The Centurion

The Parish Magazine of St. Alban’s Church 1011 Old Joppa Road, Joppa, Maryland, 21085

JULY 2011 THE PARISH MAGAZINE OF ST. ALBAN’S ANGLICAN CHURCH JULY 2011 From the Rector Whither ? My dear People: of those who switch to a different church and This month our diocese and province is meeting tradition experience “buyer’s remorse” down the in synod at Atlanta, Georgia. In the United States road. They find that they miss the beautiful and the Anglican Province of America consists of three profound liturgy of the , dioceses: an eastern diocese (DEUS), a mid-western the solemn language of the King James Bible, the diocese (DMA), and a western diocese (DOW). Our great hymns of the faith, and many other hallmarks diocesan bishop, the Most Rev’d. Walter H. of traditional Anglicanism. Grundorf, also serves as presiding bishop of the All of this raises an important point: namely province. This may seem like an incredible burden that, despite her current problems, the classical for one man to bear - and perhaps it is. But we Anglican tradition still speaks to many millions of should consider that our entire province in the people, and that she has an important role to play in United States is probably no more than 150 the Christian world and the mission of the Church churches! So we are a very small church. today. There are many people who are looking for a Many people new to our church are surprised to Church that is truly Catholic yet reformed; that is find out just how small we are. They would probably spirit-filled yet traditional; that is formal (liturgical) be even more surprised to learn that we have yet friendly (pastoral). That is the classical Anglican numerous “sister churches (jurisdictions)” with tradition. There are many people who, instead of whom we share a common heritage, as well as wanting the strange doctrinal innovations and communion and fellowship, but are not formally postmodern ways of other churches, simply want to united with. These are equally small and spread out. return to the days of the beautiful, simple, Christian Common sense indeed would ask, “Why don’t you orthodoxy of the old Episcopal tradition, and as all unite?!” Needless to say, division does not help embodied in the classic Book of Common Prayer. any of us fulfill our evangelical mission! But thanks Again, that is us! In short, despite the problems of be to God there has been a slow and steady unity that the “continuing” Anglican Church has movement to resolve differences and corporately faced in recent years (and thanks be to God this unite with our virtually identical sister jurisdictions problem is being resolved) we still have a lot to offer in recent years. Yet while much good progress has the larger Christian world. Indeed I have no idea been made on that front, we are still “not there” yet. where I would worship if there was not a church like For it takes a lot of time and patience to get it done the APA with parishes like St. Alban’s. I’m sure that right and to the glory of God. Sadly, it is far easier to is the case with many people as well. And as other divide than it is to unite - even between bodies that churches continue to succumb to the zeitgeist in have almost every little thing in common! various degrees (cultural, moral, etc.), our role and work will continue to be more and more important. In the face of this slow march toward unity, some have alas grown impatient with traditional St. Alban’s Church and the Anglican Province of Anglicanism. Happy neither with the situation in America are committed to maintaining the catholic the Episcopal Church nor with the divisions of the and apostolic faith of the Church in the classical Continuing Church, many clergy and laity have Anglican tradition. While we long to be united with opted to enter the Roman Church or one of the our brethren, and are pleased to be heading in that Orthodox churches. Still others have gone to the direction, we understand that it takes time, and that ACNA Church. While some have moved on to these we cannot accept a “peace at any price” approach to other churches for genuine doctrinal reasons, a church unity and mission. We may be disheartened significant minority have done so simply for a quick at times, and think that we are small and fix solution to the problems of liberalism and insignificant, but let us remember that St. Paul (1 division as represented by the Episcopal and Cor. 12:22-24) said the smallest parts of the body Continuing Anglican churches. But inevitably many often have (cont’d on p. 5)

