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<DIV>ALL - SORRY I WASNT ABLE TO REPLY ONLY TO SARAH</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dear Sarah Lawson</DIV>
<DIV><EM>"The Franciscan life is one of freedom to serve where we feel we are
called and family is very important."</EM></DIV>
<DIV>Thank you that was so helpful - I have been so warmly surprised (I shouldnt
have been surprised) at the several caring - loving - responses to my tentative
query.</DIV>
<DIV>I am convinced you are right about Francis approving. </DIV>
<DIV>Your idea of going over the stepping stones is a good one which i think i
will follow - thank you!</DIV>
<DIV>Im going to spend some time thinking and praying about your reply and the
others I had.</DIV>
<DIV>Thank God for email!!</DIV>
<DIV>Blessings</DIV>
<DIV>wendy</DIV>
<DIV>+</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 21,
2006 10:01 AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [TSSF-studies] Re Ministry -
Church/TSSF/balance/david Burrowspaper</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Dear Wendy - Church/TSSF/balance/David Burrows
paper</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Reading your 'thoughts' was most refreshing, helpful and
anything but 'trivial'.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I cannot conceive of Franciscan ministry as being about
pressure.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Francis fought to keep free from heavy weighted rules that
hindered life and engaging with people. This I loved in the blessed
man.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Much love to you Wendy as you journey in the Franciscan way
of Life.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Pax et Bonum</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Sarah</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=wendy@aston1954.freeserve.co.uk
href="mailto:wendy@aston1954.freeserve.co.uk">wendy davies</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=tssf-studies@justus.anglican.org
href="mailto:tssf-studies@justus.anglican.org">tssf-studies@justus.anglican.org</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, February 20, 2006 3:00
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [TSSF-studies] Re Ministry -
Church/TSSF/balance/david Burrows paper</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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!)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG><EM>Must</EM></STRONG> we have a
ministry in TSSF or Church - </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>Maybe for some
of us our Franciscan ministry is simply in family life or in another
group??</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>i dont know.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Any views welcome - Andrew has just suggested I
try AngFran so i will do that.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Apologies if this is too trivial for most of
you - I hope it doesnt result in too much emailexasperation. thanks for any
thoughts</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pax et Bonum!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>wendy</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>ps I am a novice - not sure about profession
yet.</FONT></DIV>
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