Terrapin Station

Friday Five: Saints

Jan says at RevGals: In a weekly book study I lead, we have been reading and discussing Enduring Grace: Living Portraits of Seven Women Mystics by Carol Lee Flinders, which is about seven saints, even though two of the seven (Mechthild of Magdeburg and Julian of Norwich) are not “officially” saints (as ordained by the Roman Catholic Church). The wisdom of these women connects with me now in a deep way.

I suggest that this Friday Five we look at SAINTS, official and unofficial. “In Catholic theology, saints are a special class of believers who have been canonized. Canonization is the process by which the Catholic Church confers sainthood upon a person based on that person’s special deeds. It is an honor bestowed posthumously. In contrast, the Bible views every Christian as a saint, as someone set apart for God’s work. Ephesians 4:12 teaches that the spiritual gifts are given ‘to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.’ Clearly, the ‘saints’ are ordinary Christians involved in service in the church.” (Read more: http://www.compellingtruth.org/Christian-saints.html#ixzz3fRwXnIry)

1. What do you think of saints? Interesting question. I audited an online class through Seminary of the Southwest on Praying with Celtic Saints. I indicated early on that I felt uncomfortable at the idea of praying to saints, and was redirected to praying WITH them.

2. Who is your favorite saint? Why? I think St. Francis. I came back to the church at a parish by that name and he is very dear to me.

3. What do you imagine the “Communion of Saints” to be? At the funeral mass for a very beloved friend, our rector said in his homily: "we are having communion today with Janet (the deceased) and also with every one of the cloud of witnesses who have gone before. This communion table stretches from here (he indicated the altar) into eternity." So the Communion of Saints is a very, very big table in my mind.

4. Share a quote or a book you like about saint(s).

5. Share a picture relating to a location or to a saint that you have visited or would like to visit.

San Damiano Chapel in Assisi.

Friday Five: Joy

As posted at RevGals by ME (A bit early for those of you who are ahead of me, timewise!)

A few days ago, a very smart RevGal (toast to Ann Kansfield!) put a post on her Facebook page asking her readers to share.

She said, “What’s the thing in your life that makes your heart sing? When do you feel most alive?”

I found answering this/these questions to be extremely evocative, and I invite you to join me. You don’t have to list just one thing, nor do you have to list five. But close your eyes, ponder a bit, and then share.

I purposely do not include an image with this Friday Five. Let your imagination go!

1) I love going to Childhood Music Classes with my granddaughter, Nash.

(this is not Nash in the picture, or me. It's hard to take a picture while participating in this type of thing).

2) I love exercising, which is funny, because I don't do it that often. But when I do, I love the way I feel, the aliveness and the hope.

3) I am lately loving doing new things that are new, and therefore not entirely comfortable. This year I volunteered to help with Vacation Bible School for the first time.

I love acolyting.

I love working with my tomatoes, and smelling the leaves.