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left coast mystic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 10th, 2008 |
| Location: | La Honda, California USA |
| Posts: | 61 |
| First Name: | Marcee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nondenominational charismatic, Presbyterian, long-time lover of the RCC |
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 06:07 am |
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Hi - I just joined the forum because I'm SOOO hungry for the "communion of the saints" within a Catholic context. I've been a deeply committed christian for 39 years, first as part of a charismatic nondenominational community composed of several christian communes, then as part of a charismatic, conservative Presbyterian church, and now for the past several years not a member of a church group, but resting in God's guidance and timing in drawing my husband and me fully into the Catholic Church.
It's wonderful to see how many believers are being drawn to the Catholic Church. I've always suspected that I come by a love of Catholicism genetically, since my father's mother (an of course her entire family for generations) was an Irish Catholic, although she converted to the Methodist church when she married my grandfather. My dad died when I was an infant and I was raised by a rabidly atheistic mother, but God revealed Himself to me as a child, although I didn't have the opportunity to learn anything about Him until I was a young adult. However, when I was in high school I would take the bus after school to go to the cathedral downtown, where I found a deep sense of peace and God's love enfolding me.
When I went through the spritual direction program several years ago at Mercy Center on the San Francisco Peninsula I felt as though I was coming home - the peace and humility that are so characteristic of the Catholic Church overwhelmed me every time I went to class!
That was, I'm sure the turning point, when I just couldn't be satisfied with a protestant experience any longer. My husband and I have always been very involved in our church communities (we are both elders in the Presbyterian church), but one Sunday I just couldn't stomach another pablum-type, non-eucharistic service, and instead of going to the service at the seeker church that we were members of (and on the worship team, too!) I "snuck" over to the Catholic church down the street. It was wonderful! I went several times but my husband was VERY uncomfortable about it, so I stopped, being certain that God will convert his heart at some point. Meanwhile, the only church in the small community we live in is a mission of that Catholic church, so occasionally he'll agree to go to services there, since we know the people there (not so alien that way!)
Well, I'm rambling a bit - it's pretty late - but I'm so thankful that this forum exists and grateful to those who maintain it for the benefit of the users. Another excellent example of the warmth and humility that so draws me to the Church!
____________________
Godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim. 6:6)
In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. (Isa. 30:15)
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EMarshallBuckles
Member
| Joined: | Mon Nov 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Rockville (Near Richmond), Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 563 |
| First Name: | Marshall | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Christian Church,Episcopal Church,Baptist denomination,learning about RCC |
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 07:27 am |
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 Marcee, welcome to the forums! I think that you will find some wonderful people here and some excellent discussions! Again, welcome!
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1791 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 12:02 pm |
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Our Eucharistic Christ seems to have a strong hold on you, Marcee. He attracts people from afar; he attracted me, too, many years ago and now I have been a Catholic for 45 years.
It was wonderful! I went several times but my husband was VERY uncomfortable about it, so I stopped, being certain that God will convert his heart at some point. Meanwhile, the only church in the small community we live in is a mission of that Catholic church, so occasionally he'll agree to go to services there, since we know the people there.
You have learned to go gently. That’s good. He knows, of course, where your heart is, and he loves you. As you learn more, perhaps it will rub off on him, and he will come to desire the reality of the presence as you do.
Yes, as you say, “peace and humility.” That is a good way to begin. You become silent in order to let God speak. But then, of course, you must also respond. God is not a vacuum, and neither are you. Eternal life, the promise of the Lord, is two hearts beating together, the one in harmony and obedience to the other, as the other gives life and strength.
David
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5079 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 01:49 pm |
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Welcome, Marcee, we're glad to have you here with us.
And the water in the Tiber is quite warm and inviting. We stand waiting for you on the bank along with our German Shepherd and the Lamb of God.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Talithacumi
Member
| Joined: | Sat Sep 30th, 2006 |
| Location: | Eastern Ohio, USA |
| Posts: | 260 |
| First Name: | Cheri | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic - Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 09:19 pm |
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Marcee,
Welcome to the Forum!  I'm sure you will benefit from it and I'm sure we all look forward to hearing more from you!
