A Beginning

A a small kid growing up in rural Minnesota, I was captivated and enamored of all butterflies. Yes, unfortunately, I captured a few, euthanized them and then attached them to a postboard. Most of the time, I just chased them and with my arms twirling like a whirl-a-gig, I would laugh as I enjoyed their grace and their beauty. Their flight patterns always evaded me as I stumbled through waist high alfalfa fields. When the chrysalises began to appear my parents strictly forbad me to disturb those quiet enclosures. And then, the magic of a Monarch emerging from its safe haven! I watched as the sunlight dried its wings thus enabling it to fly. The cocoon was empty but it had served its purpose as it was preserved for other little children to view and imagine the life that had developed within it.

My own spiritual life is a little bit like that of a butterfly emerging from a cocoon/chrysalis. The life of my soul was safely tucked within a comfortable tradition for many years. That tradition fed my maturing soul and, as Julian of Norwich would say, "All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well." I dreamed as I matured. I held a sentimentalized view of Christ. Though horrified by the manner of his death and amazed by his resurrection, he remained in a distant hallowed place. Somewhere along the line, my soul grew in understanding that to be his follower was to be a risk taker, a wise risk taker, one upon whom Christ could count to continue the work that he had initiated. He was one who was called to bring the salve of love to heal our wounded natures and to restore them to the state of magnificence in which we had been created. One who is healed is like the Monarch whose wings have been dried by the sunlight and is able to fly.

I have come from a wonderful tradition, I work in a wonderful tradition and I revere that tradition for it has given me and continues to give me my soul's foundation, the grounding of my soul. Yet, at this undisclosed age, I find myself stretching the wings of my spirit in order to know more of the vast world of the soul and of the heart of God. Within a community of seekers, I have found that many are emerging and trying their wings in different ways as people of God. I see those who come together at St. Barnabas on Sunday evenings as souls in all stages of emergence. Although we are different from each other, we all desire the same and that is to do the work of God as made known through Jesus. We can no longer be "groupies" who follow a saccharin version of Christ. Once out of the cocoon, we must fly.

This site is for all who are emerging, for all who wonder about the Emerging Communities that are springing up all around the globe and for all who wish to comment.

COMING SOON: THE EMERGING CHURCH

Welcome to Priest Kathleen's blog, concerning matters important to the Church, the community and humankind at large.

God always amazes me! My eyes open wide at a sunrise. I think of Jesus as the Sonrise.

From Judaism, Christianity emerged while retaining segments of Judaism and Hellenistic strains. We've never ceased our emergent journey.

Our "Church Emerging" will open itself to the development of a community of seekers whose souls resonate with God as held by Christianity while exploring the urgings of the Holy Spirit. Come and see Sunday evenings at 5:30 in the Compton Room.

Contact Priest Kathleen+ for more information. Click here to watch a short video.