Are you Sandra Okulicz who taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Newark? If so, I am a former student (8th grade class of 1976) who would like to say thank you. My name is Erin Collins. If you get this and are open to a conversation, my email is barbarossa39@hotmail.com. Zero pressure. If you are her, sending you HUGE thanks and best wishes.
My theology starts and probably ends with "Emmanuel." God with us. God in us. God of us. And us with, in, and of God. The entire point of communion is that we become one with good and with God--and God becomes one in us. One flesh. We, in an odd and ineffable way, become God's eyes and hands and hearts and wisdom and justice on Earth. And God came for ALL his children. All of them.
Just like feeding all the 5000, not just some elect subset. That event foreshadows the entire meaning of The Lord's Table. We're not just the guests at the altar. We're also the Host. Just as the presence of God is manifest in the bread and the wine, it's made manifest in the People of God...and we open the altar to the world as God opened the altar to the world.
We have no idea how God takes his people into the mansions in his heaven. We know that he takes some through the way of Jesus. We don't even know how God selects and calls people to the way of Jesus, to join in his church. All we know is that he's in every beggar, in every saint, in every sinner, in every prisoner, in every exile, in the baptized, the unbaptized, the Pharisee, the Samaritan. He TOLD us so. So we have no place gatekeeping. We open the door as God, to God, and make "Emmanuel" real. Or we gatekeep--and betray our very core identity.
Yes, Diana, ALL people are God's people! If everyone affirmed this, what a different world it would be. Thank you for your courage and conviction. Thank you for all that you do. I 'attended' by video the Southern Lights. and it was wonderful! Margaret, from the real south, in Queensland, Australia.
As ordained clery, if someone comes forward - feels moved by the Spirit or some experience - to get out of their seat- walk down the church aisle - and put their hands out - I'm putting the wafer or bread in their hands. I'm not asking if they are baptized. And it could even be that the person(s) actually feels more deeply about receiving this bread and wine than others who might have been baptized eons ago and come forward every week without even thinking about what they are doing. When a child is baptized - they are 'entitled' to receive - regardless of age and knowing they don't understand. When getting tiage three or four will understand they are part of a community. Then much later - might understand the meaning -maybe. Jesus never said "do this and remember." He said "Do this and remember." The way we remember is by doing. The Episcopal Church loves to say we welcome everyone....then let there be no requirement to be wselcome at the table.
I'm late to reading this. Sorry. I haven't been able to do more than a cursory look at the replies. But I have three thoughts. If they have already been expressed, my apologies.
1. At the "first communion", Jesus broke the bread and passed the cup to Judas "who would later betray Him".
2. The fire which "engulfed" Moses's burning bush "did NOT consume it".
3. The "First Baptismal Creed" was the focus of my comments on March 17, 2013 (the week before Palm Sunday in that year) when I officiated communion at the Baptist church in California which I served as youth/executive/worship pastor for 17 years:
"The Life that Jesus offers is freely available to
People of every tribe, language, and nation
Whether Jew or Greek, Slave or Free, Male or Female. . .
. . . every cute-cudly-young type and
every old-grizzled-cantankerous retiree."
I led worship that morning, gave the sermon, and officiated at communion. Then I announced that the Senior Pastor and the Board, "a week ago Thursday", had "asked that I complete my term of service here at FBC as of Marc 17th, which is today. They communicated that my style was not one the leaders of the church would embrace going forward."
Thank you so much for your work, Diana.
I am a few years more advanced in age than you. California born and raised.
Your work is helping me in my ongoing effort to understand how and why what I received in my journey of faith was/is so much at odds with what is seen and heard from the church.
On this Pentecost I am grateful for the Word of Life that "flesh and blood has not revealed" but the Father, the Abba-Womb, has revealed by the Fire of the Spirit which is sent to ALL.
It is most encouraging to continue hearing your strong stand of pure faith.. So many years of faulty conditioning in church theology have blinded the eyes of understanding and atrophied the comprehension that communion is the common union we all share as God’s children. Us and them is actually a very good definition of evil, for such thinking takes the sacred nature of creation and chops it up into opposing factions instead of the beautiful goodness of the original mutual love through all and in all, the universal mind in the heart of nature interconnected as one sacred universal truth. My heart joins with your heart in holding the vision of pure faith without compromise.
Brilliant, bold and spot on! ENOUGH with the exclusions and separations, the ins and outs, the haves and the have nots! Your voice is a light on the hill. Keep ‘em coming!
Are you Sandra Okulicz who taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Newark? If so, I am a former student (8th grade class of 1976) who would like to say thank you. My name is Erin Collins. If you get this and are open to a conversation, my email is barbarossa39@hotmail.com. Zero pressure. If you are her, sending you HUGE thanks and best wishes.