CajunRick wrote: Welcome, Marcee, we're glad to have you here with us.
And the water in the Tiber is quite warm and inviting. We stand waiting for you on the bank along with our German Shepherd and the Lamb of God.
Rick, on a side note to you... real cute! - "German Sherpherd"... lol.  Hadn't heard that one. I like it! Very appropriate, especially since German Shepherds were originally bred to herd sheep and Jesus refers to His followers as "sheep." Way cool! 
JMJ
- Cheri
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“We do not want a Church that will move with the world; we want a Church that will move the world.”
- G.K. Chesterton
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rbo4u2
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | Sunnyvale, California USA |
| Posts: | 365 |
| First Name: | Rich | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Formerly Christian & Missionary Alliance then became Presbyterian |
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 11:01 pm |
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left coast mystic wrote:
I
When I went through the spritual direction program several years ago at Mercy Center on the San Francisco Peninsula I felt as though I was coming home - the peace and humility that are so characteristic of the Catholic Church overwhelmed me every time I went to class!
My husband and I have always been very involved in our church communities (we are both elders in the Presbyterian church), but one Sunday I just couldn't stomach another pablum-type, non-eucharistic service, and instead of going to the service at the seeker church that we were members of (and on the worship team, too!)
Welcome Marcee. Are you familiar with MPPC? All of the rest of you on the forum will just have to guess at those initials. Ha.
I'm a member there and feel a lot the way you do about a "pablum" community. Although I love our pastor, I really feel we've removed Christ from the center of worship. A number of my friends including one of our pastors regularly go to the Mercy Center for the Taize service.
They know I'm very much into Catholic reading, but my pastor has actually encouraged me to go deeper into the contemplative Catholic studies.
Who knows???
Pray for me and pray my wife will be in harmony with me.
Rich
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JillD
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Visalia, California USA |
| Posts: | 678 |
| First Name: | Jill | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | heathen, EvFree, Messianic, LC-MS, Catholic 2007 |
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Posted: Sun May 11th, 2008 12:39 am |
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rbo4u2 wrote: Are you familiar with MPPC? I know! I know! Menlo Park Pres, right?? Big church, right????
J
____________________
"I praise you, for I am wondrously made. Wonderful are our works! You know me right well; my frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth." Psalm 139
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rbo4u2
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | Sunnyvale, California USA |
| Posts: | 365 |
| First Name: | Rich | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Formerly Christian & Missionary Alliance then became Presbyterian |
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Posted: Sun May 11th, 2008 12:42 am |
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JillD wrote:
rbo4u2 wrote: Are you familiar with MPPC? I know! I know! Menlo Park Pres, right?? Big church, right????
J
 Shhhhhhh.......you'll blow my cover.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5079 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sun May 11th, 2008 02:33 am |
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Talithacumi wrote: real cute! - "German Sherpherd"... lol. Hadn't heard that one. I like it!
I wish I could take credit for it. I think t-shirts and bumper stickers appeared within minutes of Ratzinger's election.
There's a series of t-shirts on various dog breeds ("I love my..."), and someone came up with the bright idea to replace the picture of the dog with Pope Benedict over the legend "I Love My German Shepherd". It is quite simply true on so very many levels!
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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tedjenczewski
Member
| Joined: | Thu May 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Richmond, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 204 |
| First Name: | Ted | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Presbyterian, Catholic |
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Posted: Sun May 11th, 2008 02:54 am |
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| Welcome to the forum Marcee. You might be longing for what is missing in all protestant worship. And what is missing is what happens in the mass after the preist calls on us to "Lift up our hearts", and we respond "we lift them up to the Lord". And what happens is that we join with all the angels and saints in the heavenly worship described in in John's Revelation, and receive the Bread of Heaven, the Holy Eucharist, the Real Presence". God bless you on your journey. Last edited on Sun May 11th, 2008 02:55 am by tedjenczewski
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"...the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth." 1Tim 3, 15
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Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 1414 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Evangelical "Jesus Freak" (Arminian) / "Lewisian Schaefferite" / Catholic |
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Posted: Mon May 12th, 2008 06:50 pm |
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| Welcome, Marcee. I hope you feel free to share your discoveries and struggles with the warm, kind folks you see on this forum. The Eucharist does indeed draw many people to the Catholic Church.
