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This page last updated 4 December 2003
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Letters to AO

EVERY WEEK WE PUBLISH a selection of letters we receive in response to something you've read at Anglicans Online. Stop by and have a look at what other AO readers are thinking.

Alas, we cannot publish every letter we receive. And we won't publish letters that are anonymous, hateful, illiterate, or otherwise in our judgment do not benefit the readers of Anglicans Online. We usually do not publish letters written in response to other letters.

We edit letters to conform with standard AO house style for punctuation, but we do not change, for example, American spelling to conform to English orthography. On occasion we'll gently edit letters that are too verbose in their original form. Email addresses are included when the authors give permission to do so.

If you'd like to write a letter of your own, click here.


Letters received during the week of 23 November 2003

Best to call them Crowtherians

UMMM, I RELISH ALL THIS! Dr. Peter Jensen is allowed to leave with everything but the name "Anglican." Since spiritual and moral authority are to be modified or severed with Canterbury, the name "Anglican," is no long appropriate or needed.

By common English usage, of course, most claiming the Anglican name are linked with England and Archbishop Rowan Williams, successor of St. Augustine, in that office. Common reasonable usage would dictate the term "Nigerians" for those linked to Lagos and Dr. Akinola. Alternatively, the name "Akinolians" might be used for his adherents and succesors.

Those who wish refinement and historical accuracy, might wish to use the name "Crowtherians," for those in spiritual and moral union with the see of Lagos. That term would recognize the true succesors of Samuel Adjai Crowther, consecrated in 1857, "Bishop of the Qeen's Dominions Beyond the Seas," and becoming subsequent ordinary of the Niger Mission, from which the current Nigerian Church traces its august lineage.

Best of luck Sydney and Nigeria, and all true Evangelicals who chafe under the yoke of bondage to Western European relativist thought.

Robert Zacher
Gethsemane Cathedral, Fargo
Fargo, North Dakota, USA
Robertzacher@aol.com
24 November 2003

We'll have our synthesizer, thank you very much

JUST A BRIEF NOTE in response to something on this week's home page. There was a comment about how there will always be church music, even in the 22nd century, but it will be played on synthesizers, not pipe organs. Maybe.

Too true, perhaps, but I might point out that they're in use even today masquerading as Rodgers or Allen. Our church recently acquired a top-of-the-line Rodgers and it is a far cry better than the sorry (though quite ancient) Allen we had been using. I grant that a real pipe organ is a grand and noble instrument and a mark of real craftsmanship and artistry, and I hope they continue for at least a few more millenia. It is the best choice for accompaniment, and even a fairly modest instrument can make a grand sound when the tutti button gets pushed.

So, why not a real pipe organ? Our sanctuary is about 50 yards from St. Andrews Bay, which connects to the Gulf of Mexico. This place is irredeemably humid year-round, even worse during hurricane season. Running the a/c plant 24/7 is hideously expensive here, as would be keeping someone on-staff here capable of whacking it back into tune each time a cold front blows through. I have heard what happens to pipe organs with changing weather. Unless of course they make slider chests and other moving wood parts out of plastic or teflon or something.

We'll have our synthesizer, thank you very much.

PS: your top 20 were close to mine, too! Some I didn't recognize, never having been to church outside the US.

R. Frederick
St. Andrew's Episcopal
Panama City, Florida, USA
24 November 2003

The seven deadly sins and Amazing Grace

RE HYMNS FOR A DESERT ISLAND: Isn't it obvious? "Amazing Grace," sung to the tune of the theme song from Gilligan's Island.

D. C. Toedt
St. John the Divine
Houston, Texas, USA
24 November 2003

Resources for the circuit rider

I ATTEND A SMALL RURAL CHURCH that was founded in the 1890's as one of several Episcopal Missionary Chapels in the County. Today, ours is the only one left with an active congregation, albeit small. Our priests are what in years past were termed "circuit riders", and their availability for every Sunday is not certain. Therefore I have volunteered to be a Lay Reader.

The first time I read the Lessons was, unsuspecting, after arriving at Church, I was given a Morehouse, and did it "cold". In the process I came across several unfamiliar Biblical names; but, nil desperandum, I plowed ahead. After the service I received compliments both on my delivery, and the fact that I was able to pronounce the names. To one gentleman I remarked that: "I suspected he didn't know if the pronunciation was correct, or not. But the key is to never hesitate or stop." I learned that in my performing days, that generally the audience never noticed a mistake!

