I can only assume that this is an attempt to convince curious passers-by that Anglicans are perfectly normal; and that the intrinsic comedy in overweight middle-aged Anglican ladies flinging aside inhibition to cavort on the grass to the beat of native drums wielded by ersatz Aboriginals is an essential component of Christian worship.
Looking on the bright side, we can at least be grateful that they kept their clothes on – this year at least.
I live in London and attend an Anglican Church of the non-pagany variety down the street. I promise you, this is only the begining of Christ Church’s…uhm…fresh expressions.
This is very serious stuff. Send in the Levites.
Peace,
Jim
Christ Church London has been doing…uhm…fresh expressions…for quite some time – only inside their doors.
Whatever happened to the Rogation services? Earth Day has supplemented good old fashioned paganism.
Words fail me!
Dear David:
‘Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing’
Miriam was not ‘cavorting’for curious passers-by.She was also not a ‘middle-aged overweight woman losing her inhibitions’She was also not ‘an ersatz Aboriginal’.
Ritual dance and song have been part of celebration since time immemorial.The people(of all shapes and sizes)in this video were not putting on a show for anyone.They were jubilantly enjoying a spring day and yes,using a form of prayer that is all encompassing and non-judgmental.Dance is for everyone.It soothes the soul when the breast is being consumed by cancer;it moves the spirit when legs are paralyzed but arms and head are still full of life;it gives forth joy when grief is so overwhelming.Dance doesn’t need an audience but will welcome company.Watch any child who hears music whether it be the sound of drum,flute,accordion,piano,guitar,cymbalom,gaida….The child will dance.Try it David..you just might like it!
Sorry for the editorial intrusion but, for those who might be wondering, this Sharon is not my Sharon. – David.
The issue isn’t the dance. It is possible to do liturgical dance in a Christian manner. This is gaia worship. That’s the issue.
Dear Kate:
What do you consider a Christian manner? What part of movement isn’t Christian?
Sharon,
Where do you hear God’s name being praised?
Is the “worship” for Christ or Mother Earth?
Or is it a collective exercise in feeling good about onesel?
All gatherings of God’s people don’t necessarily have to involve formal worship, but don’t try to tell me that prancing to drums on a pagan day of celebration is an exercise in worhiping God.
Peace,
Jim
Dear Jim:
Re: ‘pagan day of celebration’
“. . . on April 22, 1970, Earth Day was held, one of the most
remarkable happenings in the history of democracy. . . ”
Six years in the making after a national conservation tour by President John F Kennedy in Sept.1963.
Earth Day brought environmental issues into the political limelight.It became a day of awareness and continues to be a day for educating people of all ages,shapes and sizes about their responsibilities in caring for God’s creations.”For the beauty of the earth,for the beauty of the skies” “All things bright and beautiful,all creatures great and small.All things wise and wonderful,the Lord God made them all”
Those ‘prancers’as you call them were being responsible,caring Christians who were helping to send out the message that our God-given environment is fragile and needs to be cared-for,nurtured and yes,celebrated.
What Jim said.
Sharon,
As I recollect, Miriam was also Moses and a problematic part of the leadership team.
The lyrics for her victory dance were: “sing ye to the Lord for He hath triumphed gloriously…”
And don’t forget what happened to Miriam
{Num 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.}
With respect to Earth Day, it is a man made celebration, not a God given one.
And finally, re: my previous post -where was God in that spectacle?
Peace,
Jim
Dear Jim:
Qui bene cantat, bis orat
Miriam questioned her brother.Her parasitic punishment lasted seven days and she was welcomed back into the fold as the respected prophetess and leader that she was.She wasn’t smote with leprosy because she danced and sang.
Which celebrations are God-given?
Sharon,
…as long as the song is praise to God.
Do you have a problem addressing God? In three posts I have asked where God was in the “prancing”.
Miriam’s dance was made acceptable because it was worshiping God, not some man-made celebration. The consequences of leaving God out of the equation-in Miriam’s case, was God striking her down with the scourge of leprosy. It was through god’s grace, not tribal acceptance that Miriam was rehabilitated.
We ignore God at our peril.
Peace,
Jim
My complaint with all of this Earth Day nonsense is that it is in competition with the season of Rogation which starts on April 25th whilst Earth Day jumps in ahead as if planned that way on April 22nd. Since Anglicans are the flame keepers of Rogation festivals (even though the Roman Catholics are starting to bring it back) we of all people should be celebrating our own Holy Days not some made up secular celebration. Rogation celebrations are very much centred on the husbandry of the earth and its bounty. The liturgy is superb. I can only presume that if one only has the BAS to work with one can be forgiven this waywardness.