As an Anglican I wear vestments to lead worship. In England I robed in a vestry, in the United States I robe in a sacristy. I prefer the term “vestry” but I can’t use it back in the USA without causing confusion. A Vestry is PEOPLE, to misquote Robert Thorn. When you have robed in… [Read more…]
February 13, 2012
“Most people go to the country or the ocean to relax. I go to the 16th and 17th centuries,” is a light-hearted truth about me and explains today’s entry. After a fruitless search on Netflix for the documentary film God’s Outlaw on William Tyndale, Netflix had created a new “Recommended for Henry” list. I then… [Read more…]
February 11, 2012
This past week George Conger wrote in The Church of England Newspaper on the recent report by the statisticians of The Episcopal Church to our Executive Council. You can read the article here. The report catalogues a 10 year decline in all quantifiable areas. I want you to take note of how “These speak to… [Read more…]
February 9, 2012
I love watching Will Shakespeare’s plays. There, I said it. It may be that you’re groaning and ready to click, but just give me a little minute. I discovered the other day how PBS has uploaded my favorite Hamlet so that you can watch the whole three-hour production online for free. David Tennant (The 10th Doctor, Dr. Who) stars… [Read more…]
January 26, 2012
If you’ve read any of my posts you will know a bit about the influence of the Church of England’s evangelicalism has had in shaping my way of theology and ministry. When I use the rather long term, “39-article-evangelical-anglican”, to describe myself I like to think that I am standing within the tent occupied by… [Read more…]
January 25, 2012
The ten to fifteen hours of weekly sermon preparation have made posting a blog quite a challenge. I enjoy writing, but my teaching and preaching in the local congregation to which God called me must come first. The other week I was asked by one of our life group leaders if I could recommend any… [Read more…]
September 29, 2011
Calvin’s Institutes make great devotional reading. My practice of reading slowly and aloud has really made Calvin’s felicity of expression leap off the page. This week I began his chapter that critiques the use of statues and images by the medieval church. Here’s what he wrote about crosses. Read this aloud. You can hear the… [Read more…]
September 27, 2011
Nearly everyone who attended the Lausanne Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, last year (2010) agreed that the testimony of the young North Korean woman was one of the dramatic high points of the gathering. Her story of sacrifice, anger, salvation, and courage must be seen by every committed Christian. Not only is she inspiring,… [Read more…]
September 26, 2011
I have just put down a very well-written biography of Charles Hodge. He was the principal Reformed theologian of Princeton Theological Seminary for over 50 years. Irenic and ecumenical, influential Episcopalians John Johns and Charles McIlvaine were Hodge’s lifelong friends. There is much to commend the biography to you. You really get a sense… [Read more…]
August 17, 2011
The older I am, the further I seem to fall short; the more conscious I become of my need of grace. That’s why I have been so blessed in the writing of Works Worth Declaring by Douglas Taylor. Douglas is dying of an inoperable cancer. I look for his entries every day. He along with… [Read more…]
Being centered in Jesus Christ and the Rector of the most awesome church in Southern New Jersey!
February 24, 2012
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