Issue 18 - Summer 2008 Price to non-affiliates of Praxis: £2.50

What is Praxis? Remembering Michael Vasey Praxis was formed in riends, former students and colleagues of the memorial stone singing the ‗Litany of the 1990, sponsored by the Liturgical Commission, late Michael Vasey, for many years the Liturgy Resurrection‘ from the Common Worship initiation the Group for the F Tutor at Cranmer Hall, joined the current St services. John‘s College community on Wednesday 21 May for Renewal of Worship Invited guests shared a buffet supper before joining a Service of Thanksgiving in his memory, held in the (GROW) and the Alcuin the audience assembled for the 2008 Vasey church of St Mary-the-Less, Durham (the College Club. It exists to provide Memorial Lecture, given by David Kennedy (Canon Chapel). Past and present members of the Joint and support liturgical Precentor of Durham Cathedral and Chair of Praxis). Liturgical Group, the Alcuin Club, GROW and the education in the Church His subject was ‗Biblical Tradition: Michael Vasey‘s Liturgical Commission were among the congregation. of England. approach to the teaching of Christian worship‘ and he Michael died on 28 June 1998 and continues to be began by paying tribute to the role Michael had remembered with affection and gratitude by many – a played in his own development as liturgist and keen sense of loss was still much in evidence, Affiliation teacher. In preparing the text, he had drawn on notes particularly during the moving homily delivered by The sponsoring taken during Michael‘s lectures by David Elleanor – Robert Song and Margaret Masson. organisations do not sadly this former Durham ordinand had died, aged fund Praxis financially. The liturgy included several texts written by Michael, 59, on the very day when David Kennedy had located The work that Praxis among them one of his psalm prayers and a setting of the notes, handed to him years earlier on his does is supported ‗A Song of Anselm‘, with Peter Moger as cantor. The appointment to teach liturgy in Birmingham. The mainly by affiliation. If anthem, ‗Bring us, O Lord God, at our last lecture, to be published in due course, was dedicated you are not an affiliate, awakening‘ (sung beautifully by the college choir), to David Elleanor‘s memory as well as to Michael‘s. why not consider picked up the themes of resurrection hope and Anne Harrison becoming one? Just get longing for heaven found also in readings and hymns. in touch with the The service closed in the churchyard, where choir Music Editor, Praxis News of Worship and office—details on the and congregation gathered around Michael‘s Editor of the RSCM’s Sunday by Sunday back page. Liturgical Conferences coming up soon Website Have you visited the Worship, Liturgy and Music in early modern England calls to Deep‘ is now available online (www.lst.ac.uk). Praxis website? View us David Peacock, Head of the LST‘s Department of Monday 8 –Tuesday 9 September 2008 online at Music and Worship, says that the aims of the event St. Chad’s College, Durham University www.praxisworship.org.uk are to: This is a one-off conference bringing together deepen understanding scholars for a series of interdisciplinary discussions around the public worship theme of the Early Modern broaden skills Inside this issue of Worship Network. explore and experience current trends Praxis News of Worship The principal speakers will be: facilitate conversations across the worship Reports of Praxis 2 streams Roger Bowers (Jesus College, Cambridge) events John Craig (Simon Fraser University) Anyone with ‗a serious interest in worship‘ is Correspondence 2 Christopher Marsh (Queen's, Belfast) welcome: worship leaders, worship theologians, musicians, church leaders and those involved in the Aspects of Worship: 3 Peter McCullough (Lincoln College, Oxford) Let us pray creative arts. The first day (9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) is Bryan Spinks (Yale Divinity School) described as a ‗Symposium Prelude‘ on Worship: The Music News 4 & 5 Limited bursaries are available to assist postgraduate Big Issues, with input from Jonny Baker, Mark Earey, Book reviews 6 students and other unwaged participants. Joel Edwards and Graham Kendrick. Later on the Thursday evening, Geraldine Latty will lead a Look—no paper! 7 Deep calls to Deep ‗Worship celebration‘. Durham 7 Thursday 11 - Saturday 13 September 2008 Conference 2009 On the Friday and Saturday there will be more London School of Theology (Northwood) worship, a plenary session with John Bell of the Iona Resources online 7 Community, and a wide choice of workshops Colin’s Column 8 Readers of Praxis News of Worship may recall a including ‗Breathing new life into hymns‘, ‗Lament in reference in the music pages of Issue 16 to a worship Notice board 8 worship‘, ‗Mission and worship‘, ‗Worship for today‘s symposium being planned by the London School of children‘ and ‗Where is the worship song going?‘ Theology. More detailed information about ‗Deep

