Synopses & Reviews
What Roger Ferlo did for the Bible in Opening the Bible, volume 2 of The New Church s Teaching Series, Jeffrey Lee now does for the prayer book in volume 7 of the series. Opening the Prayer Book introduces us to the history and liturgies of The Book of Common Prayer, and helps us understand why the prayer book is such an important aspect of Anglican self-understanding. Lee begins with the fundamental question, What is common prayer? He explores some of the ways in which our worship according to The Book of Common Prayer affects who we are as a church, and the way it shapes our lives of faith. In chapter 2 Lee turns to the development of patterns of liturgy from the time of Jesus to the Reformation, tracing changes in the primary liturgies of baptism, eucharist, and daily prayer. The American prayer book is the focus of chapter 3, from the earliest revisions in the new nation through the liturgical scholarship that led to the substantial theological and liturgical changes in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. Chapter 4 begins a survey of the pages of the prayer book itself. Lee examines in particular the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter, baptism and eucharist, and the daily office, with a view to understanding the way the parts of the services are rooted in the historical prayers of the church and at the same time reflect the living tradition of Christians today. This theme is further developed in chapter 5, which focuses on the prayer book and our common life. Here Lee discusses questions of how a common prayer book can be responsive to a growing variety of pastoral situations and diverse cultures in a fast-changing world. The final chapter addresses the future of the prayer book within the Anglican Communion, in light of demands for further revision and for greater freedom to adapt the prayer book to local needs and beliefs. As with each book in The New Church s Teaching Series, recommended resources for further reading and questions for discussion are included.
Synopsis
Opening the Prayer Book introduces us to the history and liturgies of The Book of Common Prayer, and helps us understand why the prayer book is such an important aspect of Anglican self-understanding.
Synopsis
In Opening the Prayer Book, Jeffrey Lee introduces us to the history and liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer. He examines the development of patterns of liturgy from the time of Jesus to the Reformation, and then turns to the revisions of the American prayer book. Lee offers a survey of the pages of the prayer book itself, with a view to understanding the way the parts of the service are rooted in the historical prayers of the church, and at the same time reflect the living tradition of Christians today. Finally, Lee discusses how a common prayer book can be responsive to a growing variety of pastoral situations and diverse cultures in a fast-changing world.
Synopsis
Following in the footsteps of the two earlier teaching series of the 1950s and 1970s, these volumes seek to reveal the distinctive vision Anglicanism offers for the people of God today. Each book includes a study guide and a list of additional resources. The series is designed for wide parish use, including adult education, classes for inquirers and newcomers, the adult catechumenate, parish libraries, and study groups throughout the church year.
Jeffrey Lee introduces us to the history and liturgy of The Book of Common Prayer, from the development of patterns of liturgy in the time of Jesus to the Reformation and the revisions of the American prayer book. Lee offers a survey of the pages of the prayer book itself, with a view to understanding how the services are rooted in the historical prayers of the church and reflect the living tradition of Christians today.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [171]-177).