Some of you may know that there is an unofficial Lambeth blog on the go, run for the most part by the inscrutable Mike Daley. Just to round things off, I thought I would also let you know of the unoffical GAFCON blog, hosted by The Rev. DR. Christian Troll, Doctrinal Warrior.
I'm just sayin'...
Special to the Anglican Journal
[Toronto]
The member of the Prayer Book Society met early yesterday evening at the Empire Club in downtown Toronto, to discuss with himself the dwindling interest in the use of the BCP in Anglican Churches across the country. After two sherries and a glance at the test match cricket results, the member decided to write a strongly worded letter to the Primate.
Dr. Poncet, a professor of medieval architecture at Waterloo University, told the Anglican Journal that "the cure for the ills of the Anglican Church of Canada is to ensure that the extra 'e' is added to all appropriate words, thus ensuring a continuous fellowship with the mind and intent of the Reformers."
"We knowe", said Poncet, "that in all thinges whiche have taken place in oure beloved Churche over the past yeares, it has only beene the faithe of the Prayer Booke which has kepte us from beinge wholly swallowed by the Leviathane of what some have called 'Moderne' theologie. It is highe tyme for us to turn back the digital chronometer, clocke, hourglasse, sundial, and returne to the faithe of our Fatheres."
It is not known at this time what the Primate's response will be.
One of the motions at the last General Synod which almost flew under the radar was a call to have a thorough revision of liturgical texts for use in the Anglican Church of Canada. Prayer Book traditionalists were concerned that the motion would eliminate the BCP from common use, and replace it with a mishmash of “modern” or “Post modern” liturgies. In the end, the amended resolution which passed called for Faith Worship and Ministry to come up “fresh new expressions” for use in the Anglican Church of Canada. Resolution A226 was amended, so that only “contemporary language rites” would be subject to the proposed revisions. While I applaud the possibility of “fresh new expressions”, I find that, like the case of the rites for the catechumenate, the early drafts of such liturgies (pdf) leave a lot to be desired.
I think that the Anglican Church can certainly benefit from a critical self examination in the area of liturgy, particularly when it comes to such liturgies as a means of sharing the Gospel with a largely "post Christian" culture. However, I think there could is room for improvement:
“Journeying Beyond: A Pilgrimage of Exodus after Confirmation”
Rationale for the Rite:
It is well known in Anglican circles that Confirmation, while a significant milestone in forming a life of discipleship, is too often seen as an exit time for many young people from the community of the Church. Recognizing this to be the case, the Faith Worship and Ministry Committee, following the guidelines of A226 (GS 2007), has developed the following experimental liturgy: “Journeying Beyond: A Pilgrimage of Exodus after Confirmation”. The proposed liturgy would be used with those young people who have undergone Confirmation, but have decided (either at the time of Confirmation or shortly thereafter) to formally disassociate themselves from the Anglican Church of Canada. It seeks to honour their personal seeking in an authentic way, while at the same time giving shape to a form of return. In so doing, the spirit of autonomy inherent in a national church is fostered and nurtured in one of its most important constituent member groups: its youth.
Background and History:
While the theme of Exodus has firm Scriptural roots in terms of an overall progression to the Promised Land (though not in a terms of a permanent contemporary political entity), it is also recognized that this Exodus was a time of “wandering”. Indeed, the concept of wandering is an integral part of a mature faith, for without this constant wandering, we cannot follow, even in a geographic sense, the itinerant nature of Jesus’ own wanderings as articulated in the Synoptic Gospels. Recognizing that, in many cases, late adolescence is a natural time for such wanderings, we seek to encourage young people in their journey away from the Church, trusting that they will return when their own children need baptism, and thus setting in motion the continuous circle of the journey of faith, where both parents and newly baptized can then wander away again, to return at times of infinite transition (eg "funeral").
The Shape of the Rite:
Gathering of the Community:
The Presider should enter from a side door, rather than process via the center aisle. The newly confirmed should enter from whichever direction they choose. A large, broken compass may be placed on the altar.
One: "Not all who wander are lost."
All: "And also with you."One: "The universe expands in all directions."
