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Issue 22 - Summer 2009 Price to non-affiliates of Praxis: £2.50

What is Ancient and Modern for Anglican Praxis? Praxis was formed in liturgical publications 1990, sponsored by the Liturgical Commission, n an announcement on Friday 8 May the determined, as have the practical arrangements to the Group for the I Communications Unit at Church House disclosed secure distinctive Anglican expertise in the editing of Renewal of Worship that the Archbishops’ Council is in discussion with liturgical books, as current publications are updated (GROW) and the Alcuin Ancient and Modern with a view to or new ones produced. Club. It exists to provide outsourcing the Council’s publishing services, Ltd, which owns The and support liturgical currently undertaken by Church House Publishing. Church Times and publishes under its own imprints - education in the Church The official liturgical publications are at the top of the Canterbury Press, SCM Press and RMEP - has of England. CHP best-sellers, and it is envisaged that these will strong links with the . It took over continue to be published under the new arrangement, Church House Bookshop in 2006 and already Affiliation alongside supporting publications, such as Together provides customer service and distribution services to for a Season, Worship Changes Lives and Using Church House Publishing. It has also provided similar The sponsoring . The continuity and development of services to the Methodist Church for their Epworth organisations do not electronic publishing of liturgical texts has yet to be imprint for more than 25 years. fund Praxis financially. The work that Praxis does is supported mainly by affiliation. If Week of Prayer for Christian Unity you are not an affiliate, why not consider - a fresh approach becoming one? Just get in touch with the ot only will the material for the 2010 Week of The material is based on Luke 24, with newly-written office—details on the N Prayer for Christian Unity be a little different, prayers, a specially-composed poem and other back page. there is to be more flexibility concerning the dates, original material provided for each day. too: 18 - 25 January will remain the key focus, but Also new: the material will be published electronically churches are encouraged to consider praying during as well as on paper, and there will be a note with it to Website the octave of Peter and Paul, or the octave of suggest how the material might be used alongside Have you visited the , if one of those suits local churches better. Praxis website? View us Anglican Daily Prayer. online at www.praxisworship.org.uk

Inside this issue of Crammer (not Cranmer) prayers Praxis News of Worship Are we a healing 2 rayer resources for young people Church? P facing exams have hit the headlines of the Church press recently, New President’s 2 and these downloadable, postcard- edition sized prayers, designed to be included in students’ crib-card packs can be ‘Inspiring Worship’ 3 found at www.cofe.anglican.org/exams. Kings College 3 There are lots of other prayers on the (London) courses website too. Here are a few categories: Musical News 4 & 5 The current financial situation Zimbabwe and Africa Book Reviews 6 The peace of the world A Canadian 7 Those worried about debt Placement Redundancy Look - no paper! 7 All these, and others, are at Colin’s Column 8 www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/prayers Notice Board 8

Praxis - enriching worship today ISSN 1748-2348 Are we a Healing Church?

Carol Wilkinson reports on her findings in the Blackburn Diocese.

