Diocese of Wenchoster Movin' On Up

Wenchoster Cathedral and the Pharisaios Journal, the official journal of the Diocese of Wenchoster, have moved up in the virtual world. They are now operating from their own domain. The editors had a little trouble getting the site up and running, with all the links working, but with such a rich variety of resources to display, that's perfectly understandable.

In the current issue, the editors have outdone themselves in pictures and captions, and I encourage you to follow the entire processional. You won't be sorry.

We'll begin with TheBishop's Column:

Hello! I have spint the wicks since Lembeth in retreat, farst in a delateful senitor-i-um in the Wilsh Minetins (completely unpronounceable end not a name to vice while eating scrimbled iggs!), then in the company of the Sisters of the Heavenly Piece in Shaston Farthing. The wicks of physical healing after the incident et Compline – a laying on of hends bay an Efrican bishop – have left me with a slate limp, but nevertheless wristed.

I rate this on the ancient feast of Harvest Home, or Mabon. The autumnal iquinox when the lingth of the nates are abite the same es those of the days. What a great opportunity for perish ministry, end what fun! The energy we use in the day cen be belanced with what we use in the nate, end I will be sending a pastoral litter to this effect to awl the clergy of the Darsis.

Es we sittle into autumn, with its rosy epples, brate pumpkins end gnarly root vigetables, end the winds begin, let us give thenks to Gawd for the tarning of the seasons, end for awl the tradit-i-oins thet we enjoy, despate the bruising.

May the Lawd of the harvest bliss you et this tame of gethering end gleaning!

+ Roderick Codpiecium

At first, I was puzzled by the word "wristed" in the column. I thought that the bishop was injured or afflicted in some manner. I wondered if he was not only left with a limp, but limp-wristed, too, after the prayers of the African bishop. But I finally "got it". He meant "rested", as I would say it. The bishop has a rather strong accent, and it's so very different from mine, that I was lost there for a bit.

This very special issue includes a message from Cantuar tltled "Post-Lambeth Thoughts". I'll give you a brief quote, but off you go to the the journal to read the rest.

Good evening. Many of you have written in from all parts of the Anglican Communion to express your appreciative support for what was a quite remarkable Lambeth Conference, and to ask of me and my Office what the future holds for all of us who share that great heritage and tradition that we choose to entitle ‘Anglicanism.’

Surely that whets your appetite for more.

The Church of England and the Episcopal Church are different, but in perusing the Pharisaios Journal, I see that we have much in common. For instance, the Guidelines For Servers could well prove useful to Episcopal churches here in the US. Here's one example:

No talking in the Sanctuary unless absolutely necessary, eg: when Father sets his chasuble alight with the altar candle, or if one of the priests dies during a sermon.

Here's a link, if you'd like to know something of the history of the Pharisaios Journal.

Don't stop with the journal. Go poke around at the website. You can virtually visit around in the transepts, the Mandylion Chapel, the sacristy, the chained library, and other areas of the cathedral from the website. Even I have not made my way around to explore all the links.

There's no word from Mr. Grindle, the head verger, in the latest issue. I hope he's in good health.

Clergy readers, please take a pictorial lesson in caution from Fr Jeff.