Let me come clean with you: I kiss my stole, the altar, the Gospel Book; I cross myself; I bow towards the altar; I cross mind, lips, and heart at the Gospel; I pray with hands raised; I bow at the Name of Jesus; I genuflect for the Reserved Sacrament; I stand to pray; I
Why I Kiss My Stole Read More »
Because of the destruction of so many church buildings through the Canterbury quakes, my series on church architecture has a particular poignancy. My posts have often been on some general principle or an individual aspect. On Thursday, 1 August, I attended a lecture by Dr Denis McNamara, an architectural historian and theologian at the Liturgical
Anticipated eschatology Read More »
All may; some should; none must – looking again at confirmation All may; some should; none must. It’s a well-known Anglican aphorism for the sacramental action of private confession (Reconciliation of a Penitent). I think, in our changing environment, it is also a helpful adage for confirmation. I am firmly committed to the way our
I was pointed to the above and other videos of La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona) after the discussion about (de)consecration. Even beyond the discussions about (de)consecration we can learn much from the clip in terms of lavishness of symbol; vesture, music… Salm responsorial: 83 (Catalan) Que n’és d’amable, el vostre temple, Senyor de l’univers. Tot jo
Previously I had a fund-raising appeal amongst followers of this site so that I might purchase the ideal home for a liturgist. Now I’ve seen the ideal thing to wear around that house! So I’m on a fund-raising appeal yet again – I promise you this piece of vesture, is, as those into this sort
don’t have anything to wear? Read More »
I have been developing a theology and practice here of ordained priesthood/presbyterate where presiding-preaching-pastoring are three intimately intertwined, irreducible dimensions. This post might be regarded as a fourth (in a trilogy) reflecting on: being ordained directly to the order to which God calls you using the symbolism of another order acting out the ministry of
presider never preaching Read More »
Whenever I am part of the Easter Vigil I am always delighted if there are baptisms. Recently I was part of conversations where some people were seeing “baptism at the Easter Vigil as distracting from Easter” and, also, seeing immersion as “un-Anglican”. 1) Behind the “baptism at the Easter Vigil is distracting from Easter” idea,
baptism distracts from Easter? Read More »
It is regularly said now that Eastern and Western Christianity form two lungs of Christianity. We might also refer to head and heart, etc. needing to work in balance. Western theology is regularly connected to philosophy, arguing about words – words, words, more words. While Western theologians are often philosophers, Eastern theologians are often artists,
