We are going through the four marks of the church: one, holy, catholic, apostolic. In this post we are looking at the fourth mark: apostolic. I tire of the image of God as a little man in the sky controlling the weather. One metaphor for God I appreciate is God as the music of the
I believe in apostolic church Read More »
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick produced the following wonderful list of coffee heresies: Decaf is Docetic because it only appears to be coffee. Instant is Apollinarian because it’s had its soul removed and replaced. Frappuccinos are essentially a form of Monophysitism, having their coffee nature swallowed up in milkshake. Chicory is Arian, not truly coffee at all but a separate creation. Irish
I have written previously, if you really want to annoy Anglican clergy … get their titles wrong! Titles are what distinguishes the men from the boys – or whatever the inclusive version of that is. Into this clergy status anxiety steps Pope Francis. He has basically removed the title of Monsignor (those who hold the
Clergy Status Anxiety Read More »
Occasionally I glance at statistics of this site, and recently I spotted a change in the default way that google presents statistics. It now first gives what sort of devices are being used. I was fascinated that about half of people viewing this site are doing so using a mobile, tablet, or iPad. So I
I am tidying my personal library, and I opened Michael Hocking’s 1974 book, Handbook of Parish Work. Starting for clergy, but not stopping there, he presents his “‘Top Twenty’ list I drew up to help deacons to sort out which things are of most importance and which things of lesser importance.” He has Taking Services
20 parish priorities for priests Read More »
Habit 2 – Be Welcoming Imagine, for a moment, being a new person arriving at your church. How could you have found out about the church, about the service? How are you greeted when you come through the door? Be honest. If you have never been to church before, ever, what is your experience? If
Seven Habits of Highly Effective Churches 2 Read More »
The internet is awash with tub-thumping horror that the Church of England is diluting baptism by removing “sin” and “the devil” in alternatives. Usually immersed in far more important issues such as may gays love each other or can women lead, many are shedding tears at what they see as further infiltration by those nasty,
Church of England waters down Baptism? Read More »