But, in search of "correctness" I came across the following:

Guide to Pronouncing Biblical Names

I have been developing some other aids for the Lay Reader.

I have copied out the Prayers of the People into 14pt bold type, regular 8 1/2 x 11" size, and had them laminated. At the Lay Reader training, it was suggested that we, the Readers, be prepared to lead the Morning Prayer in case the Priest did not show up. So I also made up a version of the Morning Prayer (in 14pt bold print) and printed out 18 copies (we seldom have more than 15 communicants).

The following seems to be the best on-line Prayer Book source.

http://www.etdiocese.net/bcp/index.htm

Each week I print out the Lessons & Psalm in 18pt bold type on separate sheets for my use. And since our Church has a limited budget, I have taken to supplying my version of the Morehouse Lectionary every week. I also do this in 14pt bold type. At present I produce 17 copies, that I put in sliding bar report covers.

This is the Lectionary source I use. I suppose we should be prepared to give a Sermon, so here's a source. Finally; a source for "church words" definition.

I don't have a website to promote these aids for a Lay Reader, and certainly would have welcomed knowledge of them when I started; so I am taking the liberty of suggesting that they be posted on your Site. I can send copies of the Morning Prayer, and Prayers of the People if I have an eMail address to which I can send attachments.

I can also provide to you the appropriate Lectionary (as above) for each week in advance if that would be desireable. Otherwise, I can provide same to interested parties via eMail. I would not mind that offer being posted.

George Salley
St. Mary's, Speed, North Carolina, USA
gcsalley@earthlink.net
24 November 2003

Editor: Thank you for these contributions; we will add most of them to our Resources section soon.

When the Devil goes to church

NUMBER 9 ON THE TOP TWENTY not known outside American hymnals? Not!!! Canadian Anglicans have been joyfully singing 'Joyful, joyful, we adore thee...' for lo, these many moons.

By the way, I agree with your comments on the music being as much a reason as any as to why we love certain hymns, and indeed, there is always that momentary response of 'rats!' when one is visiting another parish and they don't use the tune you love for a hymn.

And as to music being cause for dissension in the church, ain't it the truth? What's that great line? Ah, yes, "When the Devil goes to church, he sits in the choir."

Rene Jamieson
St. John's Anglican Cathedral
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
24 November 2003

Bring me my arrows of desire!

I'M SURPRISED -- WELL, MAYBE NOT SURPRISED, but I certainly find it worth comment -- that your list of favorite hymns does not include Jerusalem (Wm. Blake). Although delisted in the US 1982 Hymnal, our Minister of Music finds a place for it in the sevice roughly once a year, often in connection with adult confirmation and reception. The uplifting melody, and the challenging lyric and call to mission, provide valuable inspiration in an age of diminished commitment to moral improvement.

Geoff Bentley
Holy Comforter, Vienna, Virginia
Herndon, Virginia, USA
25 November 2003

O what needless pain we bear

JUST SCROLLING DOWN your top twenty hymns - fascinating. Some I love, a few I've never heard of. I called out to my husband "What's your favourite hymn?" (he's playing the accordion at the moment) and he said "that's easy" and immediately started playing "What a friend we have in Jesus" and I guess that would be the favourite of many people in the C of I community - isn't the diversity across the Communion interesting? Just love the website.

Sandra Dukelow
St James Church of Ireland
Murreagh, Durrus, Co. Cork, Ireland
26 November 2003

Alleluia, I'm a bum

WHILE READING LETTERS ABOUT HYMNS, I was reminded of a piece of Australian folklore. In the nineteenth century, there was a man who used to turn up to Salvation Army events and sing his own words to their hymns in the hope of getting a handout. The one I know is:

Alleluia, I'm a bum.
Alleluia, bum again.
Alleluia, give us a handout
to revive us again.

I'm afraid I don't know the man's name, the place where this occurred (probably Sydney or Melbourne) or exactly when. Perhaps someone else can fill in the details.

Revd Cathy Laufer
Anglican Parish of Box Hill
Melbourne, Australia
26 November 2003


Earlier letters

We launched our 'Letters to AO' section on 11 May 2003. All of our letters are in our archives.

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