Anglicans Aweigh

2009-05-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

New Directions
This blog will be undergoing a transition, as I go from being a parish priest in Woodinville, WA, to being a chaplain in the US Navy! I'll be trying to think of a new name for my blog other than 'Anglican Parish Priest' : any suggestions would be welcome! Please comment if you have an idea.

I fondly wish the folks of Saint Bartholomew's well as they go forward and search for my successor as Rector. I have made many wonderful friends at Saint Bartholomew's, not to mention the godparents of my two daughters who I baptized there. Some of my professional dreams as a parish priest also came to fruition for the first time at Saint Bartholomew's, such as: the reading of Morning and Evening Prayer in the Church as a daily public worship Service; an ongoing Scripture Study utilizing patristic commentary and Anglican divines; an annual Parish Retreat; a Parish Newsletter; a seasonal Supper/Evensong/Educational Series; an Acolyte program. My special contribution to Saint Bartholomew's (and the most fun!) was an afterschool program for vested Choir. This had been the subject of my doctoral dissertation at the University of California (Santa Barbara), and I was able to implement it to some degree at Saint Bartholomew's, where my wife and I worked with 15 boy and girl choristers over almost 4 years. We had an annual Choir Camp each Summer, and regular rehearsals throughout the school year, utilizing the RSCM training scheme. The Choir's performances included a monthly Service of Choral Holy Communion, and a Choral Evensong about once a quarter. The kids learned a lot of repertoire during that time, and hopefully learned choral singing skills that will bring them joy for a lifetime. For a small parish that was spread out over a large geographical area, that was all we could manage, but I am thankful for some very supportive parents who helped make the endeavor possible.

For my family and I, the road ahead definitely looks exciting. I am presently at Naval Station Newport, R. I., where I will undergo 5 weeks of training at Officer Development School followed by 7 weeks at Navy Chaplain School. Newport is a beautiful spot! My wife and family are staying with the grandparents, getting to know them better over the Summer. When we are reunited as a family, it will be at our ultimate duty station, at Camp Pendleton in North San Diego County. We look forward to serving our country in the Navy and Marine Corps.

What I am going to call this blog now is an open question : once again, any suggestions would be appreciated. I hope to keep blogging. Many Thanks, and Joy in Christ to all, Fr. Daniel McGrath

2009-02-22T15:37:00.000-08:00

All shall be well

When I learned that I was going on our Province's Lenten Retreat at St. Dorothy's Rest, and that we would be reading the Showings of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich, I felt inspired to bring this great English mystic "home" to our parish as well.

Hence, the Parish Lenten Reading I have selected for this year is A 40-Day Journey with Julian of Norwich, edited and arranged by Lisa Dahill. This book consists of material from Julian's Showings, as well as passages of scripture to meditate upon and prayers to be said, for each day [of Lent].

I really look forward to going on our Retreat, and hearing what Canon David Rodier has to say on Julian of Norwich. I think I might know a couple of reasons why she was selected for us to read at this time. She recieved her revelations of Divine Love while looking at the crucifix. Thus, the focal point of Showings of Divine Love is our Lord's Passion, and that is great for us to mediate on during these weeks leading up to Easter. There is another reason it is appropriate to read Julian right now, and that is that she lived, as we do, during a time of social upheaval, plague, war, economic recession, and...(you guessed it!)...climate change. Northern Europe had a spell of very cold winters and very short, rainy Summers in the mid-1300's. This devastated the agrarian economy, caused widespread malnuitrition, and paved the way for the Black Death, which subsequently destroyed anywhere from 30%-60% of the population of Europe.

Given these grim statistics, it is amazing that our Lord's revelations to Julian consisted of such words of hope and comfort for her, for her contemporaries: the revelations can basically be summarized as "Behold, how much I love you", and "All shall be well".

Here is a brief statement from Julian's Showings, a passage made famous by T. S. Elliot in his Four Quartets. I think it is a 'Showing' if you will, of the deep Love of the Most Holy Trinity, and that it is much needed in a society which is wracked with sickness, division and anxiety:

All shall be well,

and all shall be well,

and all manner of thing shall be well.

2009-02-03T19:16:00.000-08:00

The Proverbs
During Epiphany Season, our Scripture Study class is studying The Proverbs from the Holy Bible: a collection of aphorisms by Solomon and others.

I encouraged the class to do some Bible Memory work. Here's mine (if I can do it from memory) from the 3rd Chapter:

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him; and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy winepresses shall burst out with new wine.

Ok, I had a little trouble with the "navel" part, because that's a little different. Otherwise, learning Proverbs is really easy because of the parallel structure of each verse. Try it?

2008-12-26T11:03:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

Rejoice in Christ's Birth Throughout the Twelve Days, December 25 - January 6. Here are some scenes from Saint Bartholomew's, taken over the past week.

I finally had the driveway and parking lot plowed on Dec. 27, and the snow is melting. It's wonderful to hear the sound of dripping!

2008-12-21T17:51:00.000-08:00

Snow

The weather sure can change everything here. In one week, I went from a teaching/preaching/visiting/choir-training/administrative-task-completing, parish priest, to ... [quite simply] ... a snow-shoveling parish priest. Each successive snow storm has come through and blasted our area, adding new layers. The snow shovel and I have become very well acquainted. I shovel the snow for the sakes of whomever might show up at Church, first of all so they can get up the driveway, and secondly so they don't have to tramp through snow drifts from the car to the Church. As it turns out, there have been very few, hardy souls, to take advantage of my new line of work. We just don't deal with snow that well here in Seattle, and most people stay home except for pressing emergencies. On a positive note, we did not get the horrendous windstorm that was being forecast last evening. Had the storm come to fruition, there would have been days & days of no power, lights or heat, as the Fir Trees toppled onto power lines everywhere throughout the region.

Would someone please "upload me" to Hawaii, right now?

2008-12-21T17:41:00.000-08:00

Family Photo

This photo was part of an Advent project undertaken by Bill and Nancy. They have been working to take shots of every household during Coffee Hour, and to put them up on the "Our Parish Family" Bulletin Board in the Narthex. The photos we did have were out of date. Hopefully these new photos will help newcomers get to know names/faces in our Parish more readily. What you see here is (left to right) myself, Mary Eve & Danny (standing on the piano bench), and Josephine holding Gloria Christi. (...and, uh, Gloria reaching out for Mary.) I think these are going to be made available to the families, as prints.

2008-12-11T15:29:00.000-08:00

Noel
It gets very dark in the Pacific NW during Winter! By this time of year, it starts getting dark around 4pm and stays dark until around 7am: that's 15 hours of darkness, and 9 hours of wan, horizontal sunlight, each day. Most days the little sunlight we receive has to pierce a cloud layer, and then penetrate the long shadows of the Douglas Firs and Cedars. It is beautiful here, don't get me wrong, but the darkness can get to you, especially if you've lived in California for 5 years before moving here, as I did!
This year, however, I gained a new appreciation for the dark : it is absolutely perfect for Christmas lighting displays! The lights look so beautiful and cheerful, glowing in the inky blackness. I felt inspired to go to Target and purchase some lights for our family. It was a big source of excitement for the children that day, and it still as, as we plug in the lights each evening.
One house in my neighborhood is particularly brilliant and well-covered with lights and displays of various kinds. I look forward to driving by every evening, and getting inspired by the Season. By the way, I've learned in the course of my studies that the word "NOEL" is an old French word (not a modern French word, but an old French word) meaning "news". The "news" is of course the "good news" that the angels sang over the hills of Bethlehem (You know, as in the carol, "The first nowell, the angel did say..."). So, NOEL is actually a synonym to GOSPEL, for both refer to the Good News of Christ's Incarnation.

2008-12-11T15:14:00.000-08:00

Advent Series
Each Advent Season, I select a book for parishioners to read as they prepare to celebrate Christmas. This year it is Advent and Christmas Wisdom from G. K. Chesterton. This book is published by The Center for the Study of C. S. Lewis and Friends. It is divided into a course of daily readings and prayers for Advent and Christmastide. Each day the reader is provided with a quotation from Chesterton, a corresponding verse of Scripture, a prayer written for the day, and an "Advent Action" (which is something to do or to think about).

On Wednesday evenings we meet at Church for 6:30 Evensong, Supper and a Discussion of the daily readings. I typically begin the discussion with a short presentation. The first was on Chesterton himself and the second on his close associate, Hillaire Belloc. For the second year in a row, N. J. has prepared a delicious soup & salad supper : the supper alone makes it worth being there! It has been very gratifying to have a good group of parishioners participate. Even though they have full days during this busy holiday season, they have graciously made time to gather at the Church for these Advent evenings. I hope the whole experience will be of value in helping prepare them for Christmas, and to deepen their faith!

2008-11-28T21:21:00.001-08:00

P. K.

My 10-month-old daughter Gloria Christi got marooned at Church with me this evening, which means she got to attend Evensong, practice her stair-climbing techniques going from the Parish Hall to the Nave, chomp on cookies left over from the Holiday Bazaar, visit the Nursery, investigate lots of nooks and crannies here and there, and observe me doing the endless parish admin work. It worked pretty well (she is the most patient child I have ever seen) but it was good when Mom, Danny & Mary Eve came back from shopping. Poor little preacher's kid: usually she's at home, cozy and snug.

2008-11-28T19:45:00.000-08:00

Eve of Thanksgiving - Choral Evensong, and Visitor Gift Bags

It was almost like being in an English Cathedral in one sense : a well-trained, vested choir, singing Evensong to a mostly empty nave! (The idea of Thanksgiving is still catching on here.)

