This is my first post in Orthodox Parker since 2023. The occasion is the beginning of a lay Benedictine Priorship ministry for the Colorado front range. I’ve been asked to be a Lay Prior by my new Abbot, Father Barry Kowland.
My first parish visit took place Wednesday evening, where I took “The Benedict Stick” (a processional staff created from the first processional cross pole from Wellspring Anglican Church) to an American Catholic Community parish known as Divine Mercy Catholic Church. I had the pole stored in my garage for years after the cross portion was removed to make storing it easier.
The staff premiered to rave reviews. I believe it will be a very effective conversation starter.
I may create a Substack site for this project and use Chat GBT to help with illustrations.
I’m still a pledged member of Saint Mark’s Antiochian Orthodox Church, but I’m no longer a communicant. Out of necessity, SM changed its Mass time to 9 A.M. Sunday mornings. My wife’s main parish is a local ACNA outfit that has a 10 A.M. Eucharist, so there is now a scheduling conflict.
Formerly, SM had an 8 A.M. Low Mass and a 10:00 A.M. Sung Mass, which dovetailed well with the ACNA parish.
I was Chrismated in 2006 and confirmed twice before that. I don’t plan on doing it over again.
Like Baptism, the Sacrament of Confirmation / Chrismation should take place one time, not over and over again.
Therefore I don’t plan on being received into the ACNA or anywhere else. That ship has sailed already. Holy Orthodoxy was my final stop.
Becoming a Lay Prior solves many problems. What is more Orthodox than Benedictine Christianity, even if I’m mostly conducting this ministry among Continuers, local Anglicans, and perhaps some LCMS Lutherans and EPC Presbyterians thrown in for good measure?
Rod Dreher is hoping for a next Saint Benedict. Perhaps I can be one among many.
