I've been an Episcopalian/Anglican for 14 years now. I've attended 6 different churches during that time and worked closely with many other churches and on the diocesan and provincial level. Not putting up a resumé here, just mentioning this to say that I've been around the communion on many levels. In all of that time, I've had a very passive understanding about a very important book.
I've had a Book of Common Prayer for many years. In fact, I have a few. Even an app on my phone and iPad. For most of the time I've been aware of it, I've used it sort of like a reference manual. It has a section (starting at p. 814) called Prayers and Thanksgivings. It has prayers in it for nearly any circumstance. For the world, for peace, the church, the president, courts, government, agriculture, birthdays - even "The Good Use of Leisure". Most of the time, when I pulled out my BCP, it was to look in there.
I've only recently (in the last year or so) began to really explore the book further, and have discovered that it is a great tool for personal meditation and prayer.
One of the things that I love most about our church is the liturgy. You can go to most any Episcopal or Anglican church anywhere and the music may be different, the priest may be female (!), they may stand where you normally kneel (you can do either!) they may have statues or icons or many other things you aren't used to. But if they are doing it "right", most likely they will be following the liturgy that is outlined in the BCP. The readings would be the same readings your regular church would be using. The prayers and collects would be the same. So even though their may be some things different about the church, it would also feel very familiar as well.
The BCP is where this liturgy comes from. It also has services lined out for Baptisms, Confirmations, Ordinations, Funerals and other services.
All of that is fine and dandy, what what makes it personally a useful book? It also outlines Morning, Noonday, Evening and Compline (bedtime) prayers. Since I started seminary, I've done Morning and Evening Prayer (or Compline) every day. All of those ribbons in the book help me out there... one is for Morning Prayer, one for Evening, one to bookmark the Psalm of the day, one for the Daily Office list (which tells you which bible readings and psalm to read each day) one to mark the Old Testament reading, one for the New Testament and one for the Gospel. The BCP I use has a "built in" bible, most don't, so you end up juggling BCP and Bible.
There is a slight learning curve involved in learning how to properly do the prayers and readings and psalms, but once you have it down, it's really pretty easy.
Of all the books I've gotten for school, my BCP/Bible is the one that is getting the most daily use.
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| So many ribbons! |
I've had a Book of Common Prayer for many years. In fact, I have a few. Even an app on my phone and iPad. For most of the time I've been aware of it, I've used it sort of like a reference manual. It has a section (starting at p. 814) called Prayers and Thanksgivings. It has prayers in it for nearly any circumstance. For the world, for peace, the church, the president, courts, government, agriculture, birthdays - even "The Good Use of Leisure". Most of the time, when I pulled out my BCP, it was to look in there.
I've only recently (in the last year or so) began to really explore the book further, and have discovered that it is a great tool for personal meditation and prayer.
One of the things that I love most about our church is the liturgy. You can go to most any Episcopal or Anglican church anywhere and the music may be different, the priest may be female (!), they may stand where you normally kneel (you can do either!) they may have statues or icons or many other things you aren't used to. But if they are doing it "right", most likely they will be following the liturgy that is outlined in the BCP. The readings would be the same readings your regular church would be using. The prayers and collects would be the same. So even though their may be some things different about the church, it would also feel very familiar as well.
The BCP is where this liturgy comes from. It also has services lined out for Baptisms, Confirmations, Ordinations, Funerals and other services.
All of that is fine and dandy, what what makes it personally a useful book? It also outlines Morning, Noonday, Evening and Compline (bedtime) prayers. Since I started seminary, I've done Morning and Evening Prayer (or Compline) every day. All of those ribbons in the book help me out there... one is for Morning Prayer, one for Evening, one to bookmark the Psalm of the day, one for the Daily Office list (which tells you which bible readings and psalm to read each day) one to mark the Old Testament reading, one for the New Testament and one for the Gospel. The BCP I use has a "built in" bible, most don't, so you end up juggling BCP and Bible.
There is a slight learning curve involved in learning how to properly do the prayers and readings and psalms, but once you have it down, it's really pretty easy.
Of all the books I've gotten for school, my BCP/Bible is the one that is getting the most daily use.
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