But no matter : we had such a good time doing the Service. It was an altogether beautiful evening because of all the love that was poured into it by the Choir and dedicated volunteers from the Parish. It was a real sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, offered to Almighty God on the Eve of Thanksgiving.
The music performed was the Evening Service (Mag & Nunc) in E-flat, by Sir Edward Bairstow; Psalm 98 to a double Anglican Chant setting of G. M. Garrett; the Responses were plainsong; the Anthem was "A Gaelic Blessing" by John Rutter; the Hymns included "The day thou gavest...", "O Brightness of the immortal Father's face..." (Office Hymn for the lighting of the candles), and "All people that on earth do dwell...". On the last verse of the last hymn, which is to the tune Old Hundredth, Dr. Josephine played a grand alternate organ accompaniment by Bairstow.

Deirdre, Kathy and Claire collaborated on putting together some gift bags for visitors: each bag contained a card, some things to read, and a fresh-baked loaf of Hallah bread (baked by Kathy). Another nice touch was that Claire provided some authentic, spiced cider in the Narthex to warm our hearts after Service. I've never had anything like this at an English Cathedral!

Then, at Matins & Communion, Thanksgiving Day, Drew preached an altogether fine sermon. It was a real treat - we're going to hear more from him, I am sure.

2008-10-14T23:58:00.000-07:00

Service High and Anthems Clear

On Sunday, our congregation sang The Litany from the Book of Common Prayer, an act of solemn prayer for our nation and for the world in a time of crisis. As is our manner on such occasions, the Ministers and Choir sang The Litany in procession, with the congregation joining in on the responses from their places in the pews. While singing, the Ministers and Choir perambulated once around the nave and then down the central aisle into the sanctuary. For a small parish, we managed to muster quite a good procession, 13 in number: crucifer, light bearers, banner bearer, choir, deacon and priest.

This day was also the birthday of R. Vaughn Williams (here pictured). Williams was musical editor of the English Hymnal and the first Oxford Book of Carols. These two items probably rank rather small among his many other great achievements, but the music of the Church is so enriched by these two volumes that we have to mention them with deep gratitude and admiration. Our commemoration at Saint Bartholomew's consisted of several hymn tunes written, arranged or harmonized by Williams, selected from our Hymnal, 1940. Those included Monk's Gate, Down Ampney, Kingsfold, King's Lynn, and King's Weston. At Communion time, our head chorister shone brightly in a solo performance of The Call, from Williams' Five Mystical Songs. The text of The Call is a poem by the Jacobean priest, poet and divine, George Herbert. The performance was beautiful and even electrifying: one wonders, how can such a young person sing with such understanding and depth? All in all, I think our Sunday Service might have been worthy of a much larger parish, if not a small cathedral. We are blessed.

2008-10-14T23:38:00.000-07:00

Natural Fire

The predominant color of the Puget Sound flora is definitely green, underscored by brown. Yet, here and there one finds a splash of color, as with the Autumn display of the cherry tree outside our Church. The leaves are a muted red, and the color is enhanced further by the shiny red cherries. As you can see, it provides a beautiful contrast within the understory of our Douglas Firs. Sitting in the pews of our Church, one can easily be beguiled by wonderful views of nature through the large windows!

Benedicite, omnia opera Domini.

2008-09-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

Patronal Festival

Our Patronal Festival was more significant than usual this year, because it was also our 30th Anniversary as a parish. (Not that this is such a milestone -one of my local colleagues has been a minister for 35 years...two of my parishioners have been married for 60 years- nevertheless, for us, it was significant.) We conducted our celebration in two installments: a Cookout & Musical Soiree (midweek), and then a Choral Holy Communion Service & Potluck Luncheon (on Sunday, August 24, Saint Bartholomew's Day).

The midweek Cookout & Musical Soiree was a mix of rain and sunshine (we are in the Puget Sound region, afterall). At least we had an outdoor Pavilion. The kids enjoyed jumping around in the Bouncy Castle, also sheltered by its own roof. Drew & Deirdre provided a Rib Roast, hot dogs & burgers, and other people brought salads and beverages. A birthday cake was provided for "Bob, Drew & Saint Bartholomew" (3 birthdays happened that week!) My neighbor's organic farm provided some extraordinarily vibrant Gladiolas. Bob & Diane put out a colorful array of balloons and table decorations. After dinner, some of the musical talent of our parish was featured: Claire (flute), Ruby (cello) and Josephine (piano). We are blessed!

The Choral Service on Saint Bartholomew's Day featured some of the new repertoire learned by our Choir at Choir Camp this year (see next post, below): The Service was Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena, and the Introit was O Praise God in His Holiness (Psalm 150) set by C. V. Stanford. It's so great to have such a good group of choir kids and acolytes at our parish, who are both willing and gifted, and who are backed up by good parents. As for the potluck after the Service: it was, well, normal (which for us means, bountiful and delicious)!

All in all, a wonderful week for Saint Bartholomew's Anglican Church, Woodinville, WA!

2008-09-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

Choir Camp

This year Josephine and I offered our annual 3-day Choir Camp, August 12-14. That happened to be over my birthday, and it was a fine birthday gift: what better way to spend this time than with bright and talented young choristers!

Anyway, the mainstay of Choir Camp is, of course, the Repertoire. And, the mainstay of our Repertoire this year was the Communion Service in D by Healy Willan. The name Willan gave to this Service was Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena, named thus for the Toronto parish where he served as organist for many years. This Communion Service is found in The Hymnal, 1940, where it is called the SECOND COMMUNION SERVICE (the first being that of Merbecke). Many Anglican parishes already know how to sing the Willan Service, but for some reason (the changes and chances of this mortal life), our parish here had never heard of it. So that is the reason I started introducing it by way of the Choir. By the way, this means that our congregation now has 3 possible Communion Services in its repertoire: Merbecke, Willan AND Sowerby (Sowerby=FIFTH COMMUNION SERVICE, in back of The Hymnal - gorgeous!)

Some Other Repertoire from Choir Camp: "Hail, Gladdening Light", one of our great English translations of the ancient hymn of the evening Phos hilaron set to irregular Anglican Chant by Sir John Stainer; "O Praise God in His Holiness" (Psalm 150), music by the Irishman, Charles Villiers Stanford; also by C. V. Stanford, a setting of "St. Patrick's Breastplate"; and "O Taste and See" a lovely communion Anthem by R. Vaughn Williams. Each day we sang Matins and Evensong, using Chant settings of the Canticles from The Hymnal, 1940. For a change of pace we previewed a couple of carols for Christmas (just a bit early perhaps? a bit of Christmas in August?)

The Choir got to perform some of these works on our Patronal Festival, St. Bartholomew's Day, August 24th, which this year conveniently fell on a Sunday.

Another treat this year, a first, was visits from 3 instrumental players to demonstrate their instruments. We had a cellist (who is also our very talented Head Chorister), Classical Guitarist, and Flautist. It's interesting to see how some conceptual (and even technical) issues relate from instrumental playing to singing.

2008-08-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

The Cross

Recently I came across this prayer, which has become a welcome addition to my daily prayers. I don't know who it is written by (any tips would be appreciated), but it is printed on a beautful card that comes from "the National Shrine of St. Odilia". It reminds me of the hymn Beneath the cross of Jesus...

Praise be to thee, O Christ
for the gift of thy Glorious Cross!
Through the Power of thy Death and
Resurrection, be our Champion over
the evil which afflicts us
the sickness of our bodies,
the errors of our minds,
the confusion of our feelings,
the guilt of our consciences,
the brokenness of our relationships,
and the weakness of our faith.
Make good our hope in thee,
and bring us now and forever to glory in thee,
O Crucified and Risen Lord.
Amen.

2008-03-05T21:20:00.000-08:00

3 Jobs

The priest in a small parish with no staff does his best to do what is essentially 3 Jobs: administrative, custodial and pastoral. Sometimes these jobs overlap, but it helps me to see them separately at least in concept.

Administrative work is all of the behind-the-scenes work of running a small organization. It involves everything on the business side, from processing the mail to chairing the Vestry, to publishing the weekly email bulletin.

Custodial work involves the care of 2 buildings, sidewalks, driveway, parking lot, rural property along a busy road, etc... it ranges from changing lightbulbs in exit signs to mopping the floor in the Parish Hall.

Pastoral work is the job that I imagine the priests of large parishes have the luxury of focusing on for 40 hours or so a week. This involves everything you might naturally associate with the priesthood, such as: calling on parishioners, preparing Bible study, writing sermons, celebrating the Lord's Supper.

As if the above three jobs aren't enough, I have an area of special interest. I am a choirmaster by training, and thus I have the responsibility of administering, recruiting, teaching and rehearsing our young choristers.

Add it all up ... toss in family life ... and I'm always busy! Fortunately I have a good group of friends and parish members who sacrificially give of their time to help in all of these areas. I am learning how to delegate! When I first came here, I used to vainly try and do everything, which it took more than 60 hours a week.

The reason I can attempt any of these jobs is because they are for the Church, which I love. I couldn't bring myself to be much of an administrator, if it wasn't the Lord's Business; I couldn't be a very enthusiastic custodian, if the building wasn't the Lord's House; I couldn't do pastoral work, if the people were not the People of God; I couldn't be a choirmaster, if my choir didn't sing the music of Heaven. All of these jobs could be boring and lack meaning if they weren't tinged with eternal purpose.

2008-02-01T11:53:00.000-08:00

Mary Eve, and Gloria Christi

two sisters together

Baby Gloria was born on Wednesday morning, early. What a beautiful, healthy baby! Our family is adjusting to her arrival. (Danny doesn't appear in this photo, because he was more interested in checking out the hospital room equipment.)

2008-01-18T16:22:00.000-08:00

Genesis

"Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread". -Alexander Pope. Thus, fool that I am, I will boldly "rush in" and introduce Genesis to our regular Scripture Study class, beginning Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall. It will no doubt be an exciting journey. Deception, rebellion, human sexuality, betrayal, fratricide, murder...and that's just the first four chapters of human history! Who really needs tabloids, when we have Genesis?!

