Thoughts on Today's Blog Reading

My busy summer schedule has not permitted me much time to attend to my blog. Yet today, for whatever reason, I took the time to read a few of my favorite blogs. My attention was first caught by an inter-Lutheran debate on how long the Body and Blood of Christ remain the Body and Blood of Christ. Having once entered into these debates, I read extensively various sources. In the end, I found--and still find--them to be rather tedious since the debate often boils down to "my Martin trumps your Martin." See here, here, here and here if you're interested.

That bit of reading led me elsewhere. I read the angst of Church of England bishops (see here, here and here) who are distraught both (a) that the latest final straw has been reached in discovering that the Church of England is not the Church, and (b) that Rome (no mention of Orthodoxy) does not accept them as the Church.

I sympathize with these bishops (as I do also with the above mentioned Lutherans) because I know from experience how hard it is, in the midst of debate or angst, to step back and see what seems clear to others.

Finally, I was led to Fr Gregory Hogg's blog. He seems to be commenting on these, and other, discussions when he suggests a similarity in the line of thought between the errors of "receptionism," the Protestant definition of visible/invisible (or hidden/revealed, if you prefer) Church, Nestorianism, Barthianism, etc. I think he's on to something, but he admits he is having difficulty classifing the similarities.

One commentator suggested that the common theme is reductionism. What I suggest is my next post. So "stay tuned." :)

Yesterday's Requiem

Yesterday, our dear friend and mentor, the Very Reverend Fathers David (Charles) Lynch, was laid to rest.

Presiding from the throne was His Grace, Bishop MARK. The celebrant was the Rt. Rev. John Mangels, the predecessor and successor to Fr David at St Augustine of Hippo Orthodox Church in Denver. Assisting were Fr. Nicholas Alford of St Gregory the Great Orthodox Church in Washington DC and yours truly. Fr John Connely of St Mark Orthodox Church in Denver assisted at the interment and, with Subdeacon Benjamin Anderson, formed the Schola. Fr Patrick Reardon of All Saints Orthodox Church was the homilist. Several other Orthodox clergy from the Antiochian Archdiocese and the Orthodox Church in America were also in attendance.

The Repose of the V. Rev. Fr. David Lynch

His Grace, Bishop MARK, has informed us that the Very Reverend Father David Lynch fell asleep in the Lord last evening (29 June).

Fr. David was a sometime member of the Church of the Incarnation before it was received into the Orthodox Church. He served as one of my ordination sponsors in February 2007. And in April 2007 he was celebrant at the first Easter Mass at Holy Incarnation.

Please remember Fr David, his wife Martha, and his children in your prayers today.

Requiescat in pace.

How Very Interesting

It intrigues me that one of the most serious and kindly critics of “What Options” recently became Roman Catholic.

Read about it here.

Easter Photos from a Sister Parish

Being the only Midwestern Orthodox parish in the Western tradition can sometimes produce feelings of loneliness. When that occurs, it is good to “connect” electronically with our sister Western Rite parishes.

As one means of making such a “connection,” this link is provided. It provides photos from this year’s Paschal celebration at St. Michael’s Orthodox Church in Whittier, California.

HT: Western Orthodoxy

Christ Killed What Was Killing Everyone

In anticipation of Pascha, I offer the following from our Holy Father among the saints Peter Chrysologus:

Christ accepted death so that death would die. Christ, by being killed, killed what was killing everyone. Christ entered the tomb in order to open up hell. So, having abolished the authority of death, having destroyed the prison of hell, and having annihilated the very power of death, Christ now should not be anointed as a dead man, but should be adored as Victor.

Source

For Bill, Matthew, et al.

Below are photographs of the interior of Holy Incarnation. These photos were taken during Lauds and Mass on Passion Sunday, 13 April 2008. They show our temporary arrangement of the liturgical space.

The altar was the “Lady Altar” (a side altar) at the former Incarnation Orthodox Church in Detroit.

We are currently considering bids which have been presented for permanent remodeling of the interior.

Orthodox Holy Week

For those who might be interested, here is the Holy Week & Easter Week schedule for Holy Incarnation Orthodox Church.

Prayers

"I will always have a place in my heart for the people of Zion. This is the parish, and you are the people, I will always love." (Oct 2006)

The good people of Zion, with their pastor, are in my prayers.

On the Reading of Parish Newsletters

Parish Newsletter don't always make the most exciting reading. Nevertheless, for the interested or curious, Holy Incarnation now has a monthly parish newsletter. It's called The Chanticleer and can be accessed here.