Anglicans Online notes that the Third Sunday in Advent is "Gaudete Sunday." If they want to bring it alive, one way is to feature Steeleye Span's (the 1970's British folk group that brought that genre of music alive to so many of us) version of the ancient Latin hymn, as you can see it below. …
The Collect for the Third Sunday in Advent
From the 1662 Book of Common Prayer: O LORD Jesu Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of …
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The Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent
From the 1662 Book of Common Prayer: BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed …
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The New North American Anglican Province: It’s Easier on Paper Than in Reality
Fellow Palm Beacher George Conger's detailed analysis of the recognition process is as good of an opportunity as any to make some comments on this complicated process. In principle, I think it's a great idea. North American Anglicans deserve better than the warmed-over humanism they've been getting out of TEC and ACoC for the last …
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The Collect for the First Sunday in Advent
From the 1662 Book of Common Prayer: ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, …
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The Two Sides of Thanksgiving: The Strange Story of the Venite (Psalm 95)
Thanksgiving Day (in the U.S.) is coming up, and our ministers are gearing up appropriate sermons (I hope they're appropriate, at least) for the occasion. So this is my contribution to raising the homiletical level, and perhaps it will edify you in the bargain. In 1534 Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, which transferred control …
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The Truth is Unknowable
Fellow Palm Beacher George Conger has written a fascinating summary of the 2008 Lambeth Conference in his article The Hollow Men: Lambeth 2008, What Happened And Why. In the course of this, he focused on Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams' own consistent philosophy of religion: Dr. Williams is a consistent thinker. Since his enthronement he …
The Poster Child of Syncretism
There's been a lot of talk about syncretism on MissionalCOG, but what passes for it in the Church of God is nothing compared to this: Bishop Geralyn Wolf of the Diocese of Rhode Island has inhibited the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding for publicly professing her adherence to the Muslim faith. The notice states that the …
The Fastest Way to Solve Problems is to Boot the Dissenters
Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts-Schori is confident that the crisis in the Episcopal Church is over: The Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori told a Columbus Dispatch newspaper reporter that she thinks the worst of the crisis in the denomination is over. She also predicted that openly gay bishops will be elected …
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Thoughts on Infant Baptism and the Nature of the Church
Both Fr. Greg and Abu Daoud have weighed in on this post, itself a follow-up to my reflections on the Orthodox view of the Eucharist. Let me respond to both and, in doing so, make some observations about these two important subjects. To start with the end of Fr. Greg's response: on a practical level, …
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Positive Infinity 