Issue 6 - Summer 2005 Price to non-affiliates of Praxis: £2.50

What is : Daily Prayer Praxis? For the first time in history, the has a Praxis was formed in definitive daily prayer book. Chris Cocksworth presents an overview... 1990, sponsored by the Liturgical Commission, the Group for the ord, teach us to pray, them. Without the rationale and advice they provide Renewal of Worship it’s actually quite difficult to know how the orders of the disciples asked Jesus. (GROW) and the Alcuin L prayer really work and how they can be used to give Club. It exists to provide He gave them a prayer, a common prayer, a of their best. My car permanently suffers from my and support liturgical community-forming prayer. ‘A most absolute and neglect of its manual! perfect form of prayer’, according to the 17th century education in the Church  Prayer during the Day of England. Puritan William Perkins, who judged its combination of praise, penitence and petition beyond equal. Put - that distinctive Common Worship attempt to weave that together with the ancient Jewish vision of ‘the traditional patterns of minor offices together with modern needs for a simple starter-office for those Affiliation word being very near to you - in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe’ (Dt 30.14) - add in new to this sort of praying – has kept its shape and The sponsoring Luther’s recognition that ‘the too are nothing feel (which had gone down well) but changed some organisations do not but prayers in which we praise, thank and glorify of its texts. Material for praise has been included, fund Praxis financially. God’ - and there you have the basic ingredients of some of the readings are different, the pattern of The work that Praxis the church’s ancient feast of prayer (formally known responses has been structured around Jesus’ I am does is supported as the ) which the Church of sayings (during ordinary time) and his Beatitudes mainly by affiliation. If England has in the newly published Common (during seasons), and more prayers from the classic you are not an affiliate, Worship Daily Prayer. repertoire of Christian prayer have been included. why not consider Ribbons - but that’s not all  Forms of Penitence becoming one? Just get The four Forms of Penitence have been moved to a in touch with the In one sense it doesn’t look very different from its 2002 predecessor, except that the cover is now pivotal point between the orders of Prayer during the office—details on the harder and the colour stronger. But open the book Day and Morning and Evening Prayer. They were back page. and you will find some major differences – and not rather hidden before. Now they are more accessible only the six brightly coloured ribbons, those all- and readily available for all three times of prayer as important aids to prayer without which even the best required. (Night Prayer, which remains almost Website laid schemes of mortals and liturgists fall apart. The unchanged, has its own.) Have you visited the hundreds of questionnaires returned by the users of  Morning and Evening Prayer Praxis website? View us the first volume, a very good debate in Synod, bags The most obvious difference in Morning and online at full of letters, air full of e-mails and many hours of Evening Prayer is the red line down the left hand www.praxisworship.org Liturgical Commission time have all contributed to a side which signals those sections which are part of .uk thorough overhaul of the Preliminary Edition. the backbone of the order and therefore mandatory. Prayerful road-testing Without them the structure collapses. (Previously That’s not to say that the precursor failed to impress. this job was done by a method of indentation which Inside this issue of was generally felt to be too confusing.) Praxis News of Worship Quite the contrary, in fact. The overwhelming view was that it was along the right lines, providing the As before, the orders move from ‘Preparation’ to sort of structures and texts that people wanted to ‘The Word of God’ to ‘Prayers’ and then, finally, to Moving Visions 2 support their prayer in the morning, the evening, at ‘The Conclusion’. There are now more options night or, with the help of ‘Prayer during the Day’ at available in the Preparation, including the availability Remembrance 2 other points in the day. Nevertheless, the throughout the year of the popular opening prayer, Service Preliminary Edition was only ever meant to be a ‘As we rejoice in the gift of this new day’. Not An American 3 prototype – a road-tester which would allow us, by everyone liked the idea of an invariable mega-church learning from each other, to hear better the Lord’s and many made the correct point that Common Worship 3 answer to the underlying and abiding prayer of his Anglican has always allowed options at this Ordinal people, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’. point in the liturgy. On the other hand, affirmation and celebration of the grace of God in Christ after Musical News 4 & 5 So what is different? reading the word and before praying for the world Book Reviews 6 & 7  Introduction and Notes traditionally forms the heart of both Morning and Evening Prayer, and particularly so in Common Liturgy on the web 7 Working from beginning to end, the Introduction and Notes (the most critical but most overlooked section Worship Daily Prayer. So the 2005 edition maintains Colin’s Column 8 of any ) have been made more user- the structural importance of the Gospel Canticle, (Continued on page 2) Notice board 8 friendly in the hope that users will actually read

