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Very interesting review of some potentially ground-breaking books on liturgical theology. The reassessment of the Liturgical Movement is particularly interesting, but I'm also intrigued by the notion that Christian worship is rooted in the Temple rather than the synagogue. Fascinating. God I wish I were still in school.
In fact, if this is going to spark a trend in liturgical theology, I really want to get back into the academic establishment to see if I can contribute to it.
My favourite part of the article is Hemming's criticism of the conventional wisdom that the early Church was 'coming together inforÂmally to sing hymns, pray, break bread and bless wine'. No, he says, they were participating in colourful rites which were consciously continuous with Jewish Temple worship. The idea most Protestants have of the early Christians being basically house churches, with the later (and unfortunate) addition of ritualism, is actually nonsense. I've always had a suspicion that this is the case (most of the Protestant orthodoxies I was told as a child have turned out to be not-quite-true) but it's interesting to see it borne out in an academic study. |
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see more puppies
My dog's not very well at the moment - apparently he's got Horner's Syndrome, which causes one eye to roll back and go all lazy. So he's not doing all that well. He's the best Golden Retriever in the world, so I'm really quite sad about this. At least I'll get to see him next week... |
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One of my professors at Yale, Gregory Woolfenden, was commemorated in the intercessions this morning.
I was in utter shock, and a quick Google search has revealed that he had a brief struggle with kidney cancer before finally succumbing. He was only 62.
He was a fascinating and immensely kind character - an Anglican by upbringing who converted to Rome, then became Eastern Catholic and finally Russian Orthodox (being received into the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA when he moved across the pond). He was a liturgical scholar, with an extraordinary knowledge of both Western and Eastern Christian worship, having taught at Ripon College Cuddesdon. And he possessed none of the snobbery or triumphalism which I saw in so many Eastern Orthodox converts - he and I were able to have some very helpful conversations when I was trying to work out whether to convert to Orthodoxy or not. He was always down to earth, ready to have a good old laugh at himself and his Church when it was needed - and when he laughed, it was a high-pitched guffaw which gave him an incredible youthfulness, despite him being my father's age. His self-deprecating Britishness was such an antidote to the eager-eyed, self-serving earnestness which characterised so many of my teachers - and which also, I'm sure, overtook me on more than a few occasions.
The saddest thing about it is that he had only moved into the USA a few years earlier, hoping to carve out a teaching career in his last 10 years before retirement.
When I got the job in Westminster, he sent me a cheeky message on Facebook, and we corresponded for a while, tried to make plans to meet up in Oxford but they fell apart. I wish we'd been able to meet, now. He was such a nice guy.
Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him. |
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I've been feeling quite down today about the jobsearch and stuff, to I visited this blog* where I found the following YouTube video.
I nearly pissed myself with laughter, especially at the first verse. Thank God for misheard lyrics.
*Incidentally, found it through this blog, by a current Mirfield student.
If you're interested in the jobsearch, interview #5 came and went on Friday. I don't think I got it, as I was promised a reply by today. Will be making a ton of applications in the next week or two. |
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( Read more... )
Does anyone know if it's a legal requirement to advertise a position? If so, I think it'd save a lot of time and effort if that requirement was rescinded in certain circumstances. |
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After much discussion, much money dropped on car rental and many tears, we've decided that the best course of action is not to drive to Cambridge for the All Saints' mass today. This because:
a) I'm a bit sleep-deprived, and therefore it would be risky;
b) there's a GBP550 excess on the car insurance, so if we have an accident we'll be fucked;
c) I'd have to return the car at 9am on Monday, which was a fine idea when we booked but now I have to be in London;
d) the alternative (to return the car now and take the X5) would mean 7 hours' travel for about 2.5 hours in the city. Not exactly worth it.
It's a total bummer, and I'm a bit upset, but this does mean we'll experience Mary Mags' All Saints' mass tonight.
Nov. 1st, 2008 @ 07:55 am
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| » Choir singing |
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And another thing...
