Community servants
From the DFC: What does "Ecumenical" mean?  
Autumn 2012 "We adore Thee Lord Jesus Christ here and in all Thy churches which are in the whole world, and we bless Thee because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world."
-- Testament of the Holy Father St. Francis
What does being "ecumenical" in today's global society mean? Is it merely about accepting tolerance of others denominations and religions? Is it about finding similarities in those areas, in order that we may show how very much we are alike instead of different? Is it about challenging boundaries of organized church structures or challenging ourselves? |
From the DFC: Making a Difference
Dear Friend- Peace and Good, The other day, as I made my way down one of the hallways where I serve as Administrator for a large senior living community, I overheard two Deacon's coming to visit a member of their congregation, now living with us. One of them said to the other, "You know they have a Communion Service here twice a week." The other asked in reply, "Whose church?" to which the first replied, "I don't care, it’s not Our Church." I admit, I felt a sense of woundedness. From the Chaplain: The Three Knots
Dear Sisters and Brothers, I send you all prayers and blessings for newness of life that not only begins each year, but each new day! While our church calendar begins the new year with anticipation for the nativity of Christ in Advent, we who follow the Gregorian calendar in the western world are conditioned to the New Year being in January. So, it is a season where we find new beginnings. Welcome to the Fellowship Friary!
Fraternal greetings, sisters and brothers! I'm Br. Dick Gray, aka Masseo, the Fellowship Coordinator for the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans. My task is to facilitate face-to-face contact among OEF members, postulants, inquirers and guests in the several roughly-defined regions of our little Order. Our Website and mailing list are vehicles through which we establish initial contact and maintain a virtual fellowship, but an online presence is not enough to make a real community. Even phone conversations don't do the trick. That's why we work so hard to make regional meetings happen. From the Chaplain: "Lord purge our eyes to see"
Lord purge our eyes to see
Within the seed a tree Within the glowing egg a bird Within the shroud a butterfly Till taught by such we see Beyond all creatures thee Christina Rossetti If I had to sum up the single most important spiritual lesson I have been taught, and, I confess, continue to try and remember, it is to pay attention! We say that to our children as a principal in learning, but we forget it as we grow older. Or, we learn to pay attention to distractions and worldly matters, dazzled by the "shiny things." |
