Word & Table

Father Stephen is on sabbatical until after Easter. In the interim, we've got some exciting new content to share with you.

Why does the Anglican Church baptize infants? We explain what infant baptism means, and doesn't mean in light of scripture and tradition. Music: "Salve Mater Misericordiae" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications. Email the show at wordtablepodcast@gmail.com

Father Stephen explains how to read the Gospel of Mark, including the history, structure, and themes of the book. We also talk over why the Cross is so challenging for people of all backgrounds to accept. Music: "Glory to God" and "Ubi Caritas et Amor" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

Why do we reverence the saints? What is a healthy understanding of how the saints fit into our worship? Music: "Litany of the Saints" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant Copyright GIA Publications. Email the podcast at wordtablepodcast@gmail.com

Fr. Stephen explains the Anglican view of salvation and how we can know that we are saved by knowing Jesus. Music: Litany of the Saints and Alma Redemptoris Mater by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant and More Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Father Stephen defines what a church council is meant to do and goes over some of the major issues the great ecumenical church councils dealt with in the first few centuries of the church's life. Music: Phillippians Chant by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from More Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Fr. Stephen takes a question from a listener asking about how Anglicans interpret scripture and what's the deal with all those extra-Biblical books? Music: Only Begotten Word of God Eternal by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers, from More Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

The season of Epiphany isn't the most popular one on the church calendar, but it has a lot to say about how the Lord manifests his glory in the world.

Why the smells? What does incense symbolize? And what's the name of that thing it swings around in? All this and more on this week's Word & Table. Music: Ubi Caritas et Amor by Richard Proulx and the Catherdral Singers from Sublime Chant.

When you see people bowing in a liturgical service, what does that actually mean? What exactly are they bowing to? What's the difference between bowing in a Christian service and the idolatry warned against in the Bible? Music: Ave Verum Corpus by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.

What is confession? What is the difference between a general confession and the sacramental rite of confession? Does the church even have the right to pronounce forgiveness of sins? Father Stephen addresses all this and more on this week's episode. Music: Confiteor (Benedictine) by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. GIA Publications.

Father Stephen explains how the Church has traditionally cqelebrated Christmas and its place meaning in the context of the church calendar. Plus Alex and Stephen talk about their family Christmas traditions and their picks for best Christmas album ever. Music: "Corde Natus ex Parentis" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Purchase here "Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" by John Michael Talbot. Purchase here. "Les Anges Dos Nos Campagnes" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Bruce Cockburn. Purchase here.

Father Stephen explains what holy water is used for and what it reminds us of. Music: "Only Begotten Word of God Eternal" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers Email the show at wordtablepodcast@gmail.com

Where did the sign of the cross come from? What are these little "extra" things we see Anglicans, Catholics, and Orthodox believers doing at prayer? Fr. Stephen defines these "sacramentals," their place in worship and how to understand them. Email us at wordtablepodcast@gmail.com Music: Lumen et Revelationem by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers. Purchases here.

Father Stephen describes the meaning of the Advent season, how we can anticipate the Lord's coming, and the nature of Christian hope. Click here for a series of daily Advent readings. Muic: "On Jordan's Bank" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers.

This week we close our conversation on the Liturgical Calendar, focusing especially on the Sanctoral Calendar and where the practice of commemorating specific saints came from. Music - "Litany of the Saints" from Sublime Chant by Richard Proulx and The Cathedral Singers. Copyright GIA Publications. Email us at wordtablepodcast@gmail.com

Father Stephen tells the surprising story of the liturgical calendar and how it became central to Christian worship. Music: Pater Noster and All Glory Laud and Honor by the Cathedral Singers. Got questions? Email the show at wordtablepodcast@gmail.com

This week, Father Stephen outlines the organization of the church and how the regional delineations of church government grew out of the offices of Bishops and the cities they ministered in. Music: Adoro Te Devote by The Cathedral Singers. Purchase here.

Part 1 of a conversation on Church polity. Father Stephen explains where the offices of the church, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons came from and what their functions are. Music: Salve Mater Misericordae by The Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant.

Father Stephen introduces the Anglican Church's signature book, the Book of Common Prayer, and goes over what it is, what it's for, what's in it, and how to use it. Music: Adoro te Devote by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral singers from Sublime Chant.