Lets Begin

Okay, I thought I would start us off with this picture of us on that glorious weekend when we decided to read this book, and to spend time together with delicious beverages and quality literature in urgent care. Also, I am sure Laura wants to relive the memory through photographic evidence and I aim to please. For the record I can think of few people with whom I would rather spend a day in an urgent care waiting room.

But on to the matter at hand: Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail by Robert E. Weber. Laura & Myrna - thanks for picking a book and getting the ball rolling.

So my initial thoughts:

1. I have grown up evangelical and in the last year have begun to again embrace this aspect of my personal faith. For years I have avoided the label due to connotations of fundamentalism, however as I have been immersed in grad school and all things non-Westmont, I've realized that it is becoming normal and even enjoyable to converse about Christ and my faith with people on the bus or in my cohort - No tracts, no formulas, just rich conversation that is interesting and personal.

2. Last year I started going to Calvary Episcopal in Santa Cruz. I love the liturgy, the focus on communion each week, the framework of the church calendar, the interesting socially conscious and active members of the church, and the church's accessibility to the local community. I could become an episcopal. In fact the current reading book stack next to my be contains the following titles that reflect my draw towards Anglican worship: The Book of Common Prayer, Welcome to the Church Year.

So, to sum my thoughts, I feel that I am on the cusp of two faith expressions. I resonate with Webber in his thirst for mystery and reverence for the sacraments. At the same time I have questions about how to integrate my evangelical roots into this form of expression. I look forward to reading and discussing these and other thoughts with you all in the next few weeks.