Transcript of The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and...
- Slide 1
- The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable,
gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without
inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of Righteousness is sown
in peace for those who cultivate peace. James 3:17-18 1 The
Inquirers Group Lesson 1 An Introduction to the Episcopal Way
- Slide 2
- An Introduction to the Episcopal Way 2 The goal of this class
is to invite you to the life and community of the Episcopal Church
and this parish. We will explore fundamental beliefs and practices
that distinguish our church. In doing that we will draw on the
sources Scripture And the Tradition, especially the Prayer Book and
the Creeds.
- Slide 3
- An Introduction to the Episcopal Way 3 My hope is that we do
this in a way that invites our questions and engages our hearts and
minds. Questions; engaged hearts and minds; together these make up
Reason our God given capacity to understand and provide for our
life according to our understanding. Wisdom (remember the opening
sentence from James) is the fruit of the reverent use of
reason.
- Slide 4
- An Introduction to the Episcopal Way 4 And so our method is to
study the Churchs worship, teaching, and life: Based in Scripture;
Always using our Reason; Following our Tradition; Seeking
Wisdom.
- Slide 5
- An Introduction to the Episcopal Way 5 Our doctrine,
discipline, and worship are rooted in the history and practice of
the Church of England, both its ancient history and its reformation
under the Tudor dynasty in the 1500s: Henry VIII, and his children
Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I (our hero!).
- Slide 6
- An Introduction to the Episcopal Way 6 While the Tudor monarchs
are important, the church was formed through those generations by
the work of extraordinary church leaders. We will lift up two:
Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1533 1555; Richard
Hooker, a great theologian during the reign of Elizabeth.
- Slide 7
- The Family that put the Fun back into Dysfunctional. 7 The
Tudor Monarchs
- Slide 8
- Henry VIII, reigned 1509-1547 Through the crisis of his divorce
from Catherine of Aragon, established the Church of England
independent of the jurisdiction of the Pope with himself as supreme
head. Ordered an English translation of the Bible to be place in
every parish church. 8
- Slide 9
- And, of course, there were the marriages... 9 Married Catherine
of Aragon in 1509. Annulled in 1533 1 Child: Mary Married Anne
Boleyn in 1533. Annulled in 1536. Anne is executed. 1 Child:
Elizabeth Married Jane Seymour in 1536 Dies in childbirth in 1537.
1 Child: Edward Marriage arranged with Anne of Cleves, 1540
Annulled in 1540. Married Catherine Howard in 1540 Annulled in
1542. Catherine is executed. Married Catherine Parr in 1543. Henry
dies in 1547 leaving Catherine a widow.
- Slide 10
- And the Order of Succession is... 10 Edward VI; Mary I;
Elizabeth I; Who all die childless.
- Slide 11
- Edward VI, reigned 1547-1553 The Prayer Book is introduced. The
first edition in 1549; followed by a revision in 1552. Protestant
reforms and teaching are established for the Church of England.
11
- Slide 12
- Mary I, reigned 1553-1558 Sought to bring the English Church
back under Papal jurisdiction. Persecuted and martyred Protestants,
including both prominent reformers Thomas Cranmer among others and
ordinary people. 12
- Slide 13
- Elizabeth I, reigned 1558-1603 ( to the tune of Roger Ramjet)
Elizabeth Tudor, shes our hero; fightin for our salvation. Just go
to church and keep the peace, no Tower or Inquisition! 13
- Slide 14
- Elizabeth I 14 Established the Church of England as a
comprehensive national church the Elizabethan Settlement. The
settlement seeks a peaceful balance between traditional Catholicism
(on the right) and the new Puritans, Calvinist Reformers (on the
left). Catholic on the outside; Protestant on the inside. The
Church is independent and self-governing, with the monarch as
supreme governor. The Prayer Book is reissued in 1559 and remains
the standard for worship.
- Slide 15
- Thomas Cranmer & Richard Hooker 15 Out of our Past
- Slide 16
- Thomas Cranmer 16 Born 1489 Enters into Henrys service in 1527;
made Archbishop of Canterbury in 1533 at the time of Henrys
divorce. Married in 1532. Prayer Book issued during the reign of
Edward VI. First edition, 1549. Second edition, 1552; the second
edition is more radically Protestant. Executed by Mary I,
1556.
- Slide 17
- Thomas Cranmer: The Prayer Book 17 Cranmer was deeply
influenced by the Reformers, both Luther and Calvin, and he sought
to reform the Church and its worship. Worship and teaching were to
be Scriptural and in English! Yet Cranmer drew freely on the
tradition and wisdom of the Church; that is, Worship also was to be
(and is) the celebration of the Sacraments, especially Baptism and
Holy Communion; And the new Book was formed from traditional
liturgies. All done with the hope that the Book would unify the
Church in its worship.
- Slide 18
- Thomas Cranmer: The Prayer Book 18 All the realm shall have but
one use The church gathers for worship; worship gathers the church.
For the Tudors and the Reformers, unity in religion sustained unity
in society. To break religious unity was treason. But one use also
means: One book, common to every worshiper; Providing all the
services the church offers in its worship and draws on at every
moment of life.
- Slide 19
- Thomas Cranmer: The Prayer Book 19 Daily Prayer and Scripture
Reading The Daily Office; The Sacraments: Baptism and Holy
Eucharist; Marriage and Burial; as well as healing, confession,
thanksgiving for the birth of a child... Ordination; And, in every
edition of the Prayer Book, the complete Psalms. It is pastoral
care for the souls of the church.
