My Journey of Faith (with Janet Steele)

by Janet Steele

I was raised in a household which pretty much practiced cultural Christianity.  My dad was a lapsed Methodist and my mom was a lapsed Roman Catholic.  Dad did take my brother and me to church occasionally when we were kids.  We were baptized in the Methodist church.  As we grew older we pretty much stopped going to church.  The quiet voice of God, however, was still present in my life even though it did not result in formal church membership.  Once when I was about 11 or 12 years old I attended the Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith in Santa Fe.  I was intrigued that the service was so very much like the Catholic mass I had attended with my mother's family when I was six. I really loved the beauty of these services even though I had no clue about what was happening in either. I think some seeds were sown at these two services.  Time passed, I graduated from high school and went to UNM.  In 1967 when I was a senior the Episcopal campus priest from Canterbury spoke at a sorority talk.  He was saying all kinds of things which piqued my interest. So I took him up on his offer to meet the next day.  That started my journey in the Episcopal church.  I was drawn to the intellectual understanding of Christianity that I heard preached. I liked that there was no set of rules or doctrine that had to be firmly believed and practiced.  I loved the liturgy and the changing seasons.  I liked that I could be and was accepted for who I was and what I believed.  I joined up!

I have stayed an Episcopalian for many of the same reasons that I joined.  I have come to have a much deeper and comprehensive understanding of the theology of both the Episcopal church and the wider church.  I have added a non intellectual understanding as well.  As I get older the contemplative side of our faith speaks more and more to me.  The Episcopal church is broad enough to include these experiences as well as the intellectual understanding of the faith.  The church is broad enough to include all kinds of understandings and doctrines.  We are left to figure it out for ourselves so that it makes good sense to us.  I love the liturgy more now than ever.  I love that the order of liturgy stays the same and gives us a framework which is present each time we do the Eucharist.  The words themselves and the music and the decorations and the place and the people may change but the order stays the same.  The meaning and intent stay the same.  This has allowed me to comfortably travel and live in different places and be a member of a church that stays the course.  I have grown to value and love the practice of inclusion in the church.  I was accepted the way I was...and I believe in accepting others where they are.  I am extremely happy that the Episcopal church offers the love of Christ to everyone even at the cost of losing members who could not bring themselves to include everyone in the full life and membership of the church.  I cannot see leaving the Episcopal church as part of my future.

Our Visit to the Mosque (by Warren Smith)

On Friday, December 11, 2015 a group of us from Canterbury attended services at the Islamic Center of Albuquerque. We were joined by representatives of other groups including the Center for Peace and Justice and St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. The purpose of our visit was to show our support for the center and its Muslim congregation after a week in which a candidate for President of the U.S. called for a ban on all Muslims attempting to enter the United States. Those from Canterbury included Deacon Pat Masterman, Don Partridge, Susan Patrick, Anne McCormick, Sally Barlow, Anne Marie Werner-Smith, and myself (if I have omitted anyone else I apologize). We were impressed by the warmth of the reception and the sheer size of the congregation (about 400 people). Imam Shafi preached a powerful sermon on Islam as a loving religion which embraces outsiders. The Imam comes from Mombasa, Kenya, where Anne Marie and I have both taught, so we had an instant connection with him. We had a reception afterward at which lunch was served and we discussed our mutual wish to keep up a dialogue with one another. The Islamic Center has had a rough couple of weeks hearing criticism of Islam on the news media and they were very pleased to have our friendly visit. Let us pray that our friendship with them continues.

My Journey to the Episcopal Church (by Susan Patrick)

I came to the Episcopal Church because of a church job.  When I was taking organ lessons in college, I was offered as much practice time as I wanted in exchange for playing two Sunday services each week at a small chapel near the university, the home of the Canterbury Club.  Who could turn that down?  My Presbyterian family was strictly observant:  family devotions, church every week, Wednesday night family suppers at church, Sunday school for all ages, no-frill Sundays ( e. g., no movies or parties etc.).  My father was an elder, and the youth group was active.  Our church was large and dark, and services were traditionally built around a lengthy sermon.  Communion—silent and, as I saw it as a callow teenager, sad—occurred once a quarter:  tiny glasses of grape juice and cubes of bread passed by ushers down each row of pews.  As in many Protestant sects, religion was generally thought of as an individual, personal relationship with God, based at least partly on lists of dos and don’ts.  At the Episcopal chapel, in contrast, students made up the bulk of the congregation, and of course they weren’t forgoing movies and parties on Sunday!  Services were built around the Eucharist, which was part of the fabric of each Mass and was celebrated joyfully.  The focus was on corporate worship, and on discussion and argument rather than on rote learning.  I loved the liturgy and the music—the old Healey Willan stuff included.  Later, I learned how Richard Hooker’s three-legged stool and the via media have informed Anglican theology and history, and I came to believe that God is still speaking to us and acting through us, if only we’d pay attention.  I’m not denigrating my Presbyterian upbringing at all, but the freedom to disagree with other communicants while sharing the Eucharist attracted me and has kept me here.  I’m sure that part of the initial attraction was an excuse for gradually moving away from my family, and that the breakaway from my family’s church was just a part of the culture of the 1960s.  I trust, though, that the Episcopal Church has encouraged me grow into a more mature faith and hope that that process will continue.