t has taken the Church many centuries been much influenced by a visit to a What I have met is anecdotal evidence that even to begin the attempt to restore the Northern Ireland community that offered if the ministry is offered in one of the main I ministry of healing to its rightful place as prayer ministry on the streets of Coleraine – services people will stay away. This raises a normal and natural part of the life of the a combination of healing and evangelism. the question of ‘anonymity’; most ministry Christian community. Although in recent Subsequently he had established an ‘open took place in full view of the congregation. times a report has been produced and church’ session on Saturday morning. Here One incumbent was so concerned about liturgical texts have been written (noted at local people were encouraged to drop into this that he offered no less than three types the end of the article), there seems to be a the church for coffee, to read the of ministry in the same service; a reticence at parish level to address the newspapers, chat, and receive prayer conventional laying on of hands and question of wholeness and healing as being ministry if they wished from a small team of anointing at the communion rail, prayers for integral to the life of faith. trained lay ministers. healing for the whole congregation (on the grounds that a person did not have to go In my own diocese of Blackburn, efforts are In one east Lancashire town there is an forward to receive God’s healing), and after being made to give the ministry of healing a ecumenical initiative where ministers are the service private prayer ministry in the higher priority. The whole of the 2008 available on Tuesday morning in a room at Lady chapel. conference was devoted to this the local library where people can receive ministry, diocesan advisors have been prayer ministry. In an Anglo-Catholic parish There are stories of people who specifically appointed and, for my part, I have spent six in the west of the diocese they have ask not to be put on the prayer list when months studying the theology of healing, developed a skilled ministry team and are they are ill. Incumbents have told me how investigating the plethora of resources able to offer training to developing difficult it can be, and how long it takes to available, and visiting parishes to see what ministries in other parishes. establish a ministry of healing – so much services are on offer. Coming from a teaching is needed before they could begin Conventional ministry background in , I decided to approach to introduce services and the training of Most parishes have opted for a this study by observing the services and ministers. talking with the ministers involved after conventional type of ministry either within each service. one of the main morning services or at a Out of 300 churches in the diocese only 20 quiet said celebration of Holy Communion. or so responded to a survey of the healing Great diversity The type of ministry offered varies. In very ministry in their parish, and just a further 7 As might be expected in any study of general terms, prayer ministry by lay or 8 parishes advertise healing services or liturgical rites in the Church of England, ministers is more prevalent in the prayer ministry on their website. So I am there is a great diversity of practice and evangelical charismatic parishes and those left with this very difficult question - are we approach to the ministry of healing within of a more central . Anglo- a Church in which people are not afraid to the various traditions across the Church. Catholic parishes tend towards a more be vulnerable and seek the support of the The official rites in Wholeness and Healing: formal laying on of hands and anointing Christian community when they are in Pastoral Services, although not often using texts and services from Wholeness need? Are we, broadly speaking, a healing observed in their entirety, are not without and Healing. However, the rite of anointing Church? The evidence, so far, suggests influence. Certainly, the texts for the laying seems to be gaining in popularity and was that we are not. on of hands and anointing are well used. observed in at least one charismatic evangelical parish. The point at which the Diversity rather than uniformity is the rule Carol Wilkinson is an accountant and , ministry takes place varies considerably; and, in general, a parish’s approach to the and honorary tutor with the Lancashire and some parishes offer prayer ministry after ministry of healing depends, in the main, on Cumbria Theological Partnership in Liturgy. every service, others during communion, or the incumbent. In only one parish did I hear occasionally after the intercessions. The of the ministry being instigated by a lay The report to which Carols refers is A Time parishes that held regular services for person. In consequence, this usually to Heal: A contribution towards the ministry wholeness and healing tended to use the means that the ministry waxes and wanes of healing (2000, London, Church House authorised texts more frequently, but on the with changes in the leadership of the Publishing); and the liturgical text are in whole these services were outside normal community. It was interesting to hear Common Worship: Pastoral Services Sunday worship. anecdotal evidence of this from a Lay (2000, 2005, London, Church House Publishing). , and GP, who had experienced More questions than answers over a quarter of a century of such As the research has progressed I find that I changes. Each successive incumbent had have more questions than answers. It might changed the time and type of service at New all-age companion to be assumed that training was a concern. Times and Seaons and Festivals which the ministry was offered; from a quiet But all the ministers I spoke to had monthly evening service with the laying on undergone some training, and incumbents Look out for the latest in the Together for a of hands for healing, to the current practice were very aware of the need to take great Season series, with a new resource for of lay prayer ministry once a month during care in their selection and training. Feasts and Festivals of the Christian year. communion. Unrealistic expectations, and any cult of The book (withCD) is published by Church One incumbent of a Blackburn parish had personality I have yet to experience. House Publishing and costs £24.50.

Page 2 - Praxis News of Worship Issue 22 Inspiring Worship Reflections of a with a liturgical past

The second extract from an address by Michael Perham to the annual meeting of Diocesan Liturgical Committee representatives

