Category: Anglican

sister church

wonderfulexchange3 Comments

A rare moment of ecumenical blessing today on Bute.

A much loved member of the St Paul’s congregation is dying.  I was going to see him today and — depending on how he was — intended to offer last rites.  Half way to Bute, I realised I’d forgotten my oil stock.  Three quarters of the way to Bute I had a message from his daughter saying he was worse today.

So, in sudden concern that our time was limited, my warden  rushed off before the morning service to ask the Roman Catholic priest if he would let me use their oils.  He sent her back with a full stock and blessings.

Now, I know it seems simple enough — what’s a bit of oil between churches.  But remember this oil is blessed by the bishop.  It is sacramental, and (depending on your perspective) even a sacrament.  So this was a very real bit of ecumenical sharing.

In the end, the person was much better than he had been, and we decided to wait till tomorrow for oils and eucharist.
Which means he can have piskie-blessed oils after all.  But I’m thankful I learned today that sacramental gifts would be given and shared.

when we gather

wonderfulexchange14 Comments

During my first year of studying theology, a lecturer asked us to make a list of all the things that we thought must happen in the context of the eucharist. Anglicans, Presbyterians, Baptists, Roman Catholics — all were invited to make their list, and compare notes. I should confess: I forgot the sermon. I didn’t choose not to include it. I just forgot. And before you get your hopes up: I would not forget it now.

But I find myself thinking about the question again in a new context. This time it is not ‘what must happen for a eucharist’ but ‘what should happen when Christians gather on a Sunday?’

Now ideally, those questions would be one and the same. The eucharist is at the heart of Anglican practice and theology, and I wish that we could assume that every Anglican congregation could gather for the eucharist each sabbath day. But we can’t. Continue reading “when we gather” →

suggestions please

wonderfulexchange1 Comment

One of the blogs I stumbled across one day was Sailing to Byzantium. Most days, I never get beyond reading a small circle of Scottish Piskie blogs, but I read Sailing occasionally because of the patent honesty of the author’s spiritual quest. So here’s the thing. He’s looking for the moderate voice of Anglicanism in the blogosphere: no shouting, no extremes. Blogs that will actually help on the spiritual journey (my words, not his).

My reading is so biased towards Scotland that I don’t know who to suggest.

So, I’m hoping you can help.

I have a (very) few suggestions below the fold. Please add others in the comments. Continue reading “suggestions please” →