secular or Church legislation.  {Ask my parents how much I do NOT like people making decisions about MY life. }

*Steps off of soap box now*

Anyhow, the Anglican-Catholic that I am sings happy praises in the election of a new Pope.  It is my hope & prayer that he will be a pastor & leader that will bring all branches of the one, holy, Catholic & apostolic Church" together to fulfill God's vision of "shalom".

Amen. Gloria en excelsis Deo!

White Smoke

At the Vatican, white smoke came from the chimney in the Sistine Chapel.

The Bishop Of Rome has a new leader. He is an Argentinian with roots in Europe, speaks four languages and authored several books.

My form of Catholicism is not of the Romish variety, but I do love our Roman Catholic sisters & brothers. I am happy that such a seemingly humble servant of God has been elected to the papacy.

As an American Anglican, I appreciate what my Presiding Bishop said regarding the election of the new " "Papa"

++ Katharine Jefferts-Schori said :

"The Episcopal Church will pray for the new Bishop of Rome, Francis I, and for the possibility of constructive dialogue between our Churches."

Amen, Bishop Katharine. I could not have said my feelings regarding the election of the new Bishop of Rome myself. From what I've read about the new Pope, I am very hopeful.

May God bless the Pope and may the one holy catholic Church work towards reconciliation & becoming more like our LORD, Jesus Christ.

Gloria en excelsis Deo!

Amen.