From Father David Powers
The Reconciliation of a Penitent
We are not required to “believe in” the rite of private confession as
necessary to salvation. The Anglican approach is all may, none must, some should. To deny that God acts in this sacrament is to contradict our Anglican belief in the sacraments as a means of grace. For some people, the absolution of the general confession is like melting the tip of the iceberg – most of their burden of sin can’t be unloaded in the ten seconds of silence that begins the confession. We trust counselors, bartenders, friends and even strangers with bits and pieces of the sins that trouble us. This helps get sins out, but then what is done with them? They still come back because deep down we know they haven’t really been removed. Only Christ can remove them.
“The ministry of reconciliation, which has been committed by Christ to his Church, is exercised through the care each Christian has for others, through the common prayer of Christians assembled for public worships, and through the priesthood of the Church and its ministers declaring absolution.” (BCP, p. 446)
Question: What is reconciliation of a Penitent?
Answer: Reconciliation , or Penance, is the rite in which those who repent of their sins may confess them to God and receive absolution. (BCP Catechism, P. 861)
The priest knows the sacred nature of the transactions occurring in this rite and is bound to “the seal of the stole.” He, too, has need of this sacrament from time to time. Your Rector is not interested in how your sins differ from his or those of another. He is interested in seeing lives freed from guilt and reconciled to God.
The sacrament of reconciliation is available by appointment. "ALL may,
none must, some should.” SHOULD YOU? +David
Ash Wednesday message
Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the day’s of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.
I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent,by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer. (Book of Common Prayer, Page 264-265)
Every member of Trinity needs to take seriously to heart this exhortation
for Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. Although you might not have been able to attend Ash Wednesday services, this exhortation applies to us all, as a right beginning of Lent. +David
From the Feb. 10, 2008 issue of The Visitor
Falling Leaves and Advent
Most of us get a little rankled at lawns left to overgrow and go to seed. Their unkempt shabbiness offends our sense of order, propriety, neatness and control. But how differently we feel about the gradual blanketing of our lawns with autumn’s leaves. Even “neatniks” relax their rigorous standards in the face of nature’s harbingers that gently call all things to rest, serenity, patient expectancy and trust.
As the earth moves us into the evening of the year, and flora and fauna recede into the cloistered depth of root and lair, the Church, attuned to the rhythm of the created order, ends its “growing” cycle after Pentecost and seeks its spiritual roots in the reflective quietude of Advent. The shorter days and stark limbs increase out awareness of eventually falling from the tree of life; and so we look for salvation from insignificance and emptiness.
God’s original purposes for humankind and final purposes for all creation must be sought again if we are to fall gracefully from the tree of this life into the hand of God, who is eternal life. No passage of scripture can better meet our need here than the loving guidance issued through Isaiah.
“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and
rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
The four weeks of Advent are a spiritual returning to the source of our Christian hope and strength as they prepare us to receive the Son of God and to be received by him. No matter how much we rue the rampant commercial Christmas clamor, it won’t be changed. Direct your time and energy into probing and savoring the rich Advent scriptures and worship instead. Here is where we learn to fall gracefully into God’s loving hand and find our significance.
A fellow falling leaf,
David
Welcome to The Reverend Dr. David A. Powers, Interim Rector
A Bit About the Powers Family
Celeste and I have lived in Mobile since August of 1995, when I accepted the call to be the rector of All Saints. This was after 20 years of ministry among the Louisiana Episcopalians who live south of I-10. We love this city, its culture and its people. It was surprising to find how many Episcopal Churches were within two to four miles of each other. You can see some Episcopalians you know just about any time you
go to Winn Dixie or Bruno’s! We like that. But even though we have seen many of you while “making” groceries, you probably know little about us. So, here’s a succinct sketch.
Celeste grew up in Minden, Louisiana, near Shreveport. I grew up in Georgia, principally in Tifton. She went to Louisiana Tech. I went to Georgia Southern in Statesboro, where I played tuba in the Savannah
Symphony and double bass with any combo I could find. After a stint in Viet Nam and a few years of being a band director in Brunswick and Valdosta, I was confirmed and eventually went to St. Luke’s Seminary in
Sewanee.
Celeste and I met in Lake Charles – she taught at McNeese University and went to St. Michael’s. I was curate at Good Shepherd. We married in 1979 and had an instant family of four children: Mark, David,
Heather and Jonathan. They are now living in California, Louisiana, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. We have a 5 year old granddaughter and a 2 year old grandson, both of whom “are above average,” of course.
Celeste loves our dog, Max (a miniature Schnauzer), walking, playing bridge and the piano. I do yard work, minor repairs, often dream of going fishing and occasionally play Madame Queen, my double bass with “whom” I’ve had a relationship for forty years.
I like being a priest, and we look forward to getting to know you better.
David+
From the Sept. 2 issue of The Visitor
