Anglican Tea Room! (church, atheist, agnostic, bible, worship)

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

Well, not really. Sorry. Just trying to attract attention.

So, are there any other Episcopalians/Anglicans around here? Terry W., and Loaves and Fishes, are you still around? Shall we start a fellowship thead?

Certainly don't want to leave anyone with the impression that we're all worship and no fun!

cheers,
luna

Are visitors welcome? I don't think I ever knew Loaves and Fishes, but Terry is one of my all-time favorite people. I even started a thread once to say how much I like him. Is he still posting?

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Are visitors welcome? I don't think I ever knew Loaves and Fishes, but Terry is one of my all-time favorite people. I even started a thread once to say how much I like him. Is he still posting?

Hi Katzpur, nice to meet you. I noticed your posts when I first joined, glad you are back. I've admired Terry's posts but he has not seemed to be around much lately. L & F was here just briefly, have not seen him back. Guess there are just not too many of us here.

Anyway, I think visitors are welcome as long as the conversation is about the Episcopal Church or Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church is part. But, as I said to buttons, unfortunately my thread title here is a bit too broad. Anyway, since I lured you in here I'll send you something other than beer, as I know you don't drink. Actually I don't either, but there's nothing like Free Beer to attract a crowd!

Thank you for stopping by, and if I can answer any questions about the EC or AC please do let me know.

cheers,
luna

[lunamoth]

*Ahem.*

For those of you who are confused by the above posts in comparison to the title of the thread, please note the the title was rightly changed at my request to reflect the proper decorum for an Anglican Communion fellowship thread. The former title "Free Beer," upon reflection, is more suitable for a fraternity party than a gathering of thoughtful Christians. It was also noted that some of our guests were underage and so the serving of alcohol, besides being corruptive, was illegal. Ooops. (A and A, I expect you to pour those beers down the toilet).

So, we shut down for renovation and have re-opened under a new Title, if not new management. So, welcome to the Anglican Tea Room; let's raise our cups in good cheer!

"More tea!"

cheers,
lunamoth

[lunamoth]

hello?

*sigh*

[evearael]

Well, I'm not Episcopalian, but I was married in an Episcopalian church by one of the most genuinely good people I have ever met.

What is the major emphasis in Episcopalian doctrine?

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by evearael

Well, I'm not Episcopalian, but I was married in an Episcopalian church by one of the most genuinely good people I have ever met.

What is the major emphasis in Episcopalian doctrine?

Hi evearael, so nice of you to stop in. Thank you for the nice comment about being married in an Episcopal Church, and for your question. I've got to run to make dinner right now but I will return later!

In the meantime, what kind of tea do you like? We have quite a selection...

luna

[evearael]

Earl Grey, please! Take your time.

*sets small gift of Godiva down on coffee table for the hostess*

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by evearael

Earl Grey, please! Take your time.

*sets small gift of Godiva down on coffee table for the hostess*

Oooo, you are a woman after my own heart. Earl grey and Godiva, a heavenly combination!

*pours steaming Earl Grey for evearael* *opens Godiva and offers one*

Now, what were we talking about? Oh yes. Thank you for the question. However did you guess that I was getting lonely down here at the quiet end of the forum?

I'd say that the major emphasis of Episcopalian doctrine is the Trinity, and specifically the expression of the Trinity as a relationship of love. Perfect love flows between the three persons of the Trinity, and that love flows to and through us to the rest of the world. The Trinity is viewed as the experience of the first Christians, and we particpate in it and are transformed by it when we follow Christ, believe in Him and practice the love commandments (the Summary of the Law and the New Commandment, to love each other as He loves us).

The Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed are the statements of our basic beliefs about God. We are a liturgical (worship using rites, a sacred reading of Scripture) and sacramental church. The two main sacraments are Baptism (thus we are born again) and the Eucharist.

There is a very wide rangeof other doctrinal beliefs among Episcopalians and we don't tend to go around trying to nail each other down on these. The main thing that unites us is the Book of Common Prayer, which outlines the Rites of Worship, the Catechism, prayers, Sacraments etc.. Even though there is a very wide range of expression of beliefs among Episopalians, from 'high church' (incense and bells, much like a Catholic Mass) to 'low church' (much less formal), and wide range of views from very conservative to very progressive (think Crossan and Spong), when we worship we are in unity and harmony.

I'm sure that if you wanted all the details of Epsicopalian belief and worship you'd know how to find it, so I'm happy here to just give you my simple impressions and why I like it so much. I have to add along these lines that some of the things I love about the Epsicopal Church are that we welcome all baptized persons of any denomination to partake in Eucharist with us, and everyone baptized or not can of course attend all worship services. I like it that I never hear politics from the pulpit, not that Piskies don't have their very strong and widely varying political views. I like it that we have women Priests, and I like it that we do not sweep our gay members under the rug. It may be messy and far from resolved, but we are grappling with the issues of gay marriage and gay Bishops, and trying to carry out the will of the Holy Spirit in this area. I like it that we have a mystical tradition, one that many of us might try to ignore, but one that is just as rich as any Eastern meditation tradition. I like it that we're somewhere in between Catholcism and Protestantism, just like me.

Now, let's hope some other Episcopalians and Anglicans come around and correct anything I might have said that is off base.

Thank you for the opportunity to write some of this out! Please come by again. The tea is always hot.

luna