Seven key recoveries the building, as it is, with all its clutter, in a The final recovery is of memory. Having in new way, to identify its different ‘rooms’ our memory bank scriptural and liturgical ver the years I have discovered and use well. How I long to see the little texts is important, both in order that they several aspects of liturgy in our village congregation of a dozen or so on a may come to our rescue at moments of O churches that encourage me. Sunday around the font for the Gathering, crisis in our lives and indeed may feed us There are seven areas, however, where I sitting together near the front of the nave daily as we go about our business, and also believe there is much work to be done. It is for the Liturgy of the Word, up in the so that we can be text-free, book-free, all part of the process of formation if we are chancel and around the for the Liturgy screen-free, as we worship. Variety is good, to have inspiring worship. Here some of of the Sacrament, and back at the door for but if there is so much of it that we have the priorities I set before you arise from the Dismissal. committed nothing to memory, it has where we began (see Issue 21), with the become a barrier to worship and an obstacle The fourth recovery is of confidence in prophet Isaiah and the vision of God. to spirituality. Many Eucharistic Prayers may music. The people of God should be be a blessing, but not if they mean our eyes For the first recovery, and by far the most frequently bursting into song. We need to are fixed on text when they could be fixed on crucial, is the recovery of expectation in draw in new instruments. We also need to bread and wine. Affirmations of Faith may worship. Expectation that worship will bring regain our confidence in unaccompanied broaden our theological horizons, but if they both joy and pleasure. Expectation that the singing. It’s sad to go to churches where mean we do not know the Creeds by heart, words and actions of the liturgy have only the hymns are sung. How any one can then we do ourselves a deep disservice. We meaning - everything said, everything think that texts like the Gloria, the need some texts written on our heart. sung, everything done is unfolding a truth. and the are effective when Expectation of meeting Jesus - meeting spoken, rather than sung, I can never Final thought Jesus in word, sacrament and fellowship in understand. And we need to teach a new a way that is real encounter and blessing. generation of clergy to be confident in their I love the liturgy - I hope I have conveyed Expectation of a glimpse of heaven - singing role. People need help in finding that, though I hope you can see I love God joined, like Isaiah, to the worship of the ways to sing simply, but movingly, and thus even more! But I don’t think the liturgy is angels and the . Expectation of to find their worship lifted to a different everything, nor do I believe that good liturgy transformation - expecting the worship to level. alone will bring people to Christ. So I end change me as an individual, expecting the with a warning. I worry when people say that worship to change us corporately as a The fifth is the recovery of the visual. All worship is the Church’s shop-window. For all church. All these are aspects of too often we still see people with their its attractiveness, it is not often, I think, a expectation, without which we are unlikely heads buried in a book or hidden under a tool of pre-evangelism. I want to bring to be open to the Spirit. pew when all the most visual things are people into worship and I want it to touch happening in the liturgy - the proclamation them deeply, but I think there is a lot of work The second recovery (and it arises from from the Book of the in the middle to be done with them before worship is what the first) is the recovery of prayerfulness. of the assembly, the manual acts of the will touch them. We should not claim too ‘Praying the liturgy’ has always seemed to Eucharistic Prayer, the making of the sign much for something we dearly love. It is only me a very important phrase. ‘Going to a of the cross over a congregation in part of the picture. Worship is not the shop- service’ is one thing, but ‘praying the blessing. The old invitation to put ‘hands window of the Church or, if it is, it is only one liturgy’ quite another. Unless there is that together and eyes closed’ for prayer needs of many that every community needs. undercurrent of prayerfulness, with hearts to be replaced with an encouragement to and minds open to the Spirit, then all the open your eyes wide, to face the action, to Michael Perham is the Bishop of Gloucester. things we do (greeting, listening, singing, look for the symbolism, to enjoy the colour, receiving and much more) will lack real to see the beauty. engagement. The channel of communication with God will not be open The sixth is the recovery of spontaneity. Of Liturgical Study at our end. course this has happened in many at King’s College London churches - praise the Lord! - but they

The third relates to the creative use of our remain a vibrant minority. Few of our MA in Contemporary Worship buildings. Large buildings and small worship leaders have become confident - studying recent trends in worship revision congregations are difficult to fit together enough to let the liturgy sometimes take and development. satisfactorily. We need, of course, to take them in unexpected directions or even to on reluctant DACs and preservation introduce a spontaneous word here and Doctorate in Ministry (DMin) societies and insist that our buildings be there in response to the promptings of the - with opportunity for a liturgically-based reordered for imaginative worship. Most Spirit. There is no substitute for careful research project. church reorderings nowadays seem to be preparation, but a willingness to be about freeing up the west end for coffee; surprised and to surprise others should For further information please contact the rather fewer about freeing up the east end never be excluded. Even the most skilful Revd Dr James Steven for bread and wine. It is liturgical reordering worship leader cannot always know in ([email protected]). that we most need. But, even when that is advance where the liturgy needs to move. impossible or undesirable, we need to use

Praxis News of Worship Issue 22 - Page 3 Musical News A regular feature of articles and the latest news of music and worship edited by Anne Harrison

