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It's been some time since I've updated the Blogs for Faithful Churchmen blog roll on the right column here, so I thought I'd draw attention to my addition of one blog and my deletion of two others.

New is For All the Saints, though perhaps it would better be described as a "renewal" or even "resurrection," albeit in a slightly different guise. This For All the Saints blog (not to be confused with the Lutheran breviary [daily prayer books] For All the Saints) -- subtitled "encouraged by their examples, aided by their prayers, strengthened by their fellowship" -- is a new effort by an old blogosphere "friend," Todd Granger. In starting it last November 28, he wrote:

One of the features of my near-defunct weblog, The Confessing Reader, was the posting of the commemorations of the saints in the sanctoral (saints’ days) calendars of the Churches of the Anglican Communion, along with some commemorations from the Lutheran Book of Worship.

This weblog will continue that function of The Confessing Reader. For each commemoration, or “lesser feast” as The Episcopal Church’s sanctoral supplement to the Book of Common Prayer described them, I will post a brief biographical sketch, the collect for the commemoration, and the propers for the day (or a link to the Lectionary Page’s propers for the day). For most of the posts, there will also be an icon, or an iconographic depiction, of the saint whom we are commemorating and for whom we are giving thanks that day.

Read more of his (re-) introduction here.

The Confessing Reader itself has been on my blog roll for as long as I've had one, but (as Todd notes) it is nearly defunct. In its heyday it not only featured the calendar of saints, but regular theological reflection on current matters (including the controversies within the Episcopal Church, most of which were quickly immersing the ELCA) and news from the Nordic (Lutheran) churches -- something notoriously difficult to find in English. Now, there's still plenty of good things in The Confessing Reader's Word Press archives (though much more got lost in the fall of CANNet), but apart from occasional posts of the calendar of the saints, which is now on Todd's newer blog, it's been pretty quiet the last couple of years.

Pontifications has also been on my blog roll forever, another must-read CANNet-hosted blog written by Fr. Alvin Kimel, started when he was a reasserter Episcopal priest. What one finds on the current Word Press iteration is but a shadow of the wonderful reflections and discussions that were lost (at least to the blogosphere) in CANNet's fall. Fr. Kimel's blog quieted down when he gave up the struggles of being faithful in the Episcopal Church and was received into the Roman Catholic Church and ordained a priest under the Pastoral Provision. He is, I suspect, much more content -- at least that's what I read between the lines of a blog whose last post was a year-and-a-half ago.

Zip. Pastor Zip.*

Click on the photo for a larger view.

It's been a cold, dark, snowy winter. That's beginning to change. So, this afternoon between Lenten services, I stepped out to make a hospital call, get Sebastian washed (he looks pretty good for a 6-year-old, no?), and pick up the palm branches for Sunday's worship.

Here's how much I've become acclimated to the Midwest: growing up as a boy in the San Fernando Valley, I needed a sweater when it got below 70°F (21°C). This afternoon it was in the mid-50s (12°C), I'm driving with my sunroof open, and wearing only a sweater. Oh, the Sun and the fresh air felt so good! Especially since I was not reading the First Draft of the ELCA's Statement on Human Sexuality.

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* With apologies to The Pontificator, Fr. Al Kimel, who had a similar blog title ("Kimel. Father Kimel") with similar photos of him and his Miata last spring before his old CANNet blog got hacked and permanently disappeared. I suppose we both owe an apology to James Bond, which I'd be glad to do for a spin in his Aston Martin. I won't speak for Fr. Kimel (who's on my Blogs for Faithful Churchmen list), but I do notice he's beginning to post fairly regularly to his new Pontifications blog. While that is not quick reading, I expect that to be much more edifying than what I didn't look at today.

"Make a gratuitous sign of the cross!"

Over at the Pontificator, Alvin Kimel posts some wonderful advice for "improving the liturgy" -- teaching some ways laity (or, to use the term another friend uses of himself, "pew-warming schlumpfs") can easily get more involved in the liturgy -- in a blog entry called "Living on the ritual edge—the wild world of crossings and bowings."

But Catholic worshippers can help improve the liturgy now, immediately, without waiting for the eschatological reform of the reform. All they need do is take a page from the Anglo-Catholic playbook and start gesturing like mad. Suddenly you will find yourself worshipping more fully and more actively, despite the liturgy, despite the celebrant, despite yourself. The first place to begin is with the sign of the cross. Why restrict yourself to the opening invocation, gospel, and closing blessing? Live on the edge! Push the ritual envelope! Make a gratuitous sign of the cross! I know. It feels wild and irresponsible, but be of good courage and step out in the freedom of the Spirit. Cross yourself! But when, you ask. Okay, I know it’s helpful to have some suggestions. Fortunately, Anglo-Catholics have blazed the trail—or perhaps more accurately, remembered the trail—for all of us. In addition to the three occasions mentioned above, Anglo-Catholics also make the sign of the cross at the conclusion of the Gloria in exclesis (”in the glory of God the Father”), at the conclusion of the Nicene Creed (”the life of the world to come”), at the Benedictus qui venit (”Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”), at the consecratory elevations, and at the presentation of the Holy Gifts to the congregation. And this is just the beginning. Once you have mastered these difficult gesturing moments, look for other opportunities within the liturgy to cross yourself.

After you experience the joy of crossings, you may then want to take a step into the exciting world of bowings. Just think to yourself: “at the name of Jesus …”

Be bold. You don’t need a rubrical command. You don’t need the permission of the priest. Gesture!

Read it all here (including comments).

And yes, Lutherans can do this, too. In fact, the Lutheran Reformers (who in the Augsburg Confession claimed to keep the Mass better than the Papists) would be rather surprised that so many contemporary Lutherans don't do such rituals in the presence of the Lord God, King of the Universe, but rather just sit there barely warming their pew. As several Zionites have learned over the years, Pastor Zip doesn't make the sign of the Cross, bow, genuflect, etc. for show -- he's worshiping the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!