So, you now know the origin of this blog title: First Blessing. It is also traditional that first blessings are too special to be restricted to one day; the new priest gives first blessings for an entire year. So, I have set my heart and hand to writing these public reflections of the life of…
The Rev. John Roop is a Knoxville, Tennessee, native and was a third-generation member of the Christian Church, where he served as deacon, elder, and teacher. He and his wife, Clare, were drawn to the Anglican Church by the rhythm of the daily office, the richness of liturgy, and the presence of a sacramental worldview. John was ordained to the priesthood in May 2015. He serves as Assisting Priest at Apostles Anglican Church in Knoxville. John and Clare have one daughter who is currently in college studying secondary science education. John enjoys playing and composing music for various instruments and reading—with coffee, of course.
New Fire
It was dark as we gathered for the Great Vigil of Easter and the items were tucked out of sight, so I doubt anyone noticed their presence. I had carefully prepared the kindling for the new fire and was poised to strike steel to flint, praying for a spark, praying for a fire to herald…
Leave-Taking
Last week, I received a lapel pin to commemorate twenty-five years of service to public education. It has actually been twenty-seven years, but my school system has only recently begun such recognitions and is a bit “behind.” I will not get a thirty-year pin. When I close my calculus text in May, I will close…
Longing for Simplicity
William of Occam (ca. 1287-1347), an English Franciscan friar and theologian, is perhaps best known for his heuristic principle, Occam’s Razor. It is stated in various ways: If two hypotheses explain a phenomenon equally well, prefer the one with fewer assumptions. I used to tell my physics students that the East Tennessee version of Occam’s…
What Do I Call You?
“What do I call you?” the bank teller asked as we conducted a routine financial transaction—a question prompted by the collar I was wearing. “I am an Anglican priest. Sometimes we are called Father and sometimes simply by first name. Whichever you please is fine.” A Title is an Identity with Jesus Christ What I…
Questions Not Asked
Sometimes the questions not asked are as telling as those actually posed. As a priest I have not been asked about the Christian response to ISIS, the Syrian refugee crisis, illegal immigration, gun control, climate change, or any of a host of other ethical questions. I wonder why. And I wonder how – if not…
Herding Cats
Comedians often use humor as social commentary. A joke can slip through our defenses, expose our hidden hypocrisy, question our cherished beliefs, scrutinize our preconceived notions, and all this while making us laugh at ourselves. Such jokes are nearer parables than we often realize. They are humorous precisely because we recognize some grain of truth…
Things Done In Secret
As a new priest, I am careful to follow the liturgical rubrics in the prayer book as well as those that exist as a matter of local custom: bow here, make the sign of the cross now, kneel during this part of the service, extend arms in orans for this prayer, lay hands upon the…
Authority and Freedom
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom… (A Collect for Peace, BCP 1979, p. 990). A priest is a man under authority, a man who has relinquished the false freedom of autonomy for the perfect freedom of service, or…
Tentmaker Priest
I am a tentmaker priest. I know that the “modern” term is bi-vocational minister, but I prefer tentmaker; it connects me in straight-line fashion to the Apostle Paul and to his free-of-charge Gospel ministry. I do not boast in this as Paul did; I can find no cause to. It is good and proper for…