‘Touch the earth lightly’ WorshipConnect Music day in Guildford

hirley Erena Murray (born in 1931) is a conference major ecumenical event, ‘One Heart, S -writer from New Zealand, some A One Voice’, will take place in Guildford of whose texts are finding their way into UK he London School of Theology Cathedral on Saturday 24 October 2009, publications. These include a hymn on T describes this summer’s between 9 a.m. and 4.30 p.m., offering the environmental themes, ‘Touch the earth WorshipConnect conference (Tuesday 21 chance ‘to explore new approaches, share lightly’, which appears – paired with a tune to Friday 24 July 2009) as catering for ‘a experiences, and enjoy making music by Colin Gibson named TENDERNESS – in wide range of interests in music and together’. Common Ground (the 1998 Scottish worship’. Besides workshops there will be ecumenical collection) and also in the more three ‘Worship Labs’ designed to give Workshop leaders include Phil Jakob (a recently published Church Hymnary: Fourth participants the opportunity to experience a member of the Iona Community, Music Edition, now also available under the title particular style of worship and then to Adviser to the Roman Catholic diocese of Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise reflect on it. One of these will focus on Hallam, and Master of Music at the (Canterbury Press, 2008). lament, for example, and another on Cathedral Church of St Marie, Sheffield), ‘multigenerational worship’. Marty Haugen (a Lutheran musician and The young Los Angeles-based musician writer from North America) and Geraldine Tony Alonso has also composed a setting Among the speakers will be Christopher Latty, a versatile leader of worship who is at of ‘Touch the earth lightly’, which GIA Ellis who produced for the Baptist Union of home with music but was also on publishes as a single item (G-7175) Great Britain, with Myra Blyth, the liturgical the music team for the 2008 Lambeth suitable for , music groups or resource, Gathering for Worship: Patterns Conference. Katherine Dienes-Williams congregations. A short sample can be and Prayers for the Community of Disciples (Organist and Master of the Choristers at heard as an mp3 file on the GIA website (Canterbury Press 2005). His most recent Guildford Cathedral) will lead a session (www.giamusic.com – enter the title into the book is Approaching God: A Guide for called ‘Sing unto the Lord a new song’. Search box on the home page). Copies of Worship Leaders and Worshippers Composer Paul Field promises to explore the music can be ordered on this side of the (Canterbury Press 2009). songs that build bridges and relate to the Atlantic from Decani Music, Oak House, 70 everyday realities of life, while Andrew High Street, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0AU Ian Collinge, an ethnomusicologist who Maries will also introduce a range of music (tel: 01842 819830; e-mail: spent twelve years in Asia researching in his workshop, entitled ‘Singing the Lord’s [email protected]). indigenous musical forms and producing song in a strange land’. The day will also worship resources, will explore some of the included a ‘Big Sing’ for all, in the Nave. ‘Touch the earth lightly’ is also the subject musical issues for congregations where of two short features in the Winter 2009 different cultures are represented. He is A booking form with further information can edition of The Hymn: a journal of currently based in Oldham; read his article be downloaded from Guildford’s diocesan congregational song, published quarterly by ‘Worship with a Global Smell’ on the website (www.cofeguildford.org.uk). The The Hymn Society in the United States and EngageWorship website run by Sam and charge, for anyone booking before 31 July, Canada. The ‘Hymn Interpretation’ on Sara Hargreaves (www.engageworship.org/ is £15 (£17 after that date). pages 24-26 looks at Shirley Erena articles). Murray’s text in the light of a process described by author William L. Wallace as For further information about the ‘Musicademy’ articles ‘the greening of hymnody’. conference, follow the links from the Music and Worship Foundation’s website he practical worship training website David Buley’s ‘Hymn Performance’ article (www.mwf.org.uk) or the London School of T www.musicademy.com offers suggests ways of opening up the Theology’s home page (www.lst.ac.uk), or information about products for sale (e.g. accompaniment for this hymn to ‘an ring 01923 456220. instructional DVDs for musicians involved in expanded instrumentarium’. Various worship ) but also presents articles websites (including by a variety of writers, as posts on a blog. Honorary doctorate Recent entries include material from Jonny www.westernsoundscape.org) are mentioned as resources for ‘sound-bytes of Baker (a piece on liturgy and postmodern urham University has announced that it culture which was originally written for animals and natural soundscapes’. Using will be awarding the honorary degree bird calls or the sounds of the ocean along D Christianity Today’s online leadership of Doctor of Divinity to hymn-writer Timothy journal) and a reflection on some of the with the hymn would undoubtedly score Dudley-Smith on Thursday 2 July 2009. fairly high on the giggle-risk scale in some technical problems involved with screening The University’s website (www.dur.ac.uk) lyrics from songs, by Mike Sessler, contexts, but – with sensitive planning and describes him as ‘almost certainly the most execution – might it be worth exploring the Technical Arts Director for the North famous living hymn-writer in the world; American ‘Upper Room’ community. use of the evocative percussion instrument undoubtedly the best known and most known as a rain-stick, or some other natural widely admired in the English-speaking sound? world.’