The organist at St Michael's has asked me to audition as a Tenor for the choir. I'm supposed to bring a prepared piece - but I don't have any sheet music that's suitable. Can someone suggest a piece that might cut the mustard? A Handel aria or somesuch?
If I get the spot, I'll technically be a professional singer, which woudl be exciting and terrifying all at the same time.
Sep. 18th, 2008 @ 08:45 am
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| » How not to preach at Assumptiontide |
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1. Make no reference to the Virgin Birth, only making the most cursory reference to the fact that Mary thought she was bearing the Son of God.
2. Refer to Christ, rather dismissively, as a 'wandering holy man with some strange power over people's spirits.' And refer to the life of Christ as adding to Mary's troubles and woes, as if she were disappointed in her son.
3. Say that Jesus had 'taken a fancy to' John, the disciple. [This did say 'John the Baptist' earlier. I realised my mistake on the bus...]
4. Continually refer to the BVM as a nobody from some backwater in an obscure land.
5. And to cap it all, talk about how Mary is the champion of liberal causes.
[It's not that I don't like liberal causes, I just don't think that God and his saints are particularly partisan.]
Sadly, all these points were evident in the priest's sermon last Friday. It was profoundly upsetting, on a day which should be full of joy - 'Mary's Easter', no less.
I didn't have a very good Assumptiontide. It's a shame that the church where I got married should leave such a bad taste in my mouth when we're about to move out.
Rant over. Back to work.
Aug. 19th, 2008 @ 11:23 am
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| » LSM |
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Anyone planning on going to LSM's Patronal Festival on 15th August? We might head up for it...
Jul. 20th, 2008 @ 03:52 pm
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| » 40 weeks... |
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...since my last post.
Alas, folks, I've discovered Facebook, and I've been somewhat busy being engaged and getting married whilst obtaining a Masters degree. I'm sorry to have been so neglectful. On the plus side, married life is wonderful, we enjoyed a fabulous honeymoon in Greece, I've got a new job and everything's going really well.
I think it's time to resurrect this old beast of an LJ. The issues facing the Anglican Communion (and, by extension, facingn me) have become rather vexing, and I thought I could use this space to process things a little bit. Any prayers, comments, general encouragement etc are really welcome.
Here's the problem: I support the ordination of women to the episcopate, in principle. Really, I do. But it seems there was something rather dismissive about the way in which the Synod handled traditionalist objectors which strikes me as uncharacteristic of the Church of England, and rather worrying for the future of the Anglo-Catholic movement in general. None of the provisions asked for were given, and a 'code of practice' really doesn't seem to take the issues seriously enough. Does the Church of England actually want its Catholics, and its more traditionally-minded brethren, anymore?
Which brings me on to another concern - L and I have been talking about the Catholicity of the Anglican Communion for quite some time, and I'm concerned that maybe the Anglo-Catholic movement really has just made the Anglican Communion into a group of people who like wearing Catholic vestments and using incense, but don't practise their theology or spirituality in a particularly Catholic manner. There are exceptions - and I think LSM was one of them - but so much of it can be about 'No Maniple, No Mass'-style discussions. I find myself reading more Catholic theology than Anglican theology, for some reason. Hmmm.
So, I'm facing a tough decision: do I want to stay in the Anglican Communion? Is my sense of calling to be a priest strong enough that I can lay aside all these concerns? Or am I just a closet Roman Catholic, and in that case, should I cross the Tiber?
This really isn't coherent right now, and will probably need editing and expansion. But for now, I'm saying 'hi' and asking for your prayers and encouragement in a time of diffculty for me and for my Church.
God bless!
Jul. 14th, 2008 @ 04:16 pm
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| » Sermon |
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Today, I preached a sermon in the Episcopal chapel, at Morning Prayer. As I've been adding sermons to this LiveJournal in the past, I thought I'd include it here for your perusal (and, perhaps, edification and entertainment):
( Sermon on Matt 8:1-17 )
It's funny. I started the sermon intending to write about something completely different, but I found that all this stuff about 'priests-as-healers' was coming out of my brain.
