[TSSF-studies] Re Ministry - Church/TSSF/balance/david Burrows paper

[sarah lawson]

Dear Wendy - Church/TSSF/balance/David Burrows paper

Reading your 'thoughts' was most refreshing, helpful and anything but 'trivial'.

I am always glad when we are struggling with inner thoughts or conflicts - it speaks to me of being alive and responding with an open heart.

After receiving so much mail I too struggled and questioned if tssf studies was for me.  I found myself going over my stepping stones to my decision to join the Third Order.
It was a good exercise reminding myself of how I was captivated as a young mother with  the story of Saint Francis - how something stirred within and then lay quietly until mid-life.  I am sure that what I had read inspired and guided me.  In later life when I again read this time about Third Order  and Saint Francis- it touched that place and I followed it all the way to being Professed in the Third Order.   I knew without doubt,  that my heart had already accepted this all those years before.  I love being a Franciscan, I love belonging with people who engage with the core of Saint Francis and his life.  Beyond this - and how I work this out is partially, but not totally defined.  I struggle to be free when I am tied down to methods and procedures/small groups or hard study.   It is not that I do not agree with such things - it is just that the procedure and methods of small group or study is perhaps viewed and lived out differently.  

When I first received the e-mail inviting me to join the tssf studies group - I had a feeling of thankfulness.  Thankfulness of my belonging and contact with my wider group of Franciscan brothers and sisters.  I found it a way of being in contact that does not involve dates, diaries and pressure of time.  A way of sharing with each other.  I am sure Saint Francis would have approved.  It is another way of sharing, being in community and study.  

That your Franciscan life goes out into family and other groups in the community is important and precious.  The Franciscan life is one of freedom to serve where we feel we are called and family is very important.

I cannot conceive of Franciscan ministry as being about pressure.

Francis fought to keep free from heavy weighted rules that hindered life and engaging with people.  This I loved in the blessed man.
Much love to you Wendy as you journey in the Franciscan way of Life.

Pax et Bonum
Sarah





  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: wendy davies 
  To: tssf-studies at justus.anglican.org 
  Sent: Monday, February 20, 2006 3:00 PM
  Subject: [TSSF-studies] Re Ministry - Church/TSSF/balance/david Burrows paper


  Andrews advice about the most recently posted paper (David Burrows - reflections on Collaborative ministry)plus Penelope Fletchers comments last week about the need to be Living Stones in our own churches and to beware of closed cells - plus Sister Avrils thoughts on being "knocked back" (how familiar that was!) have made me wonder if I could ask if anyone has yet found the right balance between ministry in TSSF and "Church"/Real life out there?

  Its something I am struggling with at the moment - the TSSF group I am in feels more like community than my church to which i feel  i can offer increasingly less in terms of ministry. Its limited to a monthly teen worship group at the moment which the main church seldom seems to take notice of - and I feel i cant cope with anything but the quiet of an 8am Eucharist (held in one of two sister churches on alternate weeks) As often happens "my" church is dominated by a small group who effectively say how everything goes and after years of battle in industry i dont feel inclined to battle on this front too (when i did try I had Avrils experience and I still bear the scars - though similarly to her case I found it possible to grow in a better relationship with one of the 2 dominants!)
  Must we have a ministry in TSSF or Church - Maybe for some of us our Franciscan ministry is simply in family life or in another group??

  i dont know.
  Any views welcome - Andrew has just suggested I try AngFran so i will do that.

  Apologies if this is too trivial for most of you - I hope it doesnt result in too much emailexasperation. thanks for any thoughts
  Pax et Bonum!
  wendy
  ps I am a novice - not sure about profession yet.


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