How does the Christian table meal shape us as individuals and as the church? Why is bread at the center of Jesus’ meal? What does this have to do with feeding a spiritually and physically hungry world? Glenn Packiam, associate senior pastor and Anglican Priest serving at New Life Church, Colorado Springs, has written a…
Classic resources from the founding team of Anglican Compass.
Tailored vs. Traditional: Why Not Do Your Own Thing for Lent?
I’m busy planning out my personalized Lent. I need to decide what to give up. I need to decide what to give away. I need to pick books to read and do things that are tailored to my own personal, spiritual needs. Lent arrives soon. Am I ready? There are so many choices to make….
The War on Advent
You have heard of the supposed War on Christmas. But the real war is not about whether retailers use the word Christmas during December or not. In fact, it is not even the Christmas season until Christmas day anyway. The real war is happening in many American churches. It’s not a war on Christmas, its…
3 Conservative Christian Heresies
In the conservative Christian movement, we hear and talk a lot about liberal or progressive heresies. But those heresies are the low-hanging fruit of theology. That is, it’s easy to point out that universalism, denying Christ’s divinity, re-writing sexual ethics to conform with popular whim, or turning the Bible into a secondary historic curiosity with…
How to Receive Communion, Part 2: A Practical Guide
My last post discussed receiving communion by faith, and was more about our understanding of the spiritual aspects of communion. This post is just plain practical. We all want to reverently receive communion, not get in anyone’s way or spill anything, and to not have any surprises. But the surprises and spills will happen. Even…
How to Receive Communion, Part 1: Receiving with Faith
The first time I visited an Anglican church, I was afraid to go forward for communion for two reasons. If you are visiting an Anglican church for the first time, you may feel the same. So here is what we believe is happening during communion in this post, and then in the next post, some…
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…
I Don’t Want a Celebration of Life, I Want a Burial Service
When I die, please don’t call my burial service a Celebration of Life. Don’t get me wrong, I hope that people will want to celebrate my life. I don’t want this to replace my Christian burial. No, bury me according to the rites of a Christian. I want to be one more brother in Christ,…
The Sign of the Cross: A Rookie Anglican Guide
Why do Anglicans make the Sign of the Cross? When do they do it? How do they do it? I am often asked: “Why do you cross yourselves?” Often this is followed by “Isn’t that superstitious, like the baseball players who sign themselves before batting? Isn’t it a dead, rote ritual?” Sometimes, people don’t feel…
Week of the Sunday from July 31 to August 6: A Collect Reflection
Week of the Sunday from July 31 to August 6 Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your grace that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the…
Week of the Sunday from June 5 to June 11: A Collect Reflection
Week of the Sunday from June 5 to June 11 Grant, O Lord, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered in your providence, that your Church may joyfully serve you in all godly quietness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,…
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…
