Monday, July 13, 2009
Brief Hiatus
I'm a little tired of electronics right now and am going to take a break from it for the next day or so, save for a history note or two. We'll be back soon.
Actually, I've Always Wanted To Do This
In fact, Robert Manry inspired me to buy a similar boat a few years ago and, on more than one occasion [just ask Jenni] seriously attempt to accidentally kill myself.
Crossing a Very Big Sea In a Very Small Boat
More about Robert Manry and Tinkerbelle may be found here.
Celtic Prayer
May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine upon your window pane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near to you and
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine upon your window pane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near to you and
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Maybe The Weirdest Political "Scandal" Of Which I've Read
What do we call it? Hostgate?
Did Harper pocket wafer? PMO says no
[For those of you who don't obsessively read international newspapers, or who didn't grow up on the Canadian border, Stephen Harper is the prime minister of our northern neighbor.]
Did Harper pocket wafer? PMO says no
[For those of you who don't obsessively read international newspapers, or who didn't grow up on the Canadian border, Stephen Harper is the prime minister of our northern neighbor.]
Saturday, July 11, 2009
The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
This week we experience dance fever in both the courts of David and Herod; and we deal with the spiritual probate court that was apparently Ephesus. All this plus why St. Laurence is the patron saint of football players.
The lections may be found here.
[Click the picture above to enlarge. Is that not the most European looking King David you ever saw?]
General Convention News
Just like three years ago, only more so. It's interesting to observe a change in ideological dynamic, as "conservative" or "traditional" portions of the church have left to form their own organizations. One would think controversy would now be a thing of the past. Not so, as one may see from this article:
Deputies delay approval of Central Ecuador bishop election
Also, it appears the church calendar, which is rapidly becoming a depository for just about any historical figure admired by any individual who is a member of the committee that decides such things, is already attracting the kind of debate that reminds me of the 1980's.
Meanwhile, the C.M. Almy company seeks to sell as much stuff as possible, as captured in the photo above.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Today In Church History
July 10, 1863: Clement C. Moore dies. In 1819 he established the General Theological Seminary, where he taught Greek and Hebrew Literature for 28 years. He also authored "A Visit from St. Nicholas" ('Twas the Night Before Christmas . . . ) in 1823.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Today In Church History
July 9, 1228: Stephen Langton, greatest of the medieval archbishops of Canterbury, dies. He had formulated the original division of the Bible into chapters in the late 1100s, and his name appears on the Magna Carta as counselor to the king.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Is This A Sign Of The Apocalypse?
Nah, it's just some mathematical fun.
Right now, it is 12:34:56, 7/8/09
Right now, it is 12:34:56, 7/8/09
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Today In Church History
July 7, 1647: Thomas Hooker, Puritan pastor, political theorist, and founder of Connecticut dies on his sixty-first birthday.
"People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news."
I was amused by a recent article in one of the many local newspapers [offhand I don't remember which one] about a church in the county in which the congregation has been given direction by the pastor to dress casually during the summer. Who knew clergy still controlled such things?
I also noted that their stated worship formula for the season is to offer more music and less liturgy, but with more prayer. In some liminal way, this reminded me of an advertisement for an improved pork sausage that stated that the product had "a little less spice, a little more sage, but with the same great taste". That never made much sense to me, either.
Once I got over my surprise that anyone actually thought that the denomination in question could have any less liturgy than it did before, I was puzzled by what the notion of liturgy must be for people who are urged to pray "more". After all, liturgy is merely a framework that enhances and brings focus to our sense of prayer. To have less liturgy but more prayer seems contradictory. Then again, it seems unusual for a congregation in the 21st century to have to be told not only to dress casually, but to pray openly and [Good Lord!] extemporaneously. People of faith hardly need the invitation of or permission from ecclesial authority to communicate with God. That was all changed in the 1st Century.
I've always found that the formula for a healthy parish is to have more music and more liturgy. Prayer of all sorts just seems to follow from that point. Folks can decide on their own how they want to dress. Feel free to pray the way you want, too.
The other thing that amused me is that a newspaper, any newspaper, would dedicate two columns to a story about superficial changes in a church's practice. I suppose this could have been a radical story forty years ago, but seems a rather blase page-filler nowadays. Then again, maybe the church is across the street from the newspaper's offices and it's an easy thing to put together by a vacation-decimated staff or a summer intern. Still, it would have been a much more interesting article had it been about what must be the very last church in the general area to have formally dressed worshipers and constrained prayers.
By the way, if you want to appreciate casual dress, check out the footwear of our choir members as they process. It's an eclectic representation, to say the least.
[The above quotation is from A.J. Liebling, who wrote for The New Yorker for over thirty years.]
I also noted that their stated worship formula for the season is to offer more music and less liturgy, but with more prayer. In some liminal way, this reminded me of an advertisement for an improved pork sausage that stated that the product had "a little less spice, a little more sage, but with the same great taste". That never made much sense to me, either.
Once I got over my surprise that anyone actually thought that the denomination in question could have any less liturgy than it did before, I was puzzled by what the notion of liturgy must be for people who are urged to pray "more". After all, liturgy is merely a framework that enhances and brings focus to our sense of prayer. To have less liturgy but more prayer seems contradictory. Then again, it seems unusual for a congregation in the 21st century to have to be told not only to dress casually, but to pray openly and [Good Lord!] extemporaneously. People of faith hardly need the invitation of or permission from ecclesial authority to communicate with God. That was all changed in the 1st Century.
I've always found that the formula for a healthy parish is to have more music and more liturgy. Prayer of all sorts just seems to follow from that point. Folks can decide on their own how they want to dress. Feel free to pray the way you want, too.
The other thing that amused me is that a newspaper, any newspaper, would dedicate two columns to a story about superficial changes in a church's practice. I suppose this could have been a radical story forty years ago, but seems a rather blase page-filler nowadays. Then again, maybe the church is across the street from the newspaper's offices and it's an easy thing to put together by a vacation-decimated staff or a summer intern. Still, it would have been a much more interesting article had it been about what must be the very last church in the general area to have formally dressed worshipers and constrained prayers.
By the way, if you want to appreciate casual dress, check out the footwear of our choir members as they process. It's an eclectic representation, to say the least.
[The above quotation is from A.J. Liebling, who wrote for The New Yorker for over thirty years.]
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