You miserable, wretched sinners! You will hear this during Lent. Some will be offended, as these words seem rude and unworthy of creatures created in God’s image. To retain these words would be to wrongly imply that human beings are supposed to grovel before God and debase themselves. Others will be pleased, as these traditional…
Classic resources from the founding team of Anglican Compass.
How to Lent and Why: Questions for an Anglican Priest
Lent is about to kick us in the seats of our pants soon, when it darkens our foreheads, and then takes away our chocolates. Not to mention causing us to face our privilege by helping others and then making us read the Church Fathers in the original Latin or Greek. (I made that last part…
Clergy Political Activism: When should we get involved?
Churches and clergy are supposed to be politically non-partisan. Sometimes clergy are able to participate in politics as individuals (such as voting), but for the most part, they are to refrain from partisan politics. We serve the King of Kings, and represent his Church, not a particular party. Our mission and calling is to proclaim…
An Ordinary Book to Read for Advent
A Review of Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren. People don’t always like the word ‘ordinary.’ We like things to be ‘awesome’ or ‘fresh’ or ‘exciting’ — anything but ordinary. In teaching and writing about the Church Year, I’ve noticed that a lot of people are confused by the fact that the calendar…
Ancient Anglican Evangelism
There is a perception that Anglicans in North America don’t have our own history of evangelism. Or, at minimum, that comes from within our own tradition—not true! The church in England began with a powerful evangelistic mission to spread the message and evangelize, following Jesus’ commands in Luke’s Gospel. The Anglican tradition contains a powerful…
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. Although many modern churches or traditions no longer practice it, it is an ancient and important Christian practice. In many Anglican churches, as worship begins, the ministers process to the front of the…
Anglican Worship: The Focus is Not My Experience
At the heart of every church tradition lies one priority that shapes the community’s identity. This central aspect is the source of its energy and vision, and becomes the first of all other priorities. This aspect determines much, if not all, of its distinctive traits and eventually becomes the touchstone for every other facet of…
A Rookie Anglican Guide to an Anglican Worship Service
Word and Sacrament Our worship service consists of two parts, the Service of the Word and the Service of the Sacrament. These two elements are equally essential, as the Word of God reveals Jesus and prepares us to receive him in the sacrament of Holy Communion. This pattern follows the early Church of the Book…
We Can’t Do it
In the 17th century, pastor and poet George Herbert wrote the book The Country Parson, one of the first manuals for pastors written in English. He starts his book by acknowledging that he feels inadequate: the way to please [God], is to feed my Flock diligently and faithfully, since our Savior has made that the…
Does God Really Love Me?
I was raised in a Christian home. I was taught that God loves me. I was taught that God sees me as I am, in all the mixture of human fallenness and human beauty. He sees me and he loves me. He does not demand appeasement or proof, or a demonstration of worthiness. He put…
Spiritual Attack or Mental Illness?
As a priest, people often share stories with me about a loved one, friend, or acquaintance who is behaving in a dangerous, unusual, or self-destructive manner. They wonder if this is a spiritual problem or a mental health problem. They want me to help them decide which one it is. Is my loved one facing a…
Five Big Mistakes I’ve Made in Preaching
I’m not the best preacher, but after 18 years of preaching, I’ve learned a great deal from my own mistakes. To spare you, I’ve listed some of the biggest ones here. Not Believing in Preaching Itself I hope we all share a belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Believe it, and always preach it….
