Two Presbyterians and a Missouri Synod Lutheran were chatting over a glass of wine...
Greetings and peace to you from St. John's Abbey, and the annual Oblate Retreat in Collegeville, Minnesota.
As you know, I'm here for an ending and beginning. Late this afternoon 50 or so monks, 70 oblates and numerous family and friends will gather in the Abbey Church, for the Vigil of Sunday with the Rite of Final Oblation. At that worship service, I will end my time as an oblate candidate which began in September of 2009 and be received by this community as one of their own.
In the opening conference last evening, the short list of folks making their final oblation was read and we were greeted by the gathered community. While oblates have traditionally been lay people who desire to affiliate with a particular monastery the list read told a different story for the 21st century oblate. Rev. Dr. Teresa Roberts, Rev. Dr. Kathleen Weller, Rev. Dr. Steve Arnold. Hmmmm.
When the social time began, those of us who will make our vows today sought out one another where we learned that the oblate class of 2011 consists of two Presbyterian pastors and one Lutheran pastor emeritus. What is, is something quite different than what folks expect to be. I could hear God laughing. Surely there is a joke in a story that begins: two Presbyterians and a Lutheran meet in a bar!
St. John's is a very open and welcoming ecumenical community that betrays most sterotypes that any of us born before the 1960's have of the Catholic Church. Like most Protestant churches it's changing; holding on to what is vital to its existence and letting go of the 'oughts and shoulds' which at one time seemed important. The oblate class of 2011 is one small example.
One of the things vital for its life is inviting folks to join them in their long faithfulness to The Rule of Benedict and a life shaped by it. As Fr. Eric shared last night: "The world and culture are forceful places, they intrude and try to re-direct our lives, we live in a bombardment of the material world -- and we need to set aside time to confront ourselves, to get back to ourselves, to come back from our drift, to look for the intensity God has placed in our lives, to find a sense of awe in God and neighbor." This is done, Eric contends, by living the Rule which saturates us in Scripture, prayer and compassion for our neighbor and through it we see Christ and we are changed by the experience.
What is it that helps you through the bombardment of the world, each day? How do you come to yourself? Late this afternoon three Protestants (for heaven's sake) are going to agree that we can best do that by living in accordance with a 6th century document called The Rule of Benedict.
Blessings and peace to you, my brothers and sisters. THE CELTIC MONK
As you know, I'm here for an ending and beginning. Late this afternoon 50 or so monks, 70 oblates and numerous family and friends will gather in the Abbey Church, for the Vigil of Sunday with the Rite of Final Oblation. At that worship service, I will end my time as an oblate candidate which began in September of 2009 and be received by this community as one of their own.
In the opening conference last evening, the short list of folks making their final oblation was read and we were greeted by the gathered community. While oblates have traditionally been lay people who desire to affiliate with a particular monastery the list read told a different story for the 21st century oblate. Rev. Dr. Teresa Roberts, Rev. Dr. Kathleen Weller, Rev. Dr. Steve Arnold. Hmmmm.
When the social time began, those of us who will make our vows today sought out one another where we learned that the oblate class of 2011 consists of two Presbyterian pastors and one Lutheran pastor emeritus. What is, is something quite different than what folks expect to be. I could hear God laughing. Surely there is a joke in a story that begins: two Presbyterians and a Lutheran meet in a bar!
St. John's is a very open and welcoming ecumenical community that betrays most sterotypes that any of us born before the 1960's have of the Catholic Church. Like most Protestant churches it's changing; holding on to what is vital to its existence and letting go of the 'oughts and shoulds' which at one time seemed important. The oblate class of 2011 is one small example.
One of the things vital for its life is inviting folks to join them in their long faithfulness to The Rule of Benedict and a life shaped by it. As Fr. Eric shared last night: "The world and culture are forceful places, they intrude and try to re-direct our lives, we live in a bombardment of the material world -- and we need to set aside time to confront ourselves, to get back to ourselves, to come back from our drift, to look for the intensity God has placed in our lives, to find a sense of awe in God and neighbor." This is done, Eric contends, by living the Rule which saturates us in Scripture, prayer and compassion for our neighbor and through it we see Christ and we are changed by the experience.
What is it that helps you through the bombardment of the world, each day? How do you come to yourself? Late this afternoon three Protestants (for heaven's sake) are going to agree that we can best do that by living in accordance with a 6th century document called The Rule of Benedict.
Blessings and peace to you, my brothers and sisters. THE CELTIC MONK
I recently upheld a tradition (though not quite as old as the rule of St. Benedict) by taking the kids out to the Warren Dunes State park. We didn't camp out (as the tradition truly mandates) but we will go back to do so, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteThere's a pretty strong resonance between your last two postings. It seems like your 4th of July lasagne is a memory of a tradition (even if an informal one) which is a positive and affirming place in time to revisit on occasion.
I hope to revisit a few other memories (and traditions) this summer with the kids; we'll continue our "observances" with a trip to White Pines next week.
Love,
-me