Posts

Awesome Glory–A Good Read before Holy Week

Review by Jerry Pare’, JBL Board Member….

In Awesome Glory Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B. of Mt. Angel Abbey in Oregon has given us a gem for gleaning insights into the theology and liturgy of the Triduum and Eastertide.  Dom Driscoll has written popular books such as What Happens at Mass and scholarly works such as Theology at the Eucharistic TableAwesome Glory is somewhere between scholarly tome and a popular theological read.

Awesome Glory contains two parts.  The first is an examination of theological terms used in discussions of the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.  This section lays the theological foundation for Part Two, an exegesis and commentary on the readings and the rituals enacted in the course of the Triduum, Easter and Eastertide liturgies.  There are many commentaries on the Triduum and Easter Sunday liturgies.  There are significantly fewer that continue by examining the Easter Octave, Ascension Thursday and Pentecost, especially in more popular works on the Paschal season and Pentecost.

It would be difficult to understand Abbot Jeremy’s liturgical exegesis and commentary without carefully reading Part 1, “A Summary of the Proclamation in Theological Terms.”  Here, Driscoll focuses on the expression Paschal Mystery,” a term that “enables us to say all at once:  death, resurrection, ascension, sending of the Spirit, and establishing the church” (p. 9).  In this context, the analysis of two meanings of pasch is fundamental to understanding the rest of Awesome GloryPasch means both passion/Passover (Ex 12) and passage (Ex 14).  “The Triduum liturgies are a wonderful, intricate web of paschal themes taken from Exodus 12 and 14.” (p. 12)  Driscoll then uses the dual meaning of pasch, as expressed in Paschal Mystery, in Part Two, the examination of the liturgies of this central period of the Church year.

Abbot Jeremy notes in the dedicaton of Awesome Glory that it is for the monks of Mt. Angel Abbey.  Rather, it is for all of us who are interested in a better insight of the Triduum and all of Easter.  Read it now to enhance your understanding of our journey through the celebration of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection.

A message for your inquirers

By Charles Mantey, JBL Board Member

So, you have wondered about the Christian faith and have been asked to come to a gathering to talk about your concerns. It may be at a church or at the coffee shop or maybe even at the local bar. You may wonder what is going to happen there. Will I be put on the spot or be lectured to? 

Rest easy. What you will experience is a time where you will have a chance to ask your questions, tell a little bit about yourself and begin an exploration that will lead to a deepening of faith whether through baptism or affirmation of baptism. This is the first part of the catechumenal process called Inquiry. You will not be pressured into making any decision. Only listen for what God might be calling you to be and to do in your life. You may take as much time as you like. 

The primary element you will find in Inquiry is hospitality. You may have little or no church background, or you may come from quite a different faith expression. No matter who you are, you will find a warm welcome to the community and a time to ask whatever questions you may have. You may not get the answers you want right away but be patient, there’s a distance to go. At this stage of the journey, a listening ear is more important than the right answer. Finally, don’t worry about how much you know or don’t know about the Christian faith. All your questions and comments will be honored. 

You will have an opportunity if you like to tell your own story. As others tell their story, community may begin to happen. Leaders will also share a bit of their personal stories and together you will get to know each other and feel more comfortable in asking those really important questions that you may have. 

One thing that you can count on: you will be prayed for as you seek God’s will in your life. Hang on tight! Your journey is just beginning

From Affirmation to Transformation: Our Journey

By Terry Martinez, JBL Board Member

“Our faith is formed by the practices that shape it.”

Our Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Christopher Q. James, was searching for ways to help a congregation recover its baptismal identity – never fully formed due to the diminishment of sacramental practice in the larger Presbyterian/Reform tradition. “I was committed to planning and leading worship that was centered around the font on a weekly basis. I wanted to help the congregation understand how its ongoing life is continually formed by these sacramental waters,” he said.

“The changes I was making in worship were important, but were not enough by themselves. I had heard about the Catechumenate for several years, but knew it was such a wholesale paradigm shift in the way we ‘do church’ that I was waiting for the right moment and prayed that I would recognize it when it came.” That time came in 2015 when a small leadership team was formed to explore the Catechumenate and see if this was right for our church. From this process THE JOURNEY was born!

We were surprised when 16 travelers signed up for the first session: further evidence that the time was right. Since then, we have offered five sessions of THE JOURNEY. 71 members have participated as a traveler/companion. Of those 71, 12 have become new active members of the life of New Hope and various ministries outside the church.