Seriously though, our approach to Scripture Study will be informed by patristic commentators, courtesy of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture series. What a wonderful series it is. If I merely had to present my own opinions, I would be hard pressed to do so, nor would I want to. I also am going to be able to draw upon some resources I received at Seminary, where we were presented with various, complimentary approaches to Scripture (ranging from patristic to modern/critical) and given tools to navigate some parts that have turned out to be controversial. I recently looked through the large 3-ring binder from the semester when I learned about the Penteteuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy), and I was struck by an expression used then by my teacher: "geopolitics". The Penteteuch is geopolitical for it is largely taken up with the formation of a nation (Israel) in its land. Genesis is the introductory chapter to the Penteteuch and is crucial in setting the stage for God's action in history for his people.

Many people try to inject controversy into Chapter 1 of Genesis. Some line up on the side of a literal interpretation of the 6-days, and others try to reconcile it with evolution theory. This controversy is far from new, and people thought about these issues in patristic times. It is really not necessary to try and read Genesis like a biology textbook. St. Jerome noted that Moses describes Creation "as a poet" would describe it. Nemesius of Emesa hits the nail on the head when he writes, "Even if it is granted that the God of all things followed an order [in the creation], he is shown to be God and Creator and to have brought all things into being out of nothing."

This is the crux of the matter for us. No Anglican Christian is required to take up a firm position on exactly how long it took for God to create the universe, nor to be able to describe how he did it in technical terms. I myself am content to say that ultimately I don't know how long it took. However, every Anglican Christian must believe that God did create the universe, that he created out of nothing, and that he is separate from his creation. This of course is set forth in our creeds: the Apostles and the Nicene.

That there is a God, and that he did create the universe and all its life-forms, is basic to the Christian faith. He designed all things and brought them into being. I think it was probably achieved partly outside of time, in the sense that we know time (with sunrise and sunset and revolutions of Earth around the Sun). I remain skeptical about the 6-Day account being interpreted as a scientific description, if only because Chapters 1 & 2 seem to set forth contradictory accounts of the order and timing of events. With St. Jerome, I see it as poetical, like an epic poem. On the other hand, I confess that I am equally skeptical of Evolution theory, because it seems to me that there are so many gaps and problems there, with scientists saying in essense, "just trust us, it's true."

There. I have now positively offended everyone on both sides of the issue.

Fortunately we won't need to have a brawl over creation or evolution in our Scripture Study, because none of us are scientists. (with the notable exception of Deacon Ed, who has a Ph. D. in physics, and who has published scientific papers) We'll just have to be content with familiarity with the text, for that is exciting enough!

2007-12-23T18:55:00.000-08:00

2007-12-20T08:50:00.000-08:00

2PM Mary

This is one of the busiest weeks of the Church Year, as it leads up to Christmas. My calendar right now includes everything from meetings with parishioners to choir rehearsals. There is a 'ton' of admin work to do. Then there is also a special feast day tomorrow for St. Thomas, Apostle (Dec. 21, which also happens to be Winter Solstice). We'll celebrate that with Solemn Evensong this evening and Matins & Holy Communion tomorrow morning.

Yesterday afternoon my calendar contained the entry, "2PM Mary". This was written in by my wife because she had a doctor appointment to go to, and she was going to drop off my 18 month old daughter Mary Eve (here pictured) to hang out with me at Church. As it turned out, I went home instead and stayed with both Danny (my son, 3 years old) and Mary Eve. Most of that time they were down for their afternoon naps.

I don't know how Roman priests can stand being single, because I sure think that family life is the way it was meant to be for most men. That may be because my family is really great (am I just a little biased here?). Not every family situation is a happy one, but I am thoroughly blessed. One neat thing that Josephine and the kids do each day is gather at the top of the stairs to greet me when I return home from work, and I get to hug and smooch each of them. They wait for the signal which is the garage door opening, and the sound of my car driving in. : ) Spending our evenings together, as well as some times here-and-there during the day is so nice (even if I have to pencil it into my calendar) because they are usually still asleep when I leave home in the morning.

2007-12-10T14:26:00.000-08:00

"Fr. Sparky?"

The other day while helping to repair some outdoor lighting at the Church, the fact emerged that I spent a couple of years working for an electrician when I was a teenager.

Soon, the electrical puns and electrician jokes were flying! "Isn't it nice to have a priest who is also an electrician?", it was asked. "Because:
He is well-'grounded',
He doesn't 'shock' anyone,
He knows how to avoid 'polarizing' the congregation,
He patiently works to identify and correct our 'faults',
He 'lights-up' the Church,
He knows how to hook us up to the 'power'."

I guess the electrical field is pretty well-suited for puns, because I remembered at least one or two myself from my two year stint, such as "sooner or later every electrician meets a 'shocking end'." (That's one that I can repeat!)

2007-12-04T16:32:00.000-08:00

Advent Hymns (I)

Here is a hymn that I am using at Church as an Office Hymn for Matins during Advent. Although it is written in a style similar to the hymns of Saint Ambrose, the earliest known manuscript of this hymn dates from the 10th century.

hymnal 8, Verbum supernum

O WORD, that goest forth on high
From God's own depths eternally,
And in these latter days wast born
For succor to a world forlorn;

Pour light upon us from above,
And fire our hearts with ardent love,
That, as we hear thy truth today,
All wrong desires may burn away;

And when, as judge thou drawest nigh
The secrets of our hearts to try,
To recompense each hidden sin
And bid the saints their reign begin;

O let us not, weak sinful men,
Be driven from thy presence then,
But with thy saints for ever stand
In perfect love at thy right hand.

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, ever one,
Praise, honor, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally. Amen.

Latin, 10th century

2007-12-04T08:40:00.000-08:00

Advent Hymns (II)

Here is a hymn that I am using at Church as an office Hymn for Evensong during Advent. It dates back to a 9th century manuscript of Bern and is also found in the Canterbury Hymnal of the 10th century. The Doxology serves as a proclaimation of God's praise, together with an affirmation of his infinity. This English translation of John Mason Neale first appeared in the Hymnal Noted, 1851.

hymnal 6, Conditor alme

CREATOR of the stars of night,

Thy people's everlasting light,

O Christ, thou Saviour of us all,

We pray thee, hear us when we call.

To thee the travail deep was known

That made the whole creation groan

Till thou, Redeemer, shouldest free

Thine own in glorious liberty.

When the old world drew on toward night,

Thou camest not in splendour bright

As monarch, but the humble child

Of Mary, blameless mother mild.

At thy great name of Jesus, now

All knees must bend, all hearts must bow:

And things celestial thee shall own,

And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

Come in thy holy might, we pray;

Redeem us for eternal day

From every power of darkness, when

Thou judgest all the sons of men.

To God the Father, God the Son,

And God the Spirit, Three in One,

Laud, honor, might, and glory be

From age to age eternally. Amen.

Latin, 9th century

2007-10-31T12:27:00.000-07:00

Misrepresenting the Bible
A brief review of the latest conspiracy theory book for agnostics, "Misquoting Jesus: the story behind who changed the Bible and Why", by Bart Ehrman

This week I permitted myself a rare luxury, a visit to Borders Books & Music during which I actually purchased a few items. These included a CD Recording of The Psalms of David, Vol. 1, by the Choir of King's College Cambridge (for our Parish Library); two copies of C. S. Lewis' The Great Divorce (to give to young people in our parish), and Misquoting Jesus: the story behind who changed the Bible and Why (to see why a book about the Bible ended up on the New York Time's Bestseller List).

My original suspiscion was that Misquoting Jesus would turn out to be yet another book on the New Testament manuscript tradition by yet another agnostic contraversialist, yet again in the mold of the Jesus Seminar's Marcus Borg. When will these guys learn?

It turns out I was only partly right. Misquoting Jesus is written by an agnostic controversialist, and it is a survey of the NT manuscript tradition, but the author is not of the same mold as Marcus Borg. Dr. Bart Ehrman writes with poignant honesty about his own loss of faith, and the steps he went through to get where he is today. He places his own personal story front-and-center in the Introduction to the book, and thus shapes the context for the rest of the book as part personal reflection/part survey of the New Testament manuscript tradition. The personal reflection was to me the most interesting part of the book, because the details of the biblical manuscript tradition are pretty well-known. Ehrman presents the issues very clearly, but his often gloomy portrayal is shaped by his own apparent depression over problems in the historical transmission of the New Testament.

In a nutshell, there are a number of small discrepancies and variances (gasp!) among the 5,000+ Greek manuscripts and papyrii of the N.T., from its nearly 2,000 year history, a history which involves dozens of human authors, thousands of very human copyists and a journey of translation encompassing several languages.

Why should this surpise anyone?!

The plot thickens, and we find out why this was surprising to Dr. Ehrman. It turns out that Ehrman was once a hard-core fundamentalist Christian, trained at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. There he was taught to think of the Bible as possessing "plenary verbal inerrancy". Now "verbal inerrancy" can mean different things to different people, but commonly it is taken to mean that the text of the Bible (the words on the page themselves) are fully free of any error or mistake whatsoever, large or small.

As time went on, Ehrman discovered for himself what most of Christendom has known all along - namely that the Bible has a history. The Bible didn't fall out of the sky in the New International Version, with Fundamentalist Study Notes. It was not even written in English, originally. So, if the words are supposed to be inerrant, then we have to ask 'which words': the English, Latin, Greek or Hebrew? Also which manuscript among the many manuscripts with small variations contains the original, inerrant words?

