| Remembering history is an opportunity to notice God breaking in, challenging our prejudices that we might hope, trust, and remember a tomorrow filled with God's dreams.
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The Act of Uniformity passed in 1559 in England established the order of worship for the Church of England as set forth in the Book of Common prayer and made attending Sunday worship a legal obligation of every citizen of England. This video clip from the movie Elizabeth (1998), Queen Elizabeth preparing for and then delivering her argument for passing the Act of Uniformity. Watch this video together, and explore the questions below.
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^ Click above the arrow to begin movie. (we are experiencing some technical difficulties)
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Questions for reflection and conversation:
1. Compared to other sovereigns of the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth displayed remarkable religious toleration. A famous quote of Queen Elizabeth is "There is only one Christ, Jesus, one faith all else is a dispute over trifles." How does the Episcopal Church today reflect this history of religious toleration? What challenges does religious toleration pose for the Episcopal Church today?
2. The Act of Uniformity set the Church of England and the Anglican Communion as a people who may differ in their beliefs but who gather for common worship. How does this affect the church today? What are the blessings of this charism? What are the challenges?
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YFYL Chapter 4, Additional questions for reflection or discussion:
1. The book, Lesser Feasts and Fasts, includes short biographies of people in our church history along with appointed prayers and readings for each saint’s day. Find a copy of the book. What names do you recognize? What do you know about them?
2. What formative church events have occurred during your lifetime (local, national, or global)? How have they affected the church? How did they impact, or were impacted, by events and culture or the world?
3. What religious traditions do you remember from childhood? Share one or two and how it influences what your practice and beliefs today.
4. What drew you to the church you attend today? What do you remember about the first time you came?
5. What issues challenge the church today? What events from history inform how the church engages with those issues?
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Additional resources online
A Calendar of the Church Year: A listing of lesser feasts and fasts in the Episcopal Church with links to biographies as well as collects and readings for the day. (Maintained by James Kiefer)
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Additional resources in print
The History of the Episcopal Church by Robert Prichard. A history of the Episcopal Church beginning with early colonization and ending in the 1990s. (Church Publishing, 1999)
Deeper Joy edited by Fredrica Harris Thompsett and Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook. A collection of eighteen essays about the ministry of 20th century women laity in the church.
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