It's that time of Lent when we get all the Bible readings about thirsting for God, drinking from the well of Christ, the spring of eternal life, etc., etc.
Right now, there are several people I know who are desperately in need of guidance and focus in their life, and yet, today's readings bring to me mind the old adage that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. I'm not much of an evangelist. I can bring these people to church, I can try to talk to them about sacramental grace, but the leap of faith is up to them. I can't make them get out of bed before noon. I can't make them find the spark. I can't make them open a door and fill their heart with Jesus. I'll just have to keep praying for them, praying that they find peace and happiness, and leave the rest up to God.
Nevertheless, today is the Third Sunday of Lent at St. Stephen's. I had tried to talk a couple of friends into going to other, more "exotic" places, but nobody was really interested (I think it was the earlier hours). It's probably just as well, since I needed to hand in my name at the local parish to try to get a ticket to the papal Mass at the baseball stadium next month.
Hymns today were Passion Chorale for the processional, Kingsfold for the offertory, and In Babilone for the recessional. The choir essentially soloed for the communion marching music responsorial song with a "Taste and see" antiphon by Russell Woollen. They should have cut the communion song. The choir did a really nice motet, Nacket bin ich vom Mutterleibe kommen by Heinrich Schütz, that very nicely fit the Lenten mood during communion, but it was a bit long, and since they always attempt the responsorial ditty first, we ended up having to sit and wait rather impatiently for the choir to finish the motet after all the communion things were washed and put away and the priest sat down to wait.
Oh, the choir did another fun thing. It's been their tradition during Lent to have the cantoress lead the congregation in a Gregorian chant setting of the Kyrie, phrase by phrase, and then have the choir "extend" the phrase with the work of a major composer. Today, they did the Kyrie from Vincent Persichetti's 1960 Mass, Op. 84, and it was wonderful! Persichetti was a composition professor at Juilliard for years before his death about twenty years ago, and his students included people like Philip Glass, Peter Schickele ("P.D.Q. Bach"), and Thelonious Monk. This Mass is deliciously modern in the Phrygian mode with quartal harmony, yet it is surprisingly singable and comforting for a "modern" work. I would love to hear the choir do the whole Mass setting.
Now I have to check my closet and see if I can find a pink sweater or shirt to wear to Mass next weekend, since it'll be Laetare Sunday. Well, I guess technically I'm looking for "rose" but pink, rose, whatever, they look about the same. LOL
A personal journey through faith as a moderate Christian and former choir boy.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Pointy hat
Walking up to church at St. Stephen's this morning, I noticed a little sign taped to the marquee announcing that the archbishop was going to be at the service today and I almost turned around and went home. Nothing against the archbishop, but you know how, when pointy-hats are in church, things can get long and boring really quickly. It wasn't that bad, though, and His Excellency only preached for eleven minutes.
Hymns this morning were Swabia ('Tis good, Lord, to be here) for the processional (the organist had to improvise between verses to extend the hymn), Jesu dulci memoria (O Sun of justice, Jesus Christ) for the offertory, Willcock's "The Lord is my light and my salvation" responsorial ditty for communion, and St. Flavian (Lord, who throughout these forty days) for the recessional. Mass setting for the Sanctus, Benedictus, Memorial Acclamation, and Great Amen was Hughes' Mass of the Divine Word, with Gregorian chant for the Kyrie, Intercessions, Our Father, and Agnus Dei. The choir extended the Kyrie with the 16th century John Taverner's Mass for Three Voices. They used the usual parish Russian chant for the Confiteor and the Gouzes Non sum dignus.
During the post-communion ablutions, the choir did a lovely job singing Richard Farrant's "Lord, for Thy Tender Mercy's Sake" and Henry Purcell's "Thou Knowest, Lord, the Secrets of Our Hearts." They always sound so good when they sing traditional Anglican literature.
The service was a pontifical high Mass (or at least as pontifical as things get outside the cathedral in these dreary post-Vatican II days), but the Abp. as celebrant didn't chant as many of the prayers as the parish traditionally chants on a regular basis. Thankfully, the service didn't last any longer than it usually does on normal Sunday mornings.
Hymns this morning were Swabia ('Tis good, Lord, to be here) for the processional (the organist had to improvise between verses to extend the hymn), Jesu dulci memoria (O Sun of justice, Jesus Christ) for the offertory, Willcock's "The Lord is my light and my salvation" responsorial ditty for communion, and St. Flavian (Lord, who throughout these forty days) for the recessional. Mass setting for the Sanctus, Benedictus, Memorial Acclamation, and Great Amen was Hughes' Mass of the Divine Word, with Gregorian chant for the Kyrie, Intercessions, Our Father, and Agnus Dei. The choir extended the Kyrie with the 16th century John Taverner's Mass for Three Voices. They used the usual parish Russian chant for the Confiteor and the Gouzes Non sum dignus.
During the post-communion ablutions, the choir did a lovely job singing Richard Farrant's "Lord, for Thy Tender Mercy's Sake" and Henry Purcell's "Thou Knowest, Lord, the Secrets of Our Hearts." They always sound so good when they sing traditional Anglican literature.