THE JOURNEY has transformed New Hope! We have become a stronger, nurturing and welcoming community. Our outreach and missions, both in New Hope and the church universal, are more meaningful. Most importantly, as the Rev. James puts it, “The Catechumenate has taught our congregation that not only is it okay to have questions about faith, but nurturing those questions in a safe and inviting space leads to deeper, stronger faith and deeper stronger relationships among one another.”

Asked if he would recommend the Catechumenate to other congregations, the Rev. James said, “The Catechumenate takes tremendous effort, time and patience. It’s messy. It is completely different from the way we are used to ‘doing church.’ It takes commitment to let it grow and to learn from it over the course of time. I would recommend it because it will change you. I would also be cautious to recommend it because it will change you.”

New Hope Presbyterian Church is excited to be hosting an Adult Catechumenate Training in October and sharing our stories with others. Click here for information on the training.

THE JOURNEY is the most significant contribution I have helped to bring to our congregation in my 17+ years as its pastor. Of all the ways pastors work to equip and empower the members of the congregation for ministry, I believe THE JOURNEY has done so the most.” – the Rev. Dr. Christopher Q.  James

A Seminarian Reflects on the Catechumenate

By Pam Gompf

I have been doing some thinking about my seminary education.  I have enjoyed my classwork and the insights I’ve gained from fellow students and professors.  I hope that my life experience of raising three children and working as a youth minister over a decade will come through in preaching and teaching.  I know the Spirit has been at work in me for some time now and have been pleasantly surprised at how it has spoken to me, particularly in my internship.

I was placed in a church that had practiced the catechumenate for a number of years.  Much of my own history with the Church had been with new member programs. Sometimes it was a conversation with the pastor and brunch with a welcoming committee.  The church I was placed in was intentional about its missional call to baptism and welcome. When the process began in the Fall, I became knee-deep in one of the small groups. I found that it was not only welcoming seekers and newcomers, but also me.

The congregation was beginning to know me. I shared more and more about my own background. Being part of a small group and occasionally leading it, allowed me to listen to them more closely.

Through weekly Bible studies and rites, I noticed things, but it was at the Easter Vigil that I was overcome.  It was the huge community turnout.  The baptismal font was filled by the community of believers who process forward, pouring water they have brought from home in a special container signifying their own faith journey.  I thought this “font” (a horse trough!) might overflow.

Isn’t that what the grace of God does? Literally. It overflows for us; washes over us and makes us clean and whole again; renews and redeems each of us. Witnessing a full year’s journey of the Catechumenate moving towards the Easter Vigil, felt like a family throwing a welcoming party. Not only did the waters of baptism overflow, but so did my own tears of gratitude.

I can’t imagine any other way of welcoming new members into the Body of Christ than the Catechumenate. There is still food and shaking of hands like other faith communities. There is still the naming before all as new members. But this is different. This is coming home. Finally coming home; and everyone rejoices.

Pam Gompf served as Vicar 2018-19 at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church and is now awaiting call in the Pacific Northwest Synod of the ELCA.

Bigger always Better?: The Small Church and the Catechumenate

By Larry Ehrens, JBL Board Member and Vice President

After facilitating the Catechumenate in a Cathedral parish and several good sized suburban congregations, I was unsure how to go about this same ministry in a smaller setting. My question was: Is the Catechumenate scalable to smaller churches?

Our new church plant has a Sunday attendance between 50 and 60 persons. We have a new building and a big mortgage. There is a wonderful circle of dedicated members who have led this congregation through a string of changing clergy, financial ups and downs, and the everyday challenges of maintaining eight acres of land. This same small group is on the edge of burnout — and is always looking for new members to engage in the ministries of the congregation.

To my delight, two young women expressed a desire to be baptized. There is no history of the Catechumenate in this congregation.

Small church communities have a number of unique qualities which allow the Catechumenate to flourish. Healthy ones have an amazing sense of community. Members are known to one another. They pull together for a common goal and they let you know if they do not like something. I like to think that the communities that Paul visited were similar to today’s small churches.

