Vicki McGrath
@vgeermcgrath.bsky.social
Episcopal priest in NJ.
2/ were Confirmed in 8th grade. In my parish I now baptized babies and give them Communion in the same service. It's then up to the parents to decide when the child should receive on a regular basis. We do a Eucharist instruction class in Grade 2 (formation) and Confirmation in Grade 9 or 10. ⚓️
November 23, 2025 at 4:54 AM
2/ were Confirmed in 8th grade. In my parish I now baptized babies and give them Communion in the same service. It's then up to the parents to decide when the child should receive on a regular basis. We do a Eucharist instruction class in Grade 2 (formation) and Confirmation in Grade 9 or 10. ⚓️
⚓️ 1/I was baptized in the Episcopal Church at 9 mos old, in a private family service after the regular Sunday worship. I then didn't receive Communion until after I had been Confirmed at age 13 - standard practice for that era. My own children were baptized as babies, had 1st Communion at age 8 and
November 23, 2025 at 4:54 AM
⚓️ 1/I was baptized in the Episcopal Church at 9 mos old, in a private family service after the regular Sunday worship. I then didn't receive Communion until after I had been Confirmed at age 13 - standard practice for that era. My own children were baptized as babies, had 1st Communion at age 8 and
2/ I was glad to be part of that change. He also didn't think there should be preaching at Evensong, and we sang ES five times in the week. I/we changed THAT pretty fast, too. Not a full-blown sermon on the weekdays, but a 5 min reflection that engaged both kids and adults. ⚓️
November 23, 2025 at 2:20 AM
2/ I was glad to be part of that change. He also didn't think there should be preaching at Evensong, and we sang ES five times in the week. I/we changed THAT pretty fast, too. Not a full-blown sermon on the weekdays, but a 5 min reflection that engaged both kids and adults. ⚓️
1/ I know.... there were some entrenched male choir directors who were part of the program direction in the early years of that course who believed that adult women's voices did not "fit" an RSCM ideal. Such mysogony. When he was moved out/ got mad and left, the course became much healthier. + ⚓️
November 23, 2025 at 2:20 AM
1/ I know.... there were some entrenched male choir directors who were part of the program direction in the early years of that course who believed that adult women's voices did not "fit" an RSCM ideal. Such mysogony. When he was moved out/ got mad and left, the course became much healthier. + ⚓️
A faun walking through a snowy wood carrying an umbrella and parcels... with Lucy, Daughter of Eve. ⚓️
November 22, 2025 at 2:33 PM
A faun walking through a snowy wood carrying an umbrella and parcels... with Lucy, Daughter of Eve. ⚓️
Yes! Helmsley. I long for Advent with every fiber of my being.
November 22, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Yes! Helmsley. I long for Advent with every fiber of my being.
Yes. When I was first an RSCM chaplain in the mid/late 90s, some old codgers wanted adult women only as altos, not as sopranos. That got changed pretty emohatically!
November 20, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Yes. When I was first an RSCM chaplain in the mid/late 90s, some old codgers wanted adult women only as altos, not as sopranos. That got changed pretty emohatically!
In my small Episcopal Church we had a mixed adult choir and a girls' choir. If I had not been a chorister I doubt I would have become a priest.⚓️🕯
November 20, 2025 at 12:58 AM
In my small Episcopal Church we had a mixed adult choir and a girls' choir. If I had not been a chorister I doubt I would have become a priest.⚓️🕯
2/ I say all this as: 1. A Royal School of Church Music summer course chaplain for 20 years; 2. Someone who grew up in a girls' choir at church; 3. Someone who grew up in a small parish where the whole congregation sang everything, inc 3 Anglican chant canticles at MP 3 Sundays a month. 🕯⚓️
November 20, 2025 at 12:56 AM
2/ I say all this as: 1. A Royal School of Church Music summer course chaplain for 20 years; 2. Someone who grew up in a girls' choir at church; 3. Someone who grew up in a small parish where the whole congregation sang everything, inc 3 Anglican chant canticles at MP 3 Sundays a month. 🕯⚓️
1/ In a healthy parish the choir supports the congregationsl worship, not takes it over. Now, there are times, like with Choral Evensong, that the service *is* chorally driven, but that's not the usual Sunday morning experience, whether HE or MP. And if it is, then the choir is out of balance. 🕯⚓️
November 20, 2025 at 12:56 AM
1/ In a healthy parish the choir supports the congregationsl worship, not takes it over. Now, there are times, like with Choral Evensong, that the service *is* chorally driven, but that's not the usual Sunday morning experience, whether HE or MP. And if it is, then the choir is out of balance. 🕯⚓️
We began our "on ramp" to Advent, and it was just what I needed! Also, a very shy teen boys agreed to try out being a Lector, and one of our young couples brought their two-month old to church for the first time (they were waiting for her to have all her vaccinations). It was a good day. ⚓️
November 17, 2025 at 12:45 PM
We began our "on ramp" to Advent, and it was just what I needed! Also, a very shy teen boys agreed to try out being a Lector, and one of our young couples brought their two-month old to church for the first time (they were waiting for her to have all her vaccinations). It was a good day. ⚓️
My understanding is that angels are energies and messengers of God. They can take a visible shape - even corporeal - but that is only just for appearance sake.
November 17, 2025 at 1:47 AM
My understanding is that angels are energies and messengers of God. They can take a visible shape - even corporeal - but that is only just for appearance sake.
The symbols on the altar hangings represent the O Antiphons. This week is O Sapientia. 🕯
November 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The symbols on the altar hangings represent the O Antiphons. This week is O Sapientia. 🕯
Second Sunday before Advent (don't light the candles until Advent 1). ⚓️🕯
November 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Second Sunday before Advent (don't light the candles until Advent 1). ⚓️🕯
Amen!! We mainline folks too often do not give the reality of spiritual evil its due. The British writer Paul Kingsnorth (most recent book: "Against the Machine") is clear on this. Before he became a Romanian Orthodox Christian he was a Wiccan priest.
November 15, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Amen!! We mainline folks too often do not give the reality of spiritual evil its due. The British writer Paul Kingsnorth (most recent book: "Against the Machine") is clear on this. Before he became a Romanian Orthodox Christian he was a Wiccan priest.
And coordinating with Passover as closely as possible
November 15, 2025 at 3:12 AM
And coordinating with Passover as closely as possible
Yes, the Me Too movement started for a reason
November 13, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Yes, the Me Too movement started for a reason
I really appreciate the work of The Bible Project!
November 13, 2025 at 3:57 AM
I really appreciate the work of The Bible Project!
Oh geez. That person has been reading too much Jack Spong, who was (she ducks) my ordaining bishop.
Can you point out to the person that Millenials and Gen Z are really drawn to good worship and substantive theology?
Can you point out to the person that Millenials and Gen Z are really drawn to good worship and substantive theology?
November 13, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Oh geez. That person has been reading too much Jack Spong, who was (she ducks) my ordaining bishop.
Can you point out to the person that Millenials and Gen Z are really drawn to good worship and substantive theology?
Can you point out to the person that Millenials and Gen Z are really drawn to good worship and substantive theology?
Yes, it doesn't have to be either/or... and shouldn't be, imho.
November 12, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Yes, it doesn't have to be either/or... and shouldn't be, imho.