I am not watching primary returns; I am looking over to replies I made to my gracious readers.
A few weeks ago, a reader asked for Universalist liturgical help for a service with a theme that featured a historic woman. I suggested that the service could end with the benediction Phebe Hanaford gave at her ordination […]
Since the recognized avenue for National Day of Prayer observances — supported by quite a few governors, but gladly not the Mayor of the District of Columbia so far as I’ve found; is yours one? — is a conservative Evangelical task force (Christian Science Monitor), I think I’ll keep my distance. But a couple of […]
A reader asked where he might get a copy of the 1941 Universalist prayerbook. This is how I replied:
The 1941 (and lesser known 1943 Harrisville, R.I. prayerbook) were simply abridgments of the 1894 servicebook, with the 1935 Washington Avowal in place — in the appendix — of the Winchester Profession and a new introduction by […]
I almost didn’t go to the midday service at nearby Luther Place Memorial Church (ELCA) but I’m glad I did. My liturgical experiences at this church have been hit-and-miss in years past, but the church conducted worship well and I wanted to comment on what made it successful.
The music was [...]
Perhaps I’m just grouchy or it’s a side-effect of not going to church very much any more, but I don’t have much patience for mainline Protestant worship. The Maundy Thursday service I attended tonight wasn’t bad as such, but could have been made much better by few changes. So I make these recommendations with […]
I really enjoy religious education professor Mary Hess’s Tensegrities blog. Yesterday she promoted a new World Council of Churches publication Love to Share, of which she herself is a contributor. You may download it here as a PDF and it is licensed in such a way that you may share copies.
Get past the typically overwrought […]
Kim Hampton replied to my last post, writing:
It’s funny that you’re writing about this today. I’ve been thinking about fear for the past week or so (especially since Barack won in Iowa). I’ve worried the whole time that Barack has been in the race that he would get shot.
Yes, I’ve been harboring a fear […]
I attended the Christmas Eve service at the Swedenborgian Church of the Holy City: I wrote about this service in 2005 and 2004.
The service is essentially the same as I wrote in 2005 except there were more people present and it began at 5pm. I didn’t time it but think the whole thing took […]
Stephen Lingwood (Reignite) asks if a Christmas carol service can be missional. Sure: I’d think you’re more likely to get people in the doors for a carol service than any other single service of the year, except perhaps Easter.
I don’t understand the UK religion scene, but I bet the following are true:
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Timing. Does the service […]
The more I read about what younger Jews are doing to revitalize worship and community, the more I want something similar for Christians. I often see themes of lay-centered, multi-participant and tradition transcending worship in groups (which have adopted the older and more general name minyanim; somehow the usual translation “prayer quora” doesn’t cut it) […]
