A couple of weeks ago I suggested that Episcopalians need some very short, familiar liturgies for use by families, small groups, Christian education classes, etc., so that we don't have to rely so much on random extemporaneous prayers. I've since wondered whether a single, brief, general-purpose liturgy might work better.
Toward that end, I've just uploaded a one-page first attempt at such a liturgy. It's sort of a hybrid between familiar elements of Morning Prayer and of the Prayers of the People. See this printable Word document and this PDF document.
This "micro-liturgy" consists of multiple short participatory prayers, most of which are well-known, copied from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. Each prayer has a bracketed number indicating the Prayer Book page whence it came. The prayers are arranged in the order that they might logically be recited.
Except for the opening versicles, essentially all the prayers are optional. Particular prayers can be included or omitted as desired, depending on the occasion and the time available.
Many will know the main prayers by heart already. That should make it easier for families and small groups to make impromptu use of the liturgy on suitable occasions, even without a script.
In places indicated by an asterisk, I've slightly edited the Prayer Book language, e.g., to excerpt a long prayer; to combine portions of two similar prayers; to change I and me to us and we; etc.
One of the optional prayers, the Blessing of Sons and Daughters, is new. Well, sort of: I took the general idea from the Shabbat service that is said on Friday nights in observant Jewish homes. As part of that service, the father blesses each of his sons and daughters individually. From what I've read, it's a very meaningful and moving experience (at least for the parents; I won't speculate what the kids think). Here, the specific language for this prayer is adapted from a couple of different Prayer-Book prayers for children.
Please feel free to try out this liturgy. I'd be grateful for your comments and suggestions.
Subscribe
to my feed
you seen this ? http://www.chbookshop.co.uk/product.asp?Print=1&id=67653
Posted by: bob | December 17, 2004 at 05:56 PM