In our examination of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer’s
service of Holy Eucharist, last week we looked at the role of the Nicene Creed.
This week I’d like to look at the Prayers of the People.
In the 2019 BCP we will have two basic forms of the Prayers
of the People: one in the Standard Text Eucharist and one in the Renewed
Ancient Text. Having only two options is unlike the 1979 BCP, which has several
different options. The 2019 BCP does allow for prayers not found in the text,
but they must include:
The universal Church, the clergy and people
The mission of the Church
The nation and all in authority
The peoples of the world
The local community
Those who suffer and those in any need or trouble
Thankful remembrances of the faithful departed and of all
the blessings in our lives.
What jumps out to me is the role of the deacon and laypeople
in leading this section of the service. The entire worship service follows a
set form and practice that we refer to as “liturgy,” which means: “work of the
people.” It is appropriate that laypeople read the passages of Holy Scripture
(apart from the reading of the Gospel,) and lead the prayers of the people if a
deacon is not present. The Rubrics (I mentioned rubrics last week) for the
Prayers of the People state:
The Deacon or other person appointed says these prayers….
It is the traditional role of the Deacon both to make the
needs of the world known to the People of God and to assist the People of God
in meeting the needs of the world. Because of this, we begin with prayer;
asking God to bless, provide, preserve, protect, and heal those in need.
The Prayers conclude by inviting the people to offer their
own prayers, either silently or aloud, and then the celebrant wraps up the
prayers with the following prayer:
Heavenly Father, grant these our prayers for the sake of
Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate, who lives and reigns with you in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
I pray you all a very blessed fourth Sunday of Advent,. and
a very Merry Christmas!
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