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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