Update on Global Missions in Kenya (by Warren & Anne Marie)

Warren Smith and Anne Marie Werner-Smith returned on Oct. 20 from a nearly two-month trip that included periods in New England. New York, Kenya, Turkey, and Greece. It was an amazing time of renewal for both of us. We want to focus on Kenya for which we have done fundraising for nearly 10 years with the generous support of many people at Canterbury. 

Here are the areas of support:

St. Lukes Hospital, Kaloleni, for which we bought a 33-seat bus in 2010 which allowed its nursing school to receive accreditation. The director of the hospital and his staff welcomed us warmly (even though they had no advanced notice we were coming!), showed us the bus which has been maintained in perfect shape, and has even made money for the hospital though being rented out. The nursing school is thriving and we had a tour of their latest teaching equipment. They are getting ready to trade in the bus for a 54-seat model.

Bishop Hannington Institute, Mombasa (BHI). This school has many needs. The principal, Martin Orlando, has opened up areas of fundraising in the U.K. and has put the school’s budget in the black, but they need more enrollment (currently about 35 students), more full-time faculty, and building expansion.  Anne Marie and I stayed in a cramped dorm room and when we emerged the first morning, the entire faculty, staff and maintenance crew were lined up at the bottom of the stairs to greet us.

The new Diocese of Malindi, run by our old friend Bishop Dena and his wife Jane, who hosted us for nearly a week. The diocese has just been created and the Denas are busy visiting often remote parishes and determining their needs.

We had nearly $7,000 (700,000 Kenyan shillings) to distribute and we are now operating through Anglican Development Services, (ADS) run by our friend John Mangenge out of the Diocesan offices in Mombasa. We directed him to distribute these funds in this way:

--making the final payment on the nursing school bus

--scholarships for two students at BHI

--two computers for the BHI library

--licensure for BHI to start using E-textbooks and end its antiquated do-it-yourself Xeroxed text system

--at Bishop Dena’s request, buy a motorbike for a priest in a remote parish (we have bought motorbikes for priests twice before). We also bought a large tea-urn for the Denas to serve up to 100 cups of chai at the many functions they now host. We accompanied the Dena to several “harumbays” (fundraisers) including one for a new church bookstore they are starting in Malindi.

Warren has completed a book on the origins of the church in East Africa, “A Colony of Heaven: Bishop Hannington and Freretown,” which, after many delays, should be published in 2016. He is at work on publishing the diary and letters of William Henry Jones, one of the first native clergymen in East Africa and strong leader of the Christian community in the 19^th century; this will require a second trip to Birmingham, England, where the Church Missionary Society papers are stored. One of the blessings of this trip was to have breakfast with Simeon Tabu, chair of the hospital board and banker who helped us buy the bus, and to discover that his wife Gladys preserves in her memory many old stories of the Freretown community Warren has been writing about, and knows personally relatives of Rev. Jones and others from that era. Sounds like another trip to Mombasa is also needed.

What's this Methodist doing at Canterbury (by Don Denoon)

What's this Methodist doing at Canterbury? (by Don Denoon)

John Wesley was an Anglican priest who lived in the 18^th Century. Through his methodical and disciplined approach to spiritual life, he influenced the lives of countless people of faith in England and The New World. Ultimately he became the force behind the organization of the Methodist Church in the American Colonies. But he, himself, remained an Anglican priest all his life.

           

 A couple hundred years later, I grew up in a Methodist congregation in Indianapolis and was confirmed as a member at age 12. My best friend in that Methodist church was Tim Hall who, in college, united with the Episcopal Church and eventually became an Episcopal priest. I, however, maintained my Methodist connection and eventually entered the Methodist ministry.As adults Tim and I remained good friends even though our paths didn’t cross very often.