Praxis - exploring worship today (Continued from page 1) change is the cycle of intercession, which God of grace, to hear what prints out Benedictus in the morning and has been carefully reworked and in the evening as ideal ways - extended. It now includes a much wider the Spirit is saying to tried and tested by the praying tradition - range of prayer topics and relates much churches through the of praising God for the gospel of Christ, more determinedly to the life of the world scripture and to pray for the while allowing certain other expressions of as well as the needs of the church. The world for which Christ died. gospel praise to be used in their place for aim has been to strengthen the those who so choose. intercessory element of each of the orders There are other ways of doing this but here is one designed especially for Some of the first (in the Word by providing a variety of help and support for sustained petition. members of the Church of England to section) have been changed to avoid draw us into (as the Preliminary Edition repetition of the alternative to the Gospel  Festivals and Lesser Festivals put it) ‘a living and developing tradition of Canticle, and the heading simplified to The material for Festivals and Lesser daily prayer’. Let’s ‘pick it up, and pray’! ‘Canticle’, allowing those who don’t want Festivals has been made easier to use. to be restricted (as before) to an Old Christopher Cocksworth is Chair of the Testament Canticle in the morning, or a  Canticles Daily Office Group of the Liturgical New Testament Canticle in the evening, to A few new Canticles have been added. Commission and Principal of Ridley Hall. make their own choices. The other change worth noting is the three-page luxury of an  Psalm prayers and refrains order just for Ascension Day, which many The Psalm prayers and refrains have had will find a welcome addition. some major work done on them.  Prayers ll in all, then, quite a The bank of material for Prayers has A catalogue of changes undergone a lot of revision and re- but the purpose remains organisation. Many of the set texts have the same: to help the had a good going over and some new ones have been added. But the main people of God to praise the

Review: Moving Visions Dance Theatre

hey lay down their expressing in art something that is more participative act of worship, their mats and set out their like an act of worship. contribution would have an even more T space. Then they They came to Durham Cathedral last year. stunning impact. dance. They mostly work with a One has a sense of the numinous just by Editor combination of simple, live, walking through the door of the building, instrumentation, haunting vocals and basic so the environment was certainly on their symbols to create a powerful and side. What happened in the dance, Moving Visions will be appearing in three challenging presentation, fascinating those however, lifted us further beyond Cathedrals this summer. Look out for them who are watching and drawing them right ourselves, sweeping us up into the prayer if you are in Durham, York or London: into the heart of the movement. and expression at the centre of their work. Durham Aug 18 to 20 Moving Visions Dance Theatre is a small In the second of three pieces they (daily performances) group of dancers from the Rambert School abandoned their resident musicians and York Aug 22 and 23 of Ballet and Contemporary Dance led by danced to parts of Bach’s St John (daily performances) Director, Ross McKim. Since 1976 they Passion. It was at times powerful, St Paul’s Aug 25 to 27 have been travelling around a selection of disturbing, inspired and beautiful, and I (daily performances) cathedrals during the long summer would recommend anyone in the vicinity of St Paul’s Aug 28 (evening service) vacation, dancing ‘para-rituals’ – a term a cathedral this year when they visit to they use in an attempt to get away from drop everything else for an hour. I only the notion that they are making a wish that we could move one step further performance and towards the concept of beyond their ‘para-rituals’. Woven into a Revised Remembrance Service - the latest news

e reported in the last issue of Praxis The first is a 12-page booklet containing order the booklet online for these. W News of Worship that the the service and notes to accompany the Remembrance Sunday Service is being service. The booklet is published by CTBI/ revised, and we gave an indication of the Methodist Publishing House, 4 John shape to come. The second is an electronic version found Wesley Road, Werrington, Peterborough at www.ctbi.org.uk , the Churches PE4 6ZP. We are unable to establish the We can now report that the new service is Together in Britain and Ireland website. price, at the time of going to press. due to be launched by the end of August From here we will be able to download an this year, and will be available in two amendable version of the service, but Editor forms: (apparently) the notes will not be available there. We would have to use the facility to

