I’m standing behind the altar, preparing to wash my forefinger covered in ashes. Every year on a Wednesday in the late winter or early spring, I make this short walk from the floor of the nave to the credence table where I’ll dip my thumb and index finger in a soapy rinse. It’s one of…
Jack joined Anglican Compass as a writer in February 2014. He is a native of Knoxville, TN, and serves as rector of Apostles Anglican Church in his hometown. Before serving at Apostles, Jack served Methodist churches in Knoxville and Gateshead, England. In England, Jack discovered his love for the Anglican tradition that would later become his spiritual home. He was ordained an Anglican priest in 2008 on his 30th birthday. Jack is married to Emily, and they have two young children. Jack received a B.A. in History from Samford University and a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School.
What They Don’t Teach You In Seminary, Part 3: Practicing Sabbath
During my seminary years, teaching the theology of Sabbath was not scarce. In Old Testament courses, pastoral theology courses, and chapel services, I heard some excellent theological thinking on the Sabbath. I rarely saw sabbath practiced in community. The distance between thought and practice can become quite a chasm. Good ideas about the Sabbath can…
What They Don’t Teach You in Seminary, Part 2: Personal Repentance
by Jack King ‘There is no theology apart from experience; it is necessary to change, to become a new man.’ –Vladmir Lossky ‘If you are a theologian, you truly pray; if you truly pray you are a theologian.’—Evagrius Ponticus If you visit any seminary website, schools will speak about the importance of spiritual life for…
What They Don’t Teach You In Seminary (Part I)
by Jack King The truth is that I could have attended 10 seminaries and never have been entirely prepared for ministry in the local church. I attended two different seminaries in my Masters of Divinity degree—Asbury Theological Seminary and Duke Divinity School. Both were really good schools and I’m grateful I had experiences at both…
What’s the Hurry?
by Jack King Last week I turned 36, so I’m fully entrenched in my mid-30s, tilting toward my late-30s. With my fortieth birthday not far way, I’m looking at patterns, some I wish to establish and some I want to lose. Without question, the pattern I most want to break is the pervasive pattern of…
Denise Levertov’s ‘On A Theme By Thomas Merton’
Lent with the Poets #4. Series Introduction is here. Why are some writers of faith celebrated in American Christianity while others are not? That is my question about today’s poet, Denise Levertov. Among Christians devoted to the arts, Levertov is profoundly appreciated. Yet she hasn’t received the wider acclaim and affection that many afford to Frederick…
‘Possible Answers to Prayer’ by Scott Cairns
by Jack King. Lent with the Poets Series #3. Series Introduction is here. In the first two posts of this series, I featured a few 19th-century poets whose verse addresses Lenten themes. For the third feature, I’ve chosen a current American poet, Scott Cairns, who continues to publish poetry. Cairns is an Orthodox Christian who incorporates the richness…
‘Up-hill’ by Christina Rossetti
by Jack King. Lent with the Poets Series #2. Series Introduction is here. This week’s poet is Christina Rossetti, a 19th century Anglican poet who is often compared to Emily Dickinson. Christmas seems incomplete without Rosetti’s lyrical carols, such as In the Bleak Midwinter and Love Shown Down at Christmas. Yet the richness of Rossetti’s verse has been sorely neglected…
Rainer Maria Rilke’s ‘No One Lives His Life’
Introducing Anglican Pastor’s Lent with the Poets Series Today is a day of new beginnings for all of us walking this Lenten journey. Ash Wednesday began the Lenten season yesterday and we’re focused on living into the disciplines we’ve undertaken for these next 40 days. Today is also a new beginning for me as I join…
