Ever wondered how to understand Christian worship? Here is a quick overview of liturgical theology… Word & Sacrament In his masterful book Liturgical Theology, Simon Chan observed that, “[Worship] practices have always returned to two things, Word and sacrament.” Our Sunday worship takes this seriously. The first part of the service is the word, and the…
Classic resources from the founding team of Anglican Compass.
What is a Collect? A Rookie Anglican Guide
As you gather for worship on Sunday, you encounter the Collect for Purity and the Collect of the Day. At Morning or Evening Prayer, you encounter “the Collects.” What are these strange things called “Collects,” and how do you pronounce this word? What is a Collect? A collect is simply a prayer meant to combine…
Is Worship Escapism?
Sometimes people may believe that worship is merely an act of make-believe and that my role as a pastor is to uphold an inspiring fairy tale. Life is busy, life is rushed, life is complex; modern life is debilitating. People die, people suffer, people deal with the cynical corporate world. Come to church to escape that….
Winfield Bevins Appointed to Key Church Planting Role
We are pleased to announce that AnglicanPastor.com writer Dr. Winfield Bevins has been appointed Director of Church Planting at Asbury Seminary. Below is the press release from Asbury. Thank you for your prayers for him as he transitions into his new role. (And yes, he will still be writing with us!). We are delighted to…
What Do You Call an Anglican Pastor?
“Hello, Father…er…I mean Pastor…sorry, I meant Reverend…. Canon…” “So are you a priest, a presbyter, a minister, a pastor, or a reverend?” What Should I Call You?
A Review of The Anglican Way by Thomas McKenzie
The Anglican Way by Thomas McKenzie (1971-2021) is an overview of Anglican spirituality, worship, devotion, theology, and practice. Fr Thomas is the first pastor of Church of the Redeemer, Nashville. In the name of full disclosure, Thomas writes for this website and is a friend. He asked me to read the original manuscript version, and we…
Is Catholic Biblical? Does Baptism Save us?
In my “Journey” series, I mentioned wrestling with the question: Do catholic and biblical go together? One of the key aspects of this exploration was understanding the significance of baptism. What Do You Mean by Catholic? When I use the word ‘catholic’, I mean the ancient and continuing, shared and historic practices and theology of…
Ash Wednesday: A Rookie Anglican Guide
Ash Wednesday initiates Lent, a period of reflection, repentance, and preparation for Easter, rooted in Jesus’ wilderness experience. Observers receive ashes as a symbol of mortality and repentance. The day emphasizes communal acknowledgment of sin and the need for God’s grace, encouraging participation through services and fasting to deepen spiritual awareness.
Are Anglicans Seeker Sensitive, Mega, or What?
Willow Creek church pioneered the Seeker Sensitive church model in the 1980s. The basic idea, at least theoretically, is one that all Christians share. First, we want to understand the needs of our community and seek to connect with them. Second, and ultimately, we want to speak the language of our communities when communicating. No…
Prayers of the People: How To
The Prayers of the People is a sacred moment in which the priesthood of all believers is evident. Here are a few thoughts on ways to best enter into that mystery. Silently or Aloud? I have learned over the years that some folks are comfortable praying out loud, and others aren’t. This isn’t a matter…
Prayers of the People: Participation
On Sundays, after the Creed, we pray together as the People of God. This is the place in the liturgy in which the underlying belief in the priesthood of all believers comes to the fore. As the Apostle Peter wrote, “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be…
Traditions that are Not in the Bible
Today, I had a great Facebook exchange with a family member’s friend. We were discussing wedding bands. Should married couples wear them? Are there alternative ways to demonstrate one’s marital faithfulness? It was a friendly discussion in which I mostly pontificated, as usual. It was a conversation between a few committed Christians who supported each…
