A Tale of Two Churches

 

Merry Christmas from Molly and Me
    It has been over a year since I posted a blog. I have written them and then left them unposted. A little over two years ago autoimmune disease came knocking at my door with a vengeance. At the beginning of October of 2023 my face burned, swelled, peeled and did it all over again for about 8 months. The only thing the doctors could say is that I had chronic hive and needed to reduce stress. The symptoms receded when summer came and I worked as a school custodian for the 4th summer in a row.

    Then as I was returning from my 65th birthday celebration on the coast my chest began to break out. This rash continued until last month, August 2, 2024 to December 10, 2025. Cleaning my diet, cleaning my house, taking allergy test ($1,600 worth), creams, herbs, and a lot of prayer left me exhausted. The past week I found my strength returning.  I decided to find my voice and write again.

    I named this the Tale of Two Churches as I am going through a transition phase. About 15 years ago my family went to the Christmas Eve, Lessons and Carols, service at St. Luke's Anglican church. Three of my children were still home and it was a memorable experience. Ten years ago, when I was looking for a church home in Redding I tried various "Evangelical Churches" at Christmas and felt that the theatrical productions was not where I would find the PEACE of the season. So, I returned to St. Luke's and became a member of the Anglo-Catholic faith.

    2020 was the year that I found how much I loved to study. I earned my bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education with a specialty in teaching children to read. Once that was finished, I threw myself into seminary courses. I studied everything from church history, lives of the Saints, to how to sing Plain Song chant with the Psalms. Meanwhile, I was introduced to the Bible in a Year by Father Mike Schmidt.  At this time I was having a hard time reading as much as I wished with the rash around my eyes. It was great having him read the Bible to me. I had read it myself many times in 65 years, but hearing him and David Suchet read it was very comforting.

    Last year, Father Mike came out with Catechism in a Year. I went through that too. Through this time, I had been growing a devotion to Mary the mother of Jesus as I have published in my blogs. This last year I have gone through The Rosary in a Year with Father Mark-Mary Ames. I got frustrated with the commercial on YouTube and finally signed up for the Ascension App on my phone. Now I have all of these and more without the commercials.

    

A Time to Read
    Once my eyes were cleared up and my glasses updated last Easter I bought myself the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. Around that time my rosary broke, and I bought a new one of those too. Then a few months ago it was announced that my church would be closing. If you have read this far and have not realized that I had been drifting toward the Roman Catholic Church...I saw my line of study as my own road to Emmaus. 

    As I was preparing to attend St. Joseph's Catholic Church I purchased my own Sunday Missal. Then after attending a few weekday Masses I added the Daily Roman Missal. You see, when I was Set Apart as a Deaconess in the Anglican Church I gave the Bishop  my vows of chastity, charity and obedience. As our church is closing he has released me from my vow of obedience to him. One of the things he required was daily reading of scripture and the Office of Morning and Evening Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer. I have not stopped, I just changed my daily devotional books.

Our Lady of New Clairvaux
    For the past 10 years I have spent many Thanksgiving breaks on retreat at Our Lady of New Clairvaux. Even before I began attending St. Luke's Church I fell in love with the beauty of the liturgy and music of the Monks. The past three years I have sought personal guidance from one of the Monks. This year I was able to tell him that I would be proceeding to become a Roman Catholic.
fading Deaconess
    As I was touring the grounds I saw this poster in a window of some of my favorite monks. I took the picture for future reference. Afterwards I noticed my reflection in the window glass. It seemed appropriate as this would be my last visit to the Abbey in the habit of the Anglican Deaconess. They tell me I am still a Deaconess, but I do not know that the Pope is going to acknowledge that, let alone the local diocese. It doesn't matter to me as the title did not change what I do. I will remain providing teaching, charity and obedience wherever God send me to serve.
St. Luke's Advent Wreath

St. Joseph's Advent Wreath

Molly's Advent Wreath




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