In other news, today I went to New York with my intended to pick up her sister, who's visiting for the weekend! Yay! We got some shopping (clothes from Old Navy - has that chain made it across the pond?) and grabbed dinner at 'our' restaurant on 34th Street.
I've been exceedingly quiet on the LJ front. This is mainly because I've been lacking time, and also because I've - sadly - given in to the temptations of Facebook. To be fair, most of my Yale colleagues are more familiar with Facebook than LJ, so it makes some sense. I'm sorry that I've been neglecting you all, though, and for that I apologise.
Now, I'd like to pick the brains of those among you who are of an Anglican disposition, and who have some knowledge of the seminaries of the Church of England. I'm in the early stages of discernment, but I'm already thinking ahead to potential training colleges. Two places strike me as particularly interesting: Mirfield, College of the Resurrection; and Ripon College, Cuddesdon.
Of those two, I confess I'm very much drawn to Mirfield for its strong Anglo-Catholic heritage and the setting of a monastery. However, it seems to be regarded by the FiF crowd as one of the 'orthodox' seminaries, so: do any of you have any knowledge of the current atmosphere of the place? Has it come to terms with women's ordination and developed a broadly positive attitude towards it, or is it still a FiF stronghold?
And Ripon...I'm drawn to it for its diversity, but I do wonder: am I likely to run into the kind of liberalism which has made me resent Yale?
These are probably imponderables which won't get answered unless I pay a visit to the colleges myself, I know. I just wondered if anyone had any idea about the general impressions of the places...
Oct. 5th, 2007 @ 11:22 pm
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| » Happy news |
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Those of you with Facebook accounts will no doubt be aware, but...
L is no longer my girlfriend.
She is now my fiancee!
Yup, that's right. We went to France last week, and on Wednesday we took a trip to Paris (only spent 4 hours there - hardly enough to do the city justice). The plan had been to propose atop the Eiffel Tower. But our first stop was Notre Dame, and, unable to contain the nerves and excitement I was feeling about it, I pulled L aside to the statue of Charlemagne and did it there and then. When she yelped 'Yes, of course!' I nearly got rugby-tackled to the ground, but not quite. It was the most exhilarating and joyful moment of my life.
We got back from France yesterday evening, and we're off to a wedding today (no, not our own).
I'll update LJ a bit more regularly when I'm back in New Haven, I promise. It's been a bit of an erratic summer.
Aug. 25th, 2007 @ 07:04 am
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| » Birthdays and anniversaries |
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Firstly, it was my birthday on Wednesday. Go me.
Secondly, today is L's and my 8-month anniversary. Go us! It's tough, when we're 3000 miles apart, but VoIP phones are helping a lot. And in 6 weeks we'll be together again. Yay!
Thirdly, my brother did a very foolish thing on my birthday. He gave me a copy of Muse's latest album. I'm hooked, and will probably lock myself up in a small hole somewhere so I can listen to it non-stop for a month. This music is incredible - I can't believe I've missed them for the last 3 years. From the first note, the album is full of gorgeous soundscapes, classical influences, nihilistic and angry lyrics, and paradigm-busting, dark, violent electro-rock music. My brother went to see them at Wembley last weekend - I envy him so much.
Fourthly, I'm beginning to feel like I'm the only liberal-left person in the South East. I suppose I should take that as a challenge to become more politically informed and engage in rational debate with those who disagree with me (just about everyone, apparently). It's just hard, when everyone's so damn passionate about what they believe (myself included).
Anyway, I have things to do. Like, L and me celebrating our 8 months. :) And listening to Muse.
Jun. 22nd, 2007 @ 05:15 pm
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| » Cambridge on Saturday |
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I'll be in Cambridge from Saturday afternoon until Sunday evening. This is great stuff.
However, I'm in need of crash-space on Saturday night. Can anyone help me? I'd repay you with undying gratitide, alcohol and possibly chocolate/confection of your own preference.
Looking forward to seeing lots of you on Sunday for Puntmoot...
