Ecublog post by Elizabeth Felicetti, seminarian with an ecumenical bent

Yesterday was fall break Sunday, so instead of assisting at my Episcopal field education site, I had a FREE SUNDAY (these will be even more rare after I am ordained!), and decided to spend it with the Lutherans with whom I underwent an ecumenical internship last summer.

This proved to be an outstanding choice, as it was Reformation Sunday, with special readings, including Psalm 46, on which Luther based his famous hymn "A Mighty Fortress." My husband (a Lutheran) and I were treated to an outstanding sermon, which pointed out that Lutherans are not the only denomination to emphasize grace...

When I called my parents in Arizona to tell them about my day, they teased me for the eleven millionth time that I am surely going to "convert" to Lutheranism. Clearly I am not doing a good job teaching them about ecumenism and Christian unity...I told them my dream would be to find a call that would be some sort of joint ministry, but they couldn't figure out how that would work.

As fall break draws to a close, I find myself anticipating my next paper: a comparison of the muscial theologies of Lutherans and Anglicans at the time of the Reformation...

EcuBlog posted by Mitzi Budde: What are your plans for January 29 - February 1, 2007?

I've just returned from a planning meeting for the National Workshop on Christian Unity. This exciting ecumenical eevent will be held at the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel in Rosslyn, just across the Key Bridge from Washington, D.C. January 29 - February 1, 2007. Register NOW online at www.nwcu.org. Some highlights include the opening worship service at the Washington National Cathedral on Monday evening, January 29, eight seminars each day on critical ecumenical issues, meetings of denominational ecumenical leaders, and ecumenical worship services. Most importantly, this will be an extraordinary opportunity to network with ecumenical leaders from around the country and from multiple denominational traditions.

John Crossin and I will teach a consortium course, "The Future of Ecumenism," in conjunction with the Workshop in the third quarter of 2007. The course will meet once per week on Thursday mornings; the first session will be at the National Workshop on Thursday, February 1. For more information, contact me at mjbudde@vts.edu.

Friends:

Last week I had the opportunity to stop in at
Howard University School of Divinity for the 5:30 PM
prayer. There was a mixed crowd of students and faculty gathered
in the Chapel.

Much to my surprise and delight, a trustee of the Consortium
the Rev. Robin Franklin-Vaughn was the preacher. She is the Episcopal/Anglican/Lutheran
chaplain at Howard University.

Her title shows the results of the ecumenical movement--she holds a combined position for the churches.

The point of her sermon that I recall now is that we all need a healing community. In particular, those who suffer divorce need that understanding to help them in difficult moments. And it is precisely in such moments that communal bonds are often severed. A point to ponder.

Hope all goew well as we are in the 'midterm' season.

Peace,
John

Friends:

Time to go out for a little coffee.

These are exciting times at the Consortium.
Our new e-newsletter has just gone out to faculty and students.

It reports to faculty on the Faculties' Convocation and Dr. Erickson's
straightforward and stimulating address.

It reports to students of the upcoming
Essay Contest and the early-September prayer service and dinner
for new students.

The Board of Trustees executive committee met last Monday on
many important issues.

They got a laugh out of the contrast between my two presentations at Convocations in September. At Virginia Union I preached on Philippians 2:1-11 [Jesus humbled Himself] and heard quite a few amens! A few days earlier at Gettysburg I gave a paper on the Holy Spirit and got a few laughts from the faculty! Thus the difference of the two excellent convocations.

Peace,
John

Faculties Convocation

I took some pictures before and during the Prayer Service at the Convocation at Catholic University last Monday. It was a beautiful September day.

Colleagues met before the event began. Our speaker, Rev. John Erickson, Dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary, is on the far right.

Fr. Erickson in conversation.

The Prayer Service was the Office of Readings--a hymn, Psalms, prayers, and two long readings: one from Ezekiel and the other from a patristic author.

Unfortunately none of the longer flash shots turned out very well--I have a lot to learn about photography--but just to give an idea of the service, this grainy photo shows the presider. He is a priest and graduate student at Catholic University. The very accomplished cantor and pianist also study at CUA.












I think it was a good day. The talk was fantastic, although it was certainly challenging, because it was realistic about the difficulties of the current ecumenical situation. I'm looking forward to reading it carefully. After the Prayer Service and the talk, we all went over to the Pryzbyla center. The faculty interest groups met, and then we had dinner. So it looks like the year is off to a good start!