Page 2 - Praxis News of Worship Issue 6 Glass tank and a sense of belonging Paul Bradshaw reports on a US mega-church and reflects on lessons to be learnt

hile in Louisville, Kentucky, in with a few words before asking them a for counselling. early January, I was taken to one fixed question about their faith and I concluded that it was not the worship W of the largest mega-churches in immersing them. A rather lengthy alone that caused people to come week the USA, the Southeast Christian Church. concluded the service. A collection was after week in huge numbers. Although Its worship centre, which is only one part taken, but “guests” were told that they very carefully rehearsed and of the total church “campus” that includes need not contribute, as the members professionally executed, it felt rather long an education wing and fellowship hall wished to give something to them. and boring for my taste. I am convinced among its buildings, seats 18,000 on three that it was the existence of the huge range tiers, and looks like a massive sports It then moved on to the of activities that were available outside the arena. From the outside the whole distribution of tiny worship that drew people into a sense of campus resembles a giant shopping mall, fellowship and belonging in a country and its parking lots are of a similar size to fragments of bread and where it is all too easy to feel outside any with the thousands who drive there plastic thimbles of grape community. These were detailed on the every week. The principal service is juice to everyone in their very well-produced pack of material that repeated three times, on Saturdays at 5 was offered to each guest on leaving and pm and on Sundays at 9 and 11:15 am, s e a t s w i t h t h e they could be signed up for at a long line and while the seats were not full at the encouragement to us to of booths in the atrium outside. There was service I attended, over 18,000 people in no pressure to do anything after worship all did attend worship that weekend. Two take communion at other than walk away, but if anyone did professional-looking raised camera whatever point in the take a step towards involvement, there positions were located in the midst of the service we felt ready. was an immediate warm welcome and congregation and shots from them were encouragement to become part of the intermixed on the large screens I was surprised by how “low key” the church from the large band of actively throughout the service. service was. I had expected something involved members. The service began, predictably enough, much more emotional. The songs at the Our own churches may have nothing like with the singing of several standard beginning did not try to arouse a fever of the scale and resources of that one, but I charismatic songs led by very competent piety, nor did the sermon, which believe that we can still learn lessons from musicians. It then moved on, to my concentrated on practical advice to help its success in attracting and holding surprise, to the distribution of tiny people live a Christian life. There was very people through its missionary-orientated fragments of bread and plastic thimbles of little praying throughout the service, in weekly worship. accordance with its “seeker” orientation, grape juice to everyone in their seats with Revd Professor Paul Bradshaw is the the encouragement to us to take and though there was an “ call” at the Professor of Liturgy at the University of communion at whatever point in the very end, it too was done in a simple, service we felt ready. This was followed by straightforward way with no sense of our Notre Dame several baptisms performed by total feelings being manipulated. On the other immersion in a large glass tank high up on hand, if people did get up out of their one side for all to see. The baptizers were cinema-style seats to come forward then, friends and family of the candidates and there was a huge team of members on introduced each one to the congregation hand to guide them and take them aside

Common Worship Ordinal meets with final approval

he Common Worship ordinal was then, as contingency, the extension of the houses, an amendment for this was given a very great deal of attention ASB ordinal was on the agenda for lost - although the House of had T during the July group of sessions of Tuesday morning. In the event, this was voted by a small majority in favour. the General Synod in York, and every unnecessary. By another amendment Synod voted to effort had been made to allow the Sticking points specify that one of only two business on the ordinal to reach We reported in the last issue of Praxis confessions should be used at completion by the end of the life-time of News of Worship that, in the context of a . this synod. This was achieved, and we generally positive reception, the revision  Giving of the Bible. An amendment to now have a Common Worship ordinal, in committee had been requested to its final form. delete the option of Giving the Bible at reconsider some specific points by Synod the end of the service was lost in all Process in February. In the Friday debate, it was three houses. The business was conducted in four clear that a number of speakers were still  Title of the ’ service. There was stages (with much scurrying around in unhappy with the outcome on particular not a great deal of energy behind the between): consideration of the second matters, namely request to retain the BCP title report by the Revision Committee on  . Having not been ‘Ordination or ’ (or has Friday, attention by the House of Bishops specifically mentioned in the text of been replaced by and) so this on Saturday morning, consideration by the earlier drafts, the revision committee amendment lapsed. House of Laity (meeting separately) on had inserted Prayers of Penitence as Saturday evening and ‘Final approval’ on an option, since February. For some, Final outcome Monday. Had the ordinal not been this was not enough They wanted them (Continued on page 8) accepted by Synod at final approval stage to be included ‘normally’. In a vote by

Praxis News of Worship Issue 6 - Page 3 Musical News A regular feature of articles and the latest news of music and worship edited by Anne Harrison