Here are my initial thoughts about how to go about establishing a Catechumenate in a small church:
• Spend time with each of the potential Catechumens to hear their stories, and what is calling them at this moment.
• Begin to recruit and form a small Catechumenate team. Spend some time listening to where they are in their faith journey.
• Facilitate several group sessions on the process of the Catechumenate and do some community building among the group members.
• Gather the potential catechumens, the catechumenate team, and members who have not been confirmed in other Christian denominations beginning in January. Our group will gather before the main Liturgy on Sunday morning.
• Use the basics of the Catechumenate on a smaller scale, reflecting the size of the congregation.

If the Catechumens are ready, Adult Baptism would occur at the Easter Vigil. Adult Confirmation and Adult Reception in Regional Gatherings with the Bishop occur between Easter and Pentecost. The group would meet for Mystagogia until Pentecost. The small Catechumenate community would be uniquely involved in the Pentecost Liturgy.

Although probably common pastoral sense, the power of gradually being intimately incorporated into a small church community will be very meaningful and grace filled. In this case, smaller may be better than bigger.

Some further resources on this topic:
A Harvest for God: Christian Initiation in the Rural and Small Town Parish by Michael Clay; Liturgical Training Publications; 2003
Go Make Disciples: An Invitation to Baptismal Living – A Handbook to the Catechumenate; Editors — Dennis Bushkofsky, Suzanne Burke and Richard Rouse; Augsburg Fortress Press; 2012
• www.MountainGrace.org: A blog created by the Rev. Jon White who serves a small Episcopal Church in Central New York State. The focus of the blog is on small church vitality. The section on Formation contains a fine overview of the Catechumenate.

Larry Ehren is an Episcopal Priest, currently serving St. Mary Magdalen Episcopal Church in Belton, Missouri. He is completing his Doctor of Ministry degree in Christian Spirituality at the Virginia School of Theology.

Freed from self-righteousness

By Bryon Hansen, Pastor at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, Seattle, WA

Phinney Ridge Lutheran uses a horse trough for baptisms.  It’s a temporary arrangement.  One day we will have a permanent font suitable for full immersion.  In the meantime, we pull a horse trough from the attic and place it in the assembly to be used at all baptismal festivals.

Like the vessel itself, a bit large and imposing, the journey to these baptismal waters is no small thing.  Asked to publicly renounce evil and confess their faith in the triune God, those who stand on the precipice of the baptismal waters at the Vigil arrive after a period of self-examination.  Prior to Lent, those in the Catechumenate process are asked to shape a Lenten discipline around the question, “What will I have to learn to risk or renounce in order to accept more fully what Jesus is offering?”

Bobby had participated in the Catechumenate since early Autumn.  Until this question was posed to him at the pre-Lenten retreat, he was pre-occupied with the prospect of being baptized in the horse trough.  It seemed silly and even offensive.  After the retreat, it suddenly dawned on him that the business of being baptized involved a whole lot more than being bathed in the trough.   It involved promises of fidelity to God and the church.   The renunciations and profession of faith were only the beginning of a lifetime journey of dying to the ways of sin and the powers that defy God.  What did Bobby need to renounce in preparation for his Easter baptism?  He discerned a need to renounce self-righteousness.  His attitude was getting in the way of receiving the gift of Jesus’ mercy and, curiously, his ill feelings around being baptized in a horse trough intersected with his Lenten discipline.

Bobby was familiar with horse troughs.  The one we use for baptisms was not unlike the many watering troughs he helped his father maintain on the ranches he grew up on in Hawaii.  Every morning Bobby woke up with the sun rising out of the Pacific Ocean through the picture window of his bedroom.  He grew up with a picture of the ocean as beautiful, vast, life-giving and sacred.  He also recalled a photo of his father being baptized in the ocean.  As a Hawaiian he felt deeply connected to that body of water.  What a stark contrast between his father’s baptism in the ocean and his impending baptism in a horse trough.  He felt that as a good person, he deserved a baptism in the ocean, just like his father.

Bobby discerned what it was that was standing in-between himself and what Jesus offers through the gift of baptism: “Could it have been made any clearer what I should be renouncing?  The decision to be immersed in the trough, in many ways was a true gift.  It was a release from pride and opportunity to be a child again, free from judgment and free from the responsibility of deciding what my righteous deeds had deserved me or what my identity as a Hawaiian had privileged me.”

St. Ambrose described the impressive fourth-century baptistry in Milan as a “noble holder of God’s grace.”  Bobby came to see the horse trough as no less noble.  With the community that had supported and mentored Bobby surrounding him, the vessel became an instrument of grace, helping Bobby make a humble turn.

