LET US, IN HEAVEN'S NAME, drag out the Divine Drama from under the dreadful accumulation of slipshod thinking and trashy sentiment heaped upon it, and set it on an open stage to startle the world into some sort of vigorous reaction.
     If the pious are the first to be shocked, so much the worse for the pious — others will enter the Kingdom of Heaven before them. If all men are offended because of Christ, let them be offended; but where is the sense of their being offended at something that is not Christ and is nothing like Him? We do Him singularly little honor by watering down till it could not offend a fly.
      Surely it is not the business of the Church to adapt Christ to men, but to adapt men to Christ."
     — Dorothy Sayers
         Creed or Chaos?, 24-25

WHAT THE CHURCH of Jesus Christ believes, teaches, and confesses on the basis of the word of God: This is Christian doctrine. Doctrine is not the only, not even the primary, activity of the church. The church worships God and serves mankind, it works for the transformation of this world and waits the consummation of its hope in the next. "Faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love" — love, and not faith, and certainly not doctrine. [But] the Christian church would not be the church as we know it without Christian doctrine.
     — Jaroslav Pelikan
         The Emergence of Catholic
         Tradition (100-600), p. 1.

The Will to Believe and the Need for Creed
     — an address by Jaroslav Pelikan

Catechumenate 2007-2008
An Invitation

ASCENSION & S. AGNES PARISH invites you to this year's seminar and discussion group on Catholic Christianity and Anglo-Catholic tradition.

THE PURPOSE of the catechumenate, which draws on the traditional practice of the ancient Church, is not only to teach us about how God's grace works, but to help us experience that grace—not only to know about God but to know Him.

All are welcome—the baptized and the unbaptized, the seeker, the unchurched, the cradle Episcopalian, the commited athiest.

The introductory meeting will begin with a light meal and provide an overview, introductions, informal presentations by the leaders, and consider questions and answers. In subsequent sessions, our seminar group discusses prayer, spiritual growth, scripture, doctrine, Church history, and the sacraments.You are welcome to come to any one class or to all of them.

As we study doctrine, prayer, history, spiritual growth, scripture, sacraments, we ask:

• Is it true, both abstractly true and true as in honest, authentic, sincere?
• Is it good?
• Is it beautiful?
• Does it more or less agree with my experience?
• Does it enrich life and humanity?

The catechumenate will cover such topics as the ancient and recent history of the Church, her practice and doctrine, and basics like the structure and architecture of the church building and instruments used during mass.

The discussion is led by clergy and laypersons and all participants are encouraged to offer questions, arguments, or comments to the conversation.

In addition to the weekly classes, we offer several opportunities to participate in trips to other churches and religious sites, weekend retreats, and service projects in the community.

Participants do not have to make a commitment. It is designed for people who would like to be, or are considering becoming —

• adult candidates for baptism;
• candidates for confirmation (adults and teenagers who have been baptised in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost);
• candidates for reception (adults and teenagers who have been confirmed in the Roman Catholic or Orthodox Church and now would like to be received into the Episcopal Church);
• candidates for reaffirmation of baptismal vows (adults who wish a formal recommitment with the laying on of hands by a bishop);
• all who seek spiritual renewal, a deeper relationship with Christ, or a fuller knowledge of the Catholic faith.

If you are even casually interested in learning more about Christian tradition, please plan to join us for an introductory meeting and a light meal on in October 2006, exact date to be announced. All are welcome to attend.

The Catechumenate, which is preceded by Evening Prayer (6:15 pm) and Mass (6:30 pm), meets on Wednesdays from 7 pm until 8:30 pm from mid-October until Lent, with a break from mid-December until early January.

Ascension and Saint Agnes is located at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and 12^th Street, NW . If you would like more information, please call 202.347.8161 or contact us by e-mail.

Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God,       
and fully to enjoy him forever.         

 
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