Reflections of a Canadian Churchman

In Part I of this series ( click here ) I discussed how the Daily Office and its lectionary can be used as a devotional tool in reading Scripture. A resource such as the Daily Office, or any other daily devotional routine with a set pattern for reading Scripture, can be of great assistance in building a spiritual understanding of the text through the discipline of daily reading and meditating on the word of God. However, it must always be remembered that the Biblical text is an ancient text, created over a lengthy period of time by and for specific groups of people. Unfailingly, we will come across words, idioms, place names, political structures, religious concepts, and other cultural and historical details that simply befuddle us and make no sense. Fortunately, there are many study helps available that help us “crack the code” and enable us to reinterpret the text in order that it may continue to speak to us today. Study Bibles First and foremost, every reader of the Bible should own...

“Catholic?! I thought we were Anglicans!” This is a question that I hear and am asked from time-to-time. Both the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds (which may be found on page 188 and 189 of the Book of Alternative Services ) affirm our faith in the “holy catholic church.” This affirmation is an important aspect of our Christian faith, and yet understood by so few. The question of “what do we mean by catholic ?” often comes up in the context of baptismal preparation classes in which we examine the content of the Creed. As many will know, I was recently ordained to the priesthood. The invitation to that event can be found elsewhere on this site, but in brief, it cited my ordination to the “sacred order of priests in Christ’s Holy Catholic Church .” As a result, I had a number of individuals pose the question again: “Catholic Church? It thought you were going to be an Anglican priest!” This whole thing has made me think about how we in the Church often use terms that generate confusion, rather...

A photo taken with my parents, Cheryl & David Graves, following my ordination to the sacred order of priests. January 13th, 2008 (The Baptism of the Lord). Photo courtesy of Darryl Andrews. Further photos of the ordination, taken by Darryl Andrews can be found on his two blogs http://www.darrylandrews.com and http://worldofdarryl.blogspot.com/

Directions to Holy Trinity Church in Thornhill. The date & time of my ordination can be found below.

God willing George, Area Bishop of York-Simcoe will ordain Daniel Francis Graves to the Sacred Order of Priests in Christ’s Holy Catholic Church on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Sunday, January 13th, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Anglican Church 140 Brooke Street, Thornhill, ON L4J 1Y9 Your prayers and presence are requested Reception to follow in the auditorium. Clergy: Red Stoles

Blessed Lord, who has caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. -- The Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent ( Book of Common Prayer ). When I was in seminary, our dean was fond of reminding us that Anglicans read more Scripture than most other Christians. For those who follow the daily pattern of Morning and Evening prayer as set forth in the prayer book or any of our alternative forms, this is likely true. I think that a truer statement might be that Anglicans have opportunity to read more Scripture than most other Christians. In the parish I meet those who are deeply devoted to daily reading of Scripture and prayer. However, I also meet many who are deeply confused about how to approach the Bible, much...

As we travel toward the longest evening of the year, as we near the shortest day, as darkness covers the face of the earth, St. Paul calls us to wake from our sleep. And as with most of our understanding of the gospel, we learn once again that the Kingdom of God is unlike the kingdoms of this world. As we go about our daily tasks in a world that never sleeps, never rests, in a world of continuous wakefulness, the message, “sleepers wake” sounds strangely counter-intuitive. Are we not already awake? Are we not in need of rest, especially at this most trying and exhausting time of the year? Would not the words of Jesus “come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest,” better suit us at this time? And yet, we remain confronted by the call, “sleepers wake!” From what sleep are we called to emerge – just what is the slumber we are challenged to shake off? In the days of great darkness, a light arose in the midst of the people of Judea. While under the oppression...