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<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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