____________________
I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 1900+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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BD
Member
| Joined: | Wed Mar 26th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 46 |
| First Name: | Brett | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Non-denominational evangelical, Mennonite (Anabaptist), now Evangelical-Anabapti-catholic |
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Posted: Tue May 13th, 2008 01:40 pm |
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Welcome to the forum, Marcee. I'm a former left coast mystic myself, now a great plains mystic! I think you'll find us a fun and loving bunch...I'm new and on the one road to Rome too. Look forward to reading more of your posts.
Brett
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Non abbiate paura!
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Ave_Girl
Moderator
| Joined: | Wed Nov 7th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 143 |
| First Name: | Mary Clare | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic |
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Posted: Tue May 13th, 2008 04:34 pm |
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Just wanted to second everyones welcome! Hope you enjoy your time spent here.
God bless,
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~Mary Clare Piecynski~
Coming Home Network Staff
740-450-1175 ext 105
maryp@chnetwork.org
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left coast mystic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 10th, 2008 |
| Location: | La Honda, California USA |
| Posts: | 61 |
| First Name: | Marcee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nondenominational charismatic, Presbyterian, long-time lover of the RCC |
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Posted: Sat May 17th, 2008 04:08 pm |
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rbo4u2 wrote: Welcome Marcee. Are you familiar with MPPC? All of the rest of you on the forum will just have to guess at those initials. Ha.
Rich -
It's kind of hard NOT to know about MPPC around here. We were long-time members of First Pres San Mateo when it was a bastion of charismaniacs, and some of the folks from there ended up at MPPC when First Pres collapsed in on itself. I'm glad to hear that some folks from MPPC go to Mercy Center occasionally. Let's pray for each other and our spouses as we stumble down the same path.
____________________
Godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim. 6:6)
In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. (Isa. 30:15)
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Kim M.
Member
| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 442 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Assembly again, PCA, ... |
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Posted: Sat May 17th, 2008 04:43 pm |
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Hi Marcee,
I'm partly of Irish Catholic descent as well. My father, my paternal (or is it fraternal?) grandparents, and my paternal great-grandparents were all Roman Catholics in Ireland. Not sure how devout, but nonetheless, that is my heritage.
I'm not Catholic yet, but in my heart...Who knows? Maybe some of them are up there praying me in!
Nice to meet you!
____________________
"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
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Kim M.
Member
| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 442 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Assembly again, PCA, ... |
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Posted: Sat May 17th, 2008 04:45 pm |
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Kim M. wrote: Hi Marcee,
I'm partly of Irish Catholic descent as well. My father, my paternal (or is it fraternal?) grandparents, and my paternal great-grandparents were all Roman Catholics in Ireland. Not sure how devout, but nonetheless, that is my heritage.
Oh, then there's the Lutheranism (and a dash of Seventh Day Adventism) on my mother's side. Perhaps that's why my parents never took me to church? 
____________________
"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
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Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 1414 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Evangelical "Jesus Freak" (Arminian) / "Lewisian Schaefferite" / Catholic |
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Posted: Sat May 17th, 2008 09:13 pm |
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| "First Day" Catholicism is best.
____________________
I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 1900+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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JillD
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Visalia, California USA |
| Posts: | 678 |
| First Name: | Jill | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | heathen, EvFree, Messianic, LC-MS, Catholic 2007 |
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Posted: Sat May 17th, 2008 09:16 pm |
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Dave Armstrong wrote: "First Day" Catholicism is best.
I like that, Dave! "First Day Catholicism..." Very clevah.
