Buckingham’s bishop and frequent blogger Alan Wilson continues his Guardian series on the Book of Common Prayer with a few thoughts on the historical power of communion to invite and incorporate the other.
The Rev. Ruth Meyers, chair of the Episcopal Church’s Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, was a guest on The Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio program State of Belief on Saturday. She spoke about the commission’s work on collecting and developing resources for blessing same-sex relationships. The broadcast is available here, and Dr. Meyers segment begins at the 28 minute mark.
It’s safe to say there’s a difference between theory and practice, between seminary and ministry. I know this because the past few baptisms I’ve celebrated haven’t exactly followed the outline I dazzled my professor with. They’ve been better.
Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ecumenical monastic order and spiritual-pilgrimage destination center in Saône-et-Loire, France, by Brother Roger Schutz.
The dog days of summer have produced a flap over a priest who in a moment of outreach gave a communion wafer to a dog.
Looking back, I think that “If you’re comfortable” and other apologetic language eased us past our own discomfort at asking people to do things we imagined they wouldn’t like. But perhaps our fears and assumptions actually contributed to congregational discontent and anxiety.own discomfort at asking people to do things we imagined they wouldn’t like. But perhaps our fears and assumptions actually contributed to congregational discontent and anxiety.
The Arcus Foundation has granted external funding to help support the work of Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music over the next three years as it responds to the charge assigned it by General Convention and resolution C056.
The church has to adapt its worship because our culture doesn’t recognize the value of worship when done as it was in generations past. Each generation is different in what it resonates with because over time the culture changes. The result is that worship rooted in previous generations loses its power to connect with each succeeding generation.
…C056: To share some of the ideas being considered as task groups develop theological and liturgical resources. To encourage a conversation about the theological, liturgical, and pastoral principles for blessing same-sex relationships. To offer and invite theological reflection about this work.
I have noticed that at diocesan services you see some standing and some knelling at the Eucharist. People stand or kneel depending on the practice at their parish, except that some clearly yo yo and are influenced to kneel when many others have chosen to kneel. The uncertainty creates some distraction from worship, but setting that aside I celebrate the diversity.