‘How what we sing has changed the church’

his is the sub-title of a new book from spirituality but who has become The author’s particular concern, as the T Pete Ward, Selling Worship uncomfortable with certain aspects of the book’s title suggests, is the doctrine of the (Paternoster, 2005). Analysing trends in evangelical sub-culture: is there a risk of Trinity. Alarm bells began to ring for him what has been sung over the last forty ‘worshipping worship’? following one morning service at his own years or so, particularly in evangelical Another recent book also encourages a church (not Anglican) where there was no circles and by young people, the author more critical self-awareness among those mention of God the Father or the Holy traces the influence of key entrepreneurs using predominantly contemporary songs Spirit, and his analysis of the Trinitarian and marketing strategies. He does not in their services. In Worshipping Trinity content of certain influential styles of see selling as necessarily negative, but (Paternoster, 2005) Robin Parry worship song is fascinating but disturbing. argues that its processes are far from expresses his concern at the inadequacy, He puts forward a number of suggestions neutral; the way we worship has been as he sees it, of the theological diet on worth considering by those who train influenced by market forces, and the offer in many churches. Where lengthy ‘worship leaders’, and urges songwriters content of what we sing has an impact on blocks of sung worship are used, with little and theologians to work together. our theology and on church practices. in the way of spoken liturgy, the content of Ward writes as someone who appreciates songs becomes especially significant. charismatic forms of worship and

Simple chant

ssue 3 of Praxis News of Worship easy to use with any of the texts once you predominate; he claims to have I reported on a number of resources have digested Brother Reginald’s successfully introduced simple chant to designed to help congregations sing introduction. A booklet of harmonised congregations who think that they can only psalms; these included a publication from tones can be obtained for a further £1.25. sing hymns. There may also be choirs Sarum College Press, a fuller version of For a small worshipping community eager who wish to use this austere style of which is now available. Common Worship to sing non-metrical texts but with only psalm-singing during certain seasons. For Psalms and Canticles (simply pointed for limited musical resources, this is one further information or orders, contact singing, by Brother Reginald SSF) is a possible solution. As David Sarum College Bookshop, 19 The Close, spiral-bound volume containing the Stancliffe points out in his foreword, the Salisbury, SP1 2EE (Tel: 01722 326899; complete and a great many music is very basic, but this has the Email: [email protected]). canticles. The price (£11.95) includes a advantage of allowing the words to card containing the music of simple tones,

New Scottish hymnal

he long awaited fourth edition of The represented, and there are a number of time to worship’ sit alongside Scottish T Church Hymnary (the successor to shorter songs from Africa, Argentina, the texts set to folk tunes (including the lovely ‘CH3’, which dates from 1973) finally Taizé Community and elsewhere. Music ‘Lord of life, we come to you’ sung to the appeared in late May, in time for a launch by North American musician Marty ‘Eriskay Love Lilt’), material from Africa at the Church of Scotland’s General Haugen and Roman Catholic composer (‘Mayenziwe’ – ‘Your will be done on Assembly. Published by Canterbury Bernadette Farrell finds a welcome place. earth, O Lord’) and children’s songs like Press, the book has been in preparation Some will appreciate having many of the ‘Have you heard the raindrops?’ A tune for about ten years, and may well be of best texts by John Bell and Graham by North American organist Alfred V. interest to musicians and congregations Maule, known from ‘Wild Goose’ Fedak (‘LUX TREMENDA’) made a south as well as north of the border. publications, gathered in one volume particular impression when sung to There is a very wide range of material, alongside more traditional hymns and a Christopher Idle’s metrical paraphrase of including a substantial section of selection of worship songs. the , ‘God, we praise you, God, psalmody (mostly metrical paraphrases Various recordings are in preparation, and we bless you’, at last year’s Hymn Society old and new, but with a few chanted a CD sampler, A Taste of the Church conference in Edinburgh. settings). The hymns and songs which Hymnary, has been on sale at £5 for some follow come from many parts of the world; time (orders can be sent by Email to the work of New Zealand writer Shirley [email protected]). Songs such Erena Murray is particularly strongly as Brian Doerksen’s ‘Come, now is the

