Comments on: Prayer Falls Like Rain http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/ The manic mind of the minister -- Auntie Mame Meets Cotton Mather Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:47:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Sophia http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5599 Sophia Fri, 03 Aug 2007 05:29:17 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5599 I love this post. After a CPE summer ministering to mostly Pentacostal and Baptist patients from Harlem and the Bronx, I have learned a great deal about faith and prayer that I could not have learned in my Episcopalian world. Sometimes you just have to drop the prepared and carefully analyzed language and JUST SAY IT already! I love this post.

After a CPE summer ministering to mostly Pentacostal and Baptist patients from Harlem and the Bronx, I have learned a great deal about faith and prayer that I could not have learned in my Episcopalian world.

Sometimes you just have to drop the prepared and carefully analyzed language and JUST SAY IT already!

]]> By: RevDrKate http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5582 RevDrKate Sun, 29 Jul 2007 20:18:45 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5582 Oh Amen to that, Pastor P! PeaceBang, Found my way to you via Mrs. M's comment on Grace-thing's blog. I'm thinking for us Episcopalians, the "we" is good but I find myself wishing we were a bit more willing to be that sure and outspoken in our proclamations of the Spirit. And not worry so much about what the neighbors think. Oh Amen to that, Pastor P! PeaceBang, Found my way to you via Mrs. M’s comment on Grace-thing’s blog. I’m thinking for us Episcopalians, the “we” is good but I find myself wishing we were a bit more willing to be that sure and outspoken in our proclamations of the Spirit. And not worry so much about what the neighbors think.

]]> By: David Kling http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5581 David Kling Sun, 29 Jul 2007 09:48:02 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5581 <b>I’m such a Jesus freak...</b> Ironically I'm listening to "Jesus Freak" by DC Talk. A very catchy song. I just got back from the UU Midwest Leadership School at Beloit College, and that experience was not without much conflict for me. I boycotted the theology lecture twice because of, what I consider, excessive "Us vs. Them" language and I was asked to consider toning down a guided meditation I conducted at my Worship Groups service. Of coursed I didn't tone anything down, and it was very well received. *Sigh* I love "God Language," and I wonder when people are going to be sensitive towards me with their "Atheist Language." I’m such a Jesus freak…

Ironically I’m listening to “Jesus Freak” by DC Talk. A very catchy song.

I just got back from the UU Midwest Leadership School at Beloit College, and that experience was not without much conflict for me. I boycotted the theology lecture twice because of, what I consider, excessive “Us vs. Them” language and I was asked to consider toning down a guided meditation I conducted at my Worship Groups service. Of coursed I didn’t tone anything down, and it was very well received. *Sigh*

I love “God Language,” and I wonder when people are going to be sensitive towards me with their “Atheist Language.”

]]> By: Pastor P http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5535 Pastor P Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:49:36 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5535 Amen, sister. What a beautiful reflection. I was just talking at our little summer worship service last evening about the power of remembering that we can offer blessings, and how much we can renew our own spirits in offering blessings to others. Wouldn't it be great if we all could find a little Sister Chantal in us and spread that glory around? Amen, sister. What a beautiful reflection.

I was just talking at our little summer worship service last evening about the power of remembering that we can offer blessings, and how much we can renew our own spirits in offering blessings to others. Wouldn’t it be great if we all could find a little Sister Chantal in us and spread that glory around?

]]> By: Mrs. M http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5534 Mrs. M Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:54:28 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5534 This is gorgeous. I could use a good visit with Sister Chantal myself. This is gorgeous. I could use a good visit with Sister Chantal myself.

]]> By: Tandaina http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5531 Tandaina Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:22:34 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5531 Ah, Amen. That is perhaps one of the things I find most comforting in my Episcopalian tradition, most of our prayers say "we" and even on days when I'm not sure I believe, I know that "we" do, and that's enough. Ah, Amen.

That is perhaps one of the things I find most comforting in my Episcopalian tradition, most of our prayers say “we” and even on days when I’m not sure I believe, I know that “we” do, and that’s enough.

]]> By: Derek http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5530 Derek Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:22:06 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5530 I know that some will take your experience of prayer as an unfortunate, religion driven, suspension of your critical thinking faculties. (Or at least this is what I anticipate them saying, based on my experience with the hard-core secular humanist types). But I often find that powerful prayer is kindred to both powerful poetry and powerful artwork, and both are not exactly rational. They are both subjective, provocative, emotional and rooted in a kind of very human experience that is not exactly rational. Therefore over thinking the experience misses the point of many of those prayers, poetry, and artwork. I once had an experience VERY simmilar to yours, while visiting a mostly African-American UCC congregation in Ohio that was also about one-third gay/lesbian. It was a baptism of the Spirit in many ways, and an act of compassion for those of us who came to church feeling overwhelmed by the worlds injustices and sufferings. I know that some will take your experience of prayer as an unfortunate, religion driven, suspension of your critical thinking faculties. (Or at least this is what I anticipate them saying, based on my experience with the hard-core secular humanist types). But I often find that powerful prayer is kindred to both powerful poetry and powerful artwork, and both are not exactly rational. They are both subjective, provocative, emotional and rooted in a kind of very human experience that is not exactly rational. Therefore over thinking the experience misses the point of many of those prayers, poetry, and artwork.

I once had an experience VERY simmilar to yours, while visiting a mostly African-American UCC congregation in Ohio that was also about one-third gay/lesbian. It was a baptism of the Spirit in many ways, and an act of compassion for those of us who came to church feeling overwhelmed by the worlds injustices and sufferings.

]]> By: Comrade Kevin http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5528 Comrade Kevin Mon, 23 Jul 2007 05:39:43 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5528 Thank you for such a moving piece, Peace Bang. I remember reading a book by Robert Fulghum called <i>Uh-oh</i> where he discusses his own spiritual awakening. Oddly enough, it came, of all places, in a grocery store in Pocatello, Idaho. As he walked the length of the store, he saw prophetic messages in the otherwise banal and sublime. That story has always stuck out to me because there have been times like you discussed where I have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so powerfully. Mere words cannot express the feeling of calm that washed over me. It doesn't happen all the time, but it happens enough for me to never question its authenticity. Thank you for such a moving piece, Peace Bang.

I remember reading a book by Robert Fulghum called Uh-oh where he discusses his own spiritual awakening. Oddly enough, it came, of all places, in a grocery store in Pocatello, Idaho.

As he walked the length of the store, he saw prophetic messages in the otherwise banal and sublime.

That story has always stuck out to me because there have been times like you discussed where I have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so powerfully. Mere words cannot express the feeling of calm that washed over me.

It doesn’t happen all the time, but it happens enough for me to never question its authenticity.

]]> By: Carmelita http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5527 Carmelita Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:52:48 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2007/07/22/a-lot-of-church/#comment-5527 Way to listen in tongues, sister. Way to listen in tongues, sister.

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