[An old piece from a parish newsletter] The long-time dean of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary in Crestwood, New York, was a remarkable Russian Orthodox priest and theologian named Alexander Schmemann. I think that I first became aware of Father Schmemann through a letter called ‘Concerning Women’s Ordination’ which he published in a very obscure little booklet…
[An older article, slightly revised.... And copyright retained....] Theologians and churchmen in the central tradition of the Church have usually have been left somewhat free in their interpretation of Scripture. That is not to say that everyone is free to believe anything whatsoever about everything in the Bible whatsoever. But there are different schools of…
Trinity XI. August 12, 2018. Saint Michael & All Angels’, Fleming Is., FL Saint Luke xviii, verse 13 - God be merciful to me a sinner. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Our parable today is about pride and humility told through the familiar parable…
It is often noted that the four women mentioned in Saint Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus are all in some way disreputable. The four are Tamar (1:3), Rahab (1:5), Ruth (1:5), and ‘Uriah’s wife’ (unnamed otherwise by Matthew in 1:6, but Bathsheba of course). The only four women mentioned in the line of Judah and Jesus,…
Trinity X. August 5, 2018. Good Shepherd, Palm Bay, FL St. Luke 19, verse 41 - And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it.... In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Jesus weeps. He weeps in my text today as…
Many years ago Nancy, the wife of a colleague, suffered a massive aneurysm. The result was nearly full paralysis. Nancy’s eyes and one hand with its fingers retained movement. She was mentally alert, but unable to speak. It took some time after the aneurysm to judge the extent of damage and the chances of future…
Trinity VIII. St. Francis’ Church, Gainesville, GA. July 22, 2018. St. Matthew vii, verse 15f. - Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. …
¶ While all is prepared for the consecration of the altar, a hymn may be sung by the people standing. If the altar is to be consecrated during the Dedication or Consecration of a Church or Chapel, then at the discretion of the Bishop another Psalm or hymn may be said or sung in place…
In the United States most public policy decisions now are mostly decided by a form of moral consequentialism. In other words, decisions are made and their morality is judged on the basis of a calculation about the consequences, benefits and costs, that will foreseeably flow from any particular decision. A good decision is usually thought…
When I was an undergraduate I had a friend named Carl Dolan. Carl was from New England where he was raised at least vaguely in the Episcopal Church. Naturally, given that background, by the time he reached college he was an agnostic. He was, nonetheless, an exceptionally kind and generous soul, often volunteering for good…
