It's fair to say that it's been a spring for the record books. COVID-19 has upended our country in general, but for those of us in academia it's especially bad. For my part the jolting transition to online has been easier on me than my students; I think that the academy has a rough road …
Spiritual Communion as past and future experience. — Ad Orientem
[We] must affirm Christ's objective presence in the Eucharist, and must maintain that “Spiritual Communion” is not the same as the Eucharist. We can understand liturgical contemplation and “Spiritual Communion” as receiving the grace of the Holy Spirit by recalling the sacraments we have already received, recalling our baptism, which is praised by the Early… via …
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Church Homecoming, Virtual Episcopal Style
"Homecoming" is a term that usually evokes a lot of maudlin blubbering in Evangelical circles (especially Southern ones.) Images of "old-time" religion and hymns, "dinner on the ground," and churches and families getting together cloud our eyes with tears and our minds with nostalgia. Bill Gaither was wise in tapping into this the way he …
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The New Normal — Stand Firm
Every single morning now, when I fire up the interwebs, there are at least three articles about the “new normal.” Some of them ponderously explain that there will be a new normal. Others disparage the very idea of there being a new normal. The more interesting ones try to imagine what the new normal will… via …
A Break from the Worship Wars
Last post I quoted a missionary to the Middle East who was having good ministry in spite of the social distancing restrictions. In a place like that, not being able to gather en masse isn't as big of a change as it is here. But not having live services has spared me a conflict that …
From the Home Church, a Virtual Coffee Hour
I've discussed my home church, Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, often, and plan to do so in the future. Bethesda is in the middle of our current crisis. Their Rector, James Harlan, was at the same conference where the rector that brought COVID-19 to Chattanooga attended. And they, like so many churches, has taken their church online …
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Intiction: “I Don’t Think You Can Do That”
The raging COVID-19, "...like a roaring lion, is prowling about, eager to devour you." (1 Peter 5:8 TCNT) The way some people are reacting to this make you wonder. I follow a fair number of people on Catholic Twitter and some of them have jumped the shark. One trad even disparaged Thomas Aquinas because he …
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“I Will Heal Your Diseases…” Comforting Lyrics from an Anglican Bishop
The Bishop is the ACNA's Bill Atwood, the song is "I Will Build You a City," which is featured in our Gospel presentation: https://youtu.be/-pBKvmbZ5EA The entire album he made--3:25 A.M.--is here: https://youtu.be/s5FVxJ4XMOg Smooth and comforting music for difficult times.
Wash and Pray — Ad Orientem
via Wash and Pray — Ad Orientem
“Let’s Kill All the Lawyers” Episcopal Style: A Continuing COVID-19 Saga
It doesn't get any better for Chattanooga since the Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, the Rev. Brad Whitaker, went about town with the COVID-19 he had contracted while at an Episcopal conference. Among his many stops (which are documented in this article) is this one: On Feb. 28, Whitaker led a memorial service for …
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Positive Infinity 