The Church
is not s country club. It's a hospital. It exists for the healing of people for whom God created, loves, and died an agonizing death for.
The Church is to be a welcoming organism, a place of love, fellowship, and healing.
What an awesome thing it is--that our God loves each of us and wishes to be in close fellowship with us. And that He has made the means. His will is that each of us be forgiven and reconciled to Himself, and fully restored.
We celebrate Him and that reality tomorrow morning here at the hermitage as the worshipping community of Chapel of St. Francis. Welcome.
br. francis
Saturday, June 30, 2007
In the player
Rush, Exit Stage Left. Neil Peart is one of the best (if not THE best) rock drummer in the world. Great CD. One to add to your collection, if it's not already there. Enjoying Lifeson's incredible guitar work on La Villa Strangiato.
Just put the new Rush CD on. Incredible. Another must-have.
Hope to see you here tomorrow morning for Eucharist, fellowship, and lunch.
Peace to you.
br. francis
Rush, Exit Stage Left. Neil Peart is one of the best (if not THE best) rock drummer in the world. Great CD. One to add to your collection, if it's not already there. Enjoying Lifeson's incredible guitar work on La Villa Strangiato.
Just put the new Rush CD on. Incredible. Another must-have.
Hope to see you here tomorrow morning for Eucharist, fellowship, and lunch.
Peace to you.
br. francis
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Reredos
A reredos is the wall behind an altar. It usually has some kind of ornamentation or icons, and helps to set the wall behind the altar apart from the rest of the room, and thus helps to direct the eyes of the worshipper to the cross and to God.
We have two altars at Mercy House--one in the Bonny Room (Oratory of St. Bonaventure, which is our chapel/library/music room), that has our Reserved Sacrament. The Bonny Altar has part of a beautiful reredos of wood which was made in Germany in the 1800's (the entire piece won't fit--there's not enough room). Morning and Evening Prayer is usually prayed in front of this altar, over which hangs a San Damiano cross.
The other altar, in the living room, is where the Chapel of St. Francis parish worships in Eucharist on Sundays and Wednesdays. Until last weekend, the Celtic cross sat on the altar. I mounted a shelf above the window which is over and behind the altar, and sat the Celtic cross on it. Now we begin putting together our reredos for the main altar--and I'm excited. We've decided to mount icons, not unlike our brethren in the Eastern Church. The icons will be mounted under the cross and above the window in the general order the Eastern Church does it. We already have a Christ icon and Mary with the Christ-child icon, and this particular one that Sr. Clare brought over this morning is called "Theotokos 'Of the Sign'". My intention is to have them up today before Eucharist. Also, we'll eventually have a St. Antony and a St. Francis. The St. John the Beloved by Br. Luke will be on the wall to the left of the altar, over Athalia the cockatiel's room, and a Holy Trinity icon will be mounted on the wall to the right of the altar (because we are now The Communion of the Holy Trinity).
We have two large icons in the Bonny--Christ, and Mary with the Christ-child. We'll add a Holy Trinity icon in there, too.
I'm excited! Now I need to get busy mounting these icons and get to my homework. :)
We welcome you to join us tonight at 7 for fellowship, Eucharist, and class. Topic: stem cell research, a Biblical look.
br. francis
A reredos is the wall behind an altar. It usually has some kind of ornamentation or icons, and helps to set the wall behind the altar apart from the rest of the room, and thus helps to direct the eyes of the worshipper to the cross and to God.
We have two altars at Mercy House--one in the Bonny Room (Oratory of St. Bonaventure, which is our chapel/library/music room), that has our Reserved Sacrament. The Bonny Altar has part of a beautiful reredos of wood which was made in Germany in the 1800's (the entire piece won't fit--there's not enough room). Morning and Evening Prayer is usually prayed in front of this altar, over which hangs a San Damiano cross.
