Bishop Eric Menees
This morning we continue our examination of the 2019 Book of
Common Prayer (BCP) turning from the service of Holy Eucharist to the service
of daily Morning Prayer.
When Archbishop Thomas Cranmer
called for the development of a Book of Common Prayer, it was a brilliant idea
and absolutely essential to the formation of what would become the Anglican
Church worldwide.
You see, so many of the reformers desired such radical
change from the Roman Catholic Church that, in my opinion, they “threw the baby
out with the bath water.” Specifically, they wanted to move away from
monasteries and any semblance of monastic life. Archbishop Cranmer knew,
however, that the daily discipline of prayer and scripture study could
literally transform the church and the world by making individual disciples.
I have long argued that the BCP,
and specifically the Daily Offices, transformed England by helping to make a
nation literate using the Holy Scriptures and the prayers found in the BCP. The
phrase Lex Orandi Lex Credendi (the law of prayer is the law of belief, which
means as we pray so we believe,) is apt as the BCP taught a nation to pray and
believe.
The Daily Offices find their roots in the monastic tradition
with the practice of regular daily prayer - Morning, Noon, Evening and Late
Evening - corresponding to Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayer, Evening Prayer, and
Compline.
Let’s begin with a look at Morning
Prayer. The opening rubrics (liturgical directions found italicized) speak of
an “officiant” leading the “office.” Merrimack Webster defines “office” as “a
prescribed form or service of worship.” Therefore, the Officiant is the one
(clergy or laity) who leads the Office.
The
Officiant may begin Morning Prayer by reading an opening sentence of Scripture.
One of the following, or a sentence from among those provided at the end of the
Office (pages 27-29), is customary.
The Officiant begins
with a word of scripture inviting, both himself/herself, and the participants
to place themselves in God’s loving hands.
“Grace to you and peace from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:2
This scripture invites us to sit back and allow God to fill
us with His Grace and His Peace as we enter into an intimate time of prayer and
worship.
or this
I was glad when they said unto me,
“We will go into the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1
Remembering the words of King David no matter where we are
physically, spiritually we are invited into the House of the Lord! How
important it is to be reminded that the Lord does not simply dwell in heaven
but wherever we intentionally seek to come into His presence - be it at home,
work, school, or in a house of worship.
or this
Let the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart be always acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and
my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
Again, King David, in his psalm invites us to petition the
Lord to bless our worship, our words, our hymns, and our actions.
My prayer is that these passages from scripture will serve
as a good reminder to us at all times that God is not distant but very present
and accessible to us, His lowly creatures.
I pray you all very blessed worship!
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