A little self-examination here....

I was not kind about the contents that were sent to me by a lay preacher to prepare into a Bulletin for today's church service.

I, who have been so long an Anglican, was derisive of the pedestrian 'cross-talk' between leader and congregation, - the lack of meaningful prayers and the beauty of the words found in the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer.

I, who am smug about the prayers and phrases that are a part of my inner being

 as I indulge in meditative prayer.

I, who am unaccepting of this new Emerging Church which attempts to 'redefine itself through an intense engagement with the surrounding secular world', blurring the boundary between religion and the broader society by entertaining the question of the very existence of God and the divinity of Christ, and becoming yet another social activist secular group.

I, who feel impatience with the secular world who deride the 'old' churches and
fail to see the love and charity that has always been at their centre, the core of Christ's gospel of love made manifest and honoured in the community and the world, despite the human failings within.

I listened as this Scottish lay preacher told of always riding in the front seat of a two decker red Glasgow bus when he was a child , and of the words on a bilboard sign that was at the edge of the road the bus traveled.

IF YOU WERE TO BE ARRESTED TODAY FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN, WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CONVICT YOU????

I sat at the organ and asked myself this question.

The answer was humbling, and opened my mind to many thoughts for me to ponder.

In light of the recent Rapture rapture, I figure I might not be one of those transported!!!!!

And speaking of the Rapture, I read today in an eMo from Barbara Crafton

a reminder of the heart break and  devastation felt by those who truly believed in 

the expected Rapture and staked their lives and futures on it,  and I was moved to compassion.