Posted on 03/11/2004 10:12:03 AM PST by txlurker
May God bless our President!
This is for real. I called Laura Lefler in Sen.. Alexander's office today, 2/23, and she confirmed that she wrote it and is now overwhelmed with it spreading via the internet. She sent it so several friends and they then put it on its journey. (Larry Hone)
Subject: Bush in church, Very interesting
I'm at the 8:00am service at my church, St. John's Episcopal, at Lafayette Square, across from the White House. (I wanted to go early because I was going with Alice and Brent for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Manassas.)
Much of the service was uneventful--nice, but uneventful--until it comes to the part of the service when the priest says, "Greet one another in the name of the Lord" I turn to my right to exchange the peace with my friend, Amy Fox Smythe, who was was on the other end of my pew. I then shake hands with the person in front of me, and turn around to say hello to the person behind me.
The person behind me was our 43rd President George W. Bush. I am not kidding. A small crowd was forming around him, and not wanting to delay the church service or bother him by waiting to shake his hand, I turned back around and sat down and talked to Amy. About 30 seconds later I felt a hand on my left shoulder and turn around to see President Bush with his hand extended. "Peace of the Lord, " he said and held my hand with both of his. "Peace of the Lord," I replied, and held both his hands and smiled at him.
I turned back around and was remarkably calm about the fact that the most powerful person in the world was sitting two feet behind me. I could hear him flipping through his bulletin as the priest made the announcements. I loved the idea of him thinking, "Oh, there's a covered dish next Sunday." We perched and when I stood up to go to the communion rail, he got up and walked down the aisle behind me.
We passed a little old lady who said, "Mr. President, I pray for you every day." To which he said, "That's a very special gift. Thank you so much." We got to the communion rail and there were two spaces, one in front of us and one around the side of the altar. We both surmised for ten seconds and then I started off around the corner. He stopped me and whispered, "No, no. I'll go around" and motioned for me to take the closer spot.
The only exception made in the entire service was that the President was allowed to leave first and then the rest of the congregation followed.
With all sincerity, and partisanship aside I tell you: This is a special man! There is a peace and a Godliness about him. It radiates from him. It is the only reason that I was able to remain calm. It was more than the adrenaline I've felt when I've met other famous people. A goodness flows through this man.
He has more than my vote in November. He has my respect, my prayers, and my gratitude Whatever your political affiliation, and whether or not you agree with his decisions, you should take comfort in the fact that--despite recent press attacks--this is a man of integrity who makes decisions because he believes that are RIGHT, not popular. He makes these decisions with a heavy heart and through prayer.
I don't mean to go on, and on, but I truly believe this was a blessing from God that should be passed on.
Laura Lefler Office of Senator Lamar Alexander 302 Hart Senate Office Building 202-224-4944
I would be surprised if he didn't observe their rules. It may be that the Episcopalians are like the Lutherans where, as long as one agrees with their beliefs about the communion elements, one is welcome to participate.
The Episcopal Church admits to communion all those who are (1) baptized Christians and (2) eligible to receive communion in their own denomination. So Methodists clearly qualify. And Methodists do not so far as I know forbid their members from receiving in the Episcopal Church. My grandfather-in-law the Methodist minister had no qualms - he attended our wedding and read the lessons and assisted the priest.
Many Episcopalians (mostly the High wing) recognize the Real Presence, but do not enforce the issue as the Catholics do because the Low wing is fuzzy on the question.
And, as I told the sweet blue-haired lady who asked me when I got engaged to my Methodist husband "when I was going to convert" . . . if Charles and John Wesley lived and died Episcopalians, it's probably o.k. for me to, too.
Of course, as it turns out both my husband and I have now left the Episcopal Church for the local Catholics, who don't suffer from the current Episcopal confusion re scriptural and traditional authority, etc.
I'm not Anglican, but I've been to an Episcopal church several times, and the Priest told us that non-Anglicans/non-Episcopalians were welcome to participate in Communion. I suspect the main difference is that the Anglican Church--along with other Protestant denominations--believes that the Church is the body of believers as a whole, whereas the Roman Catholic Church teaches that it is the one Church and that Christians of other denominations may receive salvation, but are not a part of the Church and thus cannot receive Communion.
On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if parts of it were exaggerated a little. After all, my Irish family has never let the truth stand in the way of a good story . . . but there's usually a good strong substratum of truth there!
Do you mean a "ten pound bible" (Ann Coulter's description of Clinton's bible) that would show up well in a photo op? :)
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