My theology starts and probably ends with "Emmanuel." God with us. God in us. God of us. And us with, in, and of God. The entire point of communion is that we become one with good and with God--and God becomes one in us. One flesh. We, in an odd and ineffable way, become God's eyes and hands and hearts and wisdom and justice on Earth. And God came for ALL his children. All of them.
Just like feeding all the 5000, not just some elect subset. That event foreshadows the entire meaning of The Lord's Table. We're not just the guests at the altar. We're also the Host. Just as the presence of God is manifest in the bread and the wine, it's made manifest in the People of God...and we open the altar to the world as God opened the altar to the world.
We have no idea how God takes his people into the mansions in his heaven. We know that he takes some through the way of Jesus. We don't even know how God selects and calls people to the way of Jesus, to join in his church. All we know is that he's in every beggar, in every saint, in every sinner, in every prisoner, in every exile, in the baptized, the unbaptized, the Pharisee, the Samaritan. He TOLD us so. So we have no place gatekeeping. We open the door as God, to God, and make "Emmanuel" real. Or we gatekeep--and betray our very core identity.
Amen! Preach it, sister Diana! Thank you.
Amen!!!
Yes, Diana, ALL people are God's people! If everyone affirmed this, what a different world it would be. Thank you for your courage and conviction. Thank you for all that you do. I 'attended' by video the Southern Lights. and it was wonderful! Margaret, from the real south, in Queensland, Australia.
Thank you , spiritually stretching and enlivening! If we lived this attitude daily the world would be alive with peace and love!
No wonder main line churches are closing left and right - God created all of us and loves all of us - no matter what!
Thanks be to God that All people are God’s people - and that includes me!
As ordained clery, if someone comes forward - feels moved by the Spirit or some experience - to get out of their seat- walk down the church aisle - and put their hands out - I'm putting the wafer or bread in their hands. I'm not asking if they are baptized. And it could even be that the person(s) actually feels more deeply about receiving this bread and wine than others who might have been baptized eons ago and come forward every week without even thinking about what they are doing. When a child is baptized - they are 'entitled' to receive - regardless of age and knowing they don't understand. When getting tiage three or four will understand they are part of a community. Then much later - might understand the meaning -maybe. Jesus never said "do this and remember." He said "Do this and remember." The way we remember is by doing. The Episcopal Church loves to say we welcome everyone....then let there be no requirement to be wselcome at the table.
All people are God’s people. The church is people who declare that and also support all people.
I'm late to reading this. Sorry. I haven't been able to do more than a cursory look at the replies. But I have three thoughts. If they have already been expressed, my apologies.
1. At the "first communion", Jesus broke the bread and passed the cup to Judas "who would later betray Him".
2. The fire which "engulfed" Moses's burning bush "did NOT consume it".
3. The "First Baptismal Creed" was the focus of my comments on March 17, 2013 (the week before Palm Sunday in that year) when I officiated communion at the Baptist church in California which I served as youth/executive/worship pastor for 17 years:
"The Life that Jesus offers is freely available to
People of every tribe, language, and nation
Whether Jew or Greek, Slave or Free, Male or Female. . .
. . . every cute-cudly-young type and
every old-grizzled-cantankerous retiree."
I led worship that morning, gave the sermon, and officiated at communion. Then I announced that the Senior Pastor and the Board, "a week ago Thursday", had "asked that I complete my term of service here at FBC as of Marc 17th, which is today. They communicated that my style was not one the leaders of the church would embrace going forward."
Thank you so much for your work, Diana.
I am a few years more advanced in age than you. California born and raised.
Your work is helping me in my ongoing effort to understand how and why what I received in my journey of faith was/is so much at odds with what is seen and heard from the church.
On this Pentecost I am grateful for the Word of Life that "flesh and blood has not revealed" but the Father, the Abba-Womb, has revealed by the Fire of the Spirit which is sent to ALL.
Yes. "All means ALL"!
It is most encouraging to continue hearing your strong stand of pure faith.. So many years of faulty conditioning in church theology have blinded the eyes of understanding and atrophied the comprehension that communion is the common union we all share as God’s children. Us and them is actually a very good definition of evil, for such thinking takes the sacred nature of creation and chops it up into opposing factions instead of the beautiful goodness of the original mutual love through all and in all, the universal mind in the heart of nature interconnected as one sacred universal truth. My heart joins with your heart in holding the vision of pure faith without compromise.
PREACH IT! You cut to the core of the issue—thank you! Prophetic, courageous, and written with Holy boldness!!!
Communion debate is whether it's a gift or a privilege
Thank you. May the truth you share touch hardened hearts and open the most closed minds!
Brilliant, bold and spot on! ENOUGH with the exclusions and separations, the ins and outs, the haves and the have nots! Your voice is a light on the hill. Keep ‘em coming!