Praxis - enriching worship today ISSN 1748-2348 Praxis Event Reports

Reclaiming the Night: Stick to 1 hour Praxis Yorkshire A Praxis Midlands event in Birmingham Always serve refreshments raxis Yorkshire invited Peter Moger to Cathedral on 6 March 2008 Don‘t apologize for it – celebrate it. P come and launch Worship Changes he event attracted nearly 100 people Finally Adrian gathered together ideas from Lives at a day conference on 26 April. The T and the keynote speakers - the Rt. the floor as well as from the Bishop and invitation included an offer of the booklet Rev‘d Gordon Mursell, Bishop of Stafford Dean. These included: sent post-free in advance for £2.50 (this and the Very Rev‘d John Irvine, Dean of being subsidized from the booking fees), Coventry - did not disappoint. Bishop Remember the witness of a church lit up and 29 people took up the offer, and came Gordon delighted us with a thorough yet (inside) on a dark evening, especially if to the day with copies they had already very personal summary of Biblical and early visible from a distance. read – the total numbers present were liturgical references to prayer at night. I Taizé, candles and story-telling work around 70 and on the day everyone had a suspect we have all experienced various particularly well as the night draws in. copy. ‗prowlings of the Devil‘ in the small hours. There was a heartfelt plea for the use of Peter Moger, whose own input was both The Bishop‘s source of protection is simply silence ..... and to make sure it is long warm and compelling, was in part viewing to reach out his hand to God. His full notes enough to be HEARD! the day as a trial run, and the actual form of are available at At the other extreme, how about workshops, of feed-back, and of structuring www.praxismidlands.org.uk/archives. showing a film and then ending with his own input (which included a workshop The Dean led us through the vision and compline? on ‗Music in Worship Changes Lives‘ – planning which have enabled the monthly which had a large take-up) was part of The evening service was felt to be one ‗Cathedral Praise‘ at Coventry. ‗Be working out the best ways in which the where there could be a wide variety of prepared to start small and keep going for booklet can be used to serve its overt worship over a year and a lot of quite a while before serious growth begins,‘ purpose of changing lives. is good advice. Things do take time to get opportunities to move outside the rubrics of Your reporter, who chairs Praxis Yorkshire, established. the BCP and Common Worship. They could be used to mark the seasons with also ran a workshop, the contents of which Canon Adrian Daffern, Precentor of meditations and/or to use resources from can be accurately guessed from a certain Coventry Cathedral, offered wisdom from (for example) Iona or the Northumbria column on the last page of this journal. both Cathedral and Parish ministry. In one Community. Why not major on a style of The Right Reverend Colin Buchanan parish, with many funerals, he held a music and ideas ranging from Plainsong to monthly memorial service which gradually Jazz, or weave traditional versions of the ―grew‖ the evening service so that it was Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis into Common larger than the morning one! His ‗Quick Worship Evening Prayer? Wins for Evensong‘ are worth pondering: Altogether an excellent day – with enough Keep it moving ideas to last until the next event (‗Rites on Don‘t try to be King‘s College, the way out – more than just funerals!‘ on Cambridge Thursday 9 October 2008 at Birmingham Cathedral). Choose wonderful hymns Keep the readings short Janet Chapman Preach a superb sermon and lead lovely Priest-in-charge, St Mary’s, Banbury and prayers Canon Liturgist designate, Birmingham Cathedral Invite people along