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BOOK REVIEW

"Glory, Laud, and Honor: The Arts would have done away with the churches could be beautified was of the Anglican Counter- Prayer Book and torn down the done as well, from adding Reformation" By Graham Perry cathedrals if they had the chance, gorgeous wood carvings, Available from Amazon.com for but luckily they were stopped decorative baptismal fonts and $34.95 plus S/H every time they considered it. covers, vestments, statues, church By the time Laud and his plate, candles, and more. ne of the more interesting O fellow churchmen (such as John They also increased the quality books recently published, Glory, Cosin and Matthew Wren) rose to of music in the services by Laud, and Honor deals with the arts prominence the power and forming choirs for the various and liturgy of the English Church influence of the Puritans had collegiate chapels and in during the so-called Laudian era waned significantly. The Laudians, cathedrals that would chant and (1593-1644), named for Archbishop as they came to be called, set sing the services of the Book of William Laud (pictured to the right). about trying to restore some Common Prayer. In many of the Laud began his ecclesiastical collegiate chapels at Oxford and career as president of St. John’s Cambridge Prayer Book services College, Oxford, and ended it as were held in the Latin tongue so Archbishop of Canterbury. This as to increase their dignity, excellent book tells the story of mystery, and beauty. The book is Laud and his co-religionists in full of gorgeous, high-quality the Church of , who photographs of many of the were trying to restore some places discussed. measure of dignity and beauty to Unfortunately Laud and his the worship of the Church. patron and defender, the At the time of the somewhat despotic King Reformation there was a Charles I, were too heavy- wholesale destruction of handed in bringing these churches, monasteries, and beautiful adornments back to much of the sacred art that the Church, and punishing adorned them. Vestments were dissenters. So the Puritans hated burned; statues defaced; fonts these men all the more, and and altars were taken from vigorously campaigned against churches and used as troughs; the changes, telling people that stained glass was smashed; Laud and Charles were secretly paintings were defaced; and beauty and dignity to the worship trying to reintroduce “popery” churches were used as meeting of the church. into the . halls, places of business, and even Eventually a civil war began which They did this by insisting that stables! the Puritans won. The Book of altars be permanently installed in Common Prayer and the All of this was done by the churches on the east end of the episcopacy (church government by Puritans, a radical, legalistic, and chancel, and that they were to be bishops) were abolished, King gnostic party that had risen to raised up several levels and Charles I was beheaded, and prominence in parts of the surrounded by a gate to show that Archbishop Laud was killed as national Church. These men it was sacred space. They also well. A “Puritan Commonwealth” - believed that such art and beauty commissioned stained glass actually a dictatorship under had lead the Church astray prior designers to created windows for Oliver Cromwell - (Cont’d on p. 7) to the Reformation, so they churches where the old glass had wanted it all destroyed. They been destroyed. Any other way

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FOR ALL THE SAINTS: St. Bonaventure (c. 1218 - 1274) - Adapted om the “Oxford Dictionary of Saints”

