Journals

The Secretary acknowledges the offer of Sir Ronald Johnson to proof read the typescript of the Record before publication.

The well-known passage in Mark 12 is erroneously interpreted to mean a dichotomy between the spiritual and the temporal. The role of the church over against the state is prophetic. The relationship between church and state as reflected in worship is examined in respect of the national anthem, the display of national flags, the observance of Remembrance Day, and the conduct of national or civic services.

The author reflects on poorly prepared worship, the lack of silence, conversational language, background noise during organ voluntaries, and the need to know what hymns are to be sung at the upcoming service in time to prepare them. In particular, a plea is made, when contemporary songs and choruses are used, to pay more attention to the quality of both words and music. We often insult the intelligence of young people by our choices.

The minister of a rural parish in Ross-shire where there are two morning services each Sunday ‘talks us through’ the preparations he makes for each.

The Nicene Creed; the new publications Prayers for Sunday Services and New Ways to Worship; the death of Miss Wallace Williamson.

The extraordinary variety in attitudes and practices in worship since the Reformation. Worship has accommodated itself to culture. Although there has been a release of language, congregations still have their unspoken limits for worship reform. The need to change the images we use. We also limit and idolise the church's art and music; openness to a growing diversity and richness is necessary. There is still a tension between performance and participation. These continue into the issue of professionalism versus lay participation; we have valued quality in leadership but may have created an elite. The writer notes certain trends: the liturgical (the Worshipbook), ecumenical, yet tends to be upper-middle class; participatory – the minister as enabler – but it can be unrealistic in its expectations; the missionary trend. The debate continues between, in particular, the first two of these trends.

This offers analysis of the 1971 document, Public Baptism of Infants: Private Baptism of Infants: Baptism of Adults.Theological changes are noted: the move from an Augustinian approach (cleansing of sins) to a Cyprianic (entrance into the church); that baptism is a process. The role of the parents becomes more central and the idea of the vicarious faith of the godparents is removed. The congregation needs to be more aware of its role; parents need to be prepared; extra-parochial baptism is no longer possible. It should take place in the face of the congregation, but, unlike a similar C of E development, it does not suggest that the eucharist is the most ideal setting.