Letter to the editor

From the Reverend Mark Bennett I would have thought that there might be a therefore passed rather unremarked case for a book on 'Celebrating lay through the committees which have Dear Gilly, leadership' - encompassing established considered it. rites for Readers, Churchwardens etc I surely cannot be alone in noticing that Best wishes, because the new volume on Admission and (perhaps even notes on coronations), to Licensing of Readers 'will be of limited admitting lay ministers of communion and MARK BENNETT resources for less formal occasions. That interest' it is going to be produced in a non- The Rectory would be more use to the Church than a standard form, rather than as part of the Perry Road half-hearted acknowledgment that Readers carefully designed Common Worship Harlow exist - indeed it could fire some excitement series. Perhaps there are fewer services for ESSEX and enthusiasm about lay leadership. But I licensing and admission of readers that CM18 7NP ordination services, but they are significant fear that the decision on publishing the events in the lives of those involved and in Readers volume, obviously mistaken as it Correspondence to the editor is very the life of the Church. is, does accurately reflect the current welcome. Please include your postal culture of the Church of England - and has address, if sending messages by email.

Page 2 - Praxis News of Worship Issue 18 Aspects of Worship Let us pray

Christopher Irvine reflects on the importance of intercessory prayer

hen it comes to prayer, it seems Word, Prayer, and Ending. The point that scope of concern. This universal prayer is that we are good at praise! was emphasised, and that is reiterated in certainly corroborated by Justin Martyr, who W Praise, especially exuberant New Patterns for Worship, is that of the spoke of how Christians pray ‗for all human praise, is contagious, and the renewal need for a balance between the constitutive beings everywhere‘(1 Apology. 65). The movement has done much to liberate elements: ‗This means that we should not universal concern has certainly been congregations to offer praise in both song have a service which is nothing but recovered in the five headings of our and prayer. Indeed, in many churches, teaching, without praise and prayer; nor a general intercession in Common Worship praise has become such a dominant service which is nothing but praise, without Order One, which combines creation as feature that the words ‗worship‘ and ‗praise‘ some word and teaching.‘ These were wise well as human society in one of the five are almost used synonymously, for the task words, but I now wish that the authors had suggested concerns to be voiced in our of the ‗worship group‘ is primarily to lead added the word ‗prayer‘ to the final intercessory prayer. The universal scope of the congregation in its praise. All this is sentence. our prayer was heightened in the Scottish understandable; not least when you reckon Liturgy (1982) by the placing of ‗the world My desire to see a firm place for worship to be our response to all that God and its people‘ first in its list of specified intercessory prayer in both our daily prayer has done and continues to do for us in topics to be woven into the general prayer and our Sunday worship goes beyond a Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Spirit. of intercession at the Eucharist. desire for neat liturgical structures, but But should we allow the element of praise springs from a deep conviction that There is a hymn in the preparatory rite of to eclipse the element of intercession, our intercessory prayer touches the very heart the Armenian Liturgy in which the creator prayer for others? When we have gathered of our Christian vocation, of what it is that God is asked to ‗strengthen our arms with for worship, shouldn‘t there always be a call the baptised are called to do. power that we may lift up our hands to for prayer, a voicing of that traditional intercede.