Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Does everyone receive at least one gift from the Holy Spirit?

1 Corinthians 12 assures us that as believers, we are endowed with gifts bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit. These gifts are not the same for everyone, but, as the scripture tells us, various gifts come from the One Spirit. These gifts are wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues (multi-lingual), and the interpretation of tongues (understanding other languages).

I believe each of us possesses at least one gift of the Holy Spirit as believers. Have you stopped to think about what your gifts may be?

Should we not be more concerned with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in our daily affairs?

I think we should all be attentive to our spiritual gifts and how they contribute to loving our neighbor and loving God. If we are each given these gifts by the Holy Spirit, we are responsible for using them to honor God and show the world that we believe in a God of love.

Importance of Holy Eucharist

How important is the Eucharist to the Episcopal faith in general? To your faith specifically?

The Episcopal Church holds that a celebration of the Holy Eucharist is the principal act of Christian worship. This means that all the rites and rituals of the Church should be conducted with the reception of the sacraments of bread and wine at the center. This is the way Jesus is present with us in our worship. This is how we are nourished by his presence in this life and in the life to come. On Sundays and feast days, we celebrate the Eucharist. I always encourage the celebration at Burials and Weddings, though it’s not always done.

For me, specifically, receiving the Eucharist is of utmost importance to my faith. I feel that it is how we are “in communion with” God and each other. It’s how we connect with each other by sharing in the broken bread and cup, which is Christ.

Differing Beliefs

Do the beliefs of the laity differ from official Episcopal teaching?
If so, what is the significance of this issue?

I’m not sure I understand the questions. I’m sure that different folks have different ways of believing (lay and ordained). Do I think everyone in the laity is in line with the “official teaching” of the church? I would have to say no. But I would also say that also goes for the rest of Christianity. Faith and belief differ. There may be things outside the “official teaching” that people don’t agree with. There are many wrinkles in religion. Being Christian means that we follow Jesus who is the Christ. To me, that means that Jesus is Lord, and he is the incarnation of God. Faith in Christ is the thing we strive for. 

I feel that the Episcopal Church offers a broad umbrella under which to exercise that faith. Other than the Holy Scripture and the Book of Common Prayer, we rely on apostolic tradition and reason through the Holy Spirit to lead us into faith and into right relationship with each other and with God. 

If you need something other than this, please e-mail me again. Maybe rephrase or restate the question. I may be misunderstanding you here.