I visited St. Asaph's Episcopal church in Bala Cynwyd, Pannsylvania near Philadelphia over the weekend. I always enjoy it there. They have a lovely labyrinth which I walked, slowly and contemplatively - trying unsuccessfully, to get temporal concerns out of my head.
It is a majestic, old stone church that now shows signs of wear and tear. This usually means that it is in a hands now of people who cannot match the passion, and spirit of the founders. Certainly the neighborhood is less affluent than it was 100 years ago. But somehow I think is has become a church dedicated to a belief in man rather than God. It calls itself a "Church of radical welcome" - this usually translates into Traditionalists are not welcome here.
Here are some photos I took of this lovely church.
Gargoyle
A perfect image for Pentecost - looks as if the Holy SPirit is coming down from above.
This was really cool. An outside set of stone stairs built into the wall to climb into the bell tower.
I went to St. Clements in downtown Philadelphia this morning for Low Mass (Rite 1). I felt like I was home. 1928 Book Of Common Prayer all the way.
What a lovely place for those of us who miss the Episcopal church the way it was for 400 years - until just a few decades ago - when the barbarians took over.
In church this morning we were given a new version of The Lord's Prayer. My church, St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania has (like much of the rest of The Episcopal Church) been running away from its traditions at full speed - especially the 1928 Book of Common Prayer (which is now forbidden to be used in the Diocese of Pennsylvania).
************* Aside - here is The Lord's Prayer in Old English as it would have been recited prior to the Norman invasion of 1066, before the influx of French words into our language -
Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum si þin nama gehalgod tobecume þin rice gewurþe þin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofonum urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us to dæg and forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgyfað urum gyltendum and ne gelæd þu us on costnunge ac alys us of yfele soþlice
Hear this recited in Olde Englisc below
- here is the Lord's prayer in Middle English - as it would have been spoken in England before the Church of England, but after the Norman invasion:
Oure fadir þat art in heuenes halwid be þi name; þi reume or kyngdom come to be. Be þi wille don in herþe as it is doun in heuene. yeue to us today oure eche dayes bred. And foryeue to us oure dettis þat is oure synnys as we foryeuen to oure dettouris þat is to men þat han synned in us. And lede us not into temptacion but delyuere us from euyl.
*************
The traditional 1928 BCP version of the Lord's Prayer is this: OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Today our rector, Fr. Paul Harris, gave us this which he called The Lord's Prayer, and asked us to recite this during the season of Epiphany. I have not heard this before.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, an earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
Although the modern language is vulgar - and I dislike addressing the Father as though He were a good buddy ("your" instead of "Thy") all of these updates could be explained by a desire to modernize the text. The real problem however is with "Save us from the time of trial."
What does "Save us from the time of trial" mean? And why have they removed "lead us not into temptation?"
Are they so totally against the doctrine of original sin now that even the notion of temptation must be removed from worship?
If any of my millions :-) of faithful readers can help me with this one I'd really appreciate hearing from you.