‘ The image is striking, and invitation to the congregation: ‗Let us pray‘? I was brought up in a church which was reinforces the point that our prayer for built in the heady days of the Parish The prayer of intercession is certainly an others and for the world generally is our Communion movement, and so was ancient feature of Christian liturgy; it is work, the putting of our shoulder to the accustomed to the practice, which has there in Justin Martyr‘s description of the wheel of the turning world with all its need continued throughout my adult life, of the Christian worship in mid-2nd century Rome, and sorrow. In saying this, we need quickly intercessions at the Eucharist being led by and by the 4th century had evidently to assert that the activity of prayer is not members of the congregation. The become a constitutive element in a number only a task, but also a gift, because without intercessions were originally known as the of Eucharistic Prayers through which the the Spirit, as St Paul insists, we could not Prayers of the Faithful, and it just seemed Christian community offered its sacrifice of pray at all. Again, it seems that our prayer, natural for them to be voiced by the people. thanks and praise. The Reformers were made to the Father, through the Son ‗who The principle was more than one of keen to restore the intercessions, and ever lives to make intercession for increasing the vocal participation of the prayer for others, specifically those in us‘ (Hebrews 7.25b) and in the Holy Spirit, congregation, but rested on the conviction sorrow, need, and sickness, was is somehow bound up with the divine work that this was the people‘s work, the task of incorporated into the service of Holy of releasing creation from its bondage to the baptised to bring the cares and Communion by Thomas Cranmer in his two decay (Romans 8.19-27). So, let us pray! concerns of the neighbourhoods in which English Prayer Books of Edward VI. they lived and worked into the arena of the Canon Christopher Irvine, Liturgical revision during the second half of Church‘s prayer. The 16th century architect Canon Librarian of Canterbury Cathedral the 20th century reinstated the Prayers of of Anglican polity, Richard Hooker, made Intercession. Today, Common Worship the audacious claim that we were God‘s Pre-Lambeth editorial musings Order One (Holy Communion), provides ‗associates‘, and partners with God in Bishops from around the Anglican five different patterns for the prayers of Christ. The expression recalls St Paul‘s Communion gathered in local intercession, and has also included an self -designation of being a co-worker with dioceses before the Lambeth element of intercession (resisted by the Christ, and this expression could be Conference and our editor was at two of the compilers of the ASB, 1980) in two of the extended to our work of prayer for the Pre-Lambeth services in Manchester Eucharistic prayers. Both Eucharistic world. I am intrigued by the implicit theology Cathedral. Being in a multi-cultural diocese Prayers F and G have supplicatory clauses, of prayer in Revelation where the prayer of they involved four music groups at the first and the formatting of the intercession the saints is likened to the rising incense, service: a Marathi group (with impressive section in G indicates that this element may and the implication can be drawn that the drums), an Urdu/Punjabi group, a Tamil be expanded by the President, although in Christian‘s prayer is somehow bound up group (unexpected - but they were my experience this rarely occurs. with the unfolding of God‘s ultimate accommodated somehow) and a parish With the arrival of Services of the Word, the purpose in the redeeming and remaking of music group renowned for its international element of intercessory prayer was given a the world. repertoire. The procession (the cathedral place in the proposed template of ordered chapter and fourteen bishops) followed a 14 The Pastoral epistles urge us to pray, and worship. In the Introductory chapter of -year-old Marathi drummer; and the highlight to pray not only for the church and its Patterns for Worship (GS 898, 1989) some was the spontaneous episcopal dancing members, but to extend our prayer to the of the assumptions about the structure of a around the building, led by the diocesan wider social world in which our lives are set Sunday Service of Word were helpfully bishop.The second pre-Lambeth service (1 Timothy 2.1). It is as though Christian spelt out, and an outline given of the form was Choral Evensong (no dancing)! We prayer is to ripple out and be universal in its of service: Introduction, Penitence, Praise, look forward to news of Lambeth worship.

Praxis News of Worship Issue 18 - Page 3 Musical News A regular feature of articles and the latest news of music and worship edited by Anne Harrison

