The best way to describe my journey to Anglicanism is to say that I stumbled into it. But before I get to the Anglican part, I have to talk about my journey to becoming a Christian. My Christian Journey I grew up in an Indian Hindu family, and my first experience attending church was in…
Liturgical Dance Moves? – A Brief Introduction to Ritual Actions in Worship
This post is a part of Rookie Anglican, a blog dedicated to Making Anglicanism Accessible. What’s the most confusing part of an Anglican worship service? Surely the “liturgical dance moves” are near the top of the list! You know, when it seems like everyone else in the service — except you! — knows to make a…
What They Are Saying About The Incarnation
Here are a few lines from some of the wisest writers and thinkers on the Incarnation of Christ. Drink deep and believe! Hast thou not heard, that my Lord Jesus di’d? Then let me tell thee a strange storie. The God of power, as he did ride In his majestic robes of glorie, Reserv’d to…
For the Beauty of The Year: The Liturgical Calendar
Our culture has its own calendar for the next month or so. We can mark off these days: Door-busters, Black Friday, Parties, Winter breaks, Holiday cheer, Family dinners (and political arguments) and ending with a Ball-dropping champagne toast. That is the liturgy of the world at the end of a year. But what about the Liturgical…
The Procession in Anglican Worship
We are used to community parades, graduation processions, and wedding processions. Not everyone is used to a procession in worship at church. However, even though many modern churches or traditions don’t process anymore, it is an ancient and important Christian practice. In many Anglican churches, as the worship is starting, the ministers process to the…
Ash Wednesday: Are You Really Only Dust in the Wind?
On Ash Wednesday, clergy around the world will draw a cross-shaped smudge of dark black ashes on the foreheads of millions of people. It is the ancient rite of The Imposition of Ashes which signals the start of Lent. The words that accompany the ‘imposition’ on Ash Wednesday are simple, sober, and true. Over the years I…
Baptism Creates International Incident
A surprise baptism at the original site of the Lord’s baptism (Mark 1) created an international incident yesterday…and a glimpse of the age to come. Here is what happened. I am leading a tour of 30 adults through the Holy Land. Our bus pulled up to the newly renovated site commemorating the Lord’s baptism by…
Cranmer and the Book of Common Prayer
Author and theologian J. I. Packer says of the Book of Common Prayer‘s influence on the British people, Long before the age of fish and chips, the Book of Common Prayer was the Great British invention, nurturing all sorts and conditions of Englishmen and holding the church together with remarkable effectiveness. Before the Book of…
Traditions that are Not in the Bible
Today, I had a great Facebook exchange with a family member’s friend. We were discussing wedding bands. Should married couples wear them? Are there alternative ways to demonstrate one’s marital faithfulness? It was a friendly discussion in which I mostly pontificated, as usual. It was a conversation between a few committed Christians who supported each…
Music in Worship
Music speaks to our souls. Song is a part of virtually every tradition of Christian worship, and therefore music is the most ecumenical aspect of the Christian faith. Hymns and songs are borrowed between denominations and churches. Anglican music is therefore as eclectic as any other tradition, but with specific hymnody and songs which fit into particular…