The other altar, in the living room, is where the Chapel of St. Francis parish worships in Eucharist on Sundays and Wednesdays. Until last weekend, the Celtic cross sat on the altar. I mounted a shelf above the window which is over and behind the altar, and sat the Celtic cross on it. Now we begin putting together our reredos for the main altar--and I'm excited. We've decided to mount icons, not unlike our brethren in the Eastern Church. The icons will be mounted under the cross and above the window in the general order the Eastern Church does it. We already have a Christ icon and Mary with the Christ-child icon, and this particular one that Sr. Clare brought over this morning is called "Theotokos 'Of the Sign'". My intention is to have them up today before Eucharist. Also, we'll eventually have a St. Antony and a St. Francis. The St. John the Beloved by Br. Luke will be on the wall to the left of the altar, over Athalia the cockatiel's room, and a Holy Trinity icon will be mounted on the wall to the right of the altar (because we are now The Communion of the Holy Trinity).
We have two large icons in the Bonny--Christ, and Mary with the Christ-child. We'll add a Holy Trinity icon in there, too.
I'm excited! Now I need to get busy mounting these icons and get to my homework. :)
We welcome you to join us tonight at 7 for fellowship, Eucharist, and class. Topic: stem cell research, a Biblical look.
br. francis
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Morning Prayer
Morning Prayer has been at 7am Tue-Fri here at the hermitage for a few weeks now, allowing me the opportunity to sleep in a bit on Mondays, and then pray. Not so now.
Work begins earlier for me now on Monday and Tuesday, so Morning Prayer must now begin earlier on those days. So we now invite you to pray Morning Prayer with us Monday and Tuesday at 6 am, and Wed-Fri at 7 am (except holidays).
We still have good coffee and can make a good, hot cup of tea, if you'd like. We confess and receive forgiveness for our sins, read Scripture together, pray liturgically and extemporaneously, and observe saints' days.
We welcome you. Dress is, of course, casual. We are reverent yet relaxed.
br. francis
Morning Prayer has been at 7am Tue-Fri here at the hermitage for a few weeks now, allowing me the opportunity to sleep in a bit on Mondays, and then pray. Not so now.
Work begins earlier for me now on Monday and Tuesday, so Morning Prayer must now begin earlier on those days. So we now invite you to pray Morning Prayer with us Monday and Tuesday at 6 am, and Wed-Fri at 7 am (except holidays).
We still have good coffee and can make a good, hot cup of tea, if you'd like. We confess and receive forgiveness for our sins, read Scripture together, pray liturgically and extemporaneously, and observe saints' days.
We welcome you. Dress is, of course, casual. We are reverent yet relaxed.
br. francis
Friday, June 22, 2007
Hindsight
is always 20/20. And the grass isn't always greener. How true this is, we all know.
Shirley and I married and moved here to OKC 7 months ago--with no jobs. We both left good jobs in Houston to come here--I in driving and radio and Shirley in banking. Family members and friends were, understandably, concerned about that. It is preferable to have employment secured before moving to another place. But we felt that God led us to do exactly what we did--so we did it. Not that I didn't try--I've worked in radio in the Houston market and outlying area for 24 years, so I sent out air checks and resumes before we moved, thinking I would get a bite. I haven't as of yet. (I haven't given up--and I'm still tracking on an internet Southern Gospel station out of Houston, the Gospel Hiway, 4-7 am. I used to do a midday show there and assisted in formatting the station for a few years--but of course I want on here. God's timing.) The grass that is greener, though, isn't the jobs we left in H-town--it's one I had here.
I worked a job in the hospitality industry not long after we got here, at a hotel, but I needed more hours. So I took another job at an eating establishment that paid better, offered more hours--but that ended up being awful. Let's skip the details--it was just a bad gig. Should have kept the hotel job--but as I wrote earlier, we can't always see the truth until we look back. Shirley and I were then offered to cook and wait on folks at another food place, a chain. The pay is less but the people are better to work with, and we usually get to work the same hours. (Sad that sometimes people who aren't Christians are easier to work with than Christians--that should say something to us.) We have applied and thrown out resumes and we have continued to pray.
And God answered this morning. The manager of the hotel I worked at called this morning and offered my old job back--with more hours and a raise. Praise Him! I really enjoyed that job, and I'm thrilled to have it back. He will answer and provide Shirley with a better gig soon, we know.
I write all this as an encouragement. Jesus said that we should pray at all times and not lose heart, and that if we put first His kingdom and His righteousness, He would provide all we need.