Accompanying the Sacred: Percussion and the Profound News of resources Philip Roderick, Anglican priest, educator and percussionist, describes some imaginative approaches to music in worship hose working with children may like to s it possible to preserve the integrity of a (symbols and structure fashioned anew T know about an enlarged version of I sacred text by clothing it in the vesture of each time by a small group sitting with the Junior Praise. Two volumes were published the contemporary? Can a liturgical lectionary readings, in the context both of by Marshall Pickering in the early 1990s, resource from antiquity resonate with the the Church year and of a lectio divina and now the 500 songs in these have been sound of a very different accompaniment? process) takes place in a wide variety of supplemented with over 100 extra to make From the outset, Contemplative Fire has settings, from school halls to abbeys, from up Complete Junior Praise (Collins, 2008). seen the validation of the dynamic of barns to beaches. The full music version is priced at £35 and tradition – both in the deconstruction and the words-only edition costs £5.99. A review reconstruction of the language of theology Contemplative Fire, as a network fresh will be included in a future issue of Praxis and in the re-imagining of liturgy – as expression of church, committed to News of Worship. integral to the development of its own life honouring and re-visioning the ancient as an emergent ‗community of Christ at the pattern and substance of liturgy, has a Meanwhile Mission Praise is to be made edge‘. contemplative-apostolic charism. We seek available digitally, according to a press to celebrate and nurture creativity in all release from HarperCollins: visit As a percussionist for the past forty years I forms as an integral dimension of faith, www.missionpraise.com to find out more. have, more recently, been inspired by the formation, Christian life and outreach into There are plans to develop the website to congregational potency of Scriptural chant culture and sub-culture. We regularly invite enable people to download Bible readings and short, liturgical phrases, when led by a visual artists, sculptors and craftspeople to and liturgical material as well as hymns and cantor and sung to simple rhythms. At a inform and speak to their work in songs. recent Holy Week gathering of Associate eucharistic settings. Missioners of Fresh Expressions, I Another online resource for music is therefore welcomed with enthusiasm the What increasingly intrigues me, in our www.resoundworship.org, a new project of invitation to sing the Litany in discernment and development of different the Jubilate Group. The website makes contemporary mode for the Morning ways through which to present the mystery available songs for worship by young writers Worship. With the words, refrains and of life in Christ, is the often neglected including Joel Payne (Music Minister at St sections of the ancient Litany on a screen, arena of what has been described as James, Muswell Hill) and Chris Gasson and with my Djembe and Hang drums as ‗sonic art‘. I do believe that there is a (Worship Director at St James and accompaniment, I taught a simple verse quality of sound healing that has been part Emmanuel, Didsbury). They aim to promote and rhythmic response. The sense was of the rich legacy of liturgy as life in God. a sung repertoire which is biblical, inclusive, that the dignity of the original text was This now needs to be brought back into ‗content driven‘ and contemporary. By validated, even whilst being expressed in prominence today. One small example is working through a process of reflection and gentle, foot-tapping tempo. ‗Sheer Sound‘, the musical venture I lead critiquing each other‘s songs, they feel able which explores intersections between tonal to describe the material as ‗honed‘. As regards the fashioning of music for harmonics and jazz, between ethnic and worship, the two most significant early medieval cadence. With guest Celebrating Vaughan Williams influences on me over the years have musicians we are exploring the been African rhythm and Russian resonances of sacred texts when sung, Orthodox tonal chant. African rhythm I and the highs and lows of praise and Sunday in October will see many A congregations singing hymns experienced in the late ‘60s when, whilst lament, of poignant intercession and of associated with English composer Ralph doing voluntary work, I was invited to sit quiet meditation. Vaughan Williams, music editor of The with the nine percussionists of Karezi Party (from the Ankole tribe near the Mountains If you would like to find out more about English Hymnal (1906). He was born on 12 October 1872 and died on 26 August 1958. of the Moon in Western Uganda). Russian Contemplative Fire‘s ‗Sing the Scriptures: The Archbishop of Canterbury has lent his Orthodox harmonic structure I imbibed Live the Liturgy‘ or the work of ‗Sheer support to a suggestion made by the Ralph whilst a novice monk in an Orthodox Sound‘, do email me Hermitage in the UK in the early 1970s. ([email protected]). For those Vaughan Williams Society that the fiftieth The auditory impact of three monks wishing to nurture the contemplative anniversary of the composer‘s death should be marked by the singing of his hymn tunes chanting in harmony in a converted, dimension of discipleship and ministry, in churches on 12 October 2008. One candlelit and icon-soaked cowshed had please log onto the website the felt sense of a gateway into paradise! (www.contemplativefire.org). particularly appropriate hymn for those Flowing from these two very diverse wishing to honour his memory is ‗Come The Reverend Philip Roderick down, O Love divine‘ sung to the tune ‗Down musical traditions comes something of the Ampney‘ (named after the Gloucestershire tenor and texture of Contemplative Fire worship. In different dioceses, our liturgy village where Vaughan Williams was born).

