Taizรฉ is the name of a small village in France, which is home to a monastic community of ecumenical Christian brothers and hosts many thousands of pilgrims from all denominations who visit each year. When these pilgrims return to their homes, they carry with them the spirit of Taizรฉ, expressed in song, silence, and a…
We Believe: Who With the Father and the Son is Worshiped and Glorified
Wait. If the Nicene Creed has already established that the Holy Spirit is God, โthe Lord, the giver of life,โ why must we then confess that, โwith the Father and the Son, [the Holy Spirit] is worshiped and glorifiedโ? We find no such addendum attached to the sections on the Father and the Son. Why…
Let Us Kneel Before The Lord: The Biblical Basis for Kneeling in Worship
Anglicans kneel a lot: in prayer, in confession, and at communion. We often surprise visitors from other traditions with our frequent kneeling. Why do we kneel so often? In short, kneeling is Biblical Worship, Bodily Worship, and Beautiful Worship. Kneeling as Biblical Worship The Bible associates kneeling with worship, especially prayers of confession, thanksgiving, and petition. Kneeling in the Old Testament Consider…
Hymn Guide: Joyful, Joyful
“Joyful, Joyful” is a hymn so classic that it sometimes feels cliche. Presbyterian clergyman Henry van Dyke wrote the text alongside the Ode to Joy, from the finale of Beethoven’s 9th symphony. But inside this familiar topic, set to a familiar tune, there is unexpected theological substance. It does not treat joy as mere happiness….
Creative Worship in a Time of Coronavirus
In 2020, COVID-19 challenged our churchesโ production and practice of congregational worship. The isolation resulting from quarantines and shutdowns raised questions about discipleship and the practice of worship in our homes and daily lives. Yet, in response to these questions, creativity sprouted from the absence of familiar traditions associated with liturgical worship. I went on…
Itโs Time to Go to Church
The most significant decision a Christian makes every week is whether they will go to church. The corporate worship of God is the principal activity of the people of God, and as the Westminster Catechism reminds us, the reason for which we were created. No other decision will so impact a discipleโs beliefs and practices…
What Do Anglicans Believe about Scripture, Prayer, and Worship? A Brief Overview of Anglican Spirituality
The following is an excerpt from the Anglican Church in North Americaโs catechism, To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism (Crossway, 2020), pp. 81โ87. You can download a PDF of the entire catechism here. A Rule of Prayer: Scripture, Prayer, and Worship 224. What is a โruleโ of prayer? A rule of prayer is a regular discipline by…
Why Every Church Should Have Weekly Sunday Communion Like the Anglicans Do
There was a long period where many Anglican churches didn’t have communion every Sunday. They would have morning prayer for a few weeks, and then a Holy Communion once a month or so. But a movement called Parish Communion successfully restored the tradition around the world. Today, most (but not all) Anglican churches celebrate Holy…
Aids to Anglican Worship: How Christian Imagery and Icons Can Help You Worship God
Christian Imagery Our Creator gave us physical senses to experience the world around us. In His mercy and wisdom, He inspired His people to create various aids to worship that engage those senses. One category of such an aid is that of Christian imagery โ images and artwork specifically intended to help in the act…
Anglican Worship: Where Does It Say In the Bible to Do That?
As an Anglican priest, parishioners often ask me where the Bible commands certain Anglican worship practices. The assumption is that we should only do what the Bible expressly commands us to do. The thinking goes: If the Bible doesn’t say to burn candles, then we shouldn’t burn candles. If the Bible doesn’t tell us to…
