A friend pointed to the above image and exclaimed: “Now, that’s liturgy!” True. Very quickly, however, in our one-way culture (where affirming one thing is understood by many as denying anything different to what is being affirmed), people end up thinking that the above image is the only way to do liturgy, the ideal of
Let us pray (in silence) [to follow Christ more closely] pause God of the desert,Jesus was led by the Spiritto fast forty days in the wildernessand was tempted as we are, yet without sin;give us grace to observe the disciplines of Lent;and, as you know our weakness,so may we know your power to save; through
Travelling around NZ Anglicanland, when you are not worshipping with your own community, you get a better sense how everyone is just doing what is right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6; 21:25). Common Prayer still exists – in the sense of people joining together for communal worship in a single congregation. But, especially in
The Anglican Church Of Or Read More »
The people and presiding priest proclaim and respond to the Word of God From Gathering to Listening The sense of community that has been fostered in the Gathering of the Community needs to be maintained in the Proclamation of God’s Word. If people follow the reading in personal copies or in pew Bibles, this may
Celebrating Eucharist
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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
I recently had a conversation with a young man who had just completed 10 days in absolute silence, meditating 10 hours a day. This was at a Buddhist centre in New Zealand. 60 people attended. Attendance was free (koha – donation). Yes, there are places in New Zealand where you can go on a silent
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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
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Loving God above all through all Let us pray (in silence) [that we may love God in all things and above all things] Pause O God, you have prepared for those who love yougood things which no eye can see,and which surpass our understanding;pour into our hearts such longing for you,that we,loving you in all things
Walking the Camino to Santiago is a lived parable of the pilgrimage of life. Others may have sent luggage ahead – my own personal decision was to carry my gear. What we carry can also, of course, translate metaphorically. There is all our emotional, intellectual, even spiritual baggage. And the invitation, and challenge, to travel
Travelling and at home, one of the differences between Roman Catholic and Anglican church buildings that has become a noticeable pattern to me is that if one goes into a Roman Catholic church building it would be very rare to find one where there isn’t someone praying; if one goes into an Anglican church building