In the process of discerning what he needed to renounce at his baptism, Bobby came to trust that his change of allegiance at the Easter Vigil was made possible not by whatever promises he would make but by the greater promise of God.  In reflecting on his baptism later, Bobby said, “For a few brief seconds suspended in the water of the baptismal pool I was weightless, free from self-righteousness.  Just my body.  And God was carrying me.”

Reimagining the Catechumenate

By Charles Mantey, JBL:NAAC Board Member

Even after working with the catechumenate for over twelve years in two congregations, I keep learning new things. What is supposed to be a process attuned to spiritual formation can easily become a program which ignores the needs and desires of the individuals we are serving. Fortunately, the Spirit keeps inviting us into new things or throwing a curve ball that we cannot ignore.

The Spirit Throws a Curve Ball
This became clear in my current parish as we began the inquiry process this fall, much as we have been doing for the last seven years. The Spirit threw a curve ball. For the first time in all the years I have been doing the catechumenate, one person alone is inquiring — one who is very keen on going through the process.

It became clear that we needed to shake things up a bit. Not only because we have only one person interested in the catechumenate, but because things have begun to feel a little too packaged.

Change in the Forecast
Change had been in the forecast. We were looking forward to implementing some ideas from “Becoming the Story We Tell.” (The JBL:NAAC Gathering, January 9-11 in Orlando will introduce us to this process developed by the Canadian Anglican church.)  Turns out however, our church was due for a change a year earlier.

Our first response was, “we can’t do this with one person.” Then it came to us: “Why can’t we?” The curve ball forced us to think creatively. The wonderful thing about the catechumenate is that it is not a program. It can be aligned to a particular setting and context in each parish. It can and should evolve, even as circumstances change.

Looking Forward
We are blessed with a dedicated catechumenal leadership team who have become excited about new ideas. Planning is even now under way, so we don’t know quite yet where this will end up. We’re keeping our minds open to the new things we are just beginning to discern. We look forward to what the new year will bring and to see what the Spirit may throw next.

Thankful for the Catechumenate

By Eddie Francis

Fremont United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon began their catechumenate, Sacramental Living, a year ago. Eddie Francis was one of the first catechumens and was deeply impacted by the process.

As a child, Eddie resented having to go to church since the message didn’t resonate with him. As an adult, however, he started attending a UMC church with his girlfriend (later wife), when he was going through some difficult times. A few years later they moved and started attending Fremont UMC. When they approached Pastor Linda Quanstrom about having their son baptized, she invited them to join Sacramental Living. Although apprehensive, they joined the group and discovered, to their surprise, that they weren’t baptized. They decided to be baptized along with their son.

Eddie writes:

The Sacramental Living process was my first experience with any real religious teaching outside of church services. I’d never attended a bible study of any sort, didn’t go to any church camps growing up, and really only attended a handful of Sunday school classes as a kid. This was all new and a little scary for me, but I was determined to get the most out of it.

In addition to reading and studying the bible for the first time, I also got to experience praying with the group, which had always been a pretty private practice for me. Rather than being scary it became something that I looked forward to at the end of each class.

Through it all, one of the things I’ll take with me the most was forming and deepening new relationships with others in the church. My sponsor, Paul, was amazing and I’m thankful our families got to know each other throughout this process. Paul made a point of making time for me outside of the class and was a great resource and companion to have on the journey.

Culminating the entire experience was the actual baptism, and that was very special for me. It really felt like my journey to the church had been . . . completed. I’m not sure if “completed” is the right term, maybe my journey “began,” but I felt like I’d closed some sort of loop. Experiencing baptism with my wife and son, along with the other important people in my life and our church family, was something I’ll never forget.

I’m thankful that our son will be brought up with a better relationship to God and the church than I ever did. And as an added bonus, we’ve made some new wonderful relationships inside the church!

How does Eddie’s experience resonate with you? Share your thoughts and comments on our blog.

Catechumenate Training Changes Lives & Congregations: Stories from the Trenches

By Martha Maier, JBL:NAAC Board Member

From Skeptic to Believer

Pastor Linda Quanstrom was a skeptic about the catechumenate. But encouraged by her District Superintendent, who had recently joined her church, she rounded up a team to attend the catechumenate training held in Seattle, WA last fall. After the training she wasn’t sure the process would work in her modestly-sized urban congregation in Portland, OR. But nonetheless, with the support of those who attended the training, Fremont United Methodist Church gave it a try.