Jun. 15th, 2007 @ 08:55 am
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| » Proper Update |
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Friends,
I promised you a proper update, and a proper update you shall have.
I arrived in the UK early on 16th May, and once I'd got through the jet lag, I went to Reed to get some kind of job. They landed me an IT position at a trade union - really good work, more money than I've earned in my life, free lunch and tea/coffee - great stuff. The work isn't that hard - though at some point I'll have to learn Oracle, and I haven't a clue how it works or what it even is.
Being at home has been pretty good so far - minus the usual arguments between the parents, and the occasional suggestion that I'm an idolatrous heathen. The dog has been keeping me company. I miss L lots and lots, it's really hard. It's funny how you don't realise how close you are to someone until you're parted from them for a while.
I've found a church in the local area, where I'm fairly happy. It's a FiF parish, unfortunately, but I don't think there are any AffCath parishes in the area and my part of the country (the south-east) is bound to be pretty conservative anyway.
L is coming over to the UK in August, I'm counting the days. We'll be in Cambridge for some of it - I'm really hoping lots of you get to meet her.
Oh, and I have a meeting in Ely on 14th June, so I may find myself in Cambridge for that weekend. Just a heads-up - I know Puntmoot is on that Sunday.
Right, the parents are calling me to do gardening chores, I must acquiesce. Hope everyone's doing well, sorry it's taken me a while to do this...
Jun. 2nd, 2007 @ 08:40 am
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| » New Job |
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I have a job for the summer (yay!).
I start in 2 hours. Thing is, it's an IT administration job, and I'm paranoid that I was over-confident about my IT abilities.
I'll just have to start and hope for the best, I guess.
At the very least, I'll get free lunch today and then get sacked.....
You'll have a proper update very soon, I promise. Sorry I've been so quiet on here recently.
May. 22nd, 2007 @ 06:57 am
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| » Rah, Britannia! |
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There's something immensely satisfying about sitting in an Ivy League, New England school, playing one's Last Night of the Proms CD, particularly when you get to Pomp and Circumstance. I always hear the words in my head:
Land of Hope and Glory,
Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee,
Who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider
Shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty,
Make thee mightier yet
God, who made thee mighty,
Make thee mightier yet.
Rah! Empire! Political Incorrectness! It brings a tear to my eye and makes me wish the 15th May would come sooner.
(15th May is when I leave for Blighty.)
By the way, who's going to be in Cambridge from 25-27 May? I think I'll be in town for the weekend then. Pub?
Apr. 28th, 2007 @ 07:07 pm
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| » Countdown |
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One month from today.
One month from today, I'll be in JFK airport, checking in for my flight home.
Then I'll get on the flight, put up with 7 hours of engine noise, and I'll see my family again.
This truth is incredibly comforting to me right now, as I procrastinate my term papers...
Apr. 15th, 2007 @ 03:01 pm
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| » Two good bits of news |
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I got the news on Tuesday that I'll be serving as a Chapel Minister at the Episcopal seminary, in 2007-2008. That's very good news indeed. They've picked a good mix of people, so it'll be an opportunity to learn from other Anglican traditions. Great.
And L has got a room in the Episcopal house for next year. This is, also, extremely good news, because it's a lovely house with a big kitchen, and L loves cooking. I love her, lots and lots.
I have less than 5 weeks to go, before I get out of this hotbed of heresy challenging and rewarding environment and back home. Yay. I'm planning a weekend in Cambridge at the end of May - anyone fancy a trip to the Castle or similar?
Speaking of Cambridge, are there trips planned for a Mayball excursion? Is the CTS going as a group? I might try and wheedle my way in, if it's not one of the more popular balls.
Right. I've got to read the Apocalypse of Peter. In Greek. Yes, my professor's mad.
Apr. 12th, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
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| » Alleluia! |
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Christ is Risen!
Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!
Christos Voskrese! Voistinu Voskrese!
I went to two Easter Vigils last night, one with the Episcopalians, one with the Orthodox. Got to bed at 3am, and am now rather shattered...
Apr. 8th, 2007 @ 11:16 am
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