tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post626812751041497433..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Upward and outward or downward and inward. . .Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-19640998185009721242013-09-27T21:40:07.396-05:002013-09-27T21:40:07.396-05:00Fr. Peters,
Quick correction of the Latin. It is ...Fr. Peters,<br /><br />Quick correction of the Latin. It is ad orientem NOT orientum.<br /><br />As I have remarked many times, I have been to many Lutheran churches in a lot of small towns all throughout the Midwest. I see these large grandiose churches that belong to the Methodists, the Catholics, the Presbyterians and even the Baptists. Then, I come to the local Lutheran church. It is small with that huge isosceles triangular back and front facade that makes me want to vomit (it's so ugly). The inside is so dark with brick walls and no ornamentation at all save for candles on the altar and off to the side. No crucifixes, no crosses, very bland indeed. It says something, actually it says a lot when the town's Lutheran church is even more iconoclastic than the Presbyterians' church. Pietism (i.e. all about me) is still, unfortunately, alive and well in the LCMS. --ChrisUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08038508116670615703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-31493564897279084102013-09-27T19:06:40.149-05:002013-09-27T19:06:40.149-05:00Many years ago, I was a member of an LCA parish in...Many years ago, I was a member of an LCA parish in Houston, very close to the Rice Univ campus. From the external shape of the building, it was evident that it had once been a very traditional church layout, with a center aisle leading up to an altar and sanctuary at on end of a long nave. When my family and I came there, they had recently "renovated" the inside, into a truly strange arrangement. They had created a "sanctuary" of sorts, right in the middle of the nave, arranged along the long axis. At one end was a pulpit, in the center was an altar, and at the other end was the baptismal fount. The communion rail encircled all three of these in a long, narrow ellipse. The celebrant wore a rainbow colored chasuble and there were pews on all sides of the "sanctuary." In most places, the pews were only two or three deep from the communion rail.<br /><br />This had the effect of focusing all attention on the person of the pastor, and I think that was the intent. He was a vain, egotistical sort, but he was an excellent preacher.<br /><br />Today, I would not touch that parish or that pastor with a 20 foot pole, but I must say, it was interesting.<br /><br />Fr. D+<br />Anglican PriestDr.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18360786634583725263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-9996941052250881032013-09-27T15:44:03.870-05:002013-09-27T15:44:03.870-05:00Reminds me of The Gleaners who are bent down to t...Reminds me of <i> The Gleaners</i> who are bent down to the earth, their heads beneath the horizon line. Like sons of Adam working the land hand to mouth in contrast to depictions of Christ who is part of the heavenly realm. <br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jean-François_Millet_-_Gleaners_-_Google_Art_Project_2.jpg<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Titian_1558_Ancona_Crucifixion.jpgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-51994630873711954542013-09-27T08:20:19.661-05:002013-09-27T08:20:19.661-05:00The celebrant' s eyes are either focused downw...The celebrant' s eyes are either focused downward to the altar and the things upon it, the celebrant is genuflecting or bowing, OR the celebrant's eyes are upward to the heaven of heavens. If someone is therefore focused on themselves or the people, are they truly seeing what's going on? Or are they spectating?<br /><br />Janis Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02947508427040251166noreply@blogger.com