Before FUMC began the catechumenate, Linda figured that if two people went through the process, it would be a worthwhile venture. To her surprise, eight signed on as candidates, and another eight readily agreed to be sponsors.

Linda was surprised, but profoundly pleased by how well the catechumenate was received and the impact it had on her church. “I’ve confessed to my people that I above all others was ‘O ye of little faith,’ but I was moved, week after week by the commitment they demonstrated to the process, the stories they shared and the prayers they prayed for one another. Upon completion they asked that we organize covenant groups so that they and others could continue the journey of communal prayer and support.”

Quanstrom and others from her church believe this is such a significant process leading to essential and foundational spiritual grounding, that they gladly agreed to host a training this fall. As part of the event, they will talk more about how this process has impacted them and their church.

Role play impacts real life

Pastor Eric Peterson, a self-proclaimed “baptism nerd” found his people when he attended a catechumenate training event held Vancouver, B.C. several years ago. At this event, he experienced a condensed catechumenate process over the course of three days. At the final worship service where the “Affirmation of Vocation” rite was celebrated, he was asked to take the part of someone who had been baptized at the Easter Vigil.

He and the other participants gathered at the font and, without have given it much thought beforehand, he shared this simple statement of how he planned to express his baptismal identity vocationally: “My name is Eric Peterson. I affirm my gifts as a writer, and I dedicate myself to use words to the glory of God.”

Eric thought he was merely role-playing. But as he was driving home, he realized that “something may have happened to me back there.” He writes, “I spent the rest of the seven-hour trip absorbing an identity I had previously resisted, praying for the Holy Spirit to prompt me with what to write.” The result can be seen in Eric’s recently published book, Wade in the Water, from which these quotes came.

As many of us have realized, even when we think we are “role-playing” at the trainings, it can have a profound impact on our lives.

How has a catechumenate training impacted your life or your congregation? Share your response on our blog.

And you can sign-up now for our fall trainings: October 5-6 in Portland, OR and Oct. 25-28 in Ottawa, Ontario. More details and registration details are on our website.

The Catechumenate Leads to Personal & Church Growth

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://journeytobaptism.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/51/2018/01/hearts.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][cs_text]By Barbara Anderson, member, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Seattle, WA

“The Spiritual Pilgrimage [St. Luke’s catechumenal process] was the catalyst that truly began my life in community with St. Luke’s and a major stop along my journey to baptismal living. I struggle with the winter and early spring time, the dark and cold makes it difficult to want to do anything, and the weekly gatherings when we ate together, shared together, and learned together gave me comfort and the space for important spiritual introspection.” ~ Julia Hunter

Julia’s message, printed in Sunday bulletins and our newsletter, along with announcements by our priest, produced a record thirty-some individuals who wanted to explore becoming either seekers or spiritual companions. Some two dozen chose to engage in the Sunday evening journey.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Seattle, WA has held a Pilgrimage from Lent to Pentecost for two years. After a multi-denominational catechumenate training was offered this year at Phinney Ridge Lutheran, a group of lay people who participated were inspired by the training and joined our Vicar Britt Olson to form a team for this year’s Pilgrimage.

We have only just begun, starting with the Welcoming of the Pilgrims during Sunday service, including their commitments and the signing of the cross on their bodies. The two most reluctant pilgrims each described feeling their lives changed by the ritual, and several of the spiritual companions were surprised to discover how deeply connected they felt to the people whose ears, eyes, hearts, shoulders, hands and feet they touched making the cross.

St. Luke’s Seattle has grown from an average Sunday attendance of fifteen to seventy in just three years. Our growth has been spiritual as well as numeric, propelled in part by our Vicar’s use of the Spiritual Pilgrimage for formation. Julia, whose words appear above, is a lifelong Episcopalian. The experience has been as important (and sometimes more important) for the many who come from other faith traditions. All have deepened their faith and strengthened their ties to the community of St. Luke’s.

The Pilgrimage experience has fed our congregation and made it hungry for continued, active involvement in our life of the Spirit.[/cs_text][x_share title=”Share this Post” share_title=”” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” google_plus=”false” linkedin=”true” pinterest=”true” reddit=”true” email=”true” email_subject=”Hey, thought you might enjoy this post from Journey to Baptism: “][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]