Letters
from 1 to 8 February 2004
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'Without
the Fire'
Your
mention of Phos
Hilaron in your commentary brought to mind (and
ear) a setting that I've sung several times in our choir over
the past 20+ years I've been in it. The setting is by Richard
Proulx and the melody is as haunting as the evening often can
be. Since we sing for offertory on Sunday morning, we've taken
liberty with a bit of the lyrics, particularly: 'Now as we come
to the rising of the sun, and our eyes behold the morning light....'
Still works, though, doesn't it?
I
also was reminded of another anthem we've sung. You mention Via
Positiva and Via Negativa, and the words that came
to mind are from a David Ashley White piece called 'Without the
Fire'. The words
by Rae E. Whitney are based on 'a few lines by Thomas á Kempis'.
Basically, without pasting the whole set of lyrics in place,
we're to notice
that 'without the Fire, there is no Burning; without the Cross,
no full Forgiving; without the Grave, no Resurrecting; without
the Light, no Love's Reflecting'. (Go to: http://www.selahpub.com/Choral/ChoralTitles/410-275-WithoutTheFire.html to
view them all.)
As
Christians, we're frequently admonished to have the Joy of the
Lord. Well, sometimes we are joyful. Sometimes not. With Ash
Wednesday approaching in four weeks, we don't like to be reminded
of the more bleak aspects of our Christian walk, and I believe
we wrongly downplay the importance of things such as silence,
meditation, ashes, or an empty tomb. Hopefully, we find a balance
of both the Light and (I'll call it) Shadow. To exclude one,
we wouldn't know the other.
One
of my gripes over the years has been enduring preaching about
how simply splendid one's life will become, and permanently remain
so, if one accepts Christ as Lord and Savior. Yes it can have
its splendid moments, but not to the exclusion of our own crosses
to bear. In Luke (I believe), Jesus tells us to take up our cross
daily. This, of course, reminds me of another bit of music found
this time in the Hymnal 1982: 'Take up your cross, the Savior
said'. 'For only those who bear the Cross, can hope to wear the
glorious Crown'. [Paraphrased as best as my memory allows, since
I don't keep a hymnal at my workplace.]
Gee,
I guess after all those years of sitting in the choir loft, I
managed to actually get the messages in the music!
Bob
Frederick
St Andrew's Episcopal Church
Panama City, Florida, USA
3 February 2004
A
former parishioner seeks a long-ago parish connection
I
was a member of the Emanuel Episcopal Church in Olathe, Kansas,
during my brief stay in Olathe in 1960. While there my wife and
I were
good friends of the priest, Father David Ledford and his wife.
We lost touch after we moved from Olathe. I was told by the [Episcopal
Church] Archives that Father Ledford passed away in 1994. I would
like to contact
his wife, I think her name was Jeannine (Jean?), but my memory
is failing me at my age. I believe that for a period he was
Chaplain
at
Joliet Prison in Illinois.
I
would appreciate it if you could suggest a way in which I could
contact Mrs. Ledford. The biography
sent me by the Archives was quite brief and gave no details.
Please suggest how I might try to find her address.
Oscar
J. Dorr
All Saints Episcopal Church, Winter Park, Florida
Orlando, Florida, USA
ojdorr@earthlink.net
4 February 2004
An
Anglican in Barbados seeks prayer banners (And just
what are they?
ask your AO editors)
Hi
there from the beautiful island of Barbados. I came across your
site when I was searching for a prayer banner for the prayer
group at church.To date, I have not found any and I am hoping
you can help me with some sites I can visit or if you have information
you can email it to me,
Looking
forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
Sharon
Rock
St David's Church
Christ Church, Barbados, WEST INDIES
4 February 2004
If
any AO reader can assist with this, please email
us and we'll
forward your letter to Sharon Rock. Thanks.
A
'Orthodox Anglican' in Massachusetts seeks advice
My
husband and I, Episcopalians (or should I say Anglicans?), have,
following the outcome of events in the ECUSA of the last six
months, aligned ourselves with the theology outlined by the ACC
and NACPD. We are very concerned to see so few (and geographically
spread) fellow Massachusetts Christians listed on the NACPD website
as supporters of orthodox Anglicanism. I see the ACC does list
a Massachusetts chapter; however, includes no contact or web
address.
We
had been attending St Luke's Episcopal Church in Scituate
(myself a lifelong Episcopalian and Steve a convert
from Roman Catholicism) for many years. However, we withdrew
our support when St Luke's embraced the consecration of Bishop
Robinson.
We are feeling isolated, and find not having a parish home spiritually
challenging. We are raising three children, ages 11 to 15,
and feel
it is very important to provide them with a scripturally based
moral and spiritual foundation. Can you provide us with any
direction as to where we go from here? Is there someone whom
we can contact
regarding organization in our area.
Your
friends in Christ, Jan and Steve
Di Tullio
Jan
Di Tullio
?? don't know anymore
Hanover, Massachusetts, USA
sjditullio@comcast.net
4 February 2004
An
Anglican in Malawi seeks 'pen friends'
I
greet you in the name of Jesus Christ. I humbly request your
assistance in locating Anglican pen friends whom I would like
to be communicating
with.
God
bless us.
Yours
Faithfully,
Mac
Donald Ambali
Saint John's Parish (Ndirande), Diocese of Southern Malawi
Blantyre, MALAWI
ambalimac@yahoo.com
5 February 2004
'Are
we making our own rules?'
In
response
to the Reverend Peggy Blanchard about Presiding Bishop
Griswold and Christ's love: I
agree that Christ's love is limitless and he will love you no
matter what you do, like a parent will for their child. But
if a child breaks the rules of the house and does not repent,
the child is punished and disciplined. The
parent always loves the child but cannot permit the child to
make their own rules to live by.
Are
we as Episcopalians making our own rules?
William
F. Bryant Jr
St. Mark's Church
Perryville, Maryland, USA
5 February 2004
Earlier
letters
We launched our
'Letters to AO' section on 11 May 2003. All of our letters are
in our archives.
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