Page 4 - Praxis News of Worship Issue 22

Celebrating hymnody Dave Walker blogs from Minehead

John Henderson reports on the Pratt Green An interesting comment from a blog entry Matt Redman or the guy from Delirious. Trust’s anniversary event. written on Monday, 13 April 2009, There are too many new and unknown while Dave Walker (whose cartoons songs every year and many of these are n 1984 Methodist minister and hymn appear regularly in the Church Times) was dreary and tedious. I think I said this last I writer Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000) at Spring Harvest: ‘Old hymns seem to be year – I’ve had no change of opinion.’ founded the trust that bears his name. His back in fashion – the most genuine To see all Dave Walker’s postings from intention was to use the royalty income moments of worship have been when the Spring Harvest, including a photo of the from his hymns for the benefit of authors, band play these as they are the only songs early morning Easter service on the beach composers and users of hymnody. The everyone knows.’ This appears as number at Minehead and a couple of cartoons, go twenty-fifth anniversary of the Pratt Green six in his list of ‘Things that many to the home page of the Church Times Trust was celebrated on 28 March 2009 Anglicans might quite enjoy about Spring website (www.churchtimes.co.uk), find the with a conference in Coventry Cathedral. Harvest’. This was advertised widely but the ‘blog’ section from the menu and select organisers really had no idea of what On the other hand, number one in his list April 2009. of ‘Things that many Anglicans might not response they would get. To their surprise Dave Walker also blogged from the enjoy quite so much about Spring Harvest’ and delight, around 450 delegates Christian Resources Exhibition in May. is the worship: ‘Singing songs is, to my attended, ranging from the great and the One stand he visited was promoting mind, the least important aspect of good in the world of contemporary Sorted, a magazine for ‘Christian blokes’; Christianity, whereas here the ‘worship’ is hymnody to the churchgoer – ‘I in a recent survey, nearly 60% of its given great prominence. Most of the just thought it would be interesting,’ one of readers said they enjoy singing but prefer worship leaders are trying to sound like them said to me. ‘ macho songs’.

The keynote speech was by Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith, who delivered a forthright summary of hymnody: past, Have you seen…? present and future. His thoughts for the future of traditional hymnody covered Book review various scenarios but left us all feeling very positive. I understand the lecture will be published in due course. Workshops were In Every Corner Sing held in the afternoon, led by Bernadette RSCM Farrell, Graham Kendrick, Andrew Pratt £35.00 - 99 songs and Janet Wootton, and around 100 of us joined Paul Leddington Wright and the St was very pleased to be given a copy of setting of Psalm 121) and 54 (‘Thuma Michael’s Singers (enhanced by brass and I the recently published In Every Corner mina’ - a less familiar version). timpani) to prepare for the closing act of Sing a collection of songs published by the worship. Royal School of Church Music, from a I only have one criticism of this edition – wide range of countries. My personal belief very few of the songs have chord symbols As one might imagine, 450 delegates, all is that the music we use in our churches written on the music, therefore making it committed to hymnody, together with , should reflect the diversity of our inaccessible to guitarists and those organ and brass made a most uplifting congregations and in the church which I keyboard players who do not read music. sound. Not everything was fortissimo, attend about 40% of the congregation The printed music looks, and is, eminently however, and a note of reflection was originate from or have roots overseas. suitable for churches who worship in a provided by Graham Kendrick’s rendering more choral tradition (4-part harmony with of his own song, ‘Crucified Man’. Also on The book has been edited by Geoffrey piano accompaniment), but this is not the demonstration was the Pratt Green Trust’s Weaver who himself has collected many of tradition of many of the songs, or of the HymnQuest software. First developed in these songs, and as well as having an arrangements on the accompanying CD. 2000 and constantly enhanced, it is index of first lines and a geographical Music group leaders with guitars in their surprising how many churches are still not index, the contents are arranged in a very groups will therefore need to spend time aware of it – I can’t imagine living without it. helpful way – under a variety of descriptive working out the chords. titles. The book includes a CD of MP3 Do visit the Trust’s website format recorded accompaniments for every All in all, I would say if you can afford to (www.prattgreentrust.org.uk); one sincerely song in the book which are varied in pay £35 it is a super resource for many hopes that we do not have to wait another orchestration, often using sounds and churches; and for those with guitarists in twenty-five years for such a splendid day. rhythms which are authentic to that their music groups, I’m sure that with particular country. This is an excellent idea chords added, it will be equally useful. I Dr John Henderson is the Royal School of as not only can the CD be used as a can’t wait to incorporate some of these Church Music’s Honorary Librarian; he lives backing-track where musical resources are songs into our church worship, just as in Swindon and is the Director of Music at limited, but it is very helpful in soon as I can find time to write in the Wroughton Parish Church. Some of the understanding the style of the songs prior chords. music recorded in Coventry will be to teaching them to your singers and broadcast as part of BBC Radio 2’s instrumentalists. The book also has a Charles Parker ‘Sunday Half-Hour’ on 9 August; hymns by section on suggestions for the Music and Worship Foundation Andrew Pratt (‘Best of all is God is with us’) performance of the songs. A couple of NorthWest Regional Coordinator and Janet Wootton (‘God calls us to the songs I particularly like are number 68 (‘I royal feast’) could be heard in the lift up my eyes to the hills’, a Russian In Every Corner Sing is available from the programme on Sunday 24 May. RSCM website: www.rscmshop.com

