Saint Martin's Cloak

Who Were the Pilgrims? In English history, the Protestant Reformation – if it can be called that in England – began with King Henry VIII's creation of a state church in which Catholic and Puritan influences remained in conflict for quite some time. The group we call Pilgrims wanted nothing to do with the Church of England regardless of which theology predominated. The Pilgrims were more radical in their vision of reform than the Puritan wing of the Anglican Church. During much of their life in England they faced legal obstacles to the practice of their faith. We call them "Pilgrims" because they made a journey of faith – multiple journeys, in fact. A better word for this group, however, is "Separatists," "Dissenters" or "Non-Conformists."  The Pilgrims were strict Calvinists who believed in predestination. They observed only two sacraments (baptism and communion). Their churches were simple, with no crosses, statues, stained glass windows or...

Veterans Day is observed on November 11 each year on the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. Traditionally, a moment of silence is observed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. And while the nations of the British Commonwealth remember their war dead on November 11 ( Remembrance Day in the UK, Canada and Australia), we Americans do that on Memorial Day in May. In the United States, Veterans Day is an occasion to thank the living more than it is a day to remember the dead. Veterans Day is primarily a civic observance, not a Christian liturgical one. Churches should not turn the entire service into a celebration of military service. We worship God, not the Soldier and not the nation. I worship in a military congregation on a military installation, and our service on Veterans Day weekend is not "all veterans, all the time." The city of Leavenworth, Kansas where I used to live annually holds what it claims is the "largest Veterans Day parade...