Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Monday, May 9, 2011

Ascensiontide--June 2011

‎2 Jun 2011, Ascension Day this year? Methinks so, without checking the Book of Common Prayer. In the realm of privatized, interiorized, revivalized, and subjectivized American religion, these objective benchmarks of Scripture, Confessions, liturgies and our great hymns remind us well of the dysfunctions. He is risen. We shall remember HM's ascension shortly.

Acts 1.11 (ESV): "...and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

As a friend, Charles, said: "So ascended, Christ intercedes for His Church as High Priest, and also functions as Archliturgist before the Divine Majesty. Hence, we plead His mercy in addressing the Father, through His Cross/Passion and present mediation."

Indeed: the objective, central, and governing realities as our High Priest, Sovereign King, and Prophet...who leads worship as the Liturgist-in-Chief. See, the Conqueror mounts in triumph and King in royal state, riding on clouds and exercising perfect command.

The Ascension-Day.
The Collect.

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thankyou!!!!! Excellent!