VIRGINIA EPISCOPALIAN the Quarterly Magazine of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia Bishop Ihloff Bishop for JESUS.FOR THISTIME
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Welcome VIRGINIA EPISCOPALIAN of Virginia Diocese Magazine of the Episcopal Quarterly The Winter 2018 Bishop Ihloff FOR JESUS. FOR THIS TIME. FOR ALL TIME. Features The Lord’s Prayer It’s all in the words, but which ones? Probably all Episcopalians know that Scholars have learned about Biblical languages and texts than the Church 6 10 13 19 our Book of Common Prayer Rite II much more about knew 650 years ago. So it In Search of a Senior Housing: Valentines, Ashes Faith from the liturgies offer two versions of the Lord’s Biblical languages and is that the modern version Bishop Answering the Call and Easter Fools Margins of the Lord’s Prayer is Prayer, one in the “traditional” English texts than the Church much clearer theologically Bishop Johnston (which dates from the 14th century) and knew 650 years for speech today than the old version. An additional the other in our contemporary language. 1 Bishop’s Letter 14 Faith in Congress ago. So it is that the problem arises from the When you think about it, that makes perfect sense, fact that some of those 3 General Convention: Issues on the Radar 23 Praying Over Each Stitch modern version of the given that Rite II services are composed in the contemporary “old” English words and 8 Meet Bishop Ihloff 26 Lessons from Shawshank and Puxatawney style. But why, then, is the traditional one offered at all in Rite Lord’s Prayer is much phrases had one sense II? Well, I have it from first-hand authority that the only reason of meaning for people in 13 Fresh Ideas for Holy Week 29 Clergy Changes, In Memoriam clearer theologically that the traditional version of the Lord’s Prayer is offered in 1380 but for us today the Rite II is that it was simply too controversial to replace the for speech today than implications are entirely well-known (and much loved) traditional prayer with the new the old version. different—and not to version and no one wanted the then-new Prayer Book to be the good! rejected simply for that reason! Let me provide you two examples of what I’m VIRGINIA EPISCOPALIAN LETTER TO THE EDITOR But we notice right away that the contemporary-style getting at here: WINTER 2018 / VOLUME 127 / ISSUE 1 prayer not only “modernizes” the 14th century version but Dear Editor, “LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION…” Published by the Diocese of Virginia – Circulation 17,900 also provides an entirely new translation of key passages. As Reading the recent Virginia Episcopalian article about the Rev. Edward Merrow Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston a result, the Lord’s Prayer is substantially different, not only in Who hasn’t had a problem with this? Are we to conclude Bishop Suffragan: The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff was indeed a timely reminder of our days at Grace Church, Alexandria, and this the words but—most importantly—in the actual meaning. from these words that God actually LEADS us into facing Bishop Associate: The Rt. Rev. Bob Ihloff day, All Saints Sunday, offered me a clear recognition of one of the giant saints in This is puzzling, if not outright confusing. A parishioner temptation? Surely not, as if God would toy with us in such an Publisher: Ed Jones my and my husband’s life (the Rev. Lewis Cobb, 2011). Editor: Nancy Chafin once told me, “I think I prefer what the new version says, but unfaithful—even absurd—a fashion. That is terrible theology! Father Merrow helped us set the course for the way we wanted to live Design/Layout: John Dixon I wish it could be in the traditional language!” That comment Why would we want to teach our children such a thing? Why out our life. Helen and Edward, both dear to us, became close friends for the rest raises the real issue at hand: words matter, certainly. Familiarity would we, as adults, subject ourselves to such a non-sensible Virginia Episcopalian (ISSN 15353621, USPS 019711) is published quarterly of their lives. When Lou served on the Vestry at Grace, his primary responsibility by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, periodicals postage paid in and “feeling” count. But more to the real point, the meaning of thing in our prayer to God? In all of my 30 years of ministry, I’ve Richmond, 23232-9998. Copyright 2017. Contact the editor for reprint was to get Fr. Merrow out of town for a day or two of fishing in West Virginia to the words matters much more. And there’s no getting around had to deal with more fall-out from this unhelpful notion than permission. Views expressed in this magazine are not official statements keep him from working himself to death. It delighted Lou when Fr. Merrow told of policy by the Diocese. Editorial/advertising policy is set by the editor the problem that the traditional version—as we understand from any other idea of what our relationship with God is like. It him of his vision of heaven which included “a beautiful trout stream with not too and Executive Board. those words today—now says things that the prayer Jesus is much more to Jesus’ point that we pray to be “saved from” many thorny bushes and trees lining it to snag your fishing line.” gave us never intended to say. Yes, it is that serious. (as the contemporary version has it) those times in human Postmaster: Send changes of address to the Virginia Episcopalian, 110 I am honored, and Lou would be too, to contribute to the Scholarship Fund W. Franklin St., Richmond VA 23220. