Adventists and Catholics Unite

Seventh-day Adventist pulpits are being shared with Roman Catholic pulpits, and vice-verse. Nothing positive can be achieved from these kind of entanglements. Ancient Israel also entered into these kinds of agreements with the neighboring nations. It led to their utter destruction after they began to erect alters unto Baal. May we learn from sacred history and not repeat the same mistakes. -Advent Messenger Commentary

Auburn Christian Groups hold Ecumenical Lenten Services

Auburn Journal
March 6, 2014
by Amy Lobenberg

Several Auburn Christian groups have been working together to create a series of shared services to unite their respective organizations in observation of Lent, a religious season of fasting, repentance, moderation, spiritual discipline and reflection on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Six churches – St. Teresa of Avila, Auburn Presbyterian, Auburn Seventh-day Adventist, Bethlehem Lutheran, First Congregational and Pioneer United Methodist – will conduct Lenten worship every Wednesday, starting March 5 and ending April 9.

Each group will host one day and will feature a guest pastor from a different church.

The Rev. Arnold Parungao of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Auburn, said the joint events are an effort to unite Christians in the community.

The common theme throughout the services will be the “Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.” Parungao said the theme was chosen because it represents common Christian beliefs.

“Through this service, we make sure that those struggling can be helped, too,” Parungao said. “It’s not just a struggle of Catholics, but of the community. We fast not to show that we are Catholic, but to partake in the suffering of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross.”

Pastor Dan Appel of Auburn Seventh-day Adventist said he believes that the collaboration among organizations will bring about good faith among Auburn Christians.

“I think the intent was to just give the people the opportunity to get acquainted with other pastors,” Appel said. “So often, people hear the same speaker over and over again. This gives people the chance to get better acquainted. There is also an attempt to show that while we may have theological differences with each other, we still respect each other as followers of God.”

The first day of the combined worship series began on Ash Wednesday at St. Teresa’s with Appel as the guest speaker. According to the church’s religious education coordinator, Judy Jones, students helped create the ashes used to mark participants’ foreheads with a cross.

“The (Catholic) school and our religious education group both did palm-burning ceremonies and joined ashes,” Jones said. “All the kids put their palms from last year into the fire. It’s neat for them because they know they are a part of this.” Palm fronds are often distributed at Catholic churches on Palm Sunday, the week before Easter.

Parungao said the church is also providing plastic cups that can be filled with ashes and taken to Auburn convalescent homes for those who cannot attend services. On Wednesday morning, he said he was excited to begin observing Lent with fellow Christians, who he believes share common core values and goals.

“We say (during Lent), ‘Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” Parungao said.

Source:  http://www.auburnjournal.com/article/auburn-christian-groups-hold-ecumenical-lenten-services