Ehrman's reaction to his discovery was unfortunate, but it was predictable. In essence he was unable to refrain from thrusting out his lower lip, kicking the wall and pouting, "If it's not verbally inerrant down to the crossing of every 't' and the dotting of every 'i', and if every existing manuscript isn't in complete agreement, then WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE ANY OF IT?!" It is difficult to imagine a more clear-cut case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Never mind that the biblical manuscript tradition is still the best and most consistent for any ancient document, even with the variances; never mind that Ehrman himself admits that most of the variances are of little consequence. The few exceptional cases, such as the Johanine Comma, the Markan epilogue, the ending statement of the Lord's Prayer, a sentence in the Beatitudes -which might give some cause for alarm- end up not being faith shattering at all. At least they need not be, unless your religion is based upon the "plenary verbal inerrancy" of Scripture. Every seminarian knows about the important variances, and is interested in them for their own sake, but even with such variances as these the Bible loses nothing essential that can't be read in other places. In fact, as Bruce Metzger would point out, there is no point of Christian belief that would change because of variances amongst the manuscript tradition. This in spite of hundreds of years of textual criticism.

So, was Ehrman's belief in God fatally traumatized by his experience of Christian fundamentalism? Is he unable to recover? Does he still continue to hope that the original, inerrant manuscript exists somewhere, and that his powerful experience as a young man at Moody Bible Institute will turn out to be correct, afterall?

Surprisingly, no. It turns out that Ehrman's study of New Testament manuscripts is not itself the reason for his personal apostasy. There is no big deal there. Nothing faith-shattering. Rather, "I no longer believe in God, because of all the suffering in the world", Ehrman whines, from his very comfortable ivory tower at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Never mind the billion or more devout Christian believers who live with poverty and suffering, yet cheerfully accept and believe in God.

Now I admit that it is unbecoming to be overly scornful of Dr. Ehrman, so let me offer him an apology:

"Dear Dr. Ehrman, I am sorry that you were misinformed by well-meaning people at the Moody Bible Institute in the late 1960's, about the plenary, verbal inerrancy of the Bible."

There ... do you feel better, now? Will you stop blaming God, and get on with Life? Better yet, out of your new-found riches as an agnostic controversialist, kindly make a donation to my Parish Libary to cover the cost of your book - I've heard the same tragic story too many times before.

2007-10-08T21:34:00.001-07:00

Thoughts on "This I Believe"
The popular NPR segment on personal values

Tonight I listened to the history of This I Believe on KUOW (one of Seattle's two NPR stations). This I Believe is a series of essays about personal beliefs and values, written by ordinary Americans and read out over the radio. It is part of the legacy of Edward R. Murrow, who created and ran the series in the early 1950's. Famous Americans such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Hellen Keller, Harry Truman and Abert Einstein wrote essays for the program. Fifty years later, in 2001, the program was revived by Jay Allison. Once again it was intended as a public exercise in personal introspection, but this time it was open from the beginning to all Americans, famous and nonfamous. Over 30,000 essays have been submitted thus far. This I Believe is often heard during NPR's Morning Edition or during All Things Considered.

The title of the show is obviously inspired by the first words of the great Christian Creeds (Apostles', and Nicene) which begin with pisteuo (in greek), credo (in latin), or the words "I believe" in English. These creeds set forth a summary of the historic faith of the Church based upon the contents of Holy Scripture. The Nicene Creed orginally began, "We [the bishops] believe..." It was a message to the World from the bishops of the Church, assembled in council. However, it has long been used as the basis of pre-baptismal instruction for converts to the Christian Faith, and when it becomes the creed of each individual believer it begins, "I believe".

There is a big difference between the NPR show This I Believe, and the "I believe" of the Church. NPR's This I Believe is a quasi-philosophical exercise in personal introspection. Contributors to the show are expected to journey inward and then to let us know what keeps them going or what makes them successful in this world. From within their own feelings and subjectivity they bring forth and air their opinions to the NPR audience. Often the essays take the form of platitudes ("I believe in the power of love"); they are often intriguing and humorous ("I believe in the freedom offered by semi-permanent hair dye"), but rarely are they very profound, in fact, many times they sound rather vain and pompous.

The point of this public dialogue about personal values is for everyone to keep listening to other personal points of view - sometimes to feel affirmed by them and other times to feel outraged - but never to stop the listening, and [presumably] never to reach a conclusion. It is described as a "public dialogue", but as a Christian listener I find myself wondering whether or not it is actually a monologue, the parameters of which have been clearly predetermined by agnostic/atheistical radio producers. Edward R. Murrow was determined, for example, that no religious dogma should ever enter the sphere of this dialogue, (as though religious dogma could never be a legitimate part of a person's values).

Now for the "I believe" of each baptized person of Christendom. This is the expression of a living faith that comes from outside of us. It is not based upon our subjectivity or personal opinions, but transcends both our feelings and our times. It is based upon Holy Scripture, which is a record of God's dealings with mankind, a record which has been tested and found to be authoritative and reliable by God's People throughout history. The "I believe" of Christendom brings each of us into fellowship with something beyond ourselves; in accepting the creeds of the Church, we are invited to journey outward to contemplate God and to find ourselves united in Spirit with Christians of every time, every generation, every race and every land.

The Creed's of the Church will likely never be heard on the NPR show This I believe. Thanks to the Internet, however, I can set forth the following, the most basic creed of Christendom, called "The Apostles' Creed". Engage with it and be changed by it: he who has ears to hear, let him hear.

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost: The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints: The Forgiveness of sins: The Resurrection of the body: And the Life everlasting. Amen.

2007-09-27T22:17:00.001-07:00

Farewell to Summer: a report in several installments

Summertime in Washington is characterized by the profuse, Northern sunlight. Long days from 5:00 a.m. or so in the morning to 10:00 p.m. at night, help make up for the deficit of light during the rest of the year. Basically I have learned that you want to get outside as much as possible during Summer, and stay outside. If you have a young family, as I do, then you practically 'live' at the parks (of which there are many beautiful ones), at the pool, at the Farmers' Market and in hiking and other outdoor sports. Of course everyone takes their turn going on vacation.

Summertime at Saint Bartholomew's Parish has begun to take on its own seasonal round of activities. Those include our Patronal Festival & Parish Birthday, our Youth Camps and the Annual Parish Retreat. Amidst these activities the regular round of worship continues: Matins, Holy Communion, Evensong, the heart of Anglican spirituality. There is also a lot of work that goes on as well: the Garden Guild spent a lot of time around the Church this Summer, bringing much-needed color to the place; (NOTE: this photo is of an English rose that lives right outside my study window, called a "Climbing Handel"). The senior warden and junior warden put a lot of time into various repairs and improvements to the buildings and property. My wife and I and our Church School teachers put a lot of work into the Summer Programs for our young people.

In short, this Summer at Saint Bartholomew's Parish in Woodinville, WA consisted of work and prayer, some welcome rest...and profuse sunshine. Enjoy the next installments of my report, on our Parish Birthday, Camps and Retreat.

2007-09-27T14:56:00.000-07:00

Farewell to Summer: 29th Birthday of our Parish

We gathered on St. Bartholomew's Eve for Solemn Evensong followed by a Potluck. At Evensong we enjoyed a new pair of candelabra purchased by our Memorial Committee. (for this photo, I lit all of the candles: six office candles and two Eucharistic candles) After supper M. E. regaled us with some favorite stories of the early life of our parish. Then, Kavya and Josephine regaled us with some music. For a full report of our Parish Birthday, see the entry called 'Surprises', at the Continuing Home blog.

2007-09-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Farewell to Summer: Parish Retreat

The biggest end-of-Summer activity of our Parish was the Parish Retreat, a time of refreshing and renewal. It was time well-spent in mediations, silence, inspirational reading (Evelyn Underhill's Abba), and enjoyment of the beautiful retreat center of the Adrian Dominican Sisters in Woodway, WA, called Rosary Heights. (In spite of the name of the retreat center, we didn't say any Rosaries, although there is an Anglican Rosary. We did say Matins, The Litany, and Evensong a la the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. )

Our guest speaker, the Rev. Jim Eichner of Holy Cross Parish in Redmond, did a phenomemal job, for which we are grateful. Our 3 Lay Readers spent time in the Rosary Heights Library with me, going over some of the things they need to know in order to be licensed. The Vestry had its September meeting in the lovely Garden Room, with the sound of a fountain splashing in the back ground. Those who did not have to attend special meetings or training sessions enjoyed a showing of The Case for Christ, The Movie, which is the story of the conversion of Lee Strobel from atheism to Christianity.

2007-09-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

Farewell to Summer: Summer Camp(s !)

First of all, let the reader put all of the traditional notions of 'camping' out of his or her mind. When I write of 'camps' here, it is not the kind that requires tents and other equipment. Rather it is that sort of 'theme day camp' that is known and loved by kids and parents everywhere during the Summer months. In this case it was a time for our young people to spend at the Church in order to devote themeselves to education and training. This Summer we had our second annual Choir Camp and our first [hopefully annual] Camp Cookie.

The main musical repertoire of our Choir Camp was the Evening Service in C, by George Dyson (consisting of Magnificat & Nunc Dimmittis). We also worked on vocal technique and music theory, assisted by our RSCM Voice for Life workbooks. Rhonda led a fine art class, in which the choristers created some interesting and fun craft projects. We were supposed to have dance and Tai Chi instruction, but that did not work out. Instead, Drew saved the day. He came all the way from Microsoft during his lunch break to lead the choristers in group games for a break from their hard work. Each chorister was delighted to recieve a complementary deck of Uno cards from Drew. (Game Camp next Summer, anyone?)
Camp Cookie - this was a 'first' in our Parish, but hopefully it will become an annual event. This 1-Day Camp served a more general 'clientele' (as it were), kids 3 - 16 were invited. A goodly number of moms came too. My 3 year old attended with his Personal Behavioral Assistant (mom). The Camp was led by Robert & Debra, who are both professional educators: Robert is a physical education teacher at a public elementary school, and Debra (now retired) operated a preschool for 25 years. The stated purpose of Camp Cookie was to prepare cookies for the Kairos Prison Ministry. However, it was also a great thing for the kids to just be there to interact with Debra and Robert and partake in their quality activites which our Church is so blessed to be able to offer.

