Category: radical theology

Aug 16 2006

Excerpts from the Ordination Service

From the Book of Common Prayer:

As a priest, it will be your task to proclaim by word and deed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to fashion your life in accordance with its precepts.  You are to love and serve the people among whom you work, caring alike for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor.  You are to preach, to declare God’s forgiveness to penitent sinners, to pronounce God’s blessing, to share in the administration of Holy Baptism and in the celebration of the mysteries of Christ’s Body and Blood, and to perform the other ministrations entrusted to you.

In all that you do, you are to nourish Christ’s people from the riches of his grace, and strengthen them to glorify God in this life and in the life to come.

—

Will you respect and be guided by the pastoral direction and leadership of your bishop?

Will you be diligent in the reading and study of the Holy Scriptures, and in seeking the knowledge of such things as may make you a stronger and more able minister of Christ?

Will you endeavor so to minister the Word of God and the sacraments of the New Covenant, that the reconciling love of Christ may be known and received?

Will you undertake to be a faithful pastor to all whom you are called to serve, laboring together with them and with your fellow ministers to build up the family of God?

Will you do your best to pattern your life [and that of your family, household, or community] in accodance with the teachings of Christ, so that you may be a wholesome example to your people?

Will you persevere in prayer, both in public and in private, asking God’s grace, both for yourself and for others, offering all your labors to God, through the mediation of Jesus Christ, and in the sanctification of the Holy Spirit? 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/08/excerpts-from-the-ordination-service/

Apr 25 2006

“do unto others”

My neighbor went and saw Ira Glass at the conclusion of the Wordstock festival Sunday night. She related the following story from his presentation: (Thanks Elizabeth!)

so last night [Ira Glass]
played a short clip [listen to the clip at the bottom of this post]
from a guy who was trying to explain to his daughter
about the crucifixion of christ
after driving by a cross
with jesus on it
he explained that at the time “do unto others” was a radical idea
and he told it in little 4-year-old language
a couple weeks later was martin luther king day
so he was off work
when his daughter wanted to know why
he explained the story of martin luther king
the girl asked
did he tell the stuff jesus told?
her father said, actually, yes
then she asked
“daddy…”
“did they kill him too?”

at the end ira closed with a thought
and it choked him up
he said
there is so much wrong in the world today
but i do believe
that the best way, the only way
to overcome the evils
is to be ourselves

and somehow
it didn’t sound corny
at all

 i think the success of ira’s show
is proof
that we are all of the same cloth
that we yearn to hear of the joys and plights and sorrows and absurdities of others
because they are all within us
we hear it and we know
it is real

 Kids – Jesus & MLK Jr.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/04/do-unto-others/

Apr 21 2006

on a ordination

last night i attended an ordination for the first time.  my old chaplain at the UofO was ordained into the transitional deaconate.  for me personally…it was just a public affirmation/ceremony of something that was already apparent.

the service itself was very traditional and formal.  and while that isn’t the style of liturgy i’m used to these days…i was still able to connect with it.  its one of the things i love about the church…the wide variety of liturgical expressions i’ve been exposed to.

it was also interesting for me to view this service with the idea that it could be me as the “subject” behind the service some day soon.  as a result there were a few things that i particularly reacted to.  however those will be touched on in a later blog entry this weekend.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/04/on-a-ordination/

Apr 14 2006

Maundy Thursday

I feel such a visceral connection to the services of holy week.  None more so than maundy thursday service though.  I would like my life to mirror the prinicples of the Maundy Thursday service.

And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean.

 When we are down on our knees, washing anothers feet, we are completely vulnerable.  But more importantly we are in service to them, humbling ourselves to them.  It is something I always want to be concious of, being humble and in service to all around me.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2006/04/maundy-thursday/