Sunday's Advent(ure)

Fr. Jay isn't afraid to shake things up, I grant you.

His regular update emails (and that's a change in itself) had these two bits in it:

I have made one noticeable change at St. Patrick's for the season in order to emphasize this time of watching for Christ... wherever we may find him. We have moved the altar against the wall for the next four weeks. For some of you, this will remind you of the churches where you grew up. For others, you will notice the immediate difference that I won't face you while celebrating the Eucharist. This will seem strange and jarring to many... and that is exactly my hope!

But wait! There's more!

For Advent, I have also made two changes to our liturgy. First, we will use an authorized form of Rite I, translated into contemporary language. While it does not include the "thee's" and "thou's" of Rite I, it does preserve some of the beautiful imagery of the liturgy from that time right after the Reformation. Second, we will include what is called, "the Last Gospel." For centuries, the Tridentine Mass included the prologue to John's gospel (In the beginning was the Word...) as the final pronouncement of the Eucharist liturgy. As we emphasize our watching and waiting for the Word to become flesh, we will end each service with this pronouncement again.

So, we got the odd oriental thing going on, as well as a different liturgical cadence.

Two things I noticed: First, I wasn't particularly put off by the priest's facing east. It didn't make a jarringly different experience, except that his voice became a bit muffled at times. I did notice that those in the congregation facing forward - our choir is seated to the side - would have difficulty seeing the actions performed, and, at certain points, the prayers would be harder to hear. I think that it's part of the old "smoke and mirrors" approach to the mystery of the Eucharist promulgated by antiquated Catholicism; instead of having a laity educated enough to understood the theology and symbolism, you substitute fake "mystery" in the guise of "What's he doing up there making all those weird movements?" "What's that that he's mumbling? Is it some kind of sacred secret words?" Other than that, the idea of symbolism in "facing the same way" never occurred to me, because God doesn't live to the east of us - we were all always facing the same way, even when facing each other. So, neither a plus or a minus on the ad orientem, just a novelty, from my perspective.

Second, the constant repetition and self-reproach in the Rite I liturgy. Now, if this were to be our liturgy all the time, I would protest. The constant, almost masochistic repetition of "We're so awful, You can't possibly really love us, and we're lucky just to be ground under Your Divine Heel, but maybe, if it's not to much trouble, you could . . . " would be bad theological practice. God created us, so there is original goodness as well as what might be called original sin; the entire universe and all its components - which atheists can appreciate, as well - conspired to created exactly one you, so you're pretty important. Still, in a season of reflection, it's good to see the sparks of rebellion, even anger, in expecting me to humble myself as "unworthy." The fact is, though, we are unworthy, even in the face of that original goodness and cosmic importance; we constantly cling to our egoistic selves, cutting great swathes of destruction through other, equally good and cosmically-important lives. We misuse our will, our reason - and often misuse both in service to religion, rather than God and Truth (witness the RCC hierarchy and conservative protestantism) - and create havoc, quite willingly. So, change in liturgy, a seasonal A+. The liturgy should teach and provoke to thought, not "just be there."

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

What I am thankful for, amongst others:

-The chance to have known, in a small way, Our Roseann.

-My friends, my family, my boys.

-Having enough, by the Grace of God - even when it's just enough.

-Having not only a job, but a job I enjoy.

-Jim Bullion, Jay Weldon, Henry Louttit, Scott Benhase, and Charlie Hough.

-Heaters in the winter, fans in the summer and hot water year-round.

-St. Patrick's.

Uh . . . Batman, that's . . . that's not how it happens . . .

Shamelessly takeded from Superdickery because, as we all know, Superman's a dick!

Another Dig at the Ubiquitous Clive Staples

SURPRISED BY JOY

Well, that Joy's a mighty big girl!

Flights of Angels Have Borne Her

Roseann Allen-Matthews departed this small life for the greater one at 8:45 pm on Saturday, Nov. 21.

For her, I have no fear or grief; she led a brave, decent life in this world, and can only continue that as she moves into greater life, transcending the limits here.

Pray for Gary, Roseann's husband. Those left behind - all of us - see through the glass darkly, still.

Pray, too, for Teri, Roseann's priest and guide in leaving this life. A good pastor cannot but give part of themselves in every parishioner, and lose a part with every death.

Pray for St. Peter's, the church that has lost Roseann and, just two day prior, another to ovarian cancer and are feeling the loss.

That's It, Folks.

I've had it.

Just had it.

I am a man of faith, and I find . . . well, found . . . that expression in Anglicanism. I was young and stupid.

The Church?

No such thing. Just another club. Another institution. Prophetic as a dead snail, compassionate as a falling girder, as just as a Board of Directors.

It's dead.

Now, I can't give up the people in my parish - well, I should get used to saying my Church - because they are family and, being human, I'm too close to throw them off (though TEC and the AC would have no such problem).

I had held out hope for Christianity, as long as there was one reasonably prophetic and Spirit-led denomination. I know there is not. It's mere realpolitik, self-promotion, good p. r., and greasing of wheels . . . and palms.

The last week or two, I've seen:

More attacks on those who thoughtfully opposed Thew-Forrester

The continued silence of Canterbury on barbaric laws in Uganda

The reply from the PB's office that politics made speaking out dangerous

A lickspittle little dance from Canterbury being praised as great theology, and those who disagree being dismissed as unthinking.

Run to Rome, run to Constantinople, run to the Baptists, Pentecostals, UCC, MCC, but there's no salvation.

I know there's a God, but He ain't here.

We'll talk about society, politics, whatever from now on, but not Church. . .

. . because there isn't one.



Jesus has left the building.