2007-09-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

Farewell to Summer: conclusions

With Winter descending, I will likely soon begin arriving at Church while it is still fairly dark in the morning and leaving again in the dark. There will be a short period of pale sunlight in the middle of the day. Yet, looking on the bright side: the Winter darkness works well as a backdrop for Evensong, especially if we use the new Office candles. The Evening Service that our choristers learned will no doubt be pressed into 'service'. Looking forward to that. (Incidentally, I am thinking of moving the daily Evensong Service to an earlier time this Winter (maybe 4:30 instead of 5:30).

In spite of the occasional crisis, this has been a very good Summer for our parish. A highlight for me was when I took two consecutive weeks off at the end of Summer, and during that time discovered that two of our new Lay Readers are gifted preachers! I have also found the friendship of two devout ministers in this area, one Episcopal and one Lutheran, who are both turning out to be a great source of encouragement to me. And, we have another joyful day to look forward to at the end of September: four new members will be recieved into our parish. We welcome Christy, John, Bob & Diane to our Parish Family! Gloria Deo!

2007-07-14T16:36:00.001-07:00

On the number of the Sacraments
Excerpt from The Christian Faith, by Claude Beaufort Moss, D.D.

[NOTE TO READER: I thought I would put this out here because it sets forth a position that makes a lot of sense to me, and conforms very well to the Anglican 39 Articles of Religion. In fact, I feel comfortable adopting it for my own at this stage in my theological life. Enjoy! -Fr. McGrath.]

The number of the sacraments has been reckoned differently at different periods. It is universally agreed that Baptism and the Eucharist stand in a class by themselves. They are distinguished by two marks: an outward and visible sign ordained by Christ Himself, and their necessity to salvation for all men. ("Generally" necessary to salvation does not means "usually", but "universally" necessary).

There are other rites of the Church, mentioned in the New Testament, which are commonly called sacraments. Peter Lombard (about 1150) was the first to define the number of sacraments as seven: Baptism, the Eucharist, Confirmation, Ordination, Marriage, Penance, and Unction of the Sick. This number is accepted by both the Orthodox and the Roman Communions. The Council of Trent laid down that there are seven sacraments, neither more nor less, all ordained by Christ Himself; but it distinguished the two greater sacraments from the five lesser. [My Note: Trent also anathematized those who make the 7 sacraments of equal importance.]

The Church of England, in Article 25, says that the five "commonly called sacraments" have not like nature of sacraments with Baptism and the Lord's Supper: it does not say that they are not sacraments. ("Commonly called" cannot mean "commonly but wrongly called": compare with "The Nativity of Christ, commonly called Christmas Day" in the BCP!) As far as the article goes, it agrees with the Council of Trent.

That there are seven sacraments is not a dogma, except in the Roman Communion. But it is convenient to speak of seven sacraments: we need not hesitate to do so. It is certain that Confirmation and Ordination are outward visible signs conveying grace; though we have no proof that they were commanded by our Lord Himself, they rest on the authority of the Apostles, directed by the Holy Ghost (Acts viii. 17; II Tim. i. 6). Marriage is called a sacrament because St. Paul calls it "a great mystery", (mysterion) being the Greek word for sacrament. Some have denied that Penance is a sacrament, because it has no outward sign; others, that Unction is a sacrament, because it is for the healing of the body. (I am inclined to think, with some medieval writers, that the Anointing of a King [I Kings i.39; etc.] is a true sacrament conveying grace.)

But though there are differences about the precise number of the sacraments, it is necessary to hold that Confirmation, Ordination, Matrimony, Penance or Absolution, and Unction are means by which God's grace is bestowed upon us, ex opere operato; that is, that the reception of Divine grace is guaranteed in these cases by a Divine promise.

Luther taught that there were only three sacraments, the same three which, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, are necessary to salvation: Baptism, the Eucharist, and Penance.

2007-06-01T20:48:00.000-07:00

Faeth Fiada
(the deer’s cry)

An Invocation of the Holy Trinity
also known as

“St. Patrick’s Breastplate “
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I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.

I bind unto myself forever,

By power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spiced tomb;
His riding up the heavn’ly way;
His coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet “Well done” in judgment hour
The service of the seraphim;
Confessors’ faith, apostles’ word,
The patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls;
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heav’n,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need;
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward;

The word of God to give me speech,

His heav’nly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation;
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord. Amen.

Saint Patrick (c. 373-493) was a Christian missionary, deacon and bishop, and is the patron saint of Ireland. Ireland was conquered by Christ, but in the process Patrick had to face off against pagan druids who were intent on preserving their ways. This prayer was written for the protection of himself and his monks against ambush and for the protection of body and soul against demons and men and vices. This paraphrase of the Faeth Fiada was made by Irish Anglican hymnographer and poetess, Cecil Francis Alexander.

2007-05-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

The House and Gate of Heaven
A prayer of John Donne
Bring us, O Lord God, at our last awakening into the house and gate of heaven, to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music, no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity; in the habitation of thy glory and dominion, world without end. Amen.
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John Donne (1571-1631) was an Anglican priest in England during the time of King James I. Donne at first sought a career as a lawyer, but the king encouraged him to seek ordination. He eventually became Dean of Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London, and a well-known ‘metaphysical’ poet and writer.

This prayer became the text of a stunning Anthem for double choir, composed by organist William Harris (1883-1973). The Anthem is often recorded by Anglican choirs, and it can readily be found at your bookstore. Harris was organist of St. George's Chapel, Windsor from 1933-1961, a post which was once held by John Merbecke.

2007-04-30T23:06:00.000-07:00

The Way - some thoughts on the Feast of SS. Philip & James, Apostles

The Christian faith is a journey, which has a beginning and an ending. On that journey there are many people walking the same Way, and even though each encounters his own difficulties and joys, we do not walk alone. We are not on a journey to a place we-know-not-where, but we walk together, to a place prepared for us, a place which we already think of as Home.

The Bible is full of stories of travel: Abraham, Isaace, Jacob, Joseph...Moses...they all journeyed in and around their Promised Land. Israel journeyed out of Egypt. The Jews journeyed into exile, and some of them returned. [The Prodigal Son journeyed into a far country, and spent his inheritance in "riotous living".] Our Lord journeyed from Galilee to Jerusalem, to his death and resurrection.

Christians are on a journey of the spirit, the end of which is to be with God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We desire to enjoy and to worship the Most Holy Trinity, one God, forever. The Way for Christians is not a road or a step-by-step program. Rather, for us the Way is equivalent to a Person, as when Christ proclaimed, "I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

"I go to prepare a place for you."

Christ is The Way, and Christians who are joined to his body (the Church) in Holy Baptism enter into and upon this Way, the end of which leads to God. We hope to go where he has already gone, and to enter at length into the "mansions" that he has prepared for us.

Along the way we also have the benefit of walking along in the shadow of better and stronger fellow-travelers, the saints. We walk the same Way in the same doctrine and fellowship, following their example, and placing our small feet in the footprints left by them in the shifting sands of time.

2007-04-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

Good Friday

During Passiontide, the two weeks leading up to Easter, the passion (suffering) of our Lord is juxtaposed with our exultation in his victory over death.

At the Parish Church today we express our sorrow for the terrible things our Lord had to endure at the hands of evil men. The interior of the Church is stripped bare of all its beautiful furnishings, and the altar and altar cross are covered with black veils.
Yet, this cloud has a silver lining. Even during the sorrow of Good Friday we are mindful of the "rest of the story". Peeking around the corner of the sacristy door this morning, I noticed one of our Easter flower arrangements, beautifully arranged by M., waiting be put out on Easter Even. And as I happened through the Parish Hall downstairs, I was greeted by the heady scent of Easter Lilies, also waiting to be put around the altar.

Another Good Friday blessing appeared in one of our flower beds at Church today: those who attended Morning Prayer noticied that the tulip bulbs that N. buried in the ground last fall, have sprung forth in gorgeous, blood-red flower.

2007-02-25T20:56:00.000-08:00

A grain of wheat

"God, not man, is the first term of religion: and our first step in religion is the acknowledgement that He Is. All else is the unfolding of those truths about His life and our life, which this fact of facts involves.

I believe in One God. (first statement of the Nicene Creed) We begin there; not with our own needs, desires, feelings or obligations. Were all these abolished, His independent splendour would remain, as the Truth which gives its meaning to the world.

So we begin by stating with humble delight our belief and trust in the most concrete, most rich of all realities--God. Yet even the power to do this reflects back again to Him, and witnesses to His self-giving to the soul. For Christianity is not a pious reverie, a moral system or a fantasy life; it is a Revelation, adapted to our capacity, of the Realities which control life. Those Realities must remain largely unknown to us, limited little creatures that we are.

God, as Brother Giles said, is a great mountain of corn from which man, like a sparrow, takes a grain of wheat; yet even that grain of wheat, which is as much as we can carry away, contains all the essentials of our life. We are to carry it carefully and eat it gratefully: remembering with awe the majesty of the mountain from which it comes."

--excerpt from my Lenten reading (by Evelyn Underhill)

2007-02-01T21:01:00.000-08:00

Feb. 2, A Hymn for Candlemas
(Feast Day of The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, commonly called "The Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin")

Hail to the Lord who comes, comes to his temple gate;
Not with his angel host, not in his kingly state;
No shouts proclaim him nigh, no crowds his coming wait;
But, borne upon the throne of Mary's gentle breast,
Watched by her duteous love, in her fond arms at rest,
Thus to his Father's house he comes, the heavenly guest.

