This our sacrifice of thanks and praise

The communicants are to receive (rather than offer) the consecrated bread and the wine “with thanksgiving”[1] (Eucharist) and it is after the Communion that they ask the Father “mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of thanks and praise.”[2] Again, as with Calvin, this is a non-propitiatory sacrifice. It might be debated whether or not the Supper itself or the elements in it are included. The statement could refer only to the prayer which now expresses praise or to the whole service, or to something in between. If, properly considered, all of life is a sacrifice of thanks and praise to God, it would be bizzaire to think that the Lord’s Supper alone is excluded. Whether or not it is in any sense a special sacrifice of thanks and praise is another question. Perhaps it might be seen as a focal point for offering all of life to God in grateful thanks for all that has been received from him. The believer would be giving back to God what God has given. The Prayer Book and Articles do not decisively adjudicate on such questions.

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[1] BCP, Holy Communion, words of administration, p256.

[2] BCP, Holy Communion, p257.

Archbishop hates Articles

In his evening sermon yesterday, which God-willing will soon appear on our church website, The Rev'd John Cheeseman reported a conversation he had 40 years ago with Archbishop Michael Ramsey. John asked the Archbishop what he thought of the 39 Articles, which are part of the official doctrinal basis of the Church of England. Ramsey replied, "I intensely dislike them".

John commented that it is no wonder Anglicanism is in the mess that its in.

We could do a lot worse than get back to the 39 Articles which at one time Anglicans were meant to believe.

John pointed out that Articles 11 and 12 are particularly helpful on the relationship between saving faith and good works.

The Living and True God

Here's the text of the handout for a sermon I preached the other day from Exodus 3, ("I AM WHO I AM") on the 1st of the 39 Articles (we only really got as far as "living and true God"). Maybe more on that later.

A new sermon series on

Famous “Anglican” Texts

from The Book of Common Prayer (1662)

The 39 Articles of Religion (1562)

of the Church of England

… for the avoiding of diversities of opinions and

for the establishing of consent touching true religion

Article 1: Of Faith in the Holy Trinity

There is but one living and true God,

everlasting, without body, parts, or passions;

of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness;

the Maker, and Preserver of all things

both visible and invisible.

And in the unity of this Godhead there be three Persons,

of one substance, power, and eternity;

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

A modern language version of Article 1

from An English Prayer Book (OUP / Church Society, 1994)

There is only one living and true God,

who is eternal and without body, indivisible and invulnerable.

He is of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness.

He is the maker and preserver of all things

both visible and invisible.

Within the unity of the Godhead there are three persons

who are of one substance, power, and eternity –

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

You can see some more jottings in a Word document here.

Article 1 Sentance Flow Diagram

I never really got the hang of going these on Biblical texts and I'm sure blogger wont show it up properly, but here goes:

(I) There is but one

(i) living

and (ii) true GOD,

everlasting,

without (i) body,

(ii) parts,

(iii) passions;

of infinite (i) power,

(ii) wisdom,

and (iii) goodness;

the (a) Maker,

and (b) Preserver of all things both (i) visible

and (ii) invisible.

And in the unity of this Godhead there be (II) three Persons, of one (i) substance,

(ii) power,

and (iii) eternity;

(1) the Father,

(2) the Son,

and (3) the Holy Ghost.

Some points of this are debatable, of course. How exactly does "one living and true God" work? I guess it should actually be one living and true God as opposed to many lifeless / fales gods rather than there is one God, who is also living and true? Oh hum ho!