Hebrew Conception of the Universe

Friday the 23rd we will be studying the Creation as described in Genesis 1 & 2. When you read chapter 1 you read about a firmament and waters above and below. This is confusing for us on this side of the Scientific Revolution so here is a diagram that shows how the people of the Old Testament saw the universe.

Ways to mess up the Trinity

Are you a heretic?

At last friday's Bible study we discussed the more common ways to mess up the Trinity. Well now you can take this quiz to see just how heretical or orthodox you trully are!

St. Augustine of Hippo refuting a heretic

Friday Bible Study: The Trinity

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday and, in respect for this feast day, this Friday's Bible study will focus on selections from Scripture that describe differant aspects of the Trinity. I know, you're thinking that this will be a tough one, the dogma of the Trinity did not exist at the time of the composition of the Gospels or the Epistles... well it is all Edward's fault.

This diagram is about the best one possible in showing the make up of the Trinity. For the Bible study, it would be good if you could bring a Book of Common Prayer since we will also be looking there.

Once again, it's Edward's fault.

New Orleans - Days 6, 7 & 8

Day 6
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House 3














Chillin' in the pool







----Day 7----






Return to House 1; House 1 finished













Group photo outside House 1














"Toss me. Don't tell the elf."



















Mary Ellen and Dabney listening to the epic tale of Gimli








The story of Gimli being narrated by Matthew











----Day 8----

New Orleans - Day 5

Day 5
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Look who forgot his lunch













What eating a peanut-butter and beet sandwich does to a man... well, Philip anyway












House 2 complete

















Group photo outside House 3

New Orleans - Days 3 & 4

Day 3
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Mucking the professor's house















Freezer Battle

















Buns of Steel







----Day 4----








Chatting with Katie, our Work Leader













One of many ruined churches













A heart rending prayer; on the altar of St. Paul's Episcopal Church














You know you're big when your church is on a board game... Fr. Dabney's church, Trinity, is one of the properties!

New Orleans - Days 1 & 2

Because there are tons of pictures from the trip to New Orleans, they will be posted in chunks.
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Day 1: Chapel House, our home base









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Day 2: Scene from our destruction tour

















Day 2: Birthday Party in the Lower 9th Ward













Day 2: Visit to the French Quarter














Day 2: Us with Mary Ellen, our guide for the day

Coptic Crosses, for Philip

So I tried to explain the custom of the Coptic Orthodox Christians who tattoo a small cross on their right wrist, but I thought some visuals on the tattoos and Coptic crosses might help.



An example of the Coptic tattoo used so they can identify each other.























Various examples of Coptic Crosses















The Current Coptic Pope, Shenouda III. Who do you think would win in a battle of the Popes?












FMI: Coptic Orthodox Church Network

The Disney Transmogrification

It seems that Canterbury members are turning into characters from classic Disney films! Here is a list, as best as can be ascertained, of who has been transmogrified:
Therese: Belle, Mulan, and the Queen from Snow White
Kimi: Aurora and Cinderella's Stepmother
Eric: Robin Hood and Jafar
Edward: Merlin, Rafiki and Scar
Philip: Alladin, Kronk and Yzma
Nick: Cheshire Cat, Surfer Turtle and Sully
Rachel: Nala
Travis: Lefou, Ursela, "Mad" Madam Mim, The Queen of Hearts
Kendra: Wendy, Lady Kluck and Bianca

Friday Bible Study: Hebrew Purity & Holiness

By popular demand, this Friday's Bible study topic is Hebrew purity and holiness. More specifically, what is known as "ritual purity" prescribed in Leviticus. For the study itself, we'll be dancing through chapters 12, 14, 15, 17, and 18.

As before, a little briefing will be helpful in penetrating these chapters that might otherwise seem confusing, legalistic, boring, or ancient and "unenlightened". First, we need to look at the notion of being "unclean". The Hebrew word translated as "unclean" or "uncleanness" is tum'ah. There is no connection between tum'ah and one's physical sanitary condition; tum'ah strictly refers to one's ritual inpurity. There are four ways of being tum'ah: 1) contact with a corpse 2) affliction with tzara'at (erroneously translated "leprosy" when tzara'at could hardly be the same thing as the medical condition called that today) 3) contact with bodily fluids related to reproduction 4) childbirth. Rabbinic tradition adds a fifth, touching the Torah scrolls. This is why today Jews use a pointer and a mantle when reading from the Torah scrolls.

As one might gather from the list above, being tum'ah can not be connected to wrongdoing because burying the dead and giving birth are hardly sinful actions. The potential for this misunderstanding is the extensive regulations of what one can't do if one is tum'ah. Instead, one ought to see the connection of tum'ah and contact with a potent force that disqualifies one from worship in the assembly.

This does not make much sense unless one has an understanding of the concepts of natural holiness and stipulated holiness. Natural holiness is found in the miracles of pregnancy, birth and recovery from illness. Stipulated holiness is the designation of times, places, things and actions as sacred. Stipulated holiness allows one to come into contact with the divine in the everyday and as often as one may desire. Natural holiness is a rare and special time that brings one closer to God.

Tum'ah comes from reverence for the miracle of birth, the power of death and the mysteries of illness and recovery. We Episcopalians are very aware of the importance of seperation and the sacred. Just look at how we treat left over Body and Blood after Communion is over and think about the way the Church has prescribed as the proper ways to dispose of items that have been blessed. Unfortunately, the Hebrews of the Old Testament, just like Christians today, attached superstition to these reverent practices which have put up obstacles to a truer understanding of what is going on and the even more imporant reason why.

St. Philip and St. James the Less

Stained Glass of Ss. Philip, Thomas, and James the Less

Almighty God, who gave to your apostles Philip and James grace and strength to bear witness to the truth: Grant that we, being mindful of their victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Isaiah 30:18-21
The LORD waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Psalm 119:33-40 Page 766, BCP
Legem pone
33
Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, *and I shall keep it to the end.
34
Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; *I shall keep it with all my heart.
35
Make me go in the path of your commandments, *for that is my desire.
36
Incline my heart to your decrees *and not to unjust gain.
37
Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; *give me life in your ways.
38
Fulfill your promise to your servant, *which you make to those who fear you.
39
Turn away the reproach which I dread, *because your judgments are good.
40
Behold, I long for your commandments; *in your righteousness preserve my life.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6
Since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

John 14:6-14
Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."