After the events in Charlottesville in August, I came across an article by Doug Paul of Missio Alliance with a catchy and convicting subtitle: “When a Generation of Church Planters Reach Only White People” In reviewing the book The Creative Class, Paul argues (persuasively) that in creating ‘hip’ church plants, many young pastors may be inadvertently…
Liturgical Space: A Very Weird Message
Throughout the next several months I will be posting on the relationship of art and theology. We will look at how the concept of types (the participation of all creation in the divine), compels us to embrace a sacramental outlook on life, and the artists role in that– as we have been given earthly substances (the…
People of the Book
We’ve made two wrong turns so far, and that’s my fault. I keep looking up from the map on my phone at the mountains surrounding us here in northern Washington state. We are looking for a retreat center in Sumas, a town that seems to be mostly small farms patched in among the forested hills….
Are Icons Okay to Use in Prayer and Worship?
A long time ago on a continent far, far away, Christians had several councils to discern whether icons and sacred images could be used to aid worship and prayer. Iconoclasts wanted no images or icons, and Iconophiles wanted to retain them. After a lot of debate and prayer over centuries, it was finally determined that…
Listen to the Word & Table Podcast to Learn More about Liturgical and Sacramental Christian Worship
I don’t know about you, but I’m quite possibly addicted to podcasts. Right now, NPR’s UpFirst, The Tim Ferriss Show, and The Art of Manliness are some of my favorites. However, it’s been a bit of struggle for me to find great Anglican podcasts. Granted, perhaps that’s due to my own ignorance, but when you…
Why Pray for the Dead?
“For all those who departed this life in the certain hope of the resurrection, in thanksgiving let us pray to the Lord.” In Anglican worship, we don’t pray to the dead. But, we do pray for the dead and we pray with the dead. Many people have asked me why we do this. Most of the time they…
The Jewishness of Christian Liturgy
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, Not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law Until all is accomplished. — Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV)…
Why Do We Worship The Way We Do? – by Gerald R. McDermott
As Anglicans, we use various forms of ancient worship called “liturgical.” This is the major thing that distinguishes us from “low” churches that do not have a traditional liturgy. Liturgy: The Work of the People Liturgy comes from a Greek word which means “the work of the people.” In this ancient custom of worship, we…
The Unnecessary Beauty of Holiness – by John Bacon
This post is a part of Rookie Anglican, a blog dedicated to Making Anglicanism Accessible. Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; Tremble before Him, all the earth! — Psalm 96:9 (ESV) In the course of Morning Prayer, Anglicans often read or sing together a canticle (a liturgical hymn) called the Venite (“Come”) – named…
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…