There Joseph at her side in reverent wonder stands;
And, filled with holy joy, old Simeon in his hands
Takes up the promised child, the glory of all lands.
O Light of all the earth, thy children wait for thee!
Come to thy temples here, that we, from sin set free,
Before thy Father's face may all presented be. Amen.

-John Ellerton, 1880

A small but reverent congregation gathered at our Church this Candlemas Eve. We began with a candlelight procession into the Church, and then at Holy Communion we sang the hymn by John Ellerton (above) and the Phos Hilaron.

2007-01-09T17:10:00.000-08:00

Dead Sea Scrolls

From September 23, 2006 to January 7, 2007, an exhibition called “Discovering the Dead Sea Scrolls” came to Seattle. It was developed and hosted by a partnership of the Pacific Science Center in Seattle and Discovery Place in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it was curated by the Israel Antiquities Authority.

This exhibition generated quite a lot of excitement among Christians and others who read the Bible in the Seattle Area. Being downtown (practically beneath the Space Needle), it turned into a real public spectacle that ended up being SOLD OUT. Our parish went on a little outing to see the exhibit on the very last day, thanks to N. who facilitated the arrangements for us. The exhibit was very interesting and professional, with interactive segments on Paleography, Geography and History prior to the exhibition of the scrolls themselves.

I say "scrolls", but there were no actual scrolls included in the exhibition. Rather, there were a dozen or so ‘fragments', which appeared to the viewer as small scraps of vellum with Hebrew script on them, in controlled cases, with intermittent lighting.

The fragments were classed as Biblical, Apocryphal and Sectarian (the last name was given to the Commentaries and Community Rules by the curators). Here are some of the writings represented among the fragments: Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Psalms, An [Essene] Community Rule, A Commentary on Hosea, A Calendar, A Book of War, and "Pseudo-Ezekiel".

Upon reflection, it seems to me that there was very little information in the exhibition that is not already pretty much common knowledge, at least among anyone who has been to Seminary in the past 50 years. I also have to wonder - Why is it, that the Israel Antiquities Authority continues to conceal literally hundreds of scrolls retrieved from the Qumran site, while releasing only bits and scraps to other scholars and to the public?

Furthermore.

Why is it that the IAA immediately puts its own spin on the tiny bits of information that it does release? Here is one example of the kind of commentary that I heard at the exhibition (not an exact quote, but the general sense): The Essenes and other Jewish groups around the first century BCE were awaiting the birth of a King who they believed would be the Son of God. This does not mean they were waiting for Jesus, but it merely means that this belief was prevalent at the time.

Well, I guess I just have to differ with them on the last point.

2006-12-05T10:04:00.000-08:00

The Litany: an introduction

On the first day of Advent, our Parish said The Litany from the Book of Common Prayer. It was read in a very solemn procession of crucifer (cross-bearer), lucifers (light-bearers), Lay Reader, Deacon and Priest. This was about as large a procession as our tiny, suburban parish could muster, but it was an impressive experience for our congregation, none-the-less!

What is a litany?

In simple terms, a litany is a ‘prayer’ or a ‘supplication’. The word itself comes from a Greek word (litaneia), that since ancient times has denoted a form of public, corporate supplication.

Over the centuries of the history of the Church, ‘litany’ has come to have a more specific meaning as a responsorial prayer in which the leader initiates a short suffrage that is then followed by a response from the congregation. Often it is said in procession, either on occasions of great solemnity or in a time of great need.

In the Anglican Book of Common Prayer it is very common to find the suffrage/response model for public prayers, for example, the suffrages after the creed in Daily Morning & Evening Prayer. However, in the American Prayer Book (1928) there are only three major responsorial prayer-forms which are actually entitled “Litany”.

We have a “Litany for the Dying” to be offered by the bedside of a person soon to depart this life. There is a “Litany for Ordinations” that may be said on behalf of a man about to be ordained to the sacred ministry. And then there is “The Litany”, the progenitor and precursor to the other forms, and the subject of our present discussion.

[NOTE: In the 1979 prayer book of The Episcopal Church, loosely related to The Book of Common Prayer, The Litany is termed “The Great Litany”. This is perhaps to distinguish it from the various forms of the “Prayers of the People”, which are the new litanic forms for the Eucharist.]

According to long-standing practice in Anglican Churches, The Litany is to be said regularly, each Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. This is actually mandated in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England, but in the American Church its implementation was not made very clear, and thus The Litany is more often read at the discretion of the parish priest.

In practice, this has meant that The Litany is said only on select occasions, or as a processional. In my own parish, I presently offer it regularly on Wednesdays and Fridays (frequently on Sundays), and also in solemn procession on select days.

This is intended as the first in a Brief Blog Series on The Litany.

2006-11-21T15:37:00.000-08:00

A Rule of Life

Last weekend while in Victoria, BC, I visited an Anglican Church and heard a Sermon on "Commitment". The parishioners were being exhorted to adhere to the following "Rule" from the Book of Common Prayer of the Anglican Church of Canada (1962 edition):

"Every Christian man or woman should from time to time frame for himself a RULE OF LIFE in accordance with the precepts of the Gospel and the faith and order of the Church; wherein he may consider the following:
-The regularity of his attendance at public worship and especially at the Holy Communion.
-The practice of private prayer, Bible-reading, and self-discipline.
-Bringing the teaching and example of Christ into his everyday life.
-The boldness of his spoken witness to his faith in Christ.
-His personal service to the Church and the community.
-The offering of money according to his means for the support of the work of the Church at home and overseas."

2006-11-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

Evelyn Underhill: Anglican Mystic

A brief review of the book, "The Spiritual Life", by Evelyn Underhill.

Evelyn Underhill was one of the great lay Anglican thinkers of the first half of the 20th century, a group that includes T. S. Eliot, Dorothy Sayers, C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton (prior to his conversion to Rome).

Her book "The Spiritual Life" was originally part of a series of broadcasts made prior to World War II. She published them in book form, in order to "present some of the great truths concerning man's spiritual life in simple language." She thoroughly and eloquently achieves her goal.

The main thesis of the book is the unification of all of the various compartments of our life (familial, political, personal) in love and service of God. The essence of The Spiritual Life is complete conformity to the will of God, and the abandonment of all that is self-willed and self-seeking.

The present edition is an attractive reprint by Morehouse Publishing, and is part of its "Continuum Imprint" series, a series of reprints of great Anglican classics. I used Underhill's "The Spiritual Life" as the text of our 2006 Parish Retreat, and although it was a challenging read (definitely 'steak', as opposed to, 'hot dogs'), it was very well received.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is as follows: "We mostly spend our lives conjugating three verbs: to Want, to Have, and to Do. Craving, clutching, and fussing, on the material, political, social, emotional, intellectual--even on the religious--plane, we are kept in perpetual unrest: forgetting that none of these verbs have any ultimate significance, except so far as they are transcended by and included in, the fundamental verb, to Be: and that Being, not wanting, having and doing, is the essence of a spiritual life."

2006-10-31T22:06:00.000-08:00

An Anthem for All Saints Day

One of the Anthems that impressed and moved me greatly when I first encountered the choral music of the Anglican Church is "Faire is the Heaven" by William Harris (1883-1973). This work for double chorus takes a 16th century text and sets it within the rich harmonic language of high-Romantic Era choral writing. The text of the Anthem is a portion of An Hymn of Heavenly Beauty, by the Elizabethan poet Edmund Spenser (c.1552-1599). Altogether, it is a glorious depiction of the blessedness of the saints in heaven.

Faire is the heaven
Faire is the heaven where happy soules have place
In full enjoyment of felicitie;
Whence they do still behold the glorious face
Of the Divine, Eternall Majestie;

Yet farre more faire be those bright Cherubins
Which all with golden wings are overdight.
And those eternall burning Seraphins
Which from their faces dart out fiery light;

Yet fairer than they both and much more bright
Be the Angels and Archangels
Which attend on God's owne person without rest or end.
These then in faire each other farre excelling
As to the Highest they approach more neare,
Yet is that Highest farre beyond all telling

Fairer than all the rest which there appeare
Though all their beauties joynd together were;
How then can mortal tongue hope to expresse
The image of such endlesse perfectnesse?

There are many good recordings of this Anthem, but I recommend the recording of the same name by the Cambridge Singers, directed by John Rutter. (Collegium Records, CD107-COL).

2006-10-23T20:46:00.000-07:00

The AKJV/BCP Combination

This book is surely one of the most beloved, influential and well-used volumes among Anglicans in America today. It consists of the 1928 American edition of The Book of Common Prayer, bound together in one volume with the Authorized King James Version (1611) of the Bible. This King James Bible is not the same that you will most commonly find being offered by American publishers, however, for it contains the Apocrypha between the Old and New Testaments, just as did the original Bible authorized by James I.

When you hold these combined books in your hand, you have everything you need for reading the daily Anglican Services of Morning and Evening Prayer (unless you plan to sing a hymn, of course, in which case you will need the hymnal). When I first encountered the AKJV/BCP combination as a music graduate student some years ago, I was very excited, and immediately purchased two genuine leather-bound copies, just in case it would go out of print! (On a student income, that was quite an investment!) I am now busy wearing out my second and last copy reading Daily Morning & Evening Prayer at our parish, but I am very glad to see that I don’t have to worry about it going out of print, afterall. Although the original publisher (Preservation Press) is no longer in existence, the AKJV/BCP is now being printed by the Anglican Parishes Association.

There may yet be one thing lacking, however. I sometimes would like to have The Hymnal, 1940 bound in the same volume as well. A number of years ago, one could readily purchase The Book of Common Prayer bound together with The Hymnal, 1940, and I have several older copies of this particular combination in my study. Let the reader now imagine an AKJV/BCP/HYMNAL combination! This would make the combined book around a half-inch thicker, which may be difficult to bind securely, but I have seen larger books: perhaps it could be done.

