I met an Episcopelican ...

I think God has just given me either a mild rebuke ... or a hug ... I'm not sure which.

As I neared the end of my commute this morning, an ominous-looking full-sized van followed me through all my tortuous turns into the parking lot. I assumed the driver was going to rebuke me for peeling out from a stop sign or some other form of aggressive driving.

As it turned out, however, he had been intrigued by my FiFNA bumper sticker, which loudly proclaims ORTHODOX ANGLICAN. My interlocutor had been raised Orthodox, and is now an Episcopalian (though, he introduced himself by saying "Episcopelican"). He has been heavily involved in the Cursillo movement for a long time, and his wife has held positions of high responsibility within ECW.

As he spoke, I smelled remnants of some of the best cigar smoke I've ever smelled in my life, wafting from the open windows of his E150 van. He asked if I was still an Episcopalian, and what is an Orthodox Anglican. I explained it to him as best I could, outlining FiFNA and ACNA, and most probably confusing him.

He mentioned his close friendships, through Cursillo, with two local (retired) bishops from the state of Michigan. I consider both of the men he mentioned to be radical enemies of the faith. Still, I couldn't help but like George (for that was his name), and his enthusiasm for the faith.

He mentioned that his Rector was in Anaheim, at General Convention. I didn't want to get involved in that discussion! But we parted in peace, mutually wishing God's blessing on each other.

And I am left to ponder the fact that I sometimes simply keep to my "Hooray for our side" attitude, and forget that actual people are involved. People like George.

Inclusive Church Paper Work Blues

TEc's General Convention continues in Anaheim, California. And, as one would expect, some ... umm ... interesting Resolutions have come out of it.

So far, I think D090: Inclusive Church Paper Work is my favourite one.

It is attracting some attention at Anglican blog sites. The comments here are hilarious!

And, so, in tribute to D090, I have written and recorded a new song for you:



The lyrics may be viewed here.

New Episcopal Creed?

As you know, the General Convention of The Episcopal church is meeting now in Anaheim, California. I don't think that they will be (explicitly) re-writing the Creed this time round, but if they did, it might end up a little something like this ...



(H/T: Scott Broadway)

In Case You Needed One More Reminder ...

The Episcopal church is no longer Christian in any meaniful sense.

The Presiding Bishop's Opening Address: Confessional Christianity is a heresy.

Soul of a Man (Chrome Folk Bar-B-Q)

My band, Chrome Folk Bar-B-Q, has acquired a new member. Lauren Garfield is her name, and her voice adds much to the sound of the band.

This song, from a concert we gave on June 26, 2009, shows you what I mean ...




That is me, at right, on lead guitar.

Forgotten Detroit - Remembered Sister in Christ

Can it have been 5 years? She blew into our downtown Detroit Episcopal parish like a mighty wind during the summer of 2003, and that fall she was to have been the Sunday School teacher for my (then) 4th Grade son. But what I didn't know at the time was that the cancer that was to claim her life on June 15, 2004 was already present and active in her body. As it happened, Mary Jo only taught Eliot's Sunday School class one time, but even after knowing him for all of 45 minutes, she was able to "read" his spirit and his faith and give us valuable feedback about God's work in him.

Shortly after the wind of the Holy Ghost swooped down and picked her up into the life of the world to come, a memorial service was held at St. John's, Detroit. The nave was packed, and even though we were early, our family got the last few seats in the balcony. It was a Friday late in June in 2004, and the transom windows on the Epistle side of the nave were cranked open, giving a view of the Detroit skyline.

Throughout the service, in my direct view was the rooftop sign of the now departed Madison-Lenox hotel (see below). I don't know why that image struck me with such force, but it did. I'm a visual kind of a guy. Hotel and sign are both gone now, but are photographically chronicled at a website called Forgotten Detroit. This website makes me cry like the Weeping Prophet, but if you have a strong constitution, or are desirous of weeping with me over the departed glory of my city, by all means, go and have a look.

More Mercury Love

Rachel is not the only one with a lifelong love of a particular Mercury automobile ... I have another such story right in my own family.

We brought home our very first Mercury Meteor almost 15 years ago, the exact same day that we finalized our adoption of our son Eliot. Eliot immediately fell in love with the old black 1963 Mercury, which we named "Mr. Venables" after the Anglican rector in Dorothy L. Sayers' 1934 mystery novel, The Nine Tailors.

Here is Eliot, wrenching on "Mr. Venables", at a very early age:



And, here he is, practicing his driving ...



Time and Michigan winters were not kind to Mr. Venables, however, and he died from "rust cancer". It was one of the saddest days of Eliot's life when we dismantled Mr. Venables and had him towed away ...



But, Eliot's love for this car never faded, and now we are pleased to say that Mr. Venables II, which is Eliot's first car, is now a living, breathing reality, and out on the streets of metro Detroit. Love is love, not fade away ...