Freeper Report from AAC "Plano East" Meeting in Northern Virginia

freepmail, how else? | 9 January 2004 | anonymous freeper on the scene

[ahadams2]

Ok, just come home from the most glorious Festival Eucharist I've been to since "The Holy Spirit" conference in New Orleans, August, 1997. Magnificent.

The procession was several hundred Priests long, and 2 Bishops in attendance: Bishop Duncan and Bishop M'Pango of Tanginika, who attended VTS and was married at Truro Church (by Rt. Rev. John Howe, I believe, well, it was during his time at Truro).

The sermon by Bishop Duncan was on the text of Peter and Jesus walking on the water "and Jesus reached out and helped him into the boat" - that in the same way, the Holy Spirt, Jesus, God - the Trinity are reaching out to us as a group. I heard the doctrine of orthodoxy but not to Griswold or Williams although at the announcement time, Bishop Duncan had 3 announcements one of which was that Griswold and Williams would be iformed of this conference, and the last was "flyover Bishops" that those who want to have Confirmations, or send candidates for Holy Orders, or for Seminarians, these Bishops would be available. Means to us at Church of the Apostles, Truro, Christ the Redeemer, The Falls Church and Church of the Holy Spirit, Dale City, that Confirmation can now proceed without having to invite Bishop Lee! YES!

After the service ended, there was prayer in front for those wishing to receive prayer, and the lobby/narthex was filled with clergy in informal receiving lines welcoming those from their Churches or just those who wished to have a word with them.

I confess that I went for prayer - during the end of the service I realized that I was furious with Bp. Lee for doing this to us - anger that welled up and spilled out of me. Having had a childhood friend who left the Episcopal Church to become a Jewess, sent me the article on Truro Church, Martyn Minns and the Bishop from the Sunday New York Times Magazine section. There was nothing in the envelope with the article - nothing but it might as well have had one that said, "Nah nah nah na!". And it was in this article that I read that Bishop Lee was prodded to take this position by his wife who said, "Peter, do you want to be part of the past, or part of the future?" And ON THIS SCRIPTURAL BASIS of wifely reminders, he based his decision? Oh joy, this just thrilled me to tears. NOT. BTW, the Bishop has gained a significant amount of weight. He has always been trim and fit, and this picture showed a double chin, a puffed face, and a belly! Must be eating to salve the pains of dissension he's feeling, eh?

The article is available online - thank God I saw it before my apostate friend sent it.

Tomorrow, 8:25 AM Morning Prayer starts, then there are panels of 5 - 10 clergy/lay throughout the day.

Interestingly, Martyn nodded in the procession in my direction - I was standing in the narthex, to watch the procession - and saw David Harper who of course never sees anyone except the person's back in front to him. Saw Tom Herrick, vicar from Christ the Redeemer, the Mission Church from Truro - in tough times because of disassociating outselves from Bp. Lee. I have no idea where they got their money to make the Jan. salary budget. Hmm - saw John Guernsey from Dale City, Phil Ashey formerly of Apostles, then Pittsburgh somewhere, is now vicar at South Riding (an entire planned community you've never seen off of Rt. 50 hard to pick a mile marker for you to know where it is, when all you remember is forest, followed by more forest, which is now houses, condominiums, and very expensive tony townhomes and single-family homes, and a golf course designed by someone impressive for very costly club fees.

I plan on taking notes during tomorrow's panel discussions as this is where the ideas of separation will be presented.

I have had a foretaste of Heaven - the service was glorious, the synchronized responses marvelous, and the rafters just rang with the precise "amen's" of about 3000. I would estimate that the place was 75% full, meaning about 3000 in attendance. Parking confirmed this, as busses were required from 3 distant parking/hotel/motel locations! I arrived in time to get one of the last spaces within the confines of the Hylton Chapel parking lots without being in the extended area!

It was a joy to be among so many devout, joyful, orthodox conservative Episcopalians. The Episcopal Church lives!

[ahadams2]

Ping.

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[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP -

[q_an_a]

thanks for your moving story. The Festivals of Faith that are a part of this movement have much the same feel. When you hear there will be one in your area bring your friends. Often devout leaders will share, take questions and do several forms of liturgy during these events.

[msdrby]

ping