Bishop Eric Menees
Dear Friends,
Each week in the
Bishop’s Note, I share thoughts and observations on our common faith and life
together. This coming January, the College of Bishops are prepared to approve
the final edition of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. This new prayer book will
become the standard* throughout the Diocese and the Province.
Beginning under
the direction of Bishop Bill Thompson, and continuing under the leadership of
Archbishop Robert Duncan, I am very pleased with the fruit of the hard work
that the Task Force has produced, and I look forward to the roll out in a
formal, printed version in the spring to early summer, with Crossways as the
publisher. I am also very proud that two of our own clergy serve on that Task
Force: Deacon Erin Giles and Father Jonathan Kanary.
In anticipation
of publication, I would like to dedicate the next season of Bishop’s Notes to
exploring the new prayer book, the theology represented, and the changes that
were made.
It makes most sense
to begin with Holy Eucharist, since that is the most commonly used service
throughout the Diocese. There are two eucharistic prayers: Anglican Standard
Text and Renewed Ancient Text; I’ll begin with the Anglican Standard Text. The
Task Force gave the following as a preface:
The Anglican Standard Text is essentially that of the Holy
Communion service of the Book of Common Prayer of 1662 and successor books
through 1928, 1929 and 1962. The Anglican Standard Text is presented in
contemporary English and in the order for Holy Communion that is common, since
the late twentieth century, among ecumenical and Anglican partners worldwide.
Our worship begins
with an opening “Acclamation.”
The Acclamation
The People standing, the Celebrant says this or a seasonal
greeting.
Blessed be God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
People And blessed
be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
According to the
Merriam Webster an acclamation is: “a loud eager expression of approval,
praise, or assent.” Our opening acclamation is meant to be just that: loud,
eager praise and assent to our One God in three persons — the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit – who are in constant communion; sometimes envisioned as in
a mystical dance. In all cases, He is ONE and THREE – in perfect union.
In addition, in
eager praise we acknowledge that God’s kingdom is both present in the moment
and will be experienced eternally. In our worship, we enter into God’s kingdom.
We enter by gathering as the Body of Christ; singing God’s praise; reading
God’s word; confessing our common Faith in God; opening our hearts and souls to
God in prayer; asking God for forgiveness and hearing those sweet words of
absolution; and coming to God’s Holy Table for His Holy Food, in order to fill
us with His Grace so we can be sent out into the world to love and serve Him.
When we open our hearts to God, we live in the midst of His kingdom.
For those
familiar with the 1979 BCP, you’ll notice that the new “Opening Acclamation” is
slightly different: the article “the” has been added before each person of the
Trinity to emphasize the reality that, while the Trinity is one, we can also
have a relationship with each person of the Trinity: God the Father, God the
Son, and God the Holy Spirit!
I pray you all a
blessed week and wonderful worship on the Lord’s Day as you enter again into
worship and praise!
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