Via email:
There were about 35 people there. Numerous folks that had any degree of ties to St. Georges from MANY years ago including those that “have been looking for a church” (possibly read as “not going to church”) since they moved away. Communion for all including those “God seekers” or “seeking God”. Apparently, according to the diocesan administrator, you don’t actually have to be a believer in Christ, just seeking, to participate in communion now. How can you “do this in remembrance of me” if you don’t remember Him yet?
From this I gather that no current, active members of St. George’s have left to attend this “alternate” service.
The cloud of Universalism is set to claim another victim, the Lord’s Supper. Thank God the sun/Son shone on us yesterday.
The “alternate group,” as you call it, is REALLY the church of St. George’s — the ones who did NOT LEAVE the church structure. They are definitely “active members” of St. George’s. You seem to be confused as to who St. George’s is. It most certainly is NOT the group that left the church.
It is interesting that the dissident church finds it necessary to send a spy to the real church forced to meet in a school. The presence of that spy(ies) is not to encourage God’s people, but to be discordant.
I don’t think that anyone was indending to behave in an underhanded manner, Gerry. It’s not illegal to attend a church service. If anyone from the Anglican Church of Canada wants to visit a ANiC service, I’m sure they are welcome at any time.
It is my understanding that they came in disguise (at least the first time), trying to not be recognized. That sounds “underhanded” to me.
The alternate group, I found out today, consisted of about 35 people, very few of whom were active enough parishioners of St. George’s to be able to vote to join ANiC. (In order to vote at vestry, you must be at least 16, have attended regularly for the past six months, and – I think, I may be wrong about this last- have been contributing financially to the church.) So, who is the real parish? People who haven’t been around in years, and all of a sudden decide to show up to this alternate service, or people who have been attending for years, and voted to join ANiC?
In disguise? Nonsense. St. George’s is a rural church, everyone knows everyone else. What is your source for this ‘information’?
Somehow the way “Gerry” speaks is not that of one of the parishioners who did not to want to join ANiC. The absence of ‘our’ or ‘my church’ in the posts would make me suspicious.
Spy? Disguise? Trench-coat and F-150 by Q, and secret decoder ring! Well actually I have one of the latter. I use it to figure out changes made to the ACoC services.
The parishoners worshiping at the schoolhouse on Sunday, were in fact, active, vital and contributing members of St. Georges Anglican Church. We included five former wardens and one warden from the St. Georges church plant in Carlisle. Many have been looking for a church home since being disenfranchised at the former St. Georges. We had wonderful time of worship together. Reading the diatribes and nastiness in this blog has been so saddening and dishonouring to our God. “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another.”
Bruce, most of the ‘diatribes and nastiness’ posted here seems to have originated from the Diocese and Primate. We express our joy that you have found a place for meaningful worship. I just wonder are the services at the church so unacceptable that you have to worship elsewhere? Wasn’t everyone getting along before the vote? From my understanding the form of worship has changed little except that now the priest is licenced in South America. I suspect, although it will be denied, that the Diocese engineered the whole alternate worship scenario and susceptible parishioners followed along.
Bruce, if so many active, vital and contributing parishioners were against joining ANiC, why didn’t they show up at the vestry vote? Could it be because they weren’t entitled to vote because they had left the parish so long ago? Why did you attend the service at Lowville, rather than one of the many other area ACoC churches, if it wasn’t simply to make a point? There are many, many choices for liberal Anglicans in the area looking for a church home. There’s only one St. George’s, Southern Cone.
Reading the diatribes and nastiness in this blog
Where? We work pretty hard to enforce charity, actually.
(later- poor choice of words – I should have said “charitable behaviour”)
Looks like the works of the diocese of Niagara is behind Gerry and Bruce. How Sad.
Brothers and sisters,
Although there may be no resolution to the issues that divide us, we are still all called to love each other. Anything less dishonours our Lord.
As one of the two St George’s Lowville (southern Cone) parishioners to attend the Old Schoolhouse service yesterday, I will add my comments to the fray. Some of the parishioners, and Susan Wells were gracious to me and tried to make me feel welcome. Others seemed very uncomfortable with me being there. These are trying times for all involved. I have no animosity towards them, and I hope that they have none towards me.
The building was a surprisingly nice venue for a traditional Anglican service, with good acoustics. The service was generally consistent with Orthodox theology with the odd item that jumped out at me. The most startling was the invitation that all those seeking a relationship with God were welcome to participate in communion. Revisionist theology has crept in. Are faithful Muslims seeking God welcome to partake in communion at this service? I doubt most of those in attendance would be comfortable with that.
Though I find it untenable to remain in the ACoC, there are faithful Christians who choose to do so. I wish my brothers and sisters in Christ at the Old schoolhouse and throughout the ACoC, God’s richest blessing in their lives.
Thanks Kelvin, I appreciate your comment.
I think that the diocese has found a church willing to share space, one that is more consistent with there revisionist theology. From the DoN press release yesterday:
“The Rev. Susan Wells will be holding an Easter Morning service on Sunday, March 23rd, at Lowville United Church at 11:30.”