Seven whole days

A couple of weeks ago, the Magazine of the New York Times carried an interview with Archbishop Robert Duncan, formerly of ECUSA and now of some bit of Anglican alphabet soup. In an effort to correct several errors in that interview, Bishop Clifton Daniel, Episcopal Bishop of East Carolina wrote a letter to the editor which was published November 17. Both the interview and the letter are worth reading.

When I read the letter, I noticed an error. I was prepared to ignore it, but I’ve since seen it repeated around the interwebs. It’s this sentence: “The Episcopal Church is the sole Anglican presence in the United States recognized by the Archbishop of Canterbury.” That’s not quite right. It turns out that the Church of South India has been peacefully coexisting with the Episcopal Church in the US for many years. The CSI is absolutely recognized by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Read more »

I love NASA. There, I said it. There are lots of reasons why I love NASA, despite some well-known problems. Here’s one reason I love NASA: they do cool things. Constantly. Here’s one of the latest.

This video shows the earth’s weather over several days (17-26 August 2009). I’m not sure what the scientific value is, but it’s beautiful and cool. So enjoy!

Sure, I have derided the Transportation Security Administration for their pointless and time-consuming security theatre. For example, years after the so-called shoe bomber was foiled by wet matches, we Americans remove our shoes at every airport checkpoint like a bunch of drones. Most nations of the world must not worry about this, because I’m able to leave my shoes on in most countries I’ve visited. By the way, I shudder to contemplate what things will be like if we ever have an underwear bomber. OK, back to my main point.

The TSA is endlessly helpful. For example, in case you forgot that you have to have your liquids in a separate clear bag, they shout that at you as you approach the checkpoint. By the time you reach the screener, you’ve been shouted at a minimum of 17 times. And now that the holidays are near, the TSA has provided some more advice. I don’t have any trips scheduled, so I’m not sure if the shouting will include these tips. I thought I should share them here, in case there’s no time to revise the scipt for the shouting.

Read more »

In case you haven’t been following the story, there’s been a big public disagreement going back and forth between Patrick Kennedy and the Most Rev’d Thomas Tobin, Bishop of Rhode Island — Roman Catholic bishop, that is. It seems that they’ve been going at it over Kennedy’s public stance on abortion rights. The bishop feels that Kennedy should not receive Holy Communion in a Roman Catholic church, given his position on abortion rights.

The Providence Journal (or the ProJo, as locals call it) has all the details (or deets, as some locals call them). Here’s the Quote of the Day on this battle: “If [Kennedy] cannot abide by the teaching of this church, not just this one but others and … what it means to be a Catholic … maybe he should find another fine Christian denomination where he can be more comfortable,” the bishop said.

Wow. In some ways I admire the bishop for his forthright statements. I’ve frequently said that we clergy do not hold people to any meaningful standards, and this is one principal cause of decline in the church. What troubles me about this, however, is the almost obsessive focus on abortion right above all else. When the former mayor of Providence was beating people up and engaging in all manner of political corruption, no one suggested he absent himself from the Eucharist, as far as I know. I’ve never heard of a Catholic bishop saying that right-wing warmongers should be denied access to the sacraments.

Read more »

I’ve posted links to the Big Picture Blog here many times, and I’ll probably keep doing that. It’s a great blog, with all manner of delights, wonders, and challenges for the eyes. They’ve really outdone themselves this time, with a selection of entries to National Geographic’s International Photography Contest. Go check out the great variety of photos from around our beautiful world. Here’s one sample (hard to choose, so I took the first one).

These days, lots of people are scrutinizing their liturgical practices to make sure people are safe from needless risk of disease and infection. Hardly a day goes by when we don’t read of some other whacky liturgical change. I haven’t yet encountered the idea that the lectern Bible be encased in antimicrobial plastic, but I’m sure that’s coming. But I digress.

Many of the changes are rooted in fear, not in a reasoned analysis of risk versus benefit. I alternate between anger and pity every time I read about a church that has suspended the common cup in communion out of fear (see this paper or this blog post to learn more). I am a little sad when I read that the Peace has been omitted. Well, here’s some fact-based good news. You can have the Peace with increased safety. And at the same time, you can be returning to the ancient practice of the church! It’s time for the Kiss of Peace!

Read more »

Doh! I had a little something sitting in my blogpile, planning to post tomorrow. But I’ve been scooped by the Liturgy blog. Well, I won’t be bitter. Go visit the most excellent blog kept by my online friend, Bosco Peters.

Anyway, this video popped up on the interwebs a few places. It’s great fun. Sadly, if this video game really existed, it would be another excuse for people to ditch church attendance. Since it’s only a spoof, enjoy!

No, this title is not some kind of reference to Dr. Strangelove. It is rather the name of a company which makes equally comical and profoundly insidious products. What are these products? Well, my friends, they are the latest expressions of our culture’s obsession with fear. This company wants you to be afraid when you receive Holy Communion. In fact, they’d probably like the “touchless Eucharist” except that it eliminates the need for their products.

First, and I’m serious at this instant, you should read this paper about the risks of communion. As you’ll see, there aren’t many. Now back to my usual discourse. If you liked my earlier recommendations (made long before the current wave of hype, I might add), you’ll want to buy things from Purity Solutions. Make sure you watch the video on their home page.

Read more »

As this post hits the Internet, we’re just beginning evensong at Christ Church. It’s the first time we’ve offered this in my time at Christ Church, and I hope it’s the first of many. We don’t have facilities to post our service here, but you can at least enjoy a nicely sung setting of Psalm 148, the one of the psalms appointed for this evening.

There are no saints of the status quo. I can think of no examples of saints who were canonized for their success in keeping the same-old, same-old up. But I can think of dozens examples of saints who were uppity — saints who challenged themselves, the church, their nation, and the whole world. In that spirit, I share with you this hymn from Louie Crew, a living saint who blesses and challenges us all.

Let us now praise caustic persons,
the champions of justice in all generations,
through whom God has restored the flow of mercy.

Some have nailed theses to the church door
with prophetic power.
Some have started new universities to
challenge the prevailing notions.
Some have overturned tables at the temple,
demanding alms for the poor, the sick,
and the destitute before we buy organs
and stained glass.
Some have worn dresses to be priested for gender justice.
Some have yanked off masks to proclaim their loving gay unions.
Some have demanded of the white authorities, “Let My People Go!”
Some have marched through tear gas and police dogs,
defying orders from prelates and judges.
Some have destroyed draft files
and burned plans for nuclear destruction.
Some have organized unions and cooperatives.
Some have fought to redistribute God’s bounty justly.

Read more »

In keeping with my sometime habit of posting icons on feast days, here are a few saints from the British Isles and Ireland.

From here.

This is not your mother’s setting of Vaughan Williams’s excellent tune, Sine nomine. Enjoy.

We’re singing eight verses of “For all the saints” in procession this morning at Christ Church as the altar party wends its way through the congregation sprinkling everyone with lustral water. We’ll make a station at our oratory, which is where the names of those buried in our memorial garden are listed. I love this day, and part of the reason is that we get to sing this excellent tune with its stirring poetry. I couldn’t find a good youtube video of this hymn being sung, which is just as well; it’s great fun to hear Joyce Jones on the Crystal Cathedral organ in this setting.