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m., Surely, what the prayer means to say is the reason why life that threaten to take us into serious depths of despair or Monday through Friday. that Edward, Leith and Andrew designated for their Dad. I can think of no richer the contemporary version commends itself and commands faithlessness, as contrasted to being “led into” such times. and life-affirming experience – and more formative – for all kids in this diocese Communicants: $5/year Non-Communicants: $6/year our attention. All translation seeks to do precisely this—to Moreover, it’s not mere and vague “temptation” than a summer camping session at Shrine Mont. get at what was actually meant in the original language by that is at stake here but outright trials, both those in which using words through which we can easily understand that we are now embroiled and those we will surely face in the HELEN COBB, St. Mary’s Whitechapel in upper Lancaster County Cover photo by the Rev. Cayce Ramey meaning. My point is this: Scholars have learned much more Bishop’s Letter continued on page 5 WINTER 2018 / VIRGINIA EPISCOPALIAN VIRGINIA EPISCOPALIAN / WINTER 2018 1 El Padrenuestro General Convention 2018 Son solo palabras, pero ¿cuáles? Why It Matters to Our Diocese Soy consciente de que la traducción sustancialmente diferente, no solo en sus palabras, pero – You can pretty much predict what the headlines will be fundamentalmente – en su significado. BISHOPS al español del Libro de Oración this summer when several thousand Episcopalians gather Esto no solo es desconcertante, sino confuso. Una Y A Task Force on the Episcopacy is working on how to for their triennial General Convention. Immigration, health Común sólo utiliza una versión del vez un feligrés me dijo, “¡Creo que prefiero lo que dice la improve the process of selecting bishops and how to help them care, Israeli-Palestinian relations – these are the newsy and nueva versión, pero me gustaría que pudiera ser en el idioma become more effective. This is a key topic for our Diocese as we Padrenuestro y esa versión representa important topics that garner the lion’s share of the attention. Obispo Johnston tradicional!” Ese comentario plantea el verdadero problema: continue our search for a second Bishop Suffragan. But what other issues should members of the el lenguaje contemporáneo. las palabras ciertamente son importantes. La familiaridad Diocese of Virginia follow when the gavel sounds this y el “sentimiento” cuentan. Pero fundamentalmente, el BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER REVISION Este no es el caso en el culto de lengua inglesa, en July in Austin? What are the “other issues” that matter significado de las palabras es mucho más importante. Y no No, this is not about to happen. In fact, it probably el que hay dos versiones significativamente diferentes del to our Diocese? hay manera de evitar el problema de que la versión tradicional won’t happen for several years. However, the Standing Padrenuestro: una en el estilo antiguo del inglés tradicional To help answer those questions, we went straight to — como entendemos esas palabras hoy — ahora dice cosas Commission on Liturgy and Music, on which Bishop Shannon y la otra en el inglés contemporáneo. Por favor, mantenga two of the most senior members of the diocesan deputation que la oración que Jesús nos dejó nunca tuvo la intención de Johnston has served, has been looking at our usage of the presente esta diferencia leer este artículo. Espero que to General Convention – J.P. Causey of St. John’s, West decir. Sí; así es de grave. BCP. How can it be used better? What might a new BCP look encuentren que este ensayo proporciona una reflexión más Point; and Cindi Bartol of Christ Church, Alexandria. Here are Seguramente, lo que la oración quiere decir es la razón like if and when we decide to do a revision? profunda sobre el significado de las palabras de Jesús y lo some of those “other issues” that made it on their lists: por la que la versión contemporánea se elogia y capta nuestra With more parishes finding ways to deviate from the que Él tenía la intención de transmitir para su uso en cualquier atención.