Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Monday, July 4, 2011

Independence Day 2011: "Mansions of the Lord" and "Eternal Father Strong to Save"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZkE6ksNEEo

"Mansions of the LORD," a perennial favourite here at Reformation Anglicanism.  As such, we repost it.

These patriotic weekends, e.g. Memorial Day (30 May), Independence Day (4 Jul), and Veterans Day (11 Nov), are always quite difficult.  This scribe has three close friends who lost boys in Iraq or Afganhistan.  Of course, this scribe has been involved in other disastres we call combat with the loss of life.  The pain and memories in these holidays never abates.  Very difficult weekend for so many including your's truly.

The scars of war, sometimes visible by way of injury, are not always visible.  They remain with us combat Vets--combat Vets bear the invisible scars of mind and soul.  Aches, tears, sometimes crying silently, memories, flashbacks, smells (e.g. even gas at a gas station or, for the Brits, a petrol station, invokes memories of napalm, etc.), sights and sounds (e.g. patriotic music or movies) that activate those memories...often without notice or premeditation.  They just recur, often sometimes in dreams or nightmares too. We wish they didn't but they do.  Vets across the ages have borne these internal scars.  We wear them.  We bear them.  Often, we quietly bury them. Civilians will never understand this, but we do.  This much, never forget our Vets...most ache and hurt, body and soul.

Vets understand that--these are our bonds to one another. 


Also, we add "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" in four renditions in the URLs below.  Far below the URLs and closing paragraph we will post the words.  Having lost men in combat and sea, these words are ever appropriate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ3MkrSc5yY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KCiMdR1ox0&NR=1


Also, may this be noted.  Until 1974, Anglican and Prayer Book service were the prescribed divine worship service at the United States Naval Academy.  They had a Papist or Vaticanist service.  But the sectarians were excluded.  Many senior Naval officers were schooled in the orderly, decorus, Biblical and decent services of BCP Churchmanship.  Regrettably, that changed after 1974 as they extended varied sectarian clerics to cadets...a mistake in the direction of the enthusiasts.  The United States Navy has had and has a long tradition rooted in English Churchmanship. We offer a rendition of "Eternal Father," as only the Brits can do.  At about 2:40, the British version of the taps, rooted in centurie's of tradition compared to our's. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLCX5RV_0Yw

Perhaps, one of the finest renditions of "Eternal Father Strong to Save" was played in "Crimson Tide," a popular movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ3MkrSc5yY



Semper Fi, Marines and Sailors...ashore, submerged, aloft, afloat, afar or at home.  You are not forgotten.  Freedom has a taste to those who fought for it and defended it that others will never, ever, know.  The journalist didn't earn or develop it.  We did.  Semper Fi.
---------------------------------

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!


O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep,
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!


Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

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