Notes

I know that no one gets as excited over a liturgical conundrum or issue as much as I do, and I am convinced that God appreciates my excitement and probably has a good heavenly chuckle. Indeed, this is how I wound up earning an accidental Anglican Studies Diploma during my first round of graduate school, bless my heart. Actually, I have a handful of Facebook friends and professional parish musician friends who enjoy a good liturgical discussion, ever attempting to get it all perfect, but per... Read More

Only a few weeks ago I wrote a blog entitled “Old tunes, new tunes.” And today I still have the old and the new on my mind, but for a different reason. Perhaps I have the old and the new on my mind in this historic season of construction and remodeling at Church of the Holy Communion. Look out of one window of my office, and you will see old buildings. Look out the other window, and you’ll see a new brick building and yet-to-be-completed sidewalk and grand staircase. Walk... Read More

The short answer: both are correct. I looked them up. Scholars disagree which is the preferred spelling. I prefer the latter spelling, which looks more complete to me. Perhaps I prefer the spelling with the “e” because decades ago I nicknamed a dear judge friend, now of blessed memory, “Your Judgeness” or “His Judgeness.” I also nicknamed his Lincoln Town Car “The Judgemobile.” Daytime television, which is “day off television” for... Read More

The Latin incipit of this Sunday’s lectionary psalm and the title of this Sunday’s Parish Choir Offertory anthem are the exact same: Jubilate Deo. Amazing, yes? Before we commend me too quickly here, I have a secret: they are not the same Jubilate Deo. The incipit for this Sunday’s psalm citation, Psalm 66:1-11, is Jubliate Deo, from the first line of the psalm, “Be joyful in God, all you lands.” An incipit (Latin for “it begins”) is the first fe... Read More

The phrase “Picnic Church,” which I coined some years ago for the outdoor Eucharist connected to our Annual Parish Picnic, seems to have a much larger incarnation and following. “Mass on the Grass” seems to be a real thing, especially among Roman Catholic and Episcopal parishes or organizations. The Archdiocese of Baltimore had a huge Mass on the Grass in 2012. The outdoor service was followed by a bonfire and a Christian rock concert. The Archdiocese advertised... Read More