After I took early retirement from United Methodist ministry in Nevada, I moved to Albuquerque where I worked for a number of years in a counseling center. Since I was not serving as a pastor, my connection with the UMC in New Mexico was limited. Then 20 years ago I decided I would visit several different congregations in Albuquerque. It was in that process that I first came to St. Thomas of Canterbury.

Because the worship and liturgy I grew up with in the Methodist Church had been appropriated from the Book of Common Prayer, I was immediately comfortable with worship at Canterbury. It was sort of like coming home again.

           

 When she learned of my background in ministry, the Rector, Carole McGowan, invited me – a Newbie in the life of the Episcopal Church – to help her lead an Inquirers Class. My jaw dropped. “Me? You want me, a Methodist minister to instruct Episcopalians?” Yep. That’s what she wanted. I reluctantly said yes but came to realize Carole was very wise. The best way to learn is to teach.

A few years later I was elected to the Vestry, which I knew had to be a mistake. But that worked out, too.

And then, as she did with Bob Browne a retired Presbyterian minister who was part of this worshiping community, Carole invited me to preach.

My varied experiences at Canterbury have been extremely special. But perhaps the one I loved best was serving as Chalice bearer at Communion. This past year, however, I had to give that up when I became unsteady on my feet. But I am pleased to say I am still able to serve as Lector and also as one who leads the Prayers of the People.

Over time at Canterbury I found I was becoming an Episcopalian in Spirit if not in Reality. And that was good. Whenever I spoke to Tim Hall about my experiences at Canterbury, he was genuinely pleased.

Unfortunately, Tim died in March 2014. But I am convinced he continues to smile as he observes my ongoing participation in this congregation. And you know what? I bet John Wesley is smiling, too.

My Journey of Faith (with Dick Steele)

A Life Long Episcopalian, by Dick Steele

I came into this world at the Biltmore Hospital in Biltmore, North Carolina on May 20, 1946.  Little did I know that some of my formative years as an Episcopalian would be spent at All Souls Episcopal Church just a few hundred yards away.  I was baptized at St James Mission in Black Mountain, North Carolina.  Too young to remember the ceremony I do know I was pinched so I cried to ensure the Devil was gotten out of me.  Not sure if it worked.  I don’t remember attending St James as a young child.  I do remember being sent to a private Pre K/Kindergarten school at which the children of the rising preacher Billy Graham attended.  Our teacher stressed wasn’t it wonderful that Franklin Graham was the Baby Jesus for the Christmas pageant.  I on the other hand was a Shepard and was awed when all the Angels stood on the winding stair case leading up to the second floor singing “Glory To God In The Highest” as baby Franklin cooed!  

I do remember going to All Souls in Biltmore.  All Souls was built by the Vanderbilt family as the parish church of the town of Biltmore which was built as an English town in support of the Biltmore Estate.  (I was not aware of this fact until later) all I knew was each Sunday I was dressed in a suit and went off to attend Sunday School singing Onward Christen Soldiers etc. and allowed infrequently to very quietly attend the adult services.  At the same time I attended the Swannanoa, North Carolina (First People’s word for Muddy River).  Swannanoa was the home to Beacon Mills who manufactured woolen blankets.  My mother Mary worked but more accurately volunteered to bring help to folks in the hills and hollers of the Blue Ridge.  I went with her.  It was an eye opening experience for a young child.  I saw poverty first hand as well as dignity and independence.  My Mother worked with those proud people explaining how the State and Federal Government could assist them.  She was unique since she was a Yankee and they respected her for coming to them.  I did not learn till later that she took me along since there was an unwritten code of the mountains that no women was to be bothered if she had a child with her.  This experience made me realize that the world was not equal and that you had to help those who needed help.  I listened to the Bible stories about Jesus and began to realize that we were all equal under his mantel.  