factions within the order, each claiming to be the nown as the K true heirs to the spirit and intentions of the “seraphic doctor”, founder. The order had also been declining in zeal, the Franciscan making them a target of ridicule and criticism. friar, bishop, and cardinal, St. While staunchly defending Franciscan ideals, Bonaventure, was Bonaventure insisted - against the ideals of St. one of the most Francis - that the friars must be well-educated and important of the spend lots of time in study. To that end he said that Medieval friars should possess books, and the order should theologians and possess buildings. (NB: St. Francis was opposed to philosophers. An the friars or order possessing just about anything.) Italian by birth, he He encouraged the existing practice of friars was sent to Paris at preaching and ministering at universities, and the age of twenty- thought that the role of the friars should be to five because of his support the diocesan clergy, who were often over- strong intellectual worked and usually under-educated. He refused to gifts. There he follow extremists who exalted poverty over learning. studied under Overall his leadership of the Franciscan Order was Alexander of marked by moderation, pragmatism, godliness, and Hales, an important theologian. When he finished effectiveness... a combination not always to be his studies he became Master of the Franciscan found in ecclesiastics, much less intellectuals! school at Paris. His personal life was marked by As minister general he traveled all over Europe austerity, simplicity, poverty, and detachment from overseeing the Order. At one point he was riches. Contemporaries noted his wonderful nominated Archbishop of York by Pope Clement personal characteristics, which included gentle IV, but he refused the honor. Later, however, he was courtesy, compassion, and accessibility. nominated a cardinal (a “prince” of the Roman As a theologian he followed the tradition of St. Church) with an order from the pope not to refuse! Augustine and was less Aristotelian than his great And when the papal delegation arrived from Rome contemporary, St. Thomas Aquinas. His approach to to give him the message they found him doing theology was more affective than the purely rational dishes in the friary kitchen. Bonaventure asked approach favored by Thomas, and to this day he is them to wait to talk to him until he finished his known of being more of “mystical” rather than chores! (Such was his simplicity and humility.) “dogmatic” theologian. Generally though the two Bonaventure figured prominently in the men agreed on most points of doctrine. He wrote international religious politics of his day. He played important theological commentaries as well as an important role in the Council of Lyons, which books on mystical theology and a life of St. Francis was summoned by the pope in order to reconcile the that not only were classics in his own day, but still eastern and western halves of the Church, which are today. had been divided since 1054. When reunion was When he was thirty-six he was elected Minister- temporarily effected Bonaventure preached at the General of the Franciscan Order. He has been solemn of reconciliation. He did not live long called, with some justice, the “second founder” of enough, however, to see the Greeks repudiate the the Franciscans. He became head of the order at a agreement. For he died at Lyons on July 15th and critical time in its history. At the time the order was was buried there. somewhat in disarray, as it had grown very large and He was canonized by Pope Sixtus IV in 1482 and was badly organized. Much of this was due to the declared a Doctor of the Church in 1588. ✠ way Francis left the order. There were competing

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PARISH NEWS UPDATES AND VARIOUS AND SUNDRY REMINDERS: Pony Show and Yard Sale is Anderson for Sunday school at FCCAU Needs: Faith July 9th. Come out for food and 10:30 a.m. each Sunday... even Communities and Civic Agencies fellowship and to see the ponies! during the summer! United (staffed by our own Barbara Jones) can, in addition to food donations, use the following: Vacation Bible School is also Our youth group is hoping to financial donations; liquid hand this month! It is for elementary have a swimming a trip this soap, laundry detergent/softener/ school age kids and will be held month. Announcements will be bleach, paper goods (toilet paper, the week of July 25th. forthcoming. paper towels, tissue, napkins, plates, cups, utensils), gift Summer Giving: As you go away Thank You to Mike and Mary certificates (grocery stores, hair on vacation for the summer please Minshall, and to everyone else cuts, drug stores, shoe stores, cab/ remember that the bills do not who brought food and helped with taxi fare, hotel nights [Rt. 40 take a vacation! Please be sure to our St. Alban’s Day picnic. We had corridor], gas cards, phone support the church with your alms over 50 people. It was a minutes), Over-the counter and offerings regularly throughout tremendous and yummy success! medicines, and more. A complete the lean months of summer! list is posted in the parish hall. Please help this agency which Wednesday Night Class & helps those transitioning out of Sunday School: Unless Evening Prayer is cancelled homelessness! All donations may otherwise noted, children should until September. be brought to the church. ✠ always plan on joining Father

(cont’d om p. 2) the most important roles to we have had problems. The Church is divine, but play! Let us rather be concerned with spreading the she is also human! But despite the bumps and Gospel of Jesus Christ and serving our fellow man in bruises we are still here! Is this not a sign that He His name, while at the same adhering to strict has something important for us to do in the world? I Christian orthodoxy in faith and life in the firmly and truly believe that there are many people Anglican tradition. that only our church can effectively reach for Jesus. Moreover, let us also not take our church or While we may not be the church for the hoi poloi we tradition for granted! I hear all the time from people most certainly can reach more people for Christ about how much St. Alban’s means to them, and than we currently do. how important a part of their lives it is. If that is What are we doing as individual believers to true for you, then make worship and parish life a bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others? What priority in your life! Come out for events, and have we learned from our years of faith and worship support the church in her work. While I am in the Prayer Book and Scriptures that God wants confident that our church and diocese has a future us to share with others, so that His kingdom will and an important role to play in the world, it is come, and His will be done here on earth? This is certainly not a given that that will happen. Our our tradition. Let us own it, love it, and use it for church and our beautiful and venerable tradition the glory of Jesus Christ and building up of His will fade into history unless we as individual kingdom, now and always. Christians appreciate it, embrace it, and see it as something that God has ordained to help spread the Gospel of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Affectionately, your Friend and Pastor, The Lord has seen fit to maintain a classical J. Gordon Anderson Anglican presence in the United States and abroad now for almost 50 years. Yes, we are small, and yes

