semperrenovatio
semperrenovatio
| Forum role | Member since | Last activity | Topics created | Replies created |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | May 20, 2017 (9 years) |
- | 1 | 0 |
- Forum role
- Member
- Member since
May 20, 2017 (9 years)
- Last activity
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Bio
Believing that the Faith Once Delivered was preserved in its most plain, pure and precious form by the Celtic Christians of the early post-apostolic period and that, in accordance with the Vincentian Rule, the perenniality and permanent validity of the content of that Faith is for that time and for all time, including our time, this campaign is being launched for the purpose of birthing a Celtic Christian community in the Cass County, Missouri area , hereafter to be known as: Gaelkirke - Church of Christ, Celtic Rite.
This invitation to participate in this work is extended to: those wishing to support financially, whether in the form of one-time or periodic contributions, both large or small; those willing to sponsor ongoingly as benefactors; and, especially those desiring to become part of a society in the Cass County, Missouri area committed to worshipping and serving our loving and powerful Lord in the context of a Celtic Consciousness- being not primarily about ethnicity or geography, rather a "way of being" in the world which, while not dismissing the reality of brokenness, seeks to celebrate the antecedent "good-very-goodness" of Creation that has been actualized and made available through Christ the Lord.
Funds secured through this campaign will be designated to "Phase One" of this project and will be utilized to: Identify and obtain a suitable site for the establishment of Gaelkirke House, which will serve as a Place of Peace, a "Thin-Place" to which folk can come to be refreshed and to refresh as well as the base from which all subsequent ministries will proceed; Formulate a Celtic Rite Liturgy which will preserve the essential elements of a Celtic Christian self-understanding while remaining relevant in a "post-christendom" civilization; Develop a comprehensive catachesis or Faith Enrichment Program which will serve to educate and edify Community members and friends; and, Articulate a "Rule of Life" to serve as a "Framework for Freedom" to which members and friends will be invited to embrace as we all journey together towards the the Life of Beatitude to which we are called.
As a community which sees itself as an organic local expression of what may best be decribed as "orthodox", "consensual" and "classical" as well as "non-constantinian" and "incarnational" Christianity, Gaelkirke will affirm its identity essentially as a Communion which is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic, in a mystical union with the Universal Church transcending time and place as well as a realized unity within the Communion of Saints of all times and places.
Additionally, as a Church Community seeking to express itself in the context of a Celtic Consciousness, Gaelkirke embraces some specific distinctives which include:
1) Hope – Gaelkirke looks first for the good rather than the evil in all things. (Genesis 1:31; I Corinthians 13:13)
2) Equality – Of men and women, clergy and laity. (Galatians 3:28; I Peter 2:5)
3) Mystery – The Infinite God cannot be fully comprehended or explained by finite man but can be experienced and expressed and shared as we co-inhere through, with and in the Life of the Son. (I Timothy 6:16; I Corinthians 4:1; I Timothy 3:16; Romans 11:34-36)
4) Environment – Stewardship of God’s Creation. (Genesis 2:15; Psalm 8:6-8; I Corinthians 4:2)
5) Holism – Awareness of the sacred in all times and places; refusal to compartmentalize life. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Romans 14:8; Ephesians 1:9-10)
6) Immanence – God is present with His Creation. (Romans 11:36; Acts 17:27-28)
7) Simplicity – Emphasis on the plain, pure and precious basic essential doctrines. (II Corinthians 11:3; I Corinthians 15:3-4; I Corinthians 2:1-2; The Nicene Creed.)
8) Creativity – Since our God is Creator and made us in His image, we are like Him when we exercise creativity. (Psalm 33 ,40, 96, 98, 144, 149; 149:3)
9) Hospitality – While living a semi-aescetic existence, Celtic Christians were devoted to hospitality as well. They took seriously the admonitions not to forget to show hospitality to strangers. (Hebrews 13:2; Romans 12:10, 13)
10) Anamchara –An anamchara or soul-friend is someone to accompany you on your spiritual journey, walking together; so essential to spiritual formation that Saint Brigit is quoted as saying “A person without a soul friend is like a man without a head.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; James 5:16)
So, with that Gaelkirke offers to all the invitation of the Savior of all: Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Amen.
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