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The Parish Messenger
October 1998
“O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”
During any given week, many pieces of mail written on company letterhead come
across my desk. A common inclusion on these letterheads is the company’s “mission
statement.” A mission statement is a way to sum up in a sentence or two the purpose, the function of the
organization or agency. Even parishes (and indeed the Diocese itself) have taken to including mission
statements in their official documents.
If we were to write a mission statement for use at this parish, I think it
would have to include the above line in some way. The first line would most likely read, “To love the Lord
above all things and to worship Him in the beauty of holiness.” The second line (reflecting the two
great commandments) would be something like, “to seek and serve Christ in all persons,
loving our neighbors as ourselves.”
What got me thinking about all this was the difference in worship here at St.
B’s compared with other places. I do not think we do anything that different from our sister churches. We
all use the same Prayerbook, pretty much the same liturgy, etc. One big difference here, though, is
the use of language. We tend to use the formal language of the Prayerbook liturgy in our services.
Rite I language in the BCP is the usual language of this Church. It is different than the
language of the
Rite II services. I think there are important differences.
Oftentimes one hears the language of Rite II referred to as
“contemporary” language and Rite I as “traditional.” I think these terms are lacking.
Contemporary refers to anything
that is in use at the present time. Obviously, the Elizabethan language of the BCP is still in use and thus, by
definition, contemporary. The King James Version and much of our legal language are also in common
usage and are thus contemporary. I think a better term than “contemporary” for the
language of Rite II is “conversational.” It is the language we use in ordinary, daily speech. It was
chosen specifically for that reason. To my mind, it is lacking for that same reason. Let me explain why.
When we enter into ritual, such as the services of the Prayerbook, we are
entering into a different time and space. Think of this as an example. What generally happens first after being
seated in a restaurant? The waiter or waitress brings a basket or plate of bread. Many of us
(especially the really good Anglicans among us) have a glass of wine with our dinner. So, there we are,
eating bread and drinking wine. A very commonplace occurrence. But when we ritualize that
activity: when we add the prayer of consecration and set it apart, we move it to a different level.
We are no longer simply eating bread and drinking wine: we are celebrating the Holy Eucharist. We
have then moved from ordinary time into sacred time. From commonplace into sacred space.
The language of ordinary life is well and good for everyday life. It helps us
to communicate. It helps us to share ideas. But it is not all-inclusive. It is not the only set of language we need
for our living. All of us have professional subsets of our language, which others share and some may not.
This doesn’t make this language odd or not to be used. It simply makes it specialized. To
make others understand it may take some instruction. When others can be made to share in that
language, lives are enriched.
This is the purpose of using the formal language of the Prayerbook in our
worship. It is specialized. It is not our everyday language. It is not ordinary. But the events and realities to which
it speaks are not ordinary: they are extraordinary. They speak of the activity of God, of the
actions of Grace, of the eternal. A change in language is a change in our way of understanding of these
things, for our language reflects, as little else does, how we see things. In fact, our language often
shapes the way we come to view and understand things.
Conversational language is fine for private prayer. Of its very nature this is
conversation between the creature and the Creator. The simple, straightforward language of the heart is
fine. But corporate prayer demands something different. It demands the best we have to
offer. Not only does it demand precision, it demands beauty. This is what is so often lacking in
prayers set in conversational style. They lack the “beauty of holiness.” In all our liturgies
we strive for beauty:
in word, in action and in music. If our efforts in this set us apart, all well and good,
for it is our first duty to worship Almighty God in beauty and in truth. The timeless glories of an
Elizabethan cadence may take a bit of time to learn to appreciate. But the time taken will enrich the
soul, for the beauty of this language draws us to the throne of God, who is all beauty, all truth.
High Tea and Festival Evensong
The High Tea and Festival Evensong held in August was so
successful that it was decided to hold this event on a regular basis. The second of this series will be held on the feast of St.
Luke the Evangelist.
A suggested donation of $5 for the tea will help to defray expenses.
Sunday, October 18
Tea served at 4:30 p.m.
Evensong and Benediction at 5:30 p.m.
Wonderful Wednesdays...
return this month. We will once again offer adult education,
fine dining and the chance to share in corporate prayer.
Mr. Roger Krueger of our parish will lead us in an examination of the first
book of the Torah, the book of beginnings, Genesis. This should be some fascinating material and Rog’s
insights will add to the enjoyment.
Plan now to attend.
Wednesdays - October 14, 21, 28
6:30 - 7:00 Planned Potluck
7:00 - 8:00 Adult Ed
8:00 Compline
The Blessing of Animals...
will be held on Saturday, October 3, 1998 at 10:30 a.m. Bring
your pets to this annual event held on the steps of St. Cecilia’s Cathedral.
Lectionary Readings
October 4 XVIII Pentecost
Habakkuk 1:1-6, 12-13, 2:1-4
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17:5-10
October 11 XIX Pentecost
Ruth 1:1-19
2 Timothy 2:3-15
Luke 17:11-19
October 18 XX Pentecost
Genesis 32:3-8,22-30
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Luke 18:1-8
October 18 St. Luke the Evangelist
Ecclesiasticus 38:1-4,6-10,12-14
2 Timothy 4:5-13
Luke 4:14-21
October 25 XXI Pentecost
Jeremiah 14:1-22
2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
Luke 18:9-14
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Don't worry. The May and June and July issues are still
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