I think the majority of people who sing the popular “O come, o come, Emmanuel” have no real idea of the background to this carol. Do you? In the daily office, the regular invariability of singing/chanting/praying of psalms and biblical canticles (songs) is “softened” by an antiphon, a line usually said/sung before, and then repeated
The recent post on Common Worship led to my asking, “Why?” Why have common worship? Obviously, if you are praying alone – you can do whatever you want. When you start praying together with another person, or as a group – well, that’s quite a different ball game. Suddenly you meet innumerable decisions: When shall
Why Common Worship? Read More »
Ecumenical Advent Wreath Blessing Liturgy From the website of the Anglican Roman Catholic Commission of Aotearoa New Zealand (ARCCANZ). (link off this site) Introduction: The Anglican Roman Catholic Commission in Aotearoa, New Zealand, recommends shared Advent Liturgies of the Word in the week preceding Advent Sunday. This is in the spirit of the Joint Declarations
Unlocked Literal Bible Translation Anyone who knows two languages well realises that translation from one language to another is fraught with problems. Most people who read the Bible do so in translation, and most who read it place great weight on it – treating it as God’s Word. So translating the Bible is a task
Beliefs Bias Bible Translation Read More »
The issue has come up again recently: why are there often two different numbers for the same psalm? The Hebrew Bible counted the psalms one way. The Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek counted many psalms slightly differently. The early Christians used the Septuagint, and then went on to translate into Latin (the
Why are there Two Different Numbers for the Same Psalm? Read More »
Remember the 67-70 AD war of Jews against Romans. The Romans won – the temple was destroyed; Jerusalem lay in ruins. Hadrian was born just after that, 76AD. He was the Roman emperor from 117 to 138. He rebuilt the Pantheon, and built “Hadrian’s Wall”, the northern limit of Britannia – areas of the island
To critics of the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) and its twin, the RC 3-year Sunday cycle of Mass readings (RC3Yr), I regularly quote Churchill: “The RCL is the worst form of systematically reading the Bible as church, except for all the others.” I challenge people to show me a better form. Now someone has taken
Criticise Revised Common Lectionary? Read More »
The launching of the HeForShe movement is a good time to rethink inclusive and expansive language, and other gender-discriminatory issues, in liturgy. HeForShe aims to enlist men and boys in a campaign for gender equality. HeForShe is a solidarity movement for gender equality that brings together one half of humanity in support of the other
Rethinking Inclusive Language Read More »
Singing in worship is one of the most important dimensions of liturgy. Singing is attractive, prays twice, gives worship vitality, forms community, reinforces memory… Let’s put to one side for another day the good statement that we don’t sing at the liturgy, the liturgy is sung, and focus on the concrete decisions we have to
Singing At Worship Read More »
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, made media waves when he acknowledged he has doubts. In the interview with Lucy Tegg (video above, start at 12:00 minutes in), he candidly says, “There are moments, sure, where you think ‘Is there a God? Where is God?’” When asked, “Do you ever doubt?”, he replies, “Yes. I
