
		Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004

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Dear Father Paul

Father Paul Massey is Vicar of Church Of The Holy Cross Charismatic Episcopal Church which meets Saturday evenings at 6 p.m. at the Historic Train Depot in downtown Fayetteville.

Dear Father Paul: You are the vicar of Church Of The Holy Cross Charismatic Episcopal Church in Fayetteville. Pardon my asking, but what is the Charismatic Episcopal Church? It sounds like a contradiction in terms. Also, why do you meet on Saturday nights? — Timothy, Fayetteville.

Dear Timothy: Thank you for asking. I guess it does sound almost like a contradiction in terms. One of my pastor friends in another denomination jokingly asked me, "Do you guys praise the Lord with one hand raised and the other one down?"

The Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC) is a new denomination having been started by three local non-denominational churches in southern California in 1992. We are NOT a split-off from the larger main-line Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA), which has been in the news so much lately regarding the consecration of a "gay" bishop. Since starting in 1992 we now have over 1,000 churches in 20 countries with a little over 1 million members worldwide. Out of the 28 denominations with the word "Episcopal" in their name, we are the third largest after ECUSA and the African Methodist Episcopal Churches.

We are what is referred to in theological circles as a "Convergence Church," a new movement in Christianity. The CEC is the largest "Convergence" denomination. Simply put, we seek to reunite or "converge" the three (now seperate) historic streams of the Christian Church ... the sacramental, charismatic and evangelical streams back into one mighty river. The best way to describe the CEC is to think of a church that is like the Catholic, Charismatic, and Baptist churches all rolled into one ... just like the early church!

Our worship is ancient, yet contemporary. We are orthodox, meaning we hold strongly to the fundamental basics of the faith. Our ministers are in valid apostolic succession. The "Episcopal" in our name simply means that our church government is through bishops. Again, Timothy, thanks for asking. We are a very friendly church and we'd love to have you visit with us some Saturday evening at 6 p.m. at the Historic Fayetteville Train Depot to see for yourself.

Oh, I almost forgot, we meet on Saturday evenings so our members can sleep in on Sunday morning! I'm just kidding, Timothy; I am still the curate (assistant pastor) of our founding church in nearby Coweta County, and I need to be there on Sunday mornings. We expect to have a Sunday service in the not-too-distant future.

Dear Father Paul: I am an only child. My mom is 89 and in poor health. I am totally in the dark about her funeral wishes, where she wants to be buried or if she wants to be cremated, her will, her insurance policies and the like. I just can't bring myself to discuss these issues with her for fear she'll think I am looking for her to die. When my dad died a few years ago things were a real mess and I don't want to go through that again. — Daniel, Fayetteville.

Dear Daniel: How lucky your mom is to have a son like you who obviously cares so deeply about her and her wishes. I promise you that an 89-year-old has given serious thought to her life coming to an end, probably more so than you realize, but timing is everything in these cases.

You no doubt spend time with your mom. Be sensitive and listen carefully to her conversation. At some point she will say something, perhaps about the death of a friend or relative or about an illness she has that will give you a perfect opportunity to say something like, "Mom, if you pass on before I do, I am going to miss you so much. I've been thinking lately that if that does happen, I'll want to be sure everything that happens honors your life and is what you would want. Not right now, unless you want to, but sometime in the future, I hope we can discuss your wishes. Would that be OK?"

There is practically a 100 percent chance that whe will respond positively if you use this approach. Good luck.

Special note to Brenda (not her real name): You cannot change Bob! The only person you can change is yourself. I am praying for you. — Father Paul.

Father Massey will answer your questions. Write to him at paulmassey@earthlink.net or P. O. Box 510, Fayetteville, GA 30214.

[Father Paul Massey is Vicar of Church Of The Holy Cross Charismatic Episcopal Church which meets Saturday evenings at 6 p.m. at the Historic Train Depot in downtown Fayetteville. Visitors are welcome.]