Thank you Lord. If we can be in prayer with you in anything, email me at br.francis@yahoo.com.
br.francis
is always 20/20. And the grass isn't always greener. How true this is, we all know.
Shirley and I married and moved here to OKC 7 months ago--with no jobs. We both left good jobs in Houston to come here--I in driving and radio and Shirley in banking. Family members and friends were, understandably, concerned about that. It is preferable to have employment secured before moving to another place. But we felt that God led us to do exactly what we did--so we did it. Not that I didn't try--I've worked in radio in the Houston market and outlying area for 24 years, so I sent out air checks and resumes before we moved, thinking I would get a bite. I haven't as of yet. (I haven't given up--and I'm still tracking on an internet Southern Gospel station out of Houston, the Gospel Hiway, 4-7 am. I used to do a midday show there and assisted in formatting the station for a few years--but of course I want on here. God's timing.) The grass that is greener, though, isn't the jobs we left in H-town--it's one I had here.
I worked a job in the hospitality industry not long after we got here, at a hotel, but I needed more hours. So I took another job at an eating establishment that paid better, offered more hours--but that ended up being awful. Let's skip the details--it was just a bad gig. Should have kept the hotel job--but as I wrote earlier, we can't always see the truth until we look back. Shirley and I were then offered to cook and wait on folks at another food place, a chain. The pay is less but the people are better to work with, and we usually get to work the same hours. (Sad that sometimes people who aren't Christians are easier to work with than Christians--that should say something to us.) We have applied and thrown out resumes and we have continued to pray.
And God answered this morning. The manager of the hotel I worked at called this morning and offered my old job back--with more hours and a raise. Praise Him! I really enjoyed that job, and I'm thrilled to have it back. He will answer and provide Shirley with a better gig soon, we know.
I write all this as an encouragement. Jesus said that we should pray at all times and not lose heart, and that if we put first His kingdom and His righteousness, He would provide all we need.
Thank you Lord. If we can be in prayer with you in anything, email me at br.francis@yahoo.com.
br.francis
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Thoughts
We are called to "be" as Christians, before we are called to "do". What do I mean? God wants us to be at peace in Him, surrendered in Him, and submitted to Him, first. We are to be who we are in Christ. Then we are to be about doing the work of being a Christian in the midst of this world.
At times, we will experience opposition from the world when we "are," and when that necessarily spills over into what we do. A monastic principle applies here: we answer to no man (or woman). We answer only to God.
Let that be a comfort to you as it is to me.
br. francis
We are called to "be" as Christians, before we are called to "do". What do I mean? God wants us to be at peace in Him, surrendered in Him, and submitted to Him, first. We are to be who we are in Christ. Then we are to be about doing the work of being a Christian in the midst of this world.
At times, we will experience opposition from the world when we "are," and when that necessarily spills over into what we do. A monastic principle applies here: we answer to no man (or woman). We answer only to God.
Let that be a comfort to you as it is to me.
br. francis
Class tonight
Our class tonight was good, but controversial. We discussed the sacrament of holy orders, or ordination. Our position is that the Scriptures teach that men should be bishops and priests/presbyters, and that men and women may serve as deacons. We note the example of Phoebe as a deacon in Romans 16. We note that the teaching of the Church Fathers and the councils affirm that the apostolic teaching and the consensus of the early church was for men bishops and priests. We also note that the ancient Celtic Church ordained women deacons, and that the Church has had, throughout its history, women abbots, or abbesses, or prioresses, and prophetesses. We see that Scripture has examples of women judges, prophetesses, and the apostle Paul noted women praying in church, a practice that would not have been accepted in his day. We agree that women may teach and pastor, while not holding the offices of priest or deacon. We also noted that women were the first to believe and to witness to the resurrection of our Lord. And we affirmed the teaching of the apostle Peter of the priesthood of all believers.