The service was a pontifical high Mass (or at least as pontifical as things get outside the cathedral in these dreary post-Vatican II days), but the Abp. as celebrant didn't chant as many of the prayers as the parish traditionally chants on a regular basis. Thankfully, the service didn't last any longer than it usually does on normal Sunday mornings.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Bishop quotes Jesus as he backs same-sex relationships
Bishop quotes Jesus as he backs same-sex relationships
By Nicola Boden
DAILY MAIL
©2008 Associated Newspapers Ltd
A senior bishop appears to have performed a complete U-turn by suggesting the Bible might sanction same-sex relationships.
Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones, claims in a new book that the bond between Jesus and John the Disciple, as well between David and Jonathan, are possible examples of close relationships between two men.
The conservative evangelical's comments are all the more remarkable given his vehement opposition to the appointment of gay cleric Dr Jeffrey John to Bishop of Reading in 2003.
He was one of a group of bishops who wrote a letter of objection at the gay man's selection for the high-profile role, leading to him ultimately turning down the post.
In the book, A Fallible Church, Bishop Jones calls for Anglicans to "acknowledge the authoritative biblical examples of love between two people of the same gender most notably in the relationship of Jesus and his beloved [John] and David and Jonathan."
Referring to the Theology of Friendship report, he discusses John "leaning against the bosom, breast, chest of Jesus".
The Bishop also describes an "emotional, spiritual and even physical friendship" between David and Jonathan, who appear in the Old Testament books of Samuel.
When Jonathan, the son of Saul, King of Israel, first meets David after he slays Goliath against the odds, the Bible describes him as being immediately struck by the young man.
It reads: "And it came to pass, when he [David] had made an end to speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him with his own soul."
The Bishop asks: "Was their friendship sexual? Were they gay? Was at least one of them homosexual? Were they both heterosexual? Were they bisexual?"
Answering his own question, he then writes: "You assume that it is a person's sexual inclination that defines their personhood. Is it not possible to say that here are two men with the capacity to love fully, both men and women?"
Gay cleric Dr Jeffrey John was controversially selected to be Bishop of Reading in 2003. The Bishop of Liverpool and seven others opposed his appointment and he stood down
In the article, entitled "Making Space for Truth and Grace," the Bishop of Liverpool also apologises to Dr John for opposing his appointment to Bishop of Reading more than four years ago.
The gay cleric turned down the job due to the furore but later caused more controversy when he became Dean of St Albans in 2004 and "married" his partner of 30 years in a civil ceremony in 2006.
Bishop Jones writes: "I deeply regret this episode in our common life.
"I still believe it was unwise to try to take us to a place that evidently did not command the broad support of the Church of England but I am sorry for the way I opposed it and I am sorry too for adding to the pain and distress of Dr John and his partner."
Fellow clerics regard his latest comments as the mark of a distinct change in his views on homosexuality.
Dr Mike Homfray, who withdrew from the Anglican church because of perceived homophobia, said it was a "most profound shift".
He said: "I think Bishop Jones is saying he is now more able to live with difference and diversity and that it is necessary to keep the issue open and allow continued dialogue.
"Unless he was open to the possibility of embracing change, then he wouldn't be suggesting this as a way forward. That doesn't mean he necessarily fully embraces it himself, though. Not yet anyway, but he has moved."
Of David and Jonathan, Dr Homfray added: "They may have had sexual contact - but that doesn't make them 'gay' in a Western sense. No-one in the Bible can have that lable because it is a term with all sorts of social and cultural meanings."
The diocese of Liverpool said in a statement: "The Bishop's essay is asking us to find a new and more open way forward that doesn't compromise people's convictions, respects conscience and understands people's hurts and vulnerabilities in this debate.
"He is making a plea for continued debate in which there is both truth and grace."
By Nicola Boden
DAILY MAIL
©2008 Associated Newspapers Ltd
A senior bishop appears to have performed a complete U-turn by suggesting the Bible might sanction same-sex relationships.
Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones, claims in a new book that the bond between Jesus and John the Disciple, as well between David and Jonathan, are possible examples of close relationships between two men.
The conservative evangelical's comments are all the more remarkable given his vehement opposition to the appointment of gay cleric Dr Jeffrey John to Bishop of Reading in 2003.
He was one of a group of bishops who wrote a letter of objection at the gay man's selection for the high-profile role, leading to him ultimately turning down the post.
In the book, A Fallible Church, Bishop Jones calls for Anglicans to "acknowledge the authoritative biblical examples of love between two people of the same gender most notably in the relationship of Jesus and his beloved [John] and David and Jonathan."
Referring to the Theology of Friendship report, he discusses John "leaning against the bosom, breast, chest of Jesus".
The Bishop also describes an "emotional, spiritual and even physical friendship" between David and Jonathan, who appear in the Old Testament books of Samuel.
When Jonathan, the son of Saul, King of Israel, first meets David after he slays Goliath against the odds, the Bible describes him as being immediately struck by the young man.
It reads: "And it came to pass, when he [David] had made an end to speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him with his own soul."
