A Personal, Open Letter for those searching for a Faith Community...
Whoever you are, and wherever you find yourself on the journey of faith, you are welcome at All Saints - just as you are - to celebrate with us the goodness of creation and God's never-ending grace.
We live in a time of instantaneous connection, and yet it is easy to feel disconnected - or even isolated. In the era of social media, the communities in which we live are increasingly more easily divided. As a result, today we have an even greater need for a sense of love and connection found through relationship with a faith community.
It seems many of us grew up in denominations and faith traditions with which we can no longer identify. Rather than searching for a new home, we may have chosen to walk away from the church altogether. This happened to me as well, until I found a church home that embraces everyone and demonstrates God's unwavering and universal love for ALL of His children.
"All May, None Must, Some Should" is the unofficial mantra of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church, my new church home. It is a truly special place that proclaims and celebrates the gospel of Jesus in worship and action.
What I have found is a home of faith and warmth where traditions are held because they are guided and united by the power in both the Word of God and in the Presence of God revealed through the Sacraments. This place is where clergy and members recognize all are seen and loved equally in God's eyes and there is nothing prohibiting someone from having an equal place in God's House or at God's Table. You do not have to agree with them to worship together with them. Here sometimes the questions are greater than the answers, and sometimes the question is the answer. Here is where the grace of God trumps the wrath of God, and God's love has the power to redeem everyone. Here is where there are no hard and fast rules of worship except to come as you are because Christ died on the cross to save us, not to mock us.
"All May, None Must, Some Should" - Christ called us to live out the Gospel through ministry, and it is in the Episcopal Church I have found my place to do just that. It is where I can be imperfectly me but perfectly loved by God.
It was then to All Saints where I was led, first through online ministry during the pandemic and then in person. All Saints is a faith community truly embracing and acting upon the mission of sharing God's love with the world.
Okay, maybe my personal faith journey has not been quite that straightforward. Let's connect and find synergies in our stories. Think about stopping by. We will be here when you're ready to take the next step.
Denise D.
We live in a time of instantaneous connection, and yet it is easy to feel disconnected - or even isolated. In the era of social media, the communities in which we live are increasingly more easily divided. As a result, today we have an even greater need for a sense of love and connection found through relationship with a faith community.
It seems many of us grew up in denominations and faith traditions with which we can no longer identify. Rather than searching for a new home, we may have chosen to walk away from the church altogether. This happened to me as well, until I found a church home that embraces everyone and demonstrates God's unwavering and universal love for ALL of His children.
"All May, None Must, Some Should" is the unofficial mantra of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church, my new church home. It is a truly special place that proclaims and celebrates the gospel of Jesus in worship and action.
What I have found is a home of faith and warmth where traditions are held because they are guided and united by the power in both the Word of God and in the Presence of God revealed through the Sacraments. This place is where clergy and members recognize all are seen and loved equally in God's eyes and there is nothing prohibiting someone from having an equal place in God's House or at God's Table. You do not have to agree with them to worship together with them. Here sometimes the questions are greater than the answers, and sometimes the question is the answer. Here is where the grace of God trumps the wrath of God, and God's love has the power to redeem everyone. Here is where there are no hard and fast rules of worship except to come as you are because Christ died on the cross to save us, not to mock us.
"All May, None Must, Some Should" - Christ called us to live out the Gospel through ministry, and it is in the Episcopal Church I have found my place to do just that. It is where I can be imperfectly me but perfectly loved by God.
It was then to All Saints where I was led, first through online ministry during the pandemic and then in person. All Saints is a faith community truly embracing and acting upon the mission of sharing God's love with the world.
Okay, maybe my personal faith journey has not been quite that straightforward. Let's connect and find synergies in our stories. Think about stopping by. We will be here when you're ready to take the next step.
Denise D.