Next week we will discuss the hot topic if stem cell research and the Biblical position. Soon we will have a "teaching mass" that will double as a practicum for me. You are welcome, if you're in the area.
br. francis
Our class tonight was good, but controversial. We discussed the sacrament of holy orders, or ordination. Our position is that the Scriptures teach that men should be bishops and priests/presbyters, and that men and women may serve as deacons. We note the example of Phoebe as a deacon in Romans 16. We note that the teaching of the Church Fathers and the councils affirm that the apostolic teaching and the consensus of the early church was for men bishops and priests. We also note that the ancient Celtic Church ordained women deacons, and that the Church has had, throughout its history, women abbots, or abbesses, or prioresses, and prophetesses. We see that Scripture has examples of women judges, prophetesses, and the apostle Paul noted women praying in church, a practice that would not have been accepted in his day. We agree that women may teach and pastor, while not holding the offices of priest or deacon. We also noted that women were the first to believe and to witness to the resurrection of our Lord. And we affirmed the teaching of the apostle Peter of the priesthood of all believers.
Next week we will discuss the hot topic if stem cell research and the Biblical position. Soon we will have a "teaching mass" that will double as a practicum for me. You are welcome, if you're in the area.
br. francis
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
Life is interesting
I don't think any of us will deny that. Life, to me, is never boring. God is good. There are times I wish He would make people be good, too. Then I think twice about that--and realize that I would rather have people choose to do right, rather than it be a forced thing.
I am blessed in my life. I have a wonderful new wife (married her 7 months ago), we have a great church, and I am looking forward to serving as a priest. There is a couple of things, however, that I would like to change. One of them depends on another person choosing to do the right thing and to cease doing evil. I believe our God is long suffering, and that He still does miracles, but He will never force us to do anything against our own will. There are times in our lives when we can be sure that circumstances will never change, and then we must make a decision. I am purposely being vague here--some will know what I am referring to, and you who do not will still be able to use this (I hope) in your own life.
When we are relatively sure that circumstances will not change in a particular situation, here's a couple of things for consideration:
1) We must always stand against evil
2) We must protect our families from evil the best we can
3) When others wish to perpetuate evil against our family, and persist in doing so, we must, as Christians--take steps to stop it (doing nothing evil or illegal ourselves), or, if that is not possible, distance ourselves from them as much as possible
I have been dealing with an evil perpetuated against me for 7 years now. There is only one legal and moral thing I can do to stop it, and I believe this must be my course of action.
Sometimes we must choose to do the thing we do not want to do. Yet, our wives and families must come before all else in the world. When we are needing to make decisions like this, we know that our God is with us.
I welcome your comments and dialogue.
blessings,
br francis
I don't think any of us will deny that. Life, to me, is never boring. God is good. There are times I wish He would make people be good, too. Then I think twice about that--and realize that I would rather have people choose to do right, rather than it be a forced thing.
I am blessed in my life. I have a wonderful new wife (married her 7 months ago), we have a great church, and I am looking forward to serving as a priest. There is a couple of things, however, that I would like to change. One of them depends on another person choosing to do the right thing and to cease doing evil. I believe our God is long suffering, and that He still does miracles, but He will never force us to do anything against our own will. There are times in our lives when we can be sure that circumstances will never change, and then we must make a decision. I am purposely being vague here--some will know what I am referring to, and you who do not will still be able to use this (I hope) in your own life.
When we are relatively sure that circumstances will not change in a particular situation, here's a couple of things for consideration:
1) We must always stand against evil
2) We must protect our families from evil the best we can
3) When others wish to perpetuate evil against our family, and persist in doing so, we must, as Christians--take steps to stop it (doing nothing evil or illegal ourselves), or, if that is not possible, distance ourselves from them as much as possible
I have been dealing with an evil perpetuated against me for 7 years now. There is only one legal and moral thing I can do to stop it, and I believe this must be my course of action.
Sometimes we must choose to do the thing we do not want to do. Yet, our wives and families must come before all else in the world. When we are needing to make decisions like this, we know that our God is with us.
I welcome your comments and dialogue.
blessings,
br francis
Thursday, June 14, 2007
June 14, 2007
Oblate Andrew has been here from Houston at Mercy House this week. It's been nice to add another to our group for Morning Prayer in the Bonny this week. Shirley and I have taken him to Poblano's Mexican, Jimmy's Egg, the lake, and given him a partial tour of OKC. Yesterday Shirley, he and I visited St. Elijah's Orthodox Church (Antiochan) and had a great time with Fr. Basil there. He showed us the Nave and explained everything, we discussed liturgy, form and function, and had great fellowship with him. Thank you, Father. We felt welcomed and affirmed and we enjoyed it very much. What a beautiful facility! And they have a very cool bookstore, too. We'll go back and pick up a couple of books very soon, I'm sure. (Everybody likes the incense we purchased there a couple of months ago. I don't think anybody makes better incense than the Eastern Church.)