Praxis News of Worship Issue 22 - Page 5 Have you seen…? Book reviews

Welcoming : Spirituality in Season – A practical and pastoral guide to the new legislation Growing through the Christian Year Stephen Lake Ross Thompson Church House Publishing 2009 Canterbury Press 2009 ISBN 978-0-7151-4172-4, xi + 145pp, £7.99 ISBN 9781853118920 , 192 pp, £15.99

recently attended a civil wedding that and I’ll bet there will be later editions his should make a good starting point for I ceremony in a stately home and, lovely without that topical reference. Since I am T those who are looking for new ideas for as it was, I came away grateful for the writing for a liturgical publication I looked a approaching the . Ross Church of England service. Familiarity little closer at the relevant section: this is Thompson takes the reader through the breeds contempt, but Stephen Lake is mainly a commentary on the service. The liturgical seasons and catches us up right to bring us back to the treasure that liturgy itself is dealt with in a very practical historically with the origins and early we possess. Welcoming Marriage is first of manner, where Lake basically says what development of the festivals. He then all a wake-up call, that the clergy ought to he does and why. Alternative possibilities considers the differences between churches be more welcoming of this service and are not explored in depth, but he is a good (East and West) and their underlying ministry and of the couples who come our person to compare notes with. Liturgical theology. Each chapter then teases out an way. All too often a barrage of questions - reflection is seen more in other parts, for underlying spiritual basis for the season, ‘Do you live in the parish? Have you been example a down-to-earth but affirming followed by reflective questions to answer, married before?’ - spring up like thistles in piece on the importance of the parish exercises and suggested further reading at front of the church door. But ample priest who brings together in one the Bible the end of each chapter. research shows that people who could go and Christian tradition, the community and It was interesting to read it straight through, to any number of exotic locations to tie the experience, the liturgical enabling and the but it would be more useful dipping into each marital knot, often want a church wedding personal relationship. chapter as the season came along. I found it because it symbolises something more It is a book for sharing with those in the useful just before to reflect on the real and serious. This is an area rich with parish who are involved in weddings, but emotional journey on which we are taking opportunities for mission, one of the things above all for clergy. The newly ordained people during that time – both those who will the Church does best, and Lake offers us will welcome the practical checklists. The be with us for the whole journey and those countless ideas for making it even better. not so newly ordained will wake up to fresh who will simply dip in and out. We have an The book covers virtually every aspect of ideas and the author’s wonderful optimism all-night vigil, and there were potential ideas wedding ministry from the first interview to which will warm the stalest minister. There for those who need to ‘do’ something during follow-up (nothing on foreign nationals and are not many books which are so that time, especially ideas which might Home Office regulations, but that is a fast- encouraging. encourage people to engage with the moving target). The subtitle talks about the passion rather than the detail of what Gordon Jeanes new legislation, but it is much more than happened. Vicar, St Anne with St Faith, Wandsworth I enjoyed being reminded of the historical Common Worship beginnings, as someone who has always Daily Eucharistic been fascinated by that, but felt slightly irritated by the assumption that we all knew Canterbury Press 2008 what The Promise was. In some places the £30.00 full title The Promise of his Glory was used, but even so a book published in 1991 will his book is not a list of Bible the three-year Sunday lectionary. This have escaped many non-liturgists in these T references such as those that we find additional complication has been flagged Common Worship days. in the handy annual publications, but a up clearly in the publication but, again, provision of the texts of the Bible readings readers do need to know their liturgical Spirituality in Season would be a good and (with response) - according to years. (This is no fault of the book - just a grounding for those who are, perhaps, the Common Worship Daily Eucharistic complication of the scheme!) unaware of the complexity of the Christian Lectionary authorised in 2005. year. However, it was also frustrating in that At the back of the book there is a set of inevitably each season only gets a few It is a very useful book for a church that Gospel acclamations for the various pages, and I was left wanting more. It is has regular weekday communions, saving seasons of the year - although there is not though, a book worth buying for those the need for two or three bookmarks in a a second ribbon for this section, which looking for inspiration on how we make sure Bible and a booklet of the lectionary would make it even more useful. our engage with our spirituality, and references on the lectern. There are no readings for Sundays - these especially for those for whom all this is fresh The Common Worship Daily Eucharistic are found in other publications; nor are and new. Lectionary is essentially a two-year there readings for the Principal Feasts, Christine Hall lectionary, so the reader does need to Festivals, and Lesser Festivals. These, too Curate, St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney know which year we are in (one or two). may be found elsewhere. Very occasionally the lectionary Gilly Myers designates a different reading for years A, Canon Precentor at Manchester Cathedral B and C - connecting with the reading in

