The Mosher Pit

This has happened to me at every church I’ve attended semi-regularly as an adult: When I go to an event, the people at the event, when introduced to me, ask, “Oh, do you go to the 8 o’clock service?” At churches where there are more than two services, I get “So which service do you go to?” There is, I guess, an underlying assumption that in order to be a part of of church community, one must attend ONE of the services a church offers, and since they don’t see me there, I must go to the other one.

It has happened so regularly that I’m beginning to think there’s something to this, in spite of the fact that I have yet to actually meet a new person (i.e. be introduced to a strike up a conversation with someone, not just shake their hand at the Peace) within a church service.

Now, for the baggage part of that: I don’t go to the 8 a.m. service, and I sometimes feel like there’s something judgmental inherent in the assumption that if I don’t go to one, I go to the other. There’s a big part of me that feels like I got so much church service between the ages of roughly 3 and 15 that now, when I go, it’s a recitation. That’s not to say there’s not comfort in it: there is, it’s like meditation, it’s like practice, a regrounding of oneself in the pray, listen, reflect, repent, commune cycle of the Anglican liturgy.

But I really don’t go every week, at least not to one, single church. Sometimes I’m traveling and visit other churches. Sometimes I go to church in Second Life. Sometimes I flip open my prayer book right here in my office and discover something new in it. Sometimes I’m out hiking and it’s just enough to know that presence within the cricket and bird song, the rustling leaves, and the laughter of a partner who loves you pushing you along.

Truth is, I have trouble imposing structure on my life — structure tends to impose itself on me, and the results can be painful. But on the other hand, I find that I’m always in a place of discovery and delight. I think it’s part of my ENFP wiring, that I like the unpredictability of “church where you are,” and thrive on it.

So what service do I attend? The one in my heart. I’m still trying to figure out how that works in community, but I have a sneaking suspicion it has something to do with why I have so many Episcopal priests among my Facebook friends.

Posted in Episcopal Church, Faith, Reflections by: Helen
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Been a long, long time since I was tagged with one of these. I’m in Tampa, wishing I was home, but had a great time with some folks I haven’t seen in a long time last night. I do leave later on today, and I’m thinking it’s a yoga pants kind of day.

Anyhow, onto the meme, which came from Jennyfur … Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Memery by: Helen
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Periodically I run across the most amusing descriptions of Episcopalians while combing the ‘net for links on the Cafe. Today, this gem from horror ‘zine Fangoria. Kevin Sorbo apparently plays an Episcopal priest in a new horror flick called “Something Beneath.” And it’s a good thing the hunky former Hercules star is an Episcopal priest, they write, because… well:

In SOMETHING BENEATH (making its DVDebut September 9 from Genius Products, following airings on the Sci Fi Channel), Sorbo swaps Dylan Hunt’s space outfits for a collar in the role of Father Douglas Middleton, an ecologically aware Episcopalian priest (note to budding screenwriters: Episcopalian priests are handy because they’re allowed to have love interests). Attending an eco conference in a brand new hotel, Father Middleton finds himself caught up in a series of bizarre and horrific deaths. The building, it seems, has disturbed a sentient ooze which creates terrifying, fatal hallucinations in the minds of its staff and guests.

Posted in Episcopal Church, Faith, LOLZ! by: Helen
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(As of yesterday, says Dean, there is one less Helen Thompson in the world.)

The marriage of Miss Helen Heath Thompson, daughter of Wayne C. and Emily Heath Thompson of Colonial Heights, Va., to Dean Alan Mosher, son of Dennis D. and Diane Mosher of Front Royal, Va., took place on Sept. 1, 2008, in a private ceremony at Trinity Episcopal Church in Manassas, Va. The Rev. Vinnie Lainson officiated.

Jennifer Vatza of Philadelphia was the maid of honor, and the bride was also attended by her son, Kieran Shaw of Rockville, Md., and her brother, Richard Chittick Thompson of Richmond, Va. The groom was attended by his daughter, Darcy Park, of Fairfax.

Two receptions for the bride and groom are planned; one will take place in Philadelphia during October and another will take place in Front Royal in the spring.

The bride is a graduate of Colonial Heights High School, Lord Fairfax Community College and Temple University. She is employed by AFCEA International as a social media strategist and online editor and is a graduate student at George Mason University. The groom is a graduate of George Marshall High School and Northern Virginia Community College. He is employed by Capital Hospice as an information specialist in its development office.

The couple will live in Front Royal, Va.

More pictures are available here.

Posted in Faith, Wedding by: Helen
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