All: "As does our faith. There are no boundaries, only frontiers!"One: "N., you have been brought to this place through the workings of Mystery. We, as the community in which you have been nurtured, now set you free. As Abram left the home of his ancestors, so we set you free to leave this, the home of your spiritual ancestors. As you grow, you must shed the old skin. There may come a time when you return: we may be here, or we may not. Your journey endures forever."
The Presider then hands the Traveler a broken compass:
"Receive the signpost of our faith. Let no direction dictate your footsteps."The Traveler takes the compass and covers it with a cloth. The colour of the cloth will be determined by the liturgical season.
Traveler: "Everyone who seeks will find. How can I try to explain, when I do he turns away again. It’s always been the same, same old story."
Presider: The service continues on page 185.
All stand, as the traveler exits by a side door.
Update: The Diocese of Saskatchewan website has an important press release from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Okay, so what was I really doing during "Earth Hour"?
BTW, if you are really stuck as to how to set up some basic mixing, try this site.
Breaking news...
Preston has received his new prayer material from head office and thinks that perhaps the material might need a bit of reworking...
We received a worship resource here at the parish called "Enough for All", an ecumenical service on the theme of caring for creation. It comes out of The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund and two other ecumenical partners. All good and well. There's some good stuff in there, and we will probably use some of it for our intercessions on an upcoming Sunday.
However, one particular prayer jumped out at me. It goes like this:
We pray for the air - which sustains us with every breath, and regulates a climate where life can flourish. Help us to understand our dependence on a stable atmosphere and recognize our need to reduce dangerous accumulations of the polluting emissions that we humans are responsible for. Teach us to change our careless and wasteful behaviour for the good of the world.
God of the Winds and Gases, show us your glory and hear us.
read the rest here
This prayer will be particularly effective with the 9-13 year old boy crowd...
and this is it: Anglican Beard Enthusiasts
This group is dedicated to the appreciation, examination, evaluation, and propagation of tremendous facial hair on Anglicans, particularly clergy.
The name of the group, however, should lead none to believe that we are only interested in beards. In fact, all forms of facial hair are applauded, including disgusting mustaches, unconsciousable sideburns, and that most prolific of Anglican facial hair: the overhanging eyebrows.
Just as Thomas Cranmer surely stroked his navel-length beard as the first edition of The Book of Common Prayer flowed from his pen, so too do we seek to celebrate and cultivate similarly inspiring beards on all Anglicans such that they might truly be a light to all the peoples of the world.
from the how-to knowledge of Dave Walker
Tho' an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid: and tho' there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him. Psalm xxvii. 3.
THIS most glorious day, which his sacred Majesty King GEORGE hath most religiously thought proper to dedicate to the Almighty as a day of public thanksgiving, for his timely assistance and heavenly interposition of providence in favour of these our unworthy kingdoms, against our old and ever inveterate enemies the king of France and his subjects; I hope this joyous day will be most religiously observed, most gratefully acknowledged by every one of my little flock with joyful lips and fervent hearts; for we may well sing with the inspired Psalmist, the words of the text, Tho' an host of men were laid against us, yet shall not our hearts be afraid: and tho' there rose up war against us, yet we will put our trust in him. For let us seriously reflect on this most important year, this memorable aera of our Monarch's reign, and surely we can't forget what wonderful things he hath done for us already, whereof we rejoice: victories which future ages will scarcely believe; and if they do believe, believe with wonder and amazement! Not to mention the little conquests we have obtained, the innumerable captives and rich captures we have taken; but most of all for that most important conquest in Canada, and taking of Quebeck.1759
Being the Day of Public Thanksgiving for the Success of His Majesty's Arms in Canada, and Taking of Quebeck.
A Sermon by Edward Pickering Rich, M.A.they don't make 'em like they used to
historical resources from project canterbury
Police in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, claim to have to caught the "dumbest criminal" this year.
The man walked into a station to report that he had been held up at gunpoint by a gang who had stolen his mobile phone.
But when the detective phoned the number of the phone reportedly stolen, it rang in the complainant's pocket.
"The shock left him speechless for a few minutes," said police spokesman Eugene Opperman, adding that the man, 25, was then arrested for perjury.from the BBC
“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.”
Clarence Darrow
more of like ilk at sameo416
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