Page 4 - Praxis News of Worship Issue 6

Book review Musical Snippets The future of music Cantate at weddings and funerals Stephen Dean (ed) Decani Music 2005 recent event offered the chance for clergy and musicians to consider £11.95 hardback A together some of the issues facing those who plan and lead marriage and funeral or as long as anyone can remember pieces by unknown writers. Indeed the services. Nigel Groome (Director of F the standard metre hymn has been exciting growth of home-produced songs Music at St George’s Church, the natural device with which to break up means that we often don’t know exactly Beckenham, and one of the Royal dense periods of liturgical text. Performed where pieces originate from. The very School of Church Music’s Education at a uniform speed and volume on the first in the book (the lovely round, ‘Where Team Leaders) arranged and led the organ, we like sheep have safely grazed two or three’) is said to originate from event in the Diocese of Rochester. The our standard hymnals bare, gently ironing South East Asia, but I heard it over twenty lively discussions provoked by Nigel’s out any triplets and syncopation along the years ago at a Youth in Germany, presentations were felt to be sufficiently way! so who knows?! valuable for the event to be repeated It was Mission Praise which began to While many of the songs can be sight- elsewhere; there are already tentative break the mould by introducing parish read, others are more demanding, with plans for something similar in the North churches to choruses, jazzed up harmo- interesting rhythms, harmonies and des- East after 2006. Anyone nies and instrumental bars in the middle cants. Some encourage instrumental interested may contact Nigel by phone of songs, while Taizé chants converted us accompaniment and the use of cantors; a (0208 460 2439), by Email to the idea that music could be sung sit- few are designed to provide sung backing ([email protected]) or by writing to 27 ting down, and could be repeated more to spoken prayer. The book is clearly laid Farnaby Road, Shortlands, Bromley, than once. As a result far more attention out – no page turning is required – and Kent, BR1 4BL. has been given to the value of shorter the songs are divided into clear sections, Regional MWF events worship songs and chants, which are be- with a high proportion of psalms and sea- ing appreciated both for their flexibility and sonal acclamations for use in either Ser- he Music and Worship Foundation is their effectiveness in creating mood and vices of the Word or the . T planning a number of events on atmosphere. For this alone, Decani Mu- Saturdays later this year and during This book is full of good things and is cer- 2006 which will be of interest to sic’s new book Cantate is to be wel- tainly worth playing your way through. I comed. musicians, clergy and lay leaders of would be very surprised if you didn’t also worship. Among them are several However, Cantate is not just a selection of end up saying, ‘I like that: how can it con- sessions entitled ‘Laughter and Tears’, pieces of liturgical ‘musak’. Stephen tribute to the way we enrich the liturgy in when John Bell will look at the Dean is to be congratulated on providing our Church?’ expression of joy and lament through the over 200 chants and hymns which, though John Burniston Psalms, and a series called ‘Small is short, are well crafted. Many of the writ- Rite Aid, Diocese of Bradford Beautiful’, seeking to encourage and ers are familiar, with a range of material equip small churches in their music and from John Bell, Dan Schutte, Bernadette worship. Venues and details will be Farrell, Marty Haugen, Christopher Walker posted on the website (www.mwf.org.uk) and the Taizé Community. But there are in due course, but the first date for ‘Small also some good examples of music from is Beautiful’ is 24th September the world church and some interesting (Northwest region), while ‘Laughter and Tears’ will be launched in Bradford on 5th November. Music Ministers – News from Ely Workshop for hymn writers s part of a new training programme A for Authorised Lay Ministry commencing in September 2005, the Diocese of Ely is offering a specific espite anxieties in certain quarters 4th to Sunday 6th November. Leading course of study for those involved in the D that some contemporary worship has the workshop will be members of the ministry of music. Those taking part will little place for hymns, many people editorial group of Stainer and Bell’s be expected to commit themselves to continue to produce new texts. Worship Live. This is an ecumenical attending weekly evening sessions in Submitting these to constructive criticism team, led by the Rev Dr Janet Wootton, term time, plus a few Saturdays, and at from fellow writers (and singers) may responsible for a publication in which new the end of the year’s programme those occasionally be painful, but it is a process hymns and prayers can be shared, and who wish to will receive a formal recommended by those who are experts ideas about worship explored. commissioning. in the field. Subscribers pay £9 for three issues; visit Applicants will be expected to have the the Stainer and Bell website Later this year there is an opportunity to support of their parish and PCC. (www.stainer.co.uk/hymns.html) for more spend a whole weekend working on new The aim is to develop confidence and information. hymns for (words or tunes, or competence, for potential, new and both), with the chance to give and receive Further details of the workshop are experienced music ministers. feedback. It is the second residential available from Mike Sanderson, 85 hymn-writing weekend organised by Mike Linceslade Grove, Loughton, Milton and Carolyn Sanderson, and will take Keynes, MK5 8AD (Tel: 01908 394423; place at Holland House, Cropthorne (near Email: [email protected]). Pershore in Worcestershire) from Friday

