Posted in church, theology, worship on 16 April, 2008 | 5 Comments »
One of things that has happened through blogging is that I am more regularly in contact with — and generally aware of — people from other denominations. And when the blogs take me back to my North American roots, that means there’s plenty of room for envy of larger churches, a culture of tithing, [...]
Posted in church, worship on 15 April, 2008 | 10 Comments »
This Sunday, I will baptize my own god-son. A bit unorthodox, I know, but that is how it is.
And what do the readings offer, to this composite group of Christians and ‘Seventh-day Adventurers’? The martyrdom of Stephen. The claim that some are destined to disobey. And the mixed blessing of ‘No [...]
Posted in worship on 23 March, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Alleluia, Christ is Risen.
…in Dunoon at least.
We had a lovely, intimate service, far from the solemnity I had planned.
My trouble is, I cut my liturgical teeth at a school chapel with a congregation of 900. In my heart of hearts, I still expect at least that many to turn up. Thankfully, half [...]
Posted in liturgy, worship on 21 March, 2008 | No Comments »
I have just printed the vigil booklets.
…and then realised that I forgot to change the readings to Year A.
Enough trees have died this week. I confess and apologize now to anyone alert enough to notice.
Posted in worship on 27 December, 2007 | 5 Comments »
No one came to the Eucharist tonight, which meant that I had time to realise that it is Christmas. The head-cold is beginning to lift. Home communicants stand a chance of seeing me soon. My favourite Christmas CD is playing for the first time this season. Who knows, maybe I shall [...]
Posted in blog, worship on 7 November, 2007 | 6 Comments »
Last night I saw The Producers.
Some of you will know that I am a theatre snob. My formative experiences of theatre were mostly on Broadway and I spent my teenage years at a school where the theatre budget ran to five digits which rather spoiled me for anything second rate.
There was nothing second rate [...]
Posted in worship on 1 November, 2007 | 2 Comments »
I shamelessly stole the central image of my All Saints’ sermon from the rector’s letter from my former church’s magazine. ‘My training rector’ (he will always be that, I suppose) wrote movingly of an altarpiece of the tree of life, emerging from Adam and Eve, and growing up into the glory of Christ, with [...]
Posted in worship on 29 September, 2007 | 3 Comments »
I had hoped to blog on Michaelmas today, but have run out of time. So I offer instead verses from a Michaelmas hymn I love. Yes, it is a Michaelmas hymn; it says so in the New English Hymnal. Though I seem to remember that my beloved training rector was [...]
Posted in Anglican, sermons, theology, worship on 31 August, 2007 | 14 Comments »
I have been brooding on the theology of the reserved sacrament again. Or rather, the lack of theology.
I find myself in the awkward position of having to support and encourage a pattern of worship I’m not sure I understand. Indeed, I’m not sure that the church as a whole has come to an [...]
Posted in Anglican, theology, worship on 6 August, 2007 | 14 Comments »
During my first year of studying theology, a lecturer asked us to make a list of all the things that we thought must happen in the context of the eucharist. Anglicans, Presbyterians, Baptists, Roman Catholics — all were invited to make their list, and compare notes. I should confess: I forgot the [...]