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LITURGY AND WORSHIP: What is the priest mumbling up there? The Silent Prayers of the Liturgy

do offer unto thee, my God, the living and the true, for my t various times during the liturgy you have A countless sins, offenses, and negligences, for a here present probably seen the priest moving his lips as though and for a the faithful in Christ, both quick and dead: he is mumbling something or talking to himself. that it my be profitable both to me and to them for What is he doing? He is uttering silent prayers or salvation unto life eternal. Amen. Psalms appointed for the Mass in the altar missal. These prayers and Psalms compliment the Prayer When he makes the sign of the cross on the Book liturgy and are said by the priest for cruet containing water he prays: O God who didst devotional purposes. wonderfuy renew the dignity of the nature of man; grant unto us, that through the mystery of this water and Wine, Where do these come from? As mentioned we may be sharers in his divinity who vouchsafed to be above they come from the altar missal. At St. Alban’s made partaker of our humanity, Jesus Christ, thy Son our the altar missal that we use is called The American Lord, who with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, liveth Missal, which is one of the three missals currently and reigneth God, world without end. Amen. authorized for use in the Anglican Province of America. Developed by Anglo- He then offers the containing wine and Catholics in the Episcopal water to the Lord praying: We Church and the Church of offer unto thee, O Lord, the cup of England in the early 20th salvation, humbly beseeching thy century, the missal is simply an mercy, that it may go up before thy expanded version of the Book Divine Majesty with a sweet of Common Prayer’s Order for savor for our salvation, and for Holy Communion that contains that of the whole world. Amen. additional prayers, feast days, He continues: In the spirit of and devotions. These additions humility, and with a contrite come mainly from the old heart, let us be accepted by thee, O Roman Catholic missal from Lord; and so let our sacrifice be in the Council of Trent, and have thy sight this day, that it may be been translated into an we pleasing unto thee, O Lord Elizabethan-style English to fit our God. And then he prays for our liturgy. To use an analogy: the Holy Spirit: Come of whereas the “Order for Holy Sanctifier, Almighty, Everlasting Communion” is like a Whopper God, and bless this sacrifice with cheese, the missal is like a Whopper with prepared for thy holy Name. cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, and a tomato. Both are After the alms and offerings are brought forward the same sandwich, only one has more “toppings” to and presented the priest washed his hands and says fill it out and enrich it. Some of the additions from silently Psalm 26:6-12 which begins, “I wi wash my the missal are audible, such as the introit, while hands in innocency, O Lord...” When he is done he many others are these silent prayers and Psalms. returns to the center of the altar and prays the last What are some of the silent prayers and Psalms prayer of the Offertory: Receive, O Holy Trinity, this of the liturgy? Let us look at a few of the ones that oblation which we offer unto thee in memory of the occur at the time of Offertory. When the priest Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ our uncovers the chalice to begin getting the elements Lord; and in honor of blessed Mary ever Virgin, of blessed ready for the Mass he takes the paten (plate) which John the Baptist, of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and of holds the large Host and offering it to the Lord a thy saints: that it may avail them to their honor, and us prays: Receive, O Holy Father, Almighty and Everlasting to our salvation; and may they whose memory we God, this spotless Host, which I, thine unworthy servant celebrate on earth vouchsafe to intercede (Cont’d on p.7)

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SPIRITUALITY AND DEVOTION: Brushing up on some of the things we learned in church school The Seven Capital Sins: The Seven Godly Virtues: Ways of Sharing in the Sin Pride Humility of Others: Anger Forgiveness By evil counsel Covetousness Generosity By provocation Lust Purity By concealment Envy Love By command Sloth Diligence By silence Gluttony Temperance By flattery (These are counteracted by the the By defense so-caed “Seven Godly Virtues.” By praise Practicing the virtue helps us avoid By consent ✠ the sin.)