Praxis News of Worship Issue 6 - Page 5 Have you seen…? Book reviews

Prayers from the East: Studia Liturgical Diversa: Traditions of Eastern Christianity Essays in honour of Paul F Bradshaw Richard Marsh (ed) Maxwell E Johnson and L Edward £12.99, SPCK 2004, pp.145 Phillips (editors) Pastoral Press, Portland ,Oregon hen lecturing Trinity College context. 2004 students on Eastern Orthodox W There is plenty here to challenge and ISBN 1-56929-047-4 theology I often begin with some words of inspire those of us who pray in the West. Yves Congar, who said: ‘Christians today These prayers are deeply infused by must breathe with two lungs: the his interesting and wide-ranging biblical allusions, gently stretching our T collection of 17 essays, mostly on spirituality of the Christian West and that biblical literacy (I must admit to reaching of the East’. Reading Prayers from the early Christian topics, was originally for a concordance when Ahithopel was intended as a sixtieth birthday present for East is an excellent way to further this referred to in the Coptic Litany of the ideal! Paul Bradshaw. Paul is well known for Congregation!). They promote a his ability to write and edit books ahead Richard Marsh has served as the transcendent vision of the whole church of deadlines. The same spirit seems to Archbishop of Canterbury's Secretary for gathered in worship, embracing the be in the friends, colleagues and former Ecumenical Affairs and has distilled some company of saints, a strong sense of our students who have prepared this volume, of that unique experience by editing a fine sinfulness and helplessness before a holy which is ready well before the due date. book of prayers from six of the earliest God combined with a joyful confidence in and oldest Orthodox communities: the the love that has become incarnate to As a whole, the essays show how far Coptic Orthodox Church, the Syriac save us, and as always in Eastern liturgical study has come since Dean (Syrian) Orthodox Church in Antioch, the worship, a prayerful calling upon the Spirit Inge dismissed it as a kind of stamp- Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, to make salvation present in worship. collecting. There is plenty of careful scholarly detail, but it is deployed within Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church However, not all the prayers will be easily (India), the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo a larger sense of the importance of translatable into a post-Reformation liturgy for early Christian communities: Church and the Eritrean Orthodox context, such as those which make Mary Church. liturgy is not isolated from either or other saints the recipients of our sociology or theology. Drawing mainly from the first three of prayers; other prayers, due to cultural and these sources the prayers range from historical distance, will strike some So Robert Taft’s essay on the order and those used in the eucharist, such as readers as being mildly eccentric. But place of lay communion in Byzantine anaphoras and the , to a there is plenty here to help us breathe in liturgy starts from an aspect of liturgy that variety of non-eucharistic contexts such some ancient and invigorating Orthodox mattered to ‘ordinary’ Christians. There is as daily prayers and meal graces. In spiritual air. a certain delight in the sheer variety of early Christian rites. I was glad to be comments that are full enough to alert the James Steven to the prayers' significance, and introduced (by Martin Connell) to Tutor in Worship and Doctrine at Trinity yet brief enough to avoid being too Chromatius, fourth-century bishop of intrusive, Marsh proves to be a skilled College, Bristol. Aquileia, whose open a window guide, and a helpful introductory chapter on another living Christian community, to helps place the worshipping communities put beside Cyril’s Jerusalem or in their historical and geographical Ambrose’s Milan. Baptism, eucharist and the shape of the Church’s year all receive attention. Crafts for Creative Worship: But the collection goes beyond the A resource and activity book for parishes patristic and the Christian. Lawrence Jan Brind and Tessa Wilkinson Hoffman writes on thanksgiving from a Canterbury Press Jewish perspective; John Baldovin ISBN 1-85311-585-1 contributes a wonderfully fair £16.99 assessment of Cardinal Ratzinger’s (now Pope Benedict XVI, of course) views on his is an invaluable resource book to The rest of each chapter has plenty of liturgy, seasoned with dry wit. The T have on your shelf if you, or other ideas: ideas and designs for making collection opens with an assessment people in your church, are involved in banners and other creative suggestions (Ruth Meyers) of Paul’s contribution to children’s or family activities, leading all- suitable for a variety of age groups. liturgical study and ends with a useful age worship, preparing activity workshops These could be made during a workshop bibliography of his writings. The for any age group. Or give it to some or, sometimes, during worship. There are frontispiece photograph of Paul himself is artistic person whom you hope to ideas for parish groups to think about and a good advertisement for the encourage to do any of the above. activities to do together during the season rejuvenating power of liturgical study. The chapters follow the Church’s year, so (some to prepare for worship, some with Readers of Praxis News of Worship will it is easy to find material for the major an outreach or mission emphasis) There find much to interest them. festivals. In each section there is a list of are ideas for drama and children’s activities which could be used in worship. Anders Bergquist the readings plus others which Vicar of St John’s Wood might be relevant, then a small selection At the back of the book there are practical of selected music, words for a new hymn, pages on how to lead intercessions; how and a set of intercessions. (Continued on page 7)

