A photo of the momentous event

Here's a fuzzy photo of The Rt. Rev. Ray R. Sutton confirming me
this past Sunday.

Confirmation Report

Now that I finally have adequate internet access, here's more on the confirmation.

First, for Morning Prayer, Bishop Sutton chose to be part of the congregation. He went up front only to give the absolution. Both the rector and assistant rector officiated. Usually just one leads Morning Prayer.

Bishop Sutton taught during the Sunday School time. I intend to post more on what he said then and during his Saturday mini-seminar on the Anglican Communion and the Reformed Episcopal Church later.

A tat report has been requested. I hate to disappoint those with Anglo-Cath tendencies, but there wasn't much tat. They did burn the Paschal Candle during both Morning Prayer and Holy Communion. Is that customary for a bishop's visitation? The liturgical color of the morning was definitely red, including roses around the altar. And, most disappointing, the bishop didn't use a mitre. I guess they don't pack well. His vestments were nice, though, without being ostentacious. I don't yet have the Anglican vocabulary to describe them well.

I, however, wore my charcoal pinstripe suit with a thin black tie and black shoes I shined myself. You'll see that about as often as a Baptist wearing lace vestments.

For Holy Communion itself, the assistant rector celebrated and the bishop gave the sermon. Special music was used. Providence Church has an excellent young violinist who was confirmed with me. He played both before and after the service from the balcony by the organ. The opening processional hymn was St. Patrick's Breastplate, I'm fairly sure -- definitely different than I'm used to. At the end, a flute wafted over the congregation immediately after the blessing -- a nice effect.

Confirmation occurred after the Gospel. The bishop sat in the bishop's chair between the altar rails. We stood at the altar rails. And the congregation stood as well. The rector read the introduction, then the bishop did the rest. One by one, we kneeled in front of the bishop for the laying on of hands and the prayer.

The confirmation rite was from the REC prayer book. It's similar to, but longer than the 1928 rite. I may go over the differences at a later time. But the biggest differences are the REC has the candidates affirming the Apostle's Creed, saying "All this I steadfastly believe."? And the candidates then renounce "the devil and all his works."?

As I mentioned yesterday, the only emotion I noticed in myself during all this was joy. But the Lord's Prayer, which comes immediately after the laying on of hands, welled up such emotion in me that I could barely recite it.

After the service, there was a reception with really good confirmation cake. But I got some icing on my certificate! I guess confirmation doesn't cure clumsiness.

Yes, I am now a confirmed Reformed Episcopalian. I mainly felt joy, which included enjoying seeing the others get confirmed. But I suddenly got so choked up during the Lord's Prayer immediately after the laying on of hands, I could barely recite it.

I'm a bit wiped out and need to get ready to go see B. B. King tonight. But I'll post more as the week goes on.

Different Confirmation Rites

I'm still having issues getting phone and net service. I wish I could be online more during my confirmation week.

But I've been studying confirmation rites from the 1662, 1928, 1979 and current REC prayer books. Yes, I have quite a collection already.

Now I know all us orthodox types revere the 1662 BCP and rightly so. But wow, it is spare in places, and the confirmation rite is one such place. Now this comparison wouldn't be fair, but the 1662 rite reminds me of the scene from Monty Python's Jabberwocky where the Bishop comes to town to give a blessing. There's excitement and hub-bub in the streets as the Bishop's entourage proceeds. Finally comes the anticipated time of the blessing. And as the hushed crowd watches, the bishop wets his fingers in holy water . . . and flicks them . . . and that's the blessing.

I'm glad later prayer books, such as the 1928 and REC BCPs, add a little more meat to the rite, while still keeping to the basic form.

And, yes, I want the bishop to take a little time with my confirmation, more so than the 1662 rite. It's important to me! . . . And I want him to wear a really fancy golden mitre.

At the other extreme, in the 1979 US BCP, the confirmation rite adds and rearranges so much, it's almost unrecognizable. Since I want a prayer book to connect me with past saints, that's not good. And this little addition is classic (from the renewal of the baptismal covenant on p. 417):

Bishop: Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

People: I will with God's help.

I almost expect the bishop to then ask, "Will you fight against Western patriarchal, Capitalist hegemony?"?

Seriously, the 1979 adds a thinly veiled lefty prayer to the confirmation rite. Yes, justice and peace are Biblical themes. But they are also code words for leftist political agendas as anyone who has watched American mainline denominations well knows. Besides, working for real peace and justice and respecting others is certainly well covered elsewhere in the rite, particularly in the previous question and response.

So the 1979 confirmation rite adds a gratuitous lefty agenda. I don't know if I should find that humorous or offensive. Probably both.

CBS: “I am sorry.�

(I typed this Tuesday morning. I haven’t been online until now.)

Oh, how I wish I had my T.V. hooked up in time to see Dan Rather actually say “I am sorry.� In any case, I joyfully read the news this morning.

But I don’t know quite how to respond to it. I could say “I told you so.� But that’s rather obvious. And in any case, I didn’t have a strong opinion on whether CBS would admit their wrong.

I could gloat. But that’s probably not very Christian and certainly not Anglican . . . well, at least outward gloating isn’t.

I will say this, CBS’s confession is hardly full and complete. Dan Rather said their error was made “in good faith and in the spirit of trying to carry on a CBS News tradition of investigative reporting without fear or favoritism.�

That is pure C. B. S. without the C. If you think CBS wasn’t in Get Bush mode then I’ll let you pay me to collect bull manure off my land since you apparently like the stuff so much.

Rather was right about one thing, his and 60 Minutes’ conduct is in the CBS tradition . . . of liberal propaganda.

a special treat

I found out this morning that the Right Reverend Ray Sutton will come a day early and give a mini-seminar on the future of Anglicanism and the Reformed Episcopal Church. That should be interesting.

It will be this Saturday at 10:30am at Providence R E Church in Corpus where I will be confirmed the next day. Lunch will be served afterwards.

I just might let you know some highlights of what he says.

Not so random notes from the past few days

I had a blast on Wednesday catching big surf from Hurricane Ivan, so much so I was a little late for Evening Prayer at Providence Church. Afterwards was the next to last confirmation class. Then, after the class, I noticed Father Ben teaching his son Augustine and another kid how to acolyte (be a part of the service) in the sanctuary. I thought that was neat. Ben and Providence Church make a point to involve kids in the worship, and they get into it.

Since their worship is very traditional, most people wouldn't think kids would get into that. But I guess they're wrong.

It has turned out that I bodyboarded sick . . . three times on Wednesday on Thursday. I suspect that gave me a bad sinus headache overnight. (Being smashed by waves compacts your sinuses.) But I prayed most earnestly and hastily for relief and sleep. And God answered.

I don't know how many times God has answered late night prayers for sleep and/or relief . . . thank God!