Page 6 - Praxis News of Worship Issue 22 Look A Canadian Placement - no paper! y interest was liturgical and spiritual, a rite the next two days felt very A guide to technical M and the experience of First Nation reminiscent of . things in worship (indigenous) Liturgies at the Jessie On the Sunday, we were up before dawn Saulteaux Centre was fascinating. It was (which helped the analogy) for a further by Tim Lomax & Tim Stratford the weekend of the autumn equinox and Ceremony. We gave thanks for the gift of the Ceremonies were effectively a retreat - life, for being created, for love, for humility, Number 4: keeping it simple for us to purify ourselves, to be healed and for courage and healing and for respect. It hey say that a picture is worth a to give thanks to the Great Spirit or certainly gave material for an Easter thousand words. This is both an Creator. There was hospitality, and God , albeit unusual. T was to take whatever shape we wanted – advantage and a problem to those who whether God be the overtly Christian God Smudge replace their service books or cards with or not. It was reminiscent of the way Paul During this weekend and on a number of large colourful screens. Sometimes we try described the unknown god (Acts 17.23). other occasions I experienced the to do too much. cleansing of a smudging ceremony. You The Jessie Saulteaux Centre is outside burn and smudge sweet grass or other Words Winnipeg in Manitoba, and just about in the herbs such as sage. You ‘waft’ the smoke When words are on the screen in worship centre of Canada. The Centre trains First over your mouth (asking that you speak we want people to be able to absorb them Nations people for Christian ministry of only good things), over your ears (hear quickly. From time to time there will be various sorts, but this weekend was good things), eyes (see good), head (that rubrics and instructions, minister’s words something that was open to a wider your mind be focused and open to listen to and cues, and words to be said or sung audience (most of those training for people’s stories), your heart (that you don’t corporately. The screen frees people’s ministry were not present). have a heavy heart), your legs (that your hands from books, allows them to keep their Sweat walk on mother earth is good), and your heads up during worship, and can assist There was a ‘Sweat’ on the Thursday hands (as you might wash them clean). It those with low literacy skills to follow. Words evening when we arrived: a physical is a cleansing ritual that some might do are presented best in small, easily digestible chance to rid ourselves of all the every morning. chunks; people should always have the uncleanness of our physical selves as well words of the moment in front of them. The Sacred Circle progress bar (see Issue 21) can help locate as our emotional and spiritual selves. We There was a Sacred Circle (a gathering) (a mixture of people mostly from Winnipeg, those words in a timeline of the whole during one of the weekends that I was in event. But if the screen gets too full of many of whom were First Nations) went Winnipeg and, as part of my placement, I into the Sweat Lodge. First the women, led information then the essential texts that are devised the final liturgy at the Cathedral! I being displayed will get confused. It is in by an elder: we began around the fire included a smudge as a cleansing action - that was just outside the lodge and then we important to keep the ‘print’ big, contrasting it took the place of the prayers of and clean; try not to include more than eight crawled into the tent. The men followed. preparation. I can understand some The lodge was, perhaps, 12 feet in lines at a time; and keep the line breaks at people’s aversion to mixing ‘pagan’ natural points for the spoken voice. diameter and there were about 22 of us, 2 ceremonies with Christian ones, but in this deep around a pit, which would later hold context it seemed highly appropriate. It is Pictures heated stones from the fire. something that has been done throughout Pictures offer two key benefits: they add We prayed in that small space, very aware Christian history. Here was a liturgy for the decoration and provide non-verbal learning of each other’s bodies in a way that would Christian people of God, who also aids. But they take a long time for the be unheard of in an English retreat, or happened to be First Nation or Aboriginal viewer to absorb and, if used carelessly, sauna. It was like being in the womb of the and it was a way of affirming and can be a massive distraction from those earth, and we were being re-created, respecting their Aboriginal spirituality that things to which they would be better giving healed and ready for what life might throw has been so denigrated and removed. (In their attention. A moving picture will be at us. The stones (grandfathers and the Residential Schools, for example, the impossible to ignore, making demands on grandmothers) were brought in, giving us a Aboriginal children were forced to speak the eye all the time. Our brains have only a thread of history and timelessness; prayers English and their culture was dismissed. limited amount of processing power so, in towards the four directions gave us a The last schools didn’t close until the worship, this technique will most often be chance to pray for young and old, and all 1950s). best avoided. When using still images for decoration where the words matter, don’t peoples. Water, with herbs, poured over Other liturgies, especially on the Reserve, the stones gave the effect of a sauna. It choose a new picture or background for were very different. Here it was very every slide. Consider using the same design was an opportunity to experience the traditional. Music was generally Country enormity and graciousness of God. We for a complete act of worship. Of course and Western or Victorian and I lost count of there are moments when pictures may were inside for three hours, perhaps – but the number of times I sang ‘Rock of Ages’ it certainly didn’t feel that long. become less of a distraction and more of a and ‘Amazing grace’. I was there for positive focus. For non-literary learners they Sacred Fire Harvest , which was very can be a positive asset in and After this ceremony, the Sacred Fire was reminiscent of England many years ago. provide food for reflection. Occasionally taken to a tipi and then guarded day and People brought pickles and pies and these during intercessory prayer they can lift a night by each of us taking turns. This gave were specifically for the priest. And most congregation’s horizons. us a chance to hear stories, to take time on pies seemed to be Lemon Meringue, Both Tims are parish clergy and members of our own, as well as to listen and be with Banana Cream or Pumpkin! the Liturgical Commission. God. I do not want to impose a Christian A fascinating experience! Tim Lomax is Assistant Curate in the parish interpretation, because that takes away of Penn Fields, Wolverhampton; something of the authenticity and validity of Christine Hall Tim Stratford is Team Rector of the Kirkby the occasion, but spiritually and in terms of Curate, St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney Team Ministry in Liverpool.