Page 6 - Praxis News of Worship Issue 6 (Continued from page 6) Saints on Earth Crafts for Creative Worship – a biographical companion to Common Worship John H Darch and Stuart K Burns to make banners, hangings and stoles; and various other creative and design Church House Publishing 2004 templates. Although the ideas are simple, they give scope for plenty of he Common Worship lectionary has Although the authors freely admit that the artistic talent – no toilet-roll and cotton T introduced a plethora of new feasts information is available elsewhere, this wool sheep here! and commemorations, recognising that brings the biographies together in one the example of saints who have gone place. The authors have attempted to In my church, the group which leads the before us inspire many Christians today. give only historical facts, rather than children’s Saturday workshops will find People are fascinated by the saints of the legend. For some of my favourite saints this valuable, as will the lay people who Bible and the Church, indeed as a child I this leaves a rather bare summary of what are involved in preparing and leading all revelled in the lives and the gory deaths of is known historically, but without the age worship. It would also be a very the saints. We want to learn from those interesting myth that makes them fun. good source of ideas and practical who have already walked in the Way of However, if interest in a particular saint is knowledge for anyone wanting to the Cross and whose exemplary lives sparked, conjecture of a less trust-worthy encourage adults together to be creative, point to Jesus. nature is always available on the web. and for people interested in making banners and hangings in a simple way. So those who want to teach and preach The book is beautifully produced in a on the saints will value the biographical similar format and style as the Common Liz Simpson information given in Saints on Earth, with Worship books, and would complement Priest-in-charge of West Buckingham in three to five hundred-word summaries on the Common Worship library on any the Diocese of Oxford and secretary of the lives of most of the saints in the bookshelf. If you already own one of the the Group for Renewal of Worship Common Worship calendar. A short Canterbury books on saints, this book is extract from a poet or writer is usually probably an indulgence. However, this included, as are useful links to other book is a delight, and I recommend it to historically-related saints. The calendar at any preacher as a source of ready stories the back of the book is helpful since the of example and inspiration. saints are arranged by the dates of their Dana Delap commemoration. Saints on Earth is Reader and Substitute Chaplain at HMP replicated on an accompanying CD, from

which a particular biography could be cut Low Newton and pasted into a parish magazine or notice sheet.

Liturgy on the web Doug Chaplin gives us a web round-up and pinpoints some useful sites for liturgical texts t’s worth beginning a review of useful a useful section on the BCP in its many child, and so she has developed this site I web sites for worship with a reminder of versions, and a variety of links in its a-z both as an outlet for her mind and a what’s available from the official Church of resources section. The new ECUSA site, ministry she can base at home. England site: www.cofe.anglican.org/ www.ecusa.anglican.org/ Among diocesan sites, Bradford’s DLC worship/liturgy/commonworship/. All liturgy_music.htm?menupage=15674 maintain the Rite Aid pages at authorized material is available from this looks as though it will be worth the http://bradford.anglican.org/liturgy/ where site as Adobe Reader (PDF) files and as occasional visit if it lives up to what they a variety of material is posted. Look out rich text format files. Those who want to promise for it. also for the Durham Diocese see draft material in preparation can The Christian Resource Institute, (www.durham.anglican.org/worship/). access anything being presented to www.cresourcei.org/worship.html has a Whilst being temporarily unavailable, this General Synod at www.cofe.anglican.org/ number of ideas to work with. It claims to has links to some useful musical about/gensynod/agendas/. Those who use be ecumenical, yet seems to be rooted in resources. Visual Liturgy are encouraged to check in the Church of the Nazarene, so be aware And finally, we - at Praxis - are in the periodically for updates and resources at of the Holiness movement / Pentecostal www.vislit.com/. process of developing our own site origins. Staying ecumenical, www.praxisworship.org.uk, and will be A long-standing resource www..org www.worship.ca is the home of Lift up putting a directory of links on there as a not only offers a daily cycle of prayer on your hearts, the worship resources of the resource to our readers, along with an the web, but also hosts an Anglican Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada, archive of this journal. If you know a good liturgical library, and an online hymnal. and well worth a visit. link that you think should be included in a The hymnal includes the melody as a midi Not strictly a liturgical site, the Text this future round up, or added to the site, then file. Another online hymnal worth knowing Week, (www.textweek.com) is a superb email [email protected] with it. about, although with a more American and resource for working with and preaching Doug Chaplin is a parish priest and Protestant slant, is www.cyberhymnal.org/. on the Revised Common Lectionary, and Director of Reader Training in the A comparison of the two sites may guides you to a wide variety of sites sometimes reveal different lyrics and related in one way or another to the Worcester Diocese. melodies. readings set for the day, from film links, A good jumping off point for all things via the Fathers, to all-age material. The Anglican is the tremendously useful webmaster is a mother whose primary www.anglicansonline.org/ which includes energy is directed to the care of an autistic

