Driving across the county yesterday, I was surprised to see how many non-sacramental churches are holding some sort of "blessing" for animals on Saturday. [I put "blessing" in quotes not to be snarky, but because non-sacramental churches don't bless in the ecclesial sense of the word].
I appreciate that it's tough times for Protestant churches and that everyone is trying to be innovative to one degree or another, but has it reached such a level of desperation that Congregational and other non-sacramental churches are now venerating the catholic St. Francis?
[Reminder: The Episcopal Church is considered a catholic church. We're from the Celtic tradition that's contemporary with the Roman Catholic Church.]
The witness of the martyrs of the Reformation seems to be inconvenient in the contemporary age. Next, they'll be embracing Holy Week, walking the Stations of the Cross, anointing with healing oil, and baptizing with water in the name of the Holy Spirit.
Some of these non-sacramental churches even impose ashes on Ash Wednesday! They don't hand out palms on Palm Sunday or even recognize that holy day, so I'm not sure where the ashes come from. Perhaps a catalog.
They seem to be flailing about for a theology, as the Reform Tradition is no longer adequate or has been surrendered to transient whims.
Thank God for Anglican tradition, eh?