2006-10-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

Of Fish and Men

Across the street from our parish church is this little stream, called Cottage Creek. It is not much more than 1 or 2 feet deep and 10 feet across, but it flows full of cold, clear water from the snow-capped Cascade Mountain peaks about 70 miles due east of Seattle.

Last week, N. sent me an email, letting me know that there are Salmon in Cottage Creek, and informing me about a footpath and bridge where one can see the Salmon. So, I hiked down to the water and was rewarded by the sight of around 20 or so, very red Salmon, thrashing, fighting and swimming. They were either headed very rapidly upstream, or were holding their own against the brisk current.

How did they get all the way from Puget Sound to Woodinville, covering many difficult miles of waterway? I guess they got here by swishing their powerful tails about a gazillion times. (Can you tell that I am not very well acquainted with fish?)

Anyway, it occurred to me that the Salmon were a little like people caught up in rush hour traffic: jostling, fighting, striving, rushing headlong…upstream.

There is a major difference, however, between Salmon and People.

Salmon are very competitive and headstrong, because that is the way God made them, and they give glory to God just by being good Salmon. Men & Women on the other hand, created in the very Image of God, are capable of tempering their competitiveness and headstrong urges with a dose of kindness, mercy and graciousness.

May we use these gifts a little more!

2006-10-02T23:01:00.000-07:00

Kindness begets kindness

Two lovely bouquets of Stargazer Lilies were given for Sunday's Service by J--- in honor of her son's birthday. She also did a superb job of preparing the altar for the Service, AND she brought a chocolate cake for a little party at Coffee Hour!

Anyway, the flowers were still opening by Evensong this evening (Monday), and the photograph shows that they were still in good shape. The flowers not only looked good, but the Church was also filled with a heady scent - Lilies performing their best to the glory of God!

It would be wrong to let flowers like this go to waste. So, I have made it a part of my routine to rearrange them in vases after Evensong on Monday, and prepare to take them to somebody who I think might enjoy and get some good out of them. Question: does that make me a florist, or a parish priest? Perhaps a little of both.

2006-10-02T21:15:00.000-07:00

10. 6. 10. 6

No, it is not a list of the Global Coordinates for the location of the Lost Ark of the Covenant…nor is it a code to unlock secret information in the prayer book…nor is it the phone number that Archbishop Morse dials when he needs a Seminarian to work in the Office…

10 6. 10 6 is the Metrical Structure of a hymn that I use at Evensong frequently and which our Girl Choir sings very well: "O brightness of the immortal Father's face, most heavenly blessed..." The numbers represent the number of syllables in the hymn (i.e., 10 syllables: O-bright-ness-of-theimm-or-tal-Fa-ther's-face, followed by 6 syllables: Most-ho-ly-heav'n-ly blest...followed by another set of 10 + 6 syllables).

A set of numbers such as this appear at the top of every hymn, except for times when initials are supplied for the nick-name of the poetic meter, such as "C.M." for Common Meter or "L.M." for Long Meter, etc... The metrical structure of a hymn text is used to determine how it will be sung or played in performance. It may also be used to match the text with an alternate tune. For an example of how it might shape the performance, I try to interpret each section of 10+6 as one Musical Phrase, to be sung in one breath, if possible. (Although, since I haven't been running as regularly as I would like in the past few weeks, that goal was reduced to having a Musical Phrase only in the loosest possible sense!)

This hymn as it appears in our Hymnal, 1940 is a translation/paraphrase by Edward Eddis (1864) of the 3rd century Greek hymn, "Phos hilaron". The “Phos hilaron” has been a popular hymn in Anglican circles at least since the mid 19th century. There are a number of Anglican translations and paraphrases of it, both for use as hymns and for Choral Anthems. Another version (by Robert Bridges) occurs at number 176 in our hymnal, “O gladsome light, O grace of God the Father’s face…” There is another famous example by John Keble, “Hail, gladdening light”, which is used in a number of Anthems.

For those of us who live in the now-deepening darkness of the Pacific North West Winter, the “Phos hilaron” is especially appropriate to sing: Christ is the Light of the world!

There are two tunes available for Eddis’ hymn, 173 St. Nicholas and 768 Evening Hymn, both of which are designed to work with the rather loping 10 6. 10 6 metrical structure. The latter, by Gerald Near, is found in the Supplemental Tunes at the back and is currently my favorite. If you are interested in learning more about the internal workings of the hymn, watch out for my upcoming article in the Nov-Dec issue of The Mandate (prayer book society journal) entitled: "The Hymnal, 1940: Anatomy of a Hymn".

2006-10-02T15:33:00.000-07:00

Girl's Choir Begins a New Church Year

On Sunday, October 8th, our Girls began their 06-07 Church Year with a sung Service and Anthem at 10:00.

Repertoire
Holy Communion Service in D Major, by Leo Sowerby
Gloria in excelsis, by T. Tertius Noble
For the Anthem: a canon learned at Choir Camp

They will continue singing only one Sunday each month, because they need to attend Church School on the other Sundays.

Have a great Season, Girls!

2006-09-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

The Divine Name

Our Lord commanded his Apostles to go & teach "all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost". In doing so, he revealed to us the full Name by which Almighty God is to be known among us: as One God, in Trinity of Persons.

When a Christian reads the 3rd commandment of the Decalogue ("Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy God in vain"), he takes it to mean that one must only pronounce the Divine Name with appropriate reverence, and with devout purpose. We apply this command to all of the various Names for God used in the Bible, but most especially to the Threefold, Divine Name of the Most Holy Trinity, One God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Because we are baptized in this three-fold Name, we are also obligated to live our lives in a way that does proper reverence to the Name. The 3rd commandment for us applies not only to "vain" (or empty) use of God's Name in the course of our speech, but also means that we are to live holy lives because we have been set apart in the Divine Name, and sanctified through Holy Baptism.

On the Lord's Day, we specifically gather at the parish Church to honor and magnify the Name of God. In particular, here are some references to the "Name" of God, from the Anglican Order for Holy Communion:
-The Collect for Purity: "...Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name...
-The Decalogue: "Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy God in vain."
-The Nicene Creed: we confess our faith in the threefold name of the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
-The Sermon: an Anglican priest usually presents his Homily, beginning and ending with the invocation, "In the Name + of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
-Prayer for the Church: "...grant that all those who do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love" and, "we also bless thy holy Name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear..."
-General Confession: "...grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy Name..."
-The Lord's Prayer: "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name..."
-The final blessing: We are dismissed and blessed in the Name, The Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

The foregoing is some of the "raw material" that will go into my Homily for tomorrow, on the subject of the 3rd commandment of The Decalogue. Visit our parish website for more of my Series on The Decalogue, www.st-bartholomews.org

"Blessed art thou for the Name of thy Majesty: praised and exalted above all forever." (-from the Canticle of Matins, Benedictus es, Domine)

2006-09-19T12:28:00.000-07:00

God's own child

It was a joy to administer the Sacrament of Holy Baptism to my baby daughter, Mary Eve McGrath, this past Sunday! We gladly recieved her "into the congregation of Christ's flock", and pledged to bring her up in the faith. She has three wonderful godparents, who not only answered for her in the course of the Service, but who also provided a lovely reception afterward. So...'Thank you, godparents!' and 'Godspeed, Mary Eve'!

2006-09-18T19:46:00.000-07:00

Work and Prayer
...a day in the life of...

People sometimes ask me what I have to do during the week...which is a fair question, considering that some people only see me in action for 1 hour each week at Sunday Worship. So, I am not at all offended by this question, and long ago I decided that it was worthwhile to have an answer ready!

In general terms, my work as the rector (parish priest/pastor/minister) of a small, suburban, Anglican Parish falls into three categories: Pastoral, Administrative, and Custodial. There is quite a bit of overlap between these three areas, but it is convenient to separate them, at least at first.

Pastoral: these are the type of things you might think of first in reference to a pastor, such as leading worship, teaching, preaching, administering the sacraments, visiting the sick, calling on parishioners, having lunch or afternoon tea with parishioners, corresponding via email and talking on the phone with them. This area takes by far the majority of my time, and some things such as preaching or teaching require a good deal of preparation and study, in addition to the actual performance of duty.

Administrative: this pertains to the day-to-day responsibility for running an organization of 100 or so people, and taking ultimate responsibility for a range of programs, individuals and smaller groups: Church School, Choir/Organ/Other Music, Newsletter, Website, Sunday Bulletin, Vestry, Treasurer, Publicity. The Parish Newsletter is a good case study of what I need to do in order to have good programs: first, I decide what the content will be; then, I write it; then, I go to Kinko's to copy and fold it; finally I distribute it through the mail to our mailing list and to the webmaster!

Custodial: this pertains to the care of our facilities. We have about an acre of Pacific NW land with a couple dozen or so Fir Trees, a driveway, parking lot, sidewalks, two public buildings (with roofs!), restrooms, kitchen, parish hall, library, books, vestements, furnishings, office equipment...etc...etc... (NOTE: I do find myself changing lightbulbs, sweeping and mopping.)

I have the benefit of capable and dedicated volunteers who make it possible to carry out these duties and activities, and I could not do without them. For example: deacon, vestry, teachers, nursery volunteers, lay reader, acolytes, organist, treasurer. However, I am still the only full-time person on the site, so I accomplish my work during the course of around 60 hours or so each week (sometimes more and sometimes less, depending on the season).

For any young men out there who are considering a vocation to the sacred ministry, rest assured that there is no training or bit of knowledge that you have acquired thus far, which will not be put to good use for God's Kingdom! In this life, you will be fully engaged on every level.