Praxis News of Worship Issue 22 - Page 7

Colin’s Column Notice Not the first word, but the last - Colin Buchanan writes... board

found myself at the conference on Scripture in Liturgy at St John’s, Durham, in March, reflecting on a 50-year period in Anglican initiation practice. I dated DLC reps day I this back in part to the 1958 Lambeth Conference, where the subcommittee This year’s day for representatives of Diocesan on the BCP set out possible lines for revision of Anglican liturgical texts, the first Liturgical Committees will take place on time this had really been contemplated at such a conference. But a more Wednesday 30 September at St Peter’s Eaton specific start-point for the anniversary would be the publication in Spring 1959 Square. The aim of the conference is to connect of the first draft texts of our C/E Liturgical Commission. The texts were entitled with the Liturgical Commission’s priorty in IME 1-3, and (SPCK, 1959), and, although they came years IME 4-7 and CME. Diocesan Liturgical before any new texts could be authorized (save by going to Parliament, which Committees will be hearing from the Liturgical was not in view), their impact runs on into today’s Christian Initiation rites, and Commission in due course. has been felt overseas also.

The trouble was that the texts were drafted by people deeply influenced by Gregory Dix (who had died in 1952). He had become the second half of the Praxis Programme 2009 - 2010 ‘Mason-Dix Line’, that water and the laying on of hands are the two halves of a Instead an annual booklet containing the two-part sacrament (rather as bread and wine are two halves of a two-part programme of training events, there will be an sacrament). His academic contemporaries, Edward Ratcliff and Arthur occasional insert in Praxis News of Worship, Couratin, were on the Liturgical Commission and were making the running flagging up forthcoming events. There is also there. So their draft services in 1959 broke new ground, not only in asserting programme information on the Praxis website. that the two-part sacrament virtually stemmed from the apostles, but also in writing unprecedented Anglican texts that combined baptism, confirmation and communion for adults. It sounded exciting; it led to various innovating in conducting ‘integrated’ rites at parish communions on Sundays (whereas Information about the Alcuin Club until the 1960s all were stand-alone services, and prior baptism, if can be found on the club’s website: needed, was done in a hole-in-a-corner way in advance). And so we came into www.alcuinclub.org.uk. the contemporary era.

The 1959 texts were much criticized, not least for a kind of liturgical pretty- prettiness in their style, illustrated by a rubric (attributed to Eric Milner-White) which said the font should be ‘set in spacious and well-ordered surroundings’. Look out for these forthcoming But their shape persisted. So the Series 2 rites in 1967, though toning down booklets in the Grove Worship Series : the 1959 notion that confirmation is the individual’s Pentecost, retained the structure. Since then, returning not only to the scriptures but also to ancient No. 199 is How to… share the authors, we generally believe now (as the Reformers did) that water-baptism is sole and complete sacramental initiation. leadership of Worship by Anna de But we still have the 1959 structure for adults. Of course, it is fun for a bishop to Lange and Trevor Lloyd. administer – but is it best practice? No. 200 is Liturgical Formation and Common Worship by Phillip Tovey and Mark Earey. The booklet looks at I have learned that in Canada and Wales, if not elsewhere, (see Issue the different meanings and uses of 21 of Praxis News of Worship) was traditionally expounded as ‘Taking the term ‘liturgical formation’, and the Ablutions in the ROMAN Position’. That explanation has not increased my affection for the practice. way that Common Worship, by its very nature, demands new skills of leaders of worship. Oh yes, and will someone write to the broadcasting media and tell them to fine every speaker (including their own interviewers and newscasters) who say Both are available from Grove Books ‘testament’ when they mean ‘testimony’? at www.grovebooks.co.uk or telephone 01223 464748. Colin Buchanan is the former Bishop of Woolwich, and former editor of News of Liturgy.

Praxis News of Worship is edited by Gilly Myers and is copyright © Praxis 2009. Material for inclusion should be sent to: Gilly Myers, 2 Booth Clibborn Court, Manchester M7 4PJ. Email: [email protected] We reserve the right to edit material and make no guarantee to include material submitted. The views expressed are not necessarily those of Praxis or the Praxis Council.

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