Also one thing I learned in public school that during mandatory religious class that as an Episcopalian I was not in the norm.  I was taken aside by a friend that when asked if your parents drank, smoked, danced, used bad language, etc. that I was not to raise my hand.  I said it was true and he said his did the same but the code was to smile sweetly at the Religion Teacher and admit to nothing.  So much for hypocrisy.  I no longer got special prayers.  In the 4th grade I was transferred to the private Catholic School Gibbons Hall School for Boys.  I finally found a religion that was close to an Episcopalian.  I later learned that the school population was made up of 75% Jewish, 15% Protestant, and 10% Catholic.  Instead of a religion class that made you feel guilty you got to learn things.  Only problem was that our Catholic brethren were preparing for their Confirmations.  The rest of us read the Old Testament.  Safe ground for us but after you read it you heard the Catholic’s getting their responses drummed into them.  We listened.  When the Monsignor came to ensure the Catholics were ready to meet the Bishop he started asking questions like Who Made You.  All our Catholic brethren froze so Leo Finkelstein and I raised our hands.  The Monsignor called on me I answered The Lord God Above.  Leo answered the next, and others helped our Catholic brethren out.  They soon joined us in making the correct replies.  At the end of the Monsignor’s visit he congratulated our teacher, a wonderful Sister of Charity, on how well the entire class was prepared.  After he left she turned to the class and said “If the Jews and the Protestants know it you little Catholics can darn well know it to.”  That was my first experience in ecumenical efforts.  While there I discovered prayer.  It came about in a roundabout way a protestant friend and I discovered if we went to chapel after lunch we could spend 15 minutes extra out of class.  I still can remember the chapel with it life size Saints and their purposes.  Unlike All Souls the Chapel had real things you could concentrate on not just the brass cross.

I also learned the discrimination between those Confirmed in the Episcopal Church and those who were not.  My older brother got to take Communion and serve at the Altar.  I got to sing in the junior choir.  Since all my friends were there with me it did not bother me till I came to Albuquerque.  We went to St Marks On The Mesa since it was the closest Episcopal Church to our home.  You did that by custom not like today when you get to choose your Episcopal church.  I had been confirmed prior to coming to New Mexico and looked forward to being an Acolyte.  The rector at the time welcomed my brother to the altar but informed me he had too many acolytes and I should continue in the Jr. Choir.  I was pissed but realized it did not affect my relationship with God.  

You have to remember I was a child of the 1928 Prayer Book so guilt and purgatory were all part of the game.  Fortunately my Mother had made friends with a lady I later called my New Mexico Grandmother who urged us to come to St John’s Cathedral.  We did.  We found it welcoming, concerned with the less fortunate, and struggling to keep the doors open so everyone who was there was counted on to make a contribution.  I didn’t get to serve at the Altar until I was on my way to Vietnam.  This helped to sharpen my awareness of God and realize that the building and the people could support that awareness but not take it away from me.  

This supported me as I attended seven other Episcopal churches during my service in the Air Force.  The one thing that I always remembered as a single person: it was God and me.  When I was married it was God and us.  In many cases there was only one Episcopal Church but He was always with us.  He led Janet and me to integrate the oldest Episcopal Church in Alaska.  Our New Mexico heritage did not even make us aware we were doing it.  It lead me to stage a kneel in at the Altar at our church in California when a lay person would not serve my two year old son wine even though he had been admitted to Communion at Canterbury during a visit to Albuquerque .  God is always with us wither we be a cradle Episcopalian, or a new comer to the faith, or just a Child of God.  He is with each of us and we have to remember we are sheep of His fold.

Dick Steele

Our Journey of Faith (with Perk and Anne Murphy)

I (Anne), was born, baptized, and confirmed in the faith of my family--the Catholic Church.  Perk was baptized as a child in the Pentecostal faith, but his training stopped at an early age.  I remained a Catholic until Perk and I married in Reno, Nevada in 1942.  As our two children reached the teen ages, we decided they needed a spiritual education.  Since Perk was against some of the teachings of the Catholic church, we decided to go church hunting.  So for about 6 months we attended a different church every Sunday.  We did this until Perk's brother, who had been going to St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, invited us to go with him the coming Sunday.  Needless to say, I was very pleased as the service was near to what I grew up with, and Perk was also impressed with the service and the friendly people.  So that was our first step into the Episcopal faith.

We began going to Confirmation classes along with our children.  Perk and our children were confirmed by the then Bishop Ned Porter and I was welcomed into the church.  We stayed at St. Matthew's for about 8 years, then we moved across town and joined Our Merciful Savior.  We stayed there about 8 years, then moved and helped build a new little church called St. Mary the Virgin.  We stayed there until we moved to Albuquerque and found St. Thomas of Canterbury.  

By this time we had been retired a good number of years and traveled many miles and visited and prayed in many churches as we crossed the USA 3 times, going across the North, Middle, and South, and by car, RV, and cruises we visited Mexico, Canada, Alaska (twice), Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malasia, Panama, Barbados, Caribbean, and Hawaii.  We ended up here in Albuquerque to be close to our daughter, and will remain here for the rest of our lives.  

PS If I included all our adventures, I would write a book!