Our Chapel of St. Francis fellowship, Eucharist, and class was very good last night, as well--we discussed the sacrament of Matrimony or Marriage. We had a full room, and I, of course, was very happy with that. :) Next week we finish the sacraments with Holy Orders or Ordination. My presentation to the group before Bishop/Abbot Jim teaches is part of my seminary study and training. It will be interesting to see where we go from here in our study/discussion. Join us if you don't have a church home, or if you have one on Sunday and you'd like something different and a class during the week. Our focus is Jesus, the Scriptures, and what the ancient Church believed and practiced--and why.
Email if we can pray for you or be of help to you.
Blessings,
br. francis
Oblate Andrew has been here from Houston at Mercy House this week. It's been nice to add another to our group for Morning Prayer in the Bonny this week. Shirley and I have taken him to Poblano's Mexican, Jimmy's Egg, the lake, and given him a partial tour of OKC. Yesterday Shirley, he and I visited St. Elijah's Orthodox Church (Antiochan) and had a great time with Fr. Basil there. He showed us the Nave and explained everything, we discussed liturgy, form and function, and had great fellowship with him. Thank you, Father. We felt welcomed and affirmed and we enjoyed it very much. What a beautiful facility! And they have a very cool bookstore, too. We'll go back and pick up a couple of books very soon, I'm sure. (Everybody likes the incense we purchased there a couple of months ago. I don't think anybody makes better incense than the Eastern Church.)
Our Chapel of St. Francis fellowship, Eucharist, and class was very good last night, as well--we discussed the sacrament of Matrimony or Marriage. We had a full room, and I, of course, was very happy with that. :) Next week we finish the sacraments with Holy Orders or Ordination. My presentation to the group before Bishop/Abbot Jim teaches is part of my seminary study and training. It will be interesting to see where we go from here in our study/discussion. Join us if you don't have a church home, or if you have one on Sunday and you'd like something different and a class during the week. Our focus is Jesus, the Scriptures, and what the ancient Church believed and practiced--and why.
Email if we can pray for you or be of help to you.
Blessings,
br. francis
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Saturday, June 9
Usually, I get up and do Morning Prayer by myself, or with another person from our monastic order. Shirley and I usually pray the Bedtime Prayers or Compline from the St. Augustine Prayer Book and then have a time of extemporaneous prayer together.
This morning, Shirley and I did Morning Prayer together and read a little about Abbot Columba and prayed the collect in Lesser Feasts and Fasts. It was a good prayer time.
And we're keeping Br. Shorty, our Order dachshund this weekend, while Sr. Clare (his human) does prison ministry. We thought we were going to lose Shorty recently, but the Lord chose to heal him and so he gets to hang around with us still. And that's cool. Shorty was there with Clare at the beginning with Abbot Jim, Sr. Sarah, and Br. Luke when the Order began ('96?) and he was made an honorary brother when everybody else took their vows. He shows us how to live.
Shirley and I are about to take him to the park. Come worship with us tomorrow and meet Shorty.
br. francis
Usually, I get up and do Morning Prayer by myself, or with another person from our monastic order. Shirley and I usually pray the Bedtime Prayers or Compline from the St. Augustine Prayer Book and then have a time of extemporaneous prayer together.
This morning, Shirley and I did Morning Prayer together and read a little about Abbot Columba and prayed the collect in Lesser Feasts and Fasts. It was a good prayer time.
And we're keeping Br. Shorty, our Order dachshund this weekend, while Sr. Clare (his human) does prison ministry. We thought we were going to lose Shorty recently, but the Lord chose to heal him and so he gets to hang around with us still. And that's cool. Shorty was there with Clare at the beginning with Abbot Jim, Sr. Sarah, and Br. Luke when the Order began ('96?) and he was made an honorary brother when everybody else took their vows. He shows us how to live.
Shirley and I are about to take him to the park. Come worship with us tomorrow and meet Shorty.
br. francis
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