(Cont’d from p.6) for us in heaven; through the help convey to the priest even more the doctrine of same Christ our Lord. Amen. We should note that the Eucharistic Sacrifice - that in the Holy there are specific “manual acts” (gestures) that Communion we are “re-presenting” or “re-pleading” accompany many of these prayers, such as making to God the Father the one sacrificial death and the sign of the cross with the chalice, bowing at the offering of the our Lord for the sins of the whole altar, and more. As the service goes on there are a world. They also bring to the priest’s mind that in number of other silent prayers that are prayed, with our liturgy we honor the saints, and worship our most of these occurring around the time of the Lord in union with them. priest’s communion. If you would like to follow along with these It is important to emphasize that these prayers prayers and pray them yourself the best resource to are said by the priest at his discretion and for his buy is “The People’s Anglican Missal” which is a personal devotion. In other words, they do not form small, personal-sized edition of the large altar an integral part of the service of Holy Communion, missal. It has all of the prayers and additions to the and the service is completely valid even if they are Prayer Book service that we use at 9 a.m. as well as never said. many other helpful resources. It may be purchased The nice thing about the silent prayers and online at the Anglican Parishes Association for Psalms from a theological standpoint is that they about $25 plus shipping and handling. ✠

(Cont’d om p. 3) ruled England for several decades We may laugh at the idea that things like until the monarchy and episcopacy were restored vestments, candles, and stained glass could be so under King Charles II. divisive and even contribute to a civil war, but such Although Laud was not around for a very long was the case in England in the heated days after the time before being murdered, his influence in the life Reformation. We should remember of course that of the English Church was great, and is still felt there were many other more important factors that today. Those who get lost reading history with all of lead to the English Civil War. But nonetheless its names, dates, and political events, should not fear disagreement over religious rites and ceremonies did this book, as it focuses mostly on the literature, play a part in the strife. These folk obviously took architecture, decorative, and liturgical art of the their religion and country very seriously! Perhaps period. The author only includes historical narrative today we commit the opposite error: we do not take as much as it is necessary to tell the overall story. either of them seriously enough. ✠

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The Centurion Recommends: The Choral Music of Edward Elgar showcases some of Elgar’s most ir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) S famous sacred works, including: Upcoming Prayer Book was one of he most famous Light Out of Darkness, Op. 29, and Holy Days English composers of the gilded the incredibly passionate and and Victorian ages. He was an stirring Te Deum, Op. 34 No. 1. There accomplished violinist and are also numerous motets, a Psalm July 4th - Independence Day organist who gradually got into (Great is the Lord, Psalm 48 Op.67), composition. Known for such and an organ voluntary (the first Holy Communion @ 9 a.m. important works as the Enigma movement of his Sonata in G, Op. Variations, and the Pomp and July 25th - St. James the 28), which was written for the Apostle Circumstance March, few realize organ at Worcester Cathedral. Holy Communion @ 12 p.m. that he also composed a sizable Though the choir that performs amount of beautiful church music. the music is a mixed choir of men August 6th - The For an introduction to this part of and women and not the classic Transfiguration of Our Lord his work The Centurion “Men and Boys Choir” one would Holy Communion @ 9:00 a.m. recommends “The Choral Music of normally expect, they pull off the Edward Elgar” (available on August 24th - St. music in a sublime and Bartholomew the Apostle Amazon for $15.16 plus S/H). inspirational fashion. Buy the CD Holy Communion @ 12 p.m. Featuring the choir of Trinity today! You will not disappointed. ✠ College, Cambridge under the baton of Richard Marlow, the CD

St. Alban’s Anglican Church 1011 Old Joppa Road Joppa, Maryland 21085