Letters from 4
to 10 August 2008
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Lambeth: the
libretto
Perhaps you
might undertake to write a libretto about Lambeth
2008 using the music of Sir Arthur. It might just well be the best thing to come
out of the conference.
P.S. I believe that Bishop Robinson's faithful and courageous — they
are quite often the same — witness was probably the best thing to come
out of the conference. It remains a pity and a mystery why he could
not participate fully, "For he is an AN - GLI - CAN!"
The Reverend
Carlton Kelley
Episcopal Church, USA
Richmond, Indiana, USA
CartlonKelley@FSSA.IN.gov
6 August 2008
Ed. note:
See below. Someone's already done it in a more general way about
American Episcopalians.
And on and
on eis aion
Of course
you guys are really great and I wait with bated breath each Monday
to see the latest. This one was prime.
I have to
say that for lo these many years, the Financial Times is correct.
I cannot believe but must, that our beloved church cannot stop discussing
and insisting that the only really important problem of our day
is whom we sleep with.
If the Muslim
communities win on this issue, is it possible we could win on hunger,
women's education, war or some other less important issue?
JC Eriksen
St. Clare, Blairsville
Georgia, USA
4 August 2008
The lost chord
"recently
we found and purchased good
recordings of Anglican music, and loaded them onto our iPod." OK,
great! Some specifics please what this might be. I live out
here in the backwaters and unless one wants to hear Southern
Gospel or Ja-hee-sus music, I'm not sure there's a whole lot
more choices locally. Yes, Amazon can be our friend, but give
us a hint. CDs would be fine since I don't do iPod. No more
teasing us!
Hey, if you
can't plug Anglican music here how else are some of us gonna know
about it?
Robert Frederick
St. Andrew's Church
Panama City, Florida, USA
4 August 2008
Ed. note:
You might start with a search at amazon.com under 'Music'. Type
in 'Anglican' and you'll get a number of CD choices.
Anther option: Visit the website of a favourite cathedral. Often
the music of the choir is featured on CDs sold at the cathedral
online shop.
'What will
the neighbours say?'
We
don't lose credibility with our friends and neighbours when
they learn that we are Anglicans and therefore may have
married or female or homosexual clergy.
I have included
a quotation from last
week's front page, above. I wish what you
said were really so! But you need to be in touch with the conservative
parts of the country, such as the Ozarks where I live. In
2003, we lost about one-third of our congregation 'because of Gene Robinson.'
The 'real' reason
for some of the departed seemed to be exactly that they would 'lose
credibility with their friends and neighbors.' Most of them (and some
of the remaining) were embarrassed to be Episcopalian because of the
association with a gay bishop. Some of the remaining still don't want
us to be too 'open' about being THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH in our town — because,
oh my gosh — 'What will the neighbors say?'
'tain't easy
being a fairly new priest and having to teach people how to be Anglican
at this time in history — but we persevere!
Really trying
to be forward in faith,
The Reverend
Christine Gilson
Trinity Episcopal Church
Missouri, USA
4 August 2008
The Anglican
tradition is to most of us a mystery: How can we glitter socially
and still find time for history?
I thought
your readers might enjoy this! It's from The Anglican Digest of
a few years back (sorry, no date).
We are
the Very Model of Today’s Episcopalian
We are the
very model of today’s Episcopalian,
We’re broad and high and low and wide and somewhat bacchanalian,
We’re mystical, political, we’re secular and clerical;
We can be charismatic but we seldom get hysterical.
We’re traditional and modernist and socialist-monarchical;
We’re protestant and catholic but not too hierarchical;
About ordaining women we are teeming with a lot of views
As
well as on the Prayerbook that our Bishops say we gotta use.
Chorus: As
well as on the Prayerbook that our Bishops say we gotta use, etc.
We’re
prosperous. By daily work our stewardship is merited,
Abetted by the little bit that some of us inherited;
In monetary matters we are very economical;
The portion that we give the Church is best described as comical.
Chorus: In
monetary matters we are very economical; the portion that we give
the Church, is best described as comical, etc.
We’re
very well acquainted too with matters ecumenical,
In spite of being vague about our vows catachumenical.
A knowledge of our church remains to most of us a mystery.
(Someday we’ll take the time to learn our heritage and history!)
Don’t ask us what we mean with our responses doxicological;
They sound so grand they must mean something highly theological!
In short, we’ve just a smattering of elementary Sunday School,
Including cheerful facts about the meaning of The Golden Rule.
Chorus: Including
many cheerful facts about the meaning of the Golden Rule, etc.
For our theologic
knowledge, though we’re open and adventury,
Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century;
But still in matters practical that we all dabble daily in,
We are the very model of today’s Episcopalian!
Chorus: But
still in matters practical that we all dabble daily in, we are the
very model of today’s Episcopalian, etc.
We are the
very model of today’s Episcopalian!
We do our work while modestly proclaiming our own praises in
Committee and Convention. We’re a competent and cheerful band.
Get four of us together and you’ll always find a fifth on hand.
We’re known for our diversity and heterogeneity,
(Please don’t confuse that funny word with sexual spontaneity!)
On controversial subjects you will seldom find that two agree;
Episcopalians are each the World’s Leading Authority.
Chorus: Episcopalians
are each the World’s Leading Authority, etc.
We’re
educated, talented, creative, and professional;
So proud of our humility we don’t need the Confessional.
We are very open-minded in all matters strange and alien;
We’re very narrow-minded towards another ‘Piscopalian!
Chorus: We’re
only open-minded on all matters strange and alien;
We’re only narrow-minded towards another ‘Piscopalian.
Elizabeth
Nelson
Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
5 August 2008
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