There are not a few Lutherans whose objections to the catholic shape of Lutheran liturgy has become problematic. To them as to the low church Anglicans (low church and high church being common but not particularly Lutheran terms) we are told: we wish our readers a tastefully restrained.[Sunday morning] free of prolix ritual and ostentatious ceremonial.
Fittingly enough, the first post in this blog was about incense. Where else would you begin a conversation about objectionable and unnecessary ceremonies and rituals of the liturgy? It is the briefest of paragraphs that begins what is expounded upon among the manifold complaints of the low churchman -- nearly monthly throughout 2013 and 2014.
About the only complaint I have is the inclusion of gin in the list. Gin remains one of my favorite liquors and English gin is the standard of the world. From the gin martini to the gin and tonic, the array of offerings is unduly tarnished by this association with a certain style of churchmanship. The encouragement to water should be balanced by the wise rejoinder that water is for washing and gin for drinking.
Anyway, have fun with it. If you agree with what is posted there, you probably are not going to feel much at home at Grace Lutheran Church. We are offensively high church (though I despise that terminology). No incense on Sunday morning and no maniples (have you checked the cost of these) but a full sung liturgy complete with kneeling, a genuflection or two or three, and the Lutheran Confession's admonition that such ceremonies and church usages have been judiciously kept by Lutherans so that the outward form of the Mass among us is virtually indistinguishable from our opponents. So love to hate me if you cannot love me.
2 comments:
The Low Churchman is an apt description for this blog. The writer reveals his contempt for the High Church tradition at every turn in the text. He makes plain his lack of understanding of symbols and the richness of the fully developed Christian faith.
His spoof may be amusing to some, but it wears thin very quickly. His constant poking fun simply is a repeated revelation of his own ignorance and lack of understanding.
He seems to be in fact an anti-Christian, with a strong desire to undermine and tear down the faith. Shame and disgrace be upon him!
Fr.D+
Anglican Priest
Who always says a Missal Mass
Those of us exposed to the lowest of the low (can you even call a Baptist "low"?) when brought into the truth of the historic Church generally love "high" church." The person raised in poverty, then raised to riches doesn't want to go back.
Fr. Peters, get me a pattern and we'll make a maniple.
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