Now, because I am an Irishman, I tend to get myself into other things, too. So a fourth category is needed for OTHER activities, which inevitably eat up a day or two, here and there...such as: Secretary of Synod (preparing minutes), working at Diocesan Summer Camp; editing musical projects, such as a Camp Hymnal; writing articles on The Hymnal, 1940 for The Mandate (prayer book society journal).

How do I stay refreshed and ready to serve others? Each day of my life is enclosed and supported by Worship, Prayer and Study. This happens mainly through public reading of the Daily Prayer Offices of the Church. My days begin with 8:30 Morning Prayer (Matins) and end with 5:30 Evening Prayer (Evensong). This discipline keeps me grounded in the worship of the Most Holy Trinity, One God, and it also unites me in fellowship with thousands (perhaps millions) of other Anglican clergy and devout laypersons throughout the world!

To God be the Glory.

2006-09-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

Into the Blogosphere

"A man full of words will not prosper on the earth." (from The Psalms)

Sigh.

What is an Irishman supposed to do? Especially if he has been to Ireland to kiss the Blarney Stone. Well, nowadays, at least he can edit his comments before 'publishing' them and playing the fool to a worldwide audience!

Seriously, you are most welcome to my brand-new weblog. And, if you can grab a cup of enlivening, dark-roast, Pacific NW-style Coffee, and are able stay awake for a while, you are welcome to read through some of my essays, which are just waiting for a sympathetic Anglican eye.

Best Regards

2006-09-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

G. K. Chesterton in The Hymnal, 1940

There is but one hymn by G. K. Chesterton in The Hymnal, 1940, and recently at St. Bartholomew's we sang it for the first time!

Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) is well known to many of us as one of the foremost Christian Apologists and vigorous defenders of Christian Orthodoxy of the 19th/20th centuries. He started out in the Anglican Church and eventually made his way over to Rome, although this change of course seems to have had little effect on his general outlook.

Hymn 521, "O God of Earth and Altar", written in 1906 is very relevant to us in America in 2006, with references to "terror", excessive wealth, the climate of cynicism, and also the sophistry that is the trademark of our political life, in which the weaker arguments are made to appear strong through lies and manipulations.

Verse two of the hymn contains clear references to The Litany from the Book of Common Prayer. In the Hymnal 1940, Chesterton's hymn is sung to a lovely traditional English melody, called "King's Lynn", arranged by R. Vaughan Williams in 1906.

O God of earth and altar, Bow down and hear our cry,
Our earthly rulers falter, Our people drift and die;
The walls of gold entomb us, The swords of scorn divide,
Take not thy thunder from us, But take away our pride.

From all that terror teaches, From lies of tongue and pen,
From all the easy speeches That comfort cruel men,
From sale and profanation Of honor, and the sword,
From sleep and from damnation, Deliver us, good Lord!

Tie in a living tether The prince and priest and thrall,
Bind all our lives together, Smite us and save us all;
In ire and exultation Aflame with faith, and free,
Lift up a living nation, A single sword to thee. Amen.

Now our Parish Newsletter has also begun to go by the name, “Earth and Altar”! (If you can’t create great poetry, at least you can imitate it.) Hopefully Chesterton won’t mind!

2006-09-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

The Decalogue in Holy Communion

The liturgical use of The Decalogue (Ten Commandments) as the opening act of worship is a unique and powerful feature of the Anglican Mass, commonly known to us as ‘The Order for Holy Communion’.

Among the liturgical ancestors of the prayer book rite (the medieval Roman and Sarum rites) we find that the mass typically began with a 9-fold ‘Kyrie eleison’, or ‘Lord, have mercy’. This hymn of the Early Church had come to be seen in medieval times as a penitential entrance rite. Together with the offering of the ‘Gloria in excelsis’, it was both a preparation for Communion with God and offering of praise to God. This Kyrie/Gloria opening formula continued to be reflected in the 1549 prayer book rite.

In 1552, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer (no doubt motivated by the desire that his people should become better acquainted with The Decalogue) juxtaposed it upon the 9-fold ‘Kyrie’. Each ‘Kyrie, eleison’ was now read as a response to a particular commandment, “Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law. Of course the addition of a 10th ‘Kyrie’ was also needed, “Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these thy laws in our hearts we beseech thee.” In the same year, Cranmer removed the ‘Gloria’ to the end of the Service, where it came to serve a new function as the hymn of praise and thanksgiving from the faithful upon having received the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. This has been the prayer book Order of Service since 1552. For the addition of a little ‘atmosphere’ to the use of The Decalogue, the priest may chant each commandment, and the congregation or choir respond using any one of the 5 musical settings of the Responses to the Decalogue in The Hymnal, 1940. A very good choice, and my personal favorite at the moment, is the setting by Sir Edward Bairstow, number 725.

The Decalogue serves a number of important functions in the Anglican mass: it keeps God’s Law at the forefront of our consciousness; it reminds us that without obedience to God’s Law there is no possibility of Communion with God; it provides us with the context in which to receive our Lord’s summary of the Law, to Love God and to Love our neighbor as ourselves; and, it prepares us to hear and receive with gladness the Holy Gospel in an effective liturgical sequence of Law/Gospel.

The liturgical use of The Decalogue is not ‘merely’ a teaching device or a means of imparting information, however. In the context of our Service, it is also a means of meditation upon, and humble worship of, the Most Holy Trinity One God. Together with the Psalmist, we may say, “Blessed art thou, O Lord; O teach me thy statutes.” (Ps. 119:10)

Our use of The Decalogue is completed by the Collect on page 70 of the prayer book, “O ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that, through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ… Amen.”

In the American Prayer Book of 1928, the rubrics allow for the Summary of the Law (“Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith…”) together with a 3-fold ‘Kyrie’, to take the place of The Decalogue, PROVIDED that The Decalogue still be read one Sunday in each month. Happy is that parish which heeds the wisdom of the fathers of our Church, and thus benefits from the use of The Decalogue. A parish which regularly hears and prays The Decalogue will no doubt be well-formed in biblical/catholic morality, and will be equipped to Love God and to Love Their Neighbor.

The presence of the Decalogue as a liturgical formula, together with the positioning of the ‘Gloria in excelsis’ at the end of the Service, are features of the Anglican Service that critics of the Book of Common Prayer are wary of, and that admirers of the Book of Common Prayer cannot get enough of. The fact is, as present-day “Anglicans” in the APCK in 2006, we cannot escape the beauty and the singularity of the prayer book liturgy that has defined our Way for over 450 years. I am of the mind that “Godliness, with contentment is great gain” and that it is a great joy to simply be content with the great treasure that we have received from our spiritual heritage, to use it with integrity and to profit from it.

Visit our parish website over the course of the next Sundays, for my Series of Homilies on The Decalogue, via www.st-bartholomews.org

2006-09-14T11:22:00.000-07:00

Anglican Catechism: Orthodoxy in Instruction

If you are interested in a simple but effective way of imparting the catholic faith to children or to newcomers to your parish, then read on…

Contained in the Book of Common Prayer is a Catechism, or “Instruction” for those who are being trained in the catholic faith, especially children approaching confirmation. It is presented in Question & Answer format, which is the old-fashioned manner of “rote learning”. In the American Prayer Book of 1928, the Catechism is also presented as two Offices of Instruction, interspersed with hymns and prayers. The principle material of both the Catechism and the Offices of Instruction (which are based on the Catechism) is The Apostles’ Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, and The Decalogue (or Ten Commandments)

The catechizing of new believers is a principle function of the Church, and yet there are various ways of going about it. I will attempt to trace in general terms the tradition in which the Anglican Catechism of our prayer book stands.

First, let us go back to the 4th century, when St. Augustine is approached by a young Christian named Laurence, desiring that the Bishop give him a ‘little handbook’ containing the essence of the catholic faith. St. Augustine replied saying, “What you really want to know in the handbook is this: ‘How is God to be Worshipped?’, and the answer to this question is that God is to be worshipped in Faith, Hope and Charity.” He then proceeded to write his “Enchiridion on Faith, Hope and Charity” which is an exposition of The Apostles’ Creed (Faith: what is to be believed), The Lord’s Prayer (Hope: what is to be hoped for), and The Decalogue (Charity: what is to be loved, or how are we to love).

St. Augustine was not doing anything very new, for one must assume that he himself had been catechized in a tradition by his own teacher, St. Ambrose of Milan. Also, we can go back to St. Paul in his Epistle to the Corinthians where he writes in Chapter 13, “and now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity”. St. Augustine juxtaposed the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and the Decalogue onto St. Paul’s Three Theological Virtues, and thus to write his Enchiridion, or “Little Handbook” on the catholic Faith.

The Augustinian tradition of Catechesis is shared by the Churches of the Reformation, (for example the weighty Lutheran and Presbyterian expositions of the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and the Decalogue), AND, the Roman Church with its massive, best-selling Catechism, which devotes a large portion of the book to the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and the Decalogue.

The Anglican Catechism as presented in the American Prayer Book of 1928 is an exposition of that which is to be believed, hoped for, and loved, by the catholic Christian. It is modestly stated, and is a fairly short catechism compared to the Lutheran and Roman Catechisms, for the assumption is made that the parish priest will “instruct” his people out of the catechism, and that the question & answer format will not be the ONLY means of imparting information in the course of their Instruction.

Now for The Offices of Instruction: they present the Catechism as a form of Worship, and not just as a means of imparting information. The Apostles’ Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, and The Decalogue, can be prayed and meditated upon at ANY time, and not just in the course of a Confirmation Class. Thus the Anglican Way of Catechism embodied in our Prayer Book is the very definition of Orthodoxy (a word which means Right/Proper Worship).

Come to think of it, this does sound very Anglican, for in our tradition there is perhaps less emphasis placed upon Didacticism or Legalism, and more emphasis placed upon Right Worship (Orthodoxy)!

Comments, contributions and corrections to the foregoing essay are most welcome.