Ship of Fools: Spirit of Grace, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
The Mystery Worshipper
Shipmate
Ship of Fools: Spirit of Grace, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Lutherans and Catholics unite for Ash Wednesday
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Comments
A most fascinating church community - I recommend a visit to their website. Would that all churches were as welcoming, and inclusive!
Are there many churches like this in the US of A? I don't think there are many in this country (UK), although I suppose that, if there were, they would be C of E/Roman Catholic (Lutherans being somewhat thin on the ground around here).
I do know of a few 'shared' church buildings, but that may not necessarily mean that services, and other activities, are shared.
I was thinking (in my insular way) of England, where I believe there are some shared churches, but I agree that Anglicans (in the form of Piskies) are not that common in Scotland.
Many years ago, a new church was built in Aberdeen (St Columba, Bridge of Don?) where the two worship areas (one Church of Scotland, the other Roman Catholic) were joined by shared hall/community facilities, but AIUI the services were conducted separately.
It then became part of the Scottish Episcopal church but has recently parted company from the SEC which is not biblically minded enough for the good sized congregation of St Silas.
Personally I appreciate very much ecumenical contacts but cannot see how the Community of Spirit of Grace can be 100% committed to the local Catholic diocese or bishop. I approve of joint services but not of those which would seek to blur at the edges Catholic doctrine. I have attended a Mass in Germany which was celebrated both by a Catholic priest and a (female) Lutheran pastor. This was very much a one off special event for ,unless one is therefor a special interparochial occasion. It would seem, however, that there is no difference between the celebrations of the Lutheran pastor and the Catholic priest - at least it would seem so. Unless one is actually there it is difficult to say.
However I would send every good wish to those who regularly participate.
I remember, many years ago, attending a joint C of E/RCC Pentecost Eucharist in a village church in Surrey. Come the Eucharistic Prayer, each priest said his own bit (the RCCs used the side altar), with one group waiting politely until the others had done (I can't recall who finished first!)
The RCCs then received Communion from their priest at the side altar, whilst we Anglicans received at the main (nave) altar.
This was a one-off, I know, but it showed what could be done, whilst still obeying the rules of the respective churches as regards Communion.
(Re St Silas, Glasgow, I knew of its reputation, and the fact that it didn't fit in well with the Piskies in general, but I didn't know it had left the SEC).
There does seem to be a "Move over, you silly papist; this is how it's done" air about that.
I agree, and my earlier query was meant to ascertain if there were any similar set-ups (sets-up?) in England, or other parts of the UK.
It was a church built for an English duchess of Argyll and later embellished by the 10th Duke Neil of Argyll. It is used now mainly for RC Sunday Mass and the local Episcopalians have a service about once a month.
A Catholic church in one of the finest settings in Scotland is St Mary and St Finnan just beside the Glenfinnan viaduct (of Harry Potter fame). It is in a Catholic enclave but I came across a Presbyterian baptism being held in the church. I don't know what other use is made of this church by the local Presbyterians.
I too am a Lutheran married to a Catholic, and this community is sacred to me.
As far as we know, we are the only joint Lutheran-Catholic community in the world. We share space, funds, staff, and programs.
Our community is sanctioned by our local archdiocese and our priests are in good standing.
The Catholic Church here has a substantially higher number of those professing adherence than does the Anglican; and then there's a higher attendance rate as well. It's more likely that it would be the Catholic priest trying to take precedence!
(Were that to be the case they could hardly be called joint Lutheran-Catholic for both groups would have disappeared and replaced by one new unit.)
We live in a world which is divided by language, culture ,statehood, gender, religion and forms of the same religion. Those who seek to bring us together can be seen as the Peacemakers who are recognised as Children of God.
Your community are bridge-builders trying to link two sides of understanding. A bridge often goes over water and for you that water is the water of baptism which you both share.
My initial reserve was because It was not clear to me how the Catholic side was integrated to the wider Catholic Church. We are all individuals called individually and recognised individually by God, but for a Catholic, to be a Catholic, it is integral to the faith that one is linked in communion with the local Catholic bishop, recognised as such by the wider Church.
What I find sad is that the same arrangement is NOT so far established elsewhere, but maybe, in God's good time, it will be...