Letters from 9
to 15 March 2009
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Wiring the BCP
I found last
week's article on the confluence of technology and old church buildings
poignant. Such stories of the not-always-so-seamless meeting of the
old and the new always are, especially when (as almost always is the
case)the clash results in the old giving way to the new. Despite being
a member of the unclassified generation (usually denominated Generation
X, (the "X" signifiying to my mind the fact that this generation is
faced with a lot of uncertainites and unknowns), I am not an automatic
supporter of the unimpeded march of technology into every nook and cranny
of modern life.
But in many cases,
said march of technology shouldn't be impeded, rather we should march
before it ourselves, blowing trumpets and heralding its advance. Wiring
venerable cathedrals and church buildings in the interests of bringing
much-valued services or proceedings to other people not physically
present in that location is something to be praised, and promoted, methinks.
Along the same lines with transcribing the BCP into Modern English,
or Lingala, or Esperanto, or Netspeak, no matter how many feelings that
may trample upon.
Obi Udeariry
St. Andrew's Church, Aladinma, Owerri
Owerri, Imo State, NIGERIA
netwalker55@yahoo.es
10 March 2009
Left, right —
and centre crossing?
I recently read
very favorable book reviews of both Archbishop Rowan Williams' book
and biographies of Dr Williams by other authors. As
an American, I have been shocked by the adversarial, often mocking tone
of the British press and 'chattering classes' toward this good and decent
man. He faces near impossible strains, not of his doing, in the Communion
and seems to have the patience of Job. It would not be a total surprise,
given the difficulties both the left and right in Anglicanism give him,
if we see another Newman-like crossing of the Tiber.
Let's keep him
in our prayers.
John F. Morrison
Internet 'parishioner' of Washington National Cathedral
Babylon, New York, USA
9 March 2009
Stop! in the
name of Lent
I
clearly heard the famed King's College Choir sing the 'a' word (and in Lent, too)
at the end of their introit by Mendelssohn, Herr, gedenke nicht, on
the BBC on Wednesday, March 12. It was beautifully sung, of course.
But what is the world coming to?
One organist
told me that his parish always sing a....... on Sundays in Lent (!),
as Sunday is not part of Lent (!). This is a dangerous path, and as
an RC, I wonder if people are aware of the danger this presents. It
might even lead a new Province. Of course, I
know that a lot of the original difficulties for religion came from
Cambridge (I am speaking of the Reformation). Perhaps this is another
sign of a latent heterodoxy, if such a thing is even possible in 2009!
Does
no one sing "A......., song of sweetness" anymore? My RC girls' choir
did on Quinquages . . . no, no, we don't have that anymore (although, perhaps
Rome has reinstated it?).
Randy Mills
Trinity College School and St Mark's, Port Hope
Cobourg, Ontario, CANADA
rmills@tcs.on.ca
12 March 2009
Earlier letters
We launched our 'Letters to AO' section on 11
May 2003. All published letters are in our archives.
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