Washington Times: Anglicans end meeting with blow-out service

Posted by Kendall Harmon

When it comes to blow-out church services, the Anglicans can sure put on the dog. I've been filing stories for the past three days on the constitutional convention for the Anglican Church of North America, the emerging 39th province of the 77-million-strong Anglican Communion. The big party to end it all was Wednesday night (it's 1:14 a.m. as I type this on Thursday) and it was a splasher.

The site was a Texas megachurch called Christ Church in Plano, a north Dallas suburb. Although I got lost getting there from Fort Worth (first ended up in Garland somehow), I knew when I finally drove up that this was the place. Talk about huge. Buildings everywhere and the sanctuary was cathedral-like in its vastness. All that was missing were side chapels and votive candles. The decor is a bit stark - no Christ on the main cross above the altar which goes along with low-church evangelicalism Texas-style.

Read the whole article.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) • ACNA Inaugural Assembly June 2009

13 Comments
Posted June 25, 2009 at 8:29 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Avtomat wrote:

“The decor is a bit stark - no Christ on the main cross above the altar which goes along with low-church evangelicalism Texas-style. “
Maybe it “goes along” with the rejection of idolatry.

June 25, 9:11 am | [comment link]
2. Katherine wrote:

This sounds like it was wonderful.  It’s so easy for the music to ruin an event rather than add to it.

June 25, 9:27 am | [comment link]
3. trooper wrote:

#1,  Nope, that’s not it.  Protestants misunderstand a lot of that stuff, so don’t feel bad.

June 25, 9:51 am | [comment link]
4. FenelonSpoke wrote:

Oh, groovy-

Another re-do of the Reformation from #1 & 3. Christians will probably soon be a persecuted minority in this country and people have to re-do the battles of centuries ago.

June 25, 11:54 am | [comment link]
5. Pb wrote:

Terry Fullam used to say that most visitors are surprised to learn that a Eucharist is considered a celebration. Apparently, this one was.

June 25, 11:55 am | [comment link]
6. julia wrote:

Would have loved to be there to experience the worship.  I was at Plano in 2003 and it was glorious.  The procession alone blew me away.  I imagine this was even more so.

June 25, 4:01 pm | [comment link]
7. mhmac13 wrote:

This was one of the most glorious celebrations I have ever had the privilege to attend.  Pure joy, glorious, heaven-reaching music and the Holy Spirit blowing through the church provided all Anglicans attending with a resounding answer to the question “‘Are we really a church?”  YES WE ARE!  The processional drums were both a highlight and a beginning to an evening of pure praise.  A new standard was set for the quality of celebration possible in praising the Lord.  Laughter, joy and tears intermingled in the congregation fortunate enough to attend.  Praise the Lord.

June 25, 5:04 pm | [comment link]
8. Mark Johnson wrote:

Clearly Ms. Duin isn’t familiar with many ordinations - perhaps they don’t do that many of them at Truro where she worships?  Nevertheless, I don’t know if I’ve ever been to an ordination (Deacon, Priest or Bishop) where the Veni Sancte Spiritu is not song!  And the Willan service music is not “chant”!!!!  ARGH.  People should write about what they know, not venture into unchartered territory and use the wrong language and the wrong facts.  But, this IS the Washington Times, so journalism is a little lower in quality.

June 25, 5:53 pm | [comment link]
9. Mark Johnson wrote:

Correction:  I meant where the Veni Sancte Spiritu is not “sung”.

June 25, 5:54 pm | [comment link]
10. State of Limbo wrote:

I watched the whole thing on the live stream.  It was wonderful and moving.  I sang every hymn right along with them.  I experienced tears of joy and Archbishop Duncan’s sermon gave my husband and I several very good laughs!  I am normally an early to bed type of person, but it was well worth the missed sleep.

June 25, 8:30 pm | [comment link]
11. wportbello wrote:

The drums were indescribable and I shall never forget that procession of clergy into that worship space as long as I live.  It was divine in every sense.

June 25, 9:07 pm | [comment link]
12. Cennydd wrote:

I was impressed…..and I’ve attended a lot of ordinations and consecrations.  This was done in fine style!  And for me, it was deeply moving and inspiring.

June 25, 10:53 pm | [comment link]
13. Cennydd wrote:

And I’ve taken part in a few, as well…..as a Cantor.

June 25, 10:54 pm | [comment link]
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