1. Saint Francis experienced a life changing call, has anything in your journey so far challenged you to alter your lifestyle?
Not in the dramatic way Francis did.
2. Francis experienced mocking and persecution, quite often in the comfortable west this is far from our experience. If you have experienced something like this how do you deal with it, if not how does it challenge you to pray for those whose experience is daily persecution?
Stories like those of Francis and the martyrs remind us not to take for granted the security and freedom that we have, and challenge us to work for justice for all those suffering persecution.
3 .St Francis had female counterpart in St Clare, she was influenced by St Francis' sermon and went on to found the Poor Clares, like the Franciscans they depended on alms this was unheard of for women in that time, but she persisted and gained permission to found the order. How important are role models like St Clare to you? Do you have a particular female role model whose courage and dedication inspires you? If so share their story....
Hmmm...as my Tuesday morning Bible study goes on, I tend to highlight stories like Tabitha (or Dorcas) and other female leaders of the early church. I didn't know any female clergypeople until I was a candidate for ministry, so I can't say that one inspired me then. But I've come to know many amazing clergywomen since then.
4. Francis loved nature and animals, how important is an expressed love of the created world to the Christian message today?
Very important, I think, in terms of stewardship and respect for the resources God has given us. But also, I think sometimes we underplay the spiritual connections people make to places (I'm thinking more of landscapes than football stadiums, of course) and how that is a part of our connecting to God.
5. On a lighter note; have you ever led a service of blessing for animals, or a pet service, was it a success, did you enjoy it, and would you do it again?
I never have, but I'd like to. The WonderMutt probably couldn't behave himself, though. When I had a farming church, we would sort of bless the livestock and the harvest from a distance.
Like you revanne I think it is important to expand our message to go from creation to recreation.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you are highlighting women like dORCAS IN YOUR bIBLE STUDIES. :-)
Good play!
ReplyDeleteI took Cub to a blessing the fall before she died, and I was pleasantly surprised that she was nice to other animals the entire time. (Notice I left Angus at home... which was a blessing to those who were present! I'm looking for a chance to get him blessed this year.)
Good reminder about not taking things for granted. Have to smile about blessing the livestock from a distance....highly recommended with those bulls!
ReplyDeletegreat play. I love blessing the livestock from a distance ;-) and your first answer made me smile.
ReplyDeleteat my first blessing service that I went to, at St. John the Divine in NYC, my little poodle howled the whole time Paul Winter was playing his saxophone. It was funny.
One of my parishioners asked if she could bring her horse to the blessing - which we do IN the church - so. I think not...but I would go to her farm and bless it if she wanted me too...
ReplyDeletegood play!
From my friend, Joe:
ReplyDelete"I held a service last year for Emily's dog (a female Maltipoo), and her friend's dog (a male Wiener-mutt) ... the girls insisted that the couple be married the following Saturday. (not a shotgun wedding - more like a water balloon wedding)
The girls made cupcakes for the reception, and a small host of neighbors were invited to the nuptials. Our back deck and lawn were decorated suitably for a dog wedding, and with guests appropriately somber and attentive, I followed a ceremony pattern found from a Google search. The bride and groom were wed by the powers vested in me by AARP. Albeit with a bit of vulgar sniffing, and yapping at each other, the service went beautifully, and flea collars were exchanged. The wedding concluded festively, and dogs and guests were treated to cupcakes, dog biscuits, Cool-Aide and bowls of water."