The Bishop asks: "Was their friendship sexual? Were they gay? Was at least one of them homosexual? Were they both heterosexual? Were they bisexual?"
Answering his own question, he then writes: "You assume that it is a person's sexual inclination that defines their personhood. Is it not possible to say that here are two men with the capacity to love fully, both men and women?"
Gay cleric Dr Jeffrey John was controversially selected to be Bishop of Reading in 2003. The Bishop of Liverpool and seven others opposed his appointment and he stood down
In the article, entitled "Making Space for Truth and Grace," the Bishop of Liverpool also apologises to Dr John for opposing his appointment to Bishop of Reading more than four years ago.
The gay cleric turned down the job due to the furore but later caused more controversy when he became Dean of St Albans in 2004 and "married" his partner of 30 years in a civil ceremony in 2006.
Bishop Jones writes: "I deeply regret this episode in our common life.
"I still believe it was unwise to try to take us to a place that evidently did not command the broad support of the Church of England but I am sorry for the way I opposed it and I am sorry too for adding to the pain and distress of Dr John and his partner."
Fellow clerics regard his latest comments as the mark of a distinct change in his views on homosexuality.
Dr Mike Homfray, who withdrew from the Anglican church because of perceived homophobia, said it was a "most profound shift".
He said: "I think Bishop Jones is saying he is now more able to live with difference and diversity and that it is necessary to keep the issue open and allow continued dialogue.
"Unless he was open to the possibility of embracing change, then he wouldn't be suggesting this as a way forward. That doesn't mean he necessarily fully embraces it himself, though. Not yet anyway, but he has moved."
Of David and Jonathan, Dr Homfray added: "They may have had sexual contact - but that doesn't make them 'gay' in a Western sense. No-one in the Bible can have that lable because it is a term with all sorts of social and cultural meanings."
The diocese of Liverpool said in a statement: "The Bishop's essay is asking us to find a new and more open way forward that doesn't compromise people's convictions, respects conscience and understands people's hurts and vulnerabilities in this debate.
"He is making a plea for continued debate in which there is both truth and grace."
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Shrove Tuesday
Today is Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras.
This is the last day to celebrate before the Christian season of Lent, which starts tomorrow on Ash Wednesday. Traditionally on this day, foods are eaten that use up all the fat, butter, milk, eggs, and sugar ("rich" ingredients) in the larder, since Lent is a period of fasting and abstinence. These foods include doughnuts or fried dumplings in the Mardi Gras/French tradition or pancakes in the Shrove Tuesday/British tradition.
Who wants to go eat pancakes today?
This is the last day to celebrate before the Christian season of Lent, which starts tomorrow on Ash Wednesday. Traditionally on this day, foods are eaten that use up all the fat, butter, milk, eggs, and sugar ("rich" ingredients) in the larder, since Lent is a period of fasting and abstinence. These foods include doughnuts or fried dumplings in the Mardi Gras/French tradition or pancakes in the Shrove Tuesday/British tradition.
Who wants to go eat pancakes today?
Monday, February 4, 2008
Saving throats
What with my need to be at the Verizon Center for the Wizards-Lakers basketball game by 11:30 Sunday morning, I opted to go to the 5:30 service at St. Stephen's. Attendance was light (about 2/3rds usual) due to the upcoming Super Bowling performance on television. I always wonder if the absentees for football actually made the effort to go to Mass in the morning, or if football needs to be added to the ever-growing list of Catholic mortal sins.
The 5:30 Mass is a capella with a cantoress. They do Gregorian chant Latin versions of the Mass setting. Hymns were Darnall's 148th (To God with gladness sing) for the processional, Wareham (O Jesus, joy of loving hearts) for the offertory, and Slane (Christ be my leader) for the recessional. They attempted a responsorial ditty during communion that no one in the congregation sang with the antiphon "I received the living God."
The highlight of Mass was actually after Mass, when they did the annual Blessing of Throats in honor of the patron saint of throats, Saint Blaise. After the service, those who wished could come up to the altar rail where the priest stood with crossed candles to touch the throats of the faithful and pronounce the throat blessing. Too bad all those football fanatics weren't there.....with all the yelling and screaming they were about to do, they, above all people, were in need of protected throats!
Per intercessionem Sancti Blasii liberet te Deus a malo gutteris et a quovis alio malo. Amen.
The 5:30 Mass is a capella with a cantoress. They do Gregorian chant Latin versions of the Mass setting. Hymns were Darnall's 148th (To God with gladness sing) for the processional, Wareham (O Jesus, joy of loving hearts) for the offertory, and Slane (Christ be my leader) for the recessional. They attempted a responsorial ditty during communion that no one in the congregation sang with the antiphon "I received the living God."
The highlight of Mass was actually after Mass, when they did the annual Blessing of Throats in honor of the patron saint of throats, Saint Blaise. After the service, those who wished could come up to the altar rail where the priest stood with crossed candles to touch the throats of the faithful and pronounce the throat blessing. Too bad all those football fanatics weren't there.....with all the yelling and screaming they were about to do, they, above all people, were in need of protected throats!
Per intercessionem Sancti Blasii liberet te Deus a malo gutteris et a quovis alio malo. Amen.