- Slide 20
- Thomas Cranmer Scripture and the Prayer Book 20 Here is nothing
ordained to be read but the very pure word of God, the holy
Scriptures, or that which is evidently grounded upon the same.
Prayer Book worship and evangelical preaching proclaim the Gospel.
The life and practice of the church are sustained in daily prayer
and Scripture reading. The Prayer Book is the witness of Scripture
offered as prayer and worship.
- Slide 21
- Thomas Cranmer: Scripture 21 The Prayer Book is formed from the
words and witness of scripture. Take the Collect for Purity:
Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and
from whom no secrets are hid Lord, you have searched me out and
known me; you discern my thoughts from afar; indeed there is not a
word on my lips, but you, O Lord, know it altogether. Psalm 139:1,
3 Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your
Holy Spirit Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right
spirit within me. Psalm 51:11 that we may worthily magnify your
holy Name Let us magnify his Name together. Psalm 34:3 (BCP,
1928)
- Slide 22
- Thomas Cranmer: Scripture 22 A beautiful prayer, written by
Cranmer, captures in a sentence both how to read Scripture and what
it teaches us. Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be
written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark,
learn, and inwardly digest them, That we may embrace and ever hold
fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us
in our Savior Jesus Christ; Who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
- Slide 23
- Thomas Cranmer: Scripture 23 Stay with that prayer for a
moment. Read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest We Ruminate and,
yes, thats a cow chewing its cud. Not a flattering image for
Meditation but a good one we take Scripture in slowly, open to its
possibilities, to the word as we hear it in our hearts; we engage
it heart, mind, and soul. That we may embrace and hold fast the
blessed hope of everlasting life All scripture is a witness to the
work of God in Christ for us; We engage it as, first and last, the
word of promise and hope.
- Slide 24
- Thomas Cranmer Martyr 24 And now I come to the great thing that
so much troubleth my conscience more than any thing that ever I did
or said in my whole life; and that is the setting abroad of
writings contrary to the truth; which now here I renounce and
refuse, as things written for fear of death, and to save my life.
And forasmuch as my hand offended, writing contrary to my heart, my
hand shall first be punished therefore; for, may I come to the
fire, it shall be first burned. Thomas Cranmer
- Slide 25
- Richard Hooker 25 Born 1554. Ordained priest 1579; married Jean
Churchman, 1581. The couple had six children; only two survived
past 21. Master of the Temple Church in London, 1585. Serves
Salisbury Cathedral and various parishes until his death in 1600.
Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Polity published beginning in 1594.
In an age of bitter and violent controversies, Hooker is practical,
tolerant, respectful, and, most of all, peaceful.
- Slide 26
- Richard Hooker Scripture, Reason, and Tradition 26 Hooker
believes that the Church looks to three sources of authority.
Scripture is first, but it points beyond itself to: The one God who
is our source and beginning, the light by which we see light; The
presence and love of Christ. The interpretation of Scripture is the
work of Reason. Our God-given ability to understand and provide;
Scripture must never be used to destroy reason. Our understanding
of the witness of Scripture comes from Tradition.
- Slide 27
- Richard Hooker Scripture, Reason, and Tradition 27 There is in
the world no kind of knowledge, whereby any part of truth is seen,
but we justly account it precious... To detract from the dignity
thereof were to injure God himself, who being that light which none
can approach unto, hath sent out these lights whereof we are
capable, even as so many sparkles resembling the bright fountain
from which they rise. Richard Hooker This gentle, open-minded
wisdom was born of a deeper commitment
- Slide 28
- Richard Hooker Life Together 28 The Church participates in the
life of Christ; Christ lives in us and through us. We participate
in Christ through the Worship and Sacraments of the Church
especially Baptism and Eucharist. This is real, lived, and
everyday. It involves us heart and soul; mind and body. Life in
Christ calls forth love and answers to love. The Christian life is
lived in community. A worshiping congregation, participating in
Christ in the sacraments and in fellowship, is good enough. There
is no perfect church.
- Slide 29
- Richard Hooker Life Together 29 What we think is important; yet
we must not think we possess the truth. The light of truth,
wherever we find it, witnesses to the one God who is light and
truth; And the reality of God in our hearts and lives is greater
than our words or ideas. The wisdom from above is first of all
pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good
fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of
righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.
- Slide 30
- 30 And so what does this mean for us?
- Slide 31
- Well... 31 We learn from Cranmer To gather for worship, as
worship gathers the church; To engage Scripture; To let the
tradition of the Church most of all Cranmers book! guide and form
us. And we learn from Hooker The gifts of Scripture, Reason, and
Tradition; Shared participation in Christs life; Lived in our
ordinary life and communities;
- Slide 32
- And... 32 We learn from both Cranmer and Hooker To seek God in
all things* (Although the quote is actually taken from St. Ignatius
of Loyola, a Spanish Catholic and the founder of the Jesuit
order)
- Slide 33
- As an Episcopal parish, then, we hope to be... 33 Always
Scripture and the Gospel in worship; in what is taught; in our
work; The Church of the Prayer Book gathered in worship; reverent;
Participants in Christs ministry, serving Christ in one another
with love; Hopeful; Caring for our community; Respectful; ready to
listen and learn; honest about our questions and doubts; willing to
work with our minds and reach understanding; respecting each others
good conscience; Mature in that freedom; Seeking education;
Nurturing of spiritual and personal growth; Practicing regular,
daily prayer.