Perhaps it’s just me and my upbringing in northern Virginia, but I can distinctly remember thinking the local our Catholic parish was weird because when I received communion there is was always and only a wafer. No wine. Anyone else with me? A few confessions are in order here: first, by “my upbringing” I simply refer to the fact that I was part of a fairly low Episcopal Church and had no personal real commitment to Anglican worship, polity, or... Read more
If you’re anything like me, it can be tough keeping up with reading throughout the week. Friends share interesting articles on Facebook, Twitter, etc. and you set them aside so you can read them “later,” only later never happens. Perhaps it’s just me… Here’s what I have set aside during the course of the past week to be read “later.” Cheers and enjoy! From My Blog Language Lessons: Leitourgia – “I’m not entirely convinced that it is does.... Read more
This is the first installment of a new series entitled Language Lessons. The goal here is to take terms/phrases/words from liturgical theology and explore their meaning, especially when the meaning given publicly is often wrong or incomplete. Alternatively titled: Is it really the work of the people? Doubly-alternatively titled: liturgy for the life of the world. Yes, that is my nod to Schmemann, first, and then to Kavanagh, second. Perhaps its my Protestant upbringing—the majority of my time spent in low-church evangelical,... Read more
The point of Christian freedom is that we can now choose to subject ourselves to others, to serve others, to be dutiful to others. Read more
Many of you have been gone for a good portion of the week at your various assemblies/synods/councils/conventions, etc. You’ve elected new leaders, voted on important measures, reengaged with old friends, and yet the blogging world kept spinning. I want to get back in the habit of providing links and materials for you to catch up on during the weekend. Not all bloggers take the weekend off, but a fair number do since traffic tends to be lighter. Here’s your guide... Read more
I was reading through posts on my Facebook feed this morning and the word “Apprenticeship” jumped out at me. It was used with reference to Jesus and what it means to follow him, and it immediately got me thinking: what does it mean to be an apprentice? What does it mean to apprentice ourselves to another? Currently, I am business owner. I own an interior painting company and presently I am the only employee. I recently had a phone call... Read more
Our imaginations, our sense of awe and wonder, our belief in the movement and action of the Holy Spirit is greatly diminished. Read more
We’ve all done it. At one point or another we have each lamented, either privately or via Facebook, about the use of “we just” prayers in the church. For those who have never heard of such a thing, I can remember being in high school and hearing people make fun of the theological shallowness of others who would pray, “God, we just pray that you would…” Clearly it has become such commonplace that the Babylon Bee put out a piece... Read more
There’s no good way of classifying those who are liturgical snobs by virtue of being low liturgy or low(er) church. I do not have in view those belonging to churches who lack a historical liturgy or connectivity. This is not an anti-liturgy, contra-liturgy, or alternative-liturgy list (that might be another blog post for another time). I know a significant number of people who are Low Liturgy and who deeply appreciate the liturgical tradition of the Church even if they hold... Read more
Here is a bit of levity for you on Friday. Snobbery can affect any category of people: food snobs, wine snobs, sports snobs, shoe snobs, book snobs, etc. etc. ad infinitum. One group of people not often mentioned but highly afflicted is that of the Liturgical Snob. Liturgical snobbery is not necessarily a bad thing. As you’ll see from my list, most points are actually good and well-informed. It becomes an issue, however, based on how you use your snobbery.... Read more
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