Praxis News of Worship Issue 6 - Page 7

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

he second Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commis- Joint Liturgical Studies sion (ARCIC-2) recently wound up its programme (running T since 1983) with Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ No. 59, the first from the new publishers, SCM-Canterbury (Morehouse, Harrisburg and London, £7.99). It is available on-line Press Ltd, has just come off the press. It is by Juliette Day of from the Vatican, and should by now also be on www.aco.org/ Lampeter, Proclus on Baptism in Constantinople. This ecumenical/dialogues/rc/arcic/mary/index.cfm. homily by a fifth century archbishop of Constantinople adds yet another to the great range of patristic texts (in translation It has an interesting implication for history in calling itself the ‘5th and with introduction and notes) which the Liturgical Studies Statement’ of ARCIC-2. This means that Clarifications, the gloss on have been offering since 1975. the ARCIC-1 Statements which ARCIC-2 sent to the Pope in 1993 (and satisfied him), is not being counted as a ‘Statement’, and is The SCM price per copy is £5.95, but copies come cheaper being gently left out of history. Certainly Anglicans have never had by subscription (either to Alcuin, membership of which the chance to evaluate it… includes the annual Collection or larger monograph, Ty Nant, 6 Parch Bach, Denbighshire LL16 4YE; or by direct The new report fulfils all one would expect, if told that Anglicans application to Subscription Manager, SCM-Canterbury Press and Roman Catholics had reached agreement. The very few New Ltd, 16 Blyburgate, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 9TB). Testament texts are wrung out to maximize a special role and sta- tus for Mary in God’s economy, and by extrapolation from them the formulations of her Immaculate Conception and Bodily Assumption (Continued from page 3) are stated to be ‘consonant’ with scripture. ‘…the practice of asking The Common Worship Ordinal ... Mary and the saints to pray for us is not communion-dividing.’ The There were a few surprises by the time that the service Ave Maria gets a fairly good press too. Certainly Roman Catholics came back from the House of Bishops, however, for the are being discouraged from taking what I view as the historical de- Prayers of Penitence had become normative, and the words votional auction any further, and are encouraged to recede from at the Giving of the Bible had been replaced by those from more absurd bids they have made in the auction. Both Commun- the ASB ‘to strengthen the sense of the authority of ions are being steered towards ‘re-reception’ – a term for catching Scripture’ (GS 1535C). A few other little tweaks had been back something out of past tradition, but in a somewhat purged made. form. At the final count Synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of The issue that is left open is the basis for such belief in Mary. the newly worked service, in all three houses, and the Clearly the Roman Catholics have to accept the two Marian dog- Common Worship ordinal is now authorised for use from 14 mas mentioned on the basis of infallible papal decrees – and it was September 2005 - so those who are organised will be able to scandalous that that linkage was not mentioned in the previous use it for the Michaelmas ! ARCIC-2 document, The Gift of Authority. Here in the Mary report, Note: the ordinal will be available on the Church of England it looks as though the Anglicans are coming to the ‘right’ answer by website in electronic form. The text will also be published in reasoning inductively (and somewhat imaginatively) from scripture. a book later this year, alongside a historical commentary and But I doubt if that will do as a basis. a practical guide for using the service.

I suspect we need to stand back and ask ourselves what place the Editor apostles gave to Mary in their gospel and their church-planting. We have no evidence of anything that goes beyond the credal ‘born of the Virgin Mary’. The turning-point in history is when she is labelled

theotokos in the fifth century – and a text to protect the true incar- nation, God coming on earth, became the popular ‘Mother of God’, The next booklet in the Grove Worship Series which has somewhat tilted the balances. is No. 184: How to use symbols in worship by

The Rt Revd Colin Buchanan is the former Bishop of Woolwich, John Leach. and former editor of News of Liturgy. This is available from Grove Books at www.grovebooks.co.uk or telephone 01223 464748.

Praxis News of Worship is edited by Gilly Myers and is copyright © Praxis 2005. Material for inclusion should be sent to: Gilly Myers, 6a The College, Durham DH1 3EQ. Tel: 0191 375 1220 Email: [email protected] We reserve the right to edit material and make no guarantee to include material submitted.

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