The Opelika-Auburn News (Opelika, Alabama)
John Brand
Wed, Mar 13, 1974 · Page 2
Founders and directors of the Community of Jesus, Mesdames Cay Andersen and Judy Sorensen, were dual guest speakers Tuesday at the March luncheon of the Christian Woman's Club of Opelika and Auburn.
BEFORE half-a-hundred ladies from throughout the state, Cay and Judy, as they prefer to be called, discussed their organization's philosophy and principles before the attentive gathering at Andy's Restaurant in Opelika.
Called "spiritual mothers" at their Orleans, Mass.-based community of 80, Judy, the mother of three sons and a daughter, said the Community of Jesus is "very traditional in Episcopalian beliefs."
"WHILE we belong to the Episcopal Church," added Judy, always displaying a pleasant smile, "we are a separate community, much like an abbey."
Introduced by Mrs. Bobbie James of the six-year-old CWC, Judy, standing left of her bespectacled associate, first addressed the group.
Admittedly coming before the group as "two servants of God," Judy said in part that the Community of Jesus, legally incorporated as a church in June, 1970, strongly advocated prayer and "the power of the Cross," and the "inter-dwelling of the Holy Spirit."
KAY FOCUSED most of her discussions on "sins versus sin nature."
The mother of a 28-year-old man of the cloth in Darmstadt, West Germany, Kay said that the "confession of a sin is cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ," but, quickly pointed out Kay, in lieu of her Community's belief, "the sin itself is not the problem."
"The problem," answered her associate, "is sin nature which produces the problem."
THE TWO spiritual mothers urged daily prayer for the ills of the nation and said the first step for women such as the luncheon was to start "with yourselves."
After nearly an hour of "testimony rather than speeches," they fielded questions from the audience, many aimed at the background and life of the Community of Jesus, located near Cape Cod, and situated in Orleans, a community of about 3,000.
"There are 80 of us living at the Community of Jesus," answered Kay, "each in their own respective houses. There are two main houses, however, one which serves as a retreat and the other is the Zion House."
"THE FIRST priority at the Community," noted Kay, "is God. And our families come to the Community to become ministers of God."
"The only requirement," she added, "is that God has called them. These families, or individuals, then buy a house in the Community and in each house one room is set aside for God's priorities."
"In these rooms," she continued, "others who need Christ are taken in. And we have found that the need is far greater than we can meet in the Community of Jesus Christ."
JUDY ADDED, likewise from a question from the audience, that members follow "a very disciplined way of life," featuring "obedience to God" plus "daily communions, religious teaching and singing."
As for the singing, Judy drew obvious favorable responses when she said with a smile, "We sing the old, sacred music of Bach and Beethoven, not very good, of course, but in full spirit."
Further commenting of the role of their Community, Judy added, "We speak to all denominations about our beliefs and faith and a lot of ministers, from all denominations, come to us, mainly to recapture their own cause, particularly their loss of obedience to God."
"And we accomplish this by teams such as Kay and myself, and naturally at the Community," she noted.
In closing, Kay said, "Personal testimony is the light to the grace of God," and, continued Judy, "the following of Him is our way of obedience to Him."
Comments