____________________
"I praise you, for I am wondrously made. Wonderful are our works! You know me right well; my frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth." Psalm 139
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left coast mystic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 10th, 2008 |
| Location: | La Honda, California USA |
| Posts: | 61 |
| First Name: | Marcee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nondenominational charismatic, Presbyterian, long-time lover of the RCC |
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Online
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Posted: Sat May 17th, 2008 09:32 pm |
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Dave Armstrong wrote: "First Day" Catholicism is best.
Well, better to have it "in the genes" than not at all, eh? At least the seed is there, ready to be nurtured.
____________________
Godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim. 6:6)
In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. (Isa. 30:15)
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rbo4u2
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | Sunnyvale, California USA |
| Posts: | 365 |
| First Name: | Rich | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Formerly Christian & Missionary Alliance then became Presbyterian |
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Posted: Mon May 26th, 2008 03:50 pm |
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left coast mystic wrote:
rbo4u2 wrote: Welcome Marcee. Are you familiar with MPPC? All of the rest of you on the forum will just have to guess at those initials. Ha.
Rich -
It's kind of hard NOT to know about MPPC around here. We were long-time members of First Pres San Mateo when it was a bastion of charismaniacs, and some of the folks from there ended up at MPPC when First Pres collapsed in on itself. I'm glad to hear that some folks from MPPC go to Mercy Center occasionally. Let's pray for each other and our spouses as we stumble down the same path.
Hi Marcee, I just got back from vacation and saw your post. As you probably know, MPPC now has a satellite campus up in the San Mateo area.
I hear they are trying to get a new location as the school just isn't working out as well as hoped.
Yep, I may get up to the Mercy Center someday. I live in the Sunnyvale area and work at Stanford, so the commute is a bit dicey, especially at today's gas prices. I went to a contemplative service in Bend Oregon with my wife while on vacation. It was nice, but hardly Catholic. It was the closest I'll probably get my wife to anything Catholic, barring a miracle. Her friend from post college days is a volunteer chaplain up in Bend, so that's why we are at the church up there.
The Mercy Center bothers me a bit since they have so many Buddhist leanings but I hear the contemplative Friday services are pretty traditional Catholic exercises. So I may get there if I can.
I'll pray for you and you keep praying for me and mine.
Rich
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left coast mystic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 10th, 2008 |
| Location: | La Honda, California USA |
| Posts: | 61 |
| First Name: | Marcee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nondenominational charismatic, Presbyterian, long-time lover of the RCC |
| Status: |
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Posted: Mon May 26th, 2008 04:16 pm |
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Rich -
I definitely will! Do you know about Vallombrosa Center in Menlo Park? It's east of ECR and offers many retreats throughout the year. The website is vallombrosa.org. I suspect that you could get your wife to attend one of the events there, since LOTS of people I know from MPPC do.
You might also look for a spiritual director, either through sdiworld.org or by calling Mercy Center. There are plenty of non-Catholic spiritual directors in our area, including Presbyterians. Having a spiritual director to process your spiritual questions with can help either one of you and would certainly be a way of knocking down barriers to the truth.
Marcee
____________________
Godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim. 6:6)
In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. (Isa. 30:15)
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rbo4u2
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | Sunnyvale, California USA |
| Posts: | 365 |
| First Name: | Rich | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Formerly Christian & Missionary Alliance then became Presbyterian |
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Posted: Mon May 26th, 2008 04:54 pm |
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left coast mystic wrote:
Rich -
I definitely will! Do you know about Vallombrosa Center in Menlo Park? It's east of ECR and offers many retreats throughout the year. The website is vallombrosa.org. I suspect that you could get your wife to attend one of the events there, since LOTS of people I know from MPPC do.
You might also look for a spiritual director, either through sdiworld.org or by calling Mercy Center. There are plenty of non-Catholic spiritual directors in our area, including Presbyterians. Having a spiritual director to process your spiritual questions with can help either one of you and would certainly be a way of knocking down barriers to the truth.
Marcee
Gee Thanks Marcee. I hadn't heard of sdiworld. I am familiar with the Vallombrosa Center. I'll have to look at that more closely.
Thanks
Rich
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