ESBVM

The U.S. branch of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary will hold its next semi-annual meeting on Saturday, June 16, at Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church, in Linthicum, Maryland. The meeting will begin with coffee and registration at 9 AM and continue until noon. Lunch will be available for a small donation, to be followed by a business meeting of the society. The meeting is open to all (no registration fee) and all are invited to attend the business meeting.

The meeting will open with a short ecumenical prayer and feature three presentations. First, Bruce Lawrence, who is completing his M.A. in theology at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, will speak on the Formula of Reunion, a short creedal statement that helped to reunite the Church in 433 AD after a brief schism following the Council of Ephesus. This was the period when the Church officially acknowledged Mary as the Godbearer (Theotokos) and Marian devotion began to develop. Bruce is a member of the Holy Cross Antiochain Orthodox Church where the meeting will be held.

Then, the Rev. Warren Tanghe, Associate Pastor at the Church of the Resurrection, Ellicott City, Maryland, will speak on “Preaching Mary.” Fr. Tanghe has had a long association with the ESVBM, and can share information on the purpose and founding of the Society to those who are interested.

Finally, ESBVM USA president Virginia Kimball will speak on the work of the Rev. Dr. Donald Lacy, his books, and his overall contribution to the ESBVM. The recently departed Dr. Lacy was a United Methodist minister in Indiana who had long been active in ecumenical activities and the promotion of devotion to Mary – a real embodiment of the goals of the ESBVM.

The meeting will have a strong Society of Mary flavor. The Society of Mary is one of several Catholic devotional societies within the Anglican tradition, honoring her whom God has honored, the Virgin Mother of His incarnate Son, Jesus; thus bearing witness to His holy incarnation. (From the website: Society of Mary, American Region) http://somamerica.org/.” Both Dr. Lawrence and Fr. Tanghe are members of the council of the Society of Mary, and Dr. Lacy was a long-time member of the Society of Mary.

Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church is located at 105 North Camp Meade Road, Linthicum, Maryland, just minutes from the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. More information on the church can be found at http://www.holycrossonline.org/ . Also, more information on the ESBVM and updated information on this meeting may be found at http://www.esbvm.org .

The newly published ESBVM USA book, Mary for the Love and Glory of God, will be available at this meeting. The cost is $25 and $10 for members. Plan to pick up a few copies for yourself and friends, or for your church or educational institution.