Page 4 - Praxis News of Worship Issue 18 New regional initiative Mary Berry RIP

church in Shrewsbury is the base for a r Mary Berry, who was awarded the Besides working hard to encourage the A new educational project, the Sam Baker D CBE in 2002 for services to plainsong singing of plainsong by choirs and School of Church Music. Founded in 2007, it and Gregorian chant, died on 1 May 2008 congregations she was also a member of was named after a local church musician at the age of 90. In 1991 she was made an a religious order and a distinguished who died some years ago and is the honorary fellow of the Guild of Church musicologist, based at Newnham College, brainchild of David Leeke, a former chorister Musicians. For the Royal School of Church Cambridge. Her recordings, as director of of Sam Baker‘s and now Organist and Music she wrote Plainchant for Everyone the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge, are Director of Music for the Parish of Central (1979, revised in 1987 and 1996) and she available on the Herald label. Shrewsbury. became an honorary fellow in 1995.

A Harrison & Harrison organ which used to be in the chapel of Addington Palace has been loaned by the RSCM to St Alkmund‘s Search for peace Church, where it is being used for teaching and concerts as well as services. Vocal lessons and other training opportunities are eace is the theme of the RSCM‘s their own ‗Search for Peace‘ service is also available. The ‗Aspirans‘ programme P 2008 Young Voices Festival. Services available on the RSCM website aims to help anyone involved in leading the will be happening in a number of schools, (www.rscm.com). The music is taken from music in their local church in the West churches and cathedrals in October. the Voice for Life Songbook, with liturgical Midlands, the Welsh Marches and Mid- Advice for anyone interested in putting on material provided on a CD-ROM. Wales.

Distance Learning

Earlier this year Praxis News of Worship asked the Reverend Christopher Clinch about his experience as a student on the Sacred Music Studies programme.

What made you decide to enrol for the explore. In my case I chose to submit What kind of impact has the study had RSCM’s Sacred Music Studies compositions, and had to provide on your own ministry? programme? recordings as well. My small church choir I feel more confident now talking about I had been working within the Diocese of are just still talking to me! liturgy and music. With the present agenda Newcastle for a number of years not only as in the liturgical world being about liturgical a parish priest but as Chair of the Diocesan Which part of the course did you find formation, this course lets you think about Liturgical Group and as the Educational and particularly interesting? how that formation takes place, and about Training Officer for the RSCM in the area. I Most of it was good - which says a lot for a how musicians and worship leaders can was looking for some means of both course of this length. I enjoyed exploring shape that formation through the choices improving some of my practical skills in the theology of worship and music, and also they make and the way they work. Context worship and music but more importantly liked the opportunity to write music and and authenticity have become two big having time to understand how and why have it assessed – although that can be words for me as key components in music and worship have such a key role in quite scary as well! planning worship. our church life. Were there things which were harder A growing number of people have now Did you have to travel to Bangor in order than you expected? completed modules from the Sacred Music to participate? You had very little time to stop studying and Studies programme run by the Music No, nearly all the work was done within my you had to find the motivation to get on by Department of the University of Wales, study, or in the church next door! The yourself, so you need to be clear about your Bangor, in partnership with the Royal course is about learning within your context, priorities. School of Music. This flexible, part-time, although clearly you need to be aware that distance-learning course has core strands there are many different traditions within the Did you meet other students? of study in ‘Ministry and Worship’, ‘Music in church from which to learn. There was the Only by chance. Indeed, you feel a bit Worship’, ‘Church Music Practice’ and opportunity to go to a summer school in isolated doing the work. The main source of ‘Skills for Church Musicians’. A podcast Bangor but I could not make it. contact with tutors is by e-mail and you had featuring students speaking about the to wait sometimes to get any guidance. course is available on the RSCM website What kind of distance-learning material (www.rscm.com) was provided for you to work on? How long did it take you to complete? The material came in workbooks for each It took two years of part-time study [for the The Reverend Christopher module, not dissimilar from the material the DipRSCM] and you need to find about 10 Clinch helps to run Praxis Open University provides. You had regular hours a week to complete the work – events in the North-East. assignments to complete, both written work although there were holiday breaks. such as essays and projects, and practical work based upon the skill you wished to

Praxis News of Worship Issue 18 - Page 5 Let the Children Come to Have you seen…? Communion Stephen Lake Book reviews SPCK 2006 £10.99 Making the Most of Weddings he subject of this book is close to my - a practical guide for churches T heart, since all three of my children have Andrew Body been admitted to communion and, to date, Church House Publishing 2007 none are confirmed. My oldest, now 13, £6.99 asked for communion at three years old, after I asked her to join me in saying ‗though eddings are big business, with all thorough process. The wedding couples we are many, we are one body…‘ As she W kinds of guides and offers for will certainly appreciate it. I particularly rightly responded, she did not share in the prospective couples. What have the liked the reminders about referring on one bread, and as far as she was concerned churches to offer in this competitive these wedding couples, which used to be that wasn‘t fair. Two years later my daughter market? Andrew Body has produced a standard form. These days they mostly and her brother were admitted to very positive, practical little book which appear to have already established communion, after General Synod agreed should be read by everyone who takes themselves and come to the church for a Guidelines in 2000. weddings - even if they know most of the final blessing on their relationship. There is answers and whatever the popular media much from this little book which can This book acknowledges the history of the think of it. It is good to have a refreshing remind them that it is not just a question of debate, and briefly details the biblical and review of what we have to offer to the arranging things, but of being open to the theological rationale of allowing children to couples who are returning to the churches experience of God's love for them. receive communion on the basis of their for that something ‗extra‘. Every wedding baptism. There is practical advice on This is also the kind of little book I would matters and is an opportunity for opening introducing a church to the practice, and a pass on to my lay people who help in the up the possibilities of mission. This book case study detailing how the reality can bring wedding preparation process. I would pass reminds us of those possibilities. to a parish painful discussions and healing it on to the director of music as well, resolutions. This is an accessible and down Certainly what Andrew writes rings true to though s/he will not find much from his/her to earth book, and considerably more my current experience of doing over own department mentioned. However, exhaustive than anything else written on the twenty weddings a year in a popular Andrew certainly lives up to the apostolic subject in the Church of England. northern parish. In our current wedding calling of his namesake in this book. It is liturgies so much appears to hang on the part of our duty, I believe, to draw in the In 2005, the General Synod authorised priest as producer/director/presider and whole of the church's team to help in this Regulations replacing Guidelines on how s/he prepares for and conducts the mission of encouraging and admission to communion before wedding. This is one of the special shop communicating what Christian marriage confirmation. This has allowed greater windows of the church and Andrew gives means. Andrew's book should help us - as security to those children already admitted meticulous detail and commentary on how will his recently revised follow-up on the basis of their baptism, as well as things might be done to best effect in any publication. This is a complete seven-week encouraging the Church of England to given context. Occasionally his idealism marriage preparation course and recognise the contribution this makes to the perhaps seems a little over the top, but on accompanying CD called Growing mission of the church. Quotes from the the whole he is right to underline that the Together, published by Church House speeches of the Archbishop of Canterbury devil is in the detail of the whole process. Publishing. Start with Making the Most of and Bishop of Dover at the final debate on The important thing is to let God come Weddings and then consider whether you Regulations make particularly moving through! can train other laity to run Andrew's course reading.

for the church. It is slightly more expensive If we are to see weddings as opportunities The most engaging parts of the book for me at £19.99, but full of good things. for mission then we should pay this kind of were interviews with people most closely imaginative attention to making the ‗getting connected with taking the issue forward in Canon David Knight married‘ experience an appropriately the church, including bishops, a member of Vicar of St John’s, Ranmoor, Sheffield Archbishops‘ Council, and national officers. These engaged with the reality of the debate Sunday by Sunday both at local and national levels, and their - Music for the Second Service Lectionary conversations with Stephen Lake were fascinating. Anne Harrison, John Henderson, Peter Moger and David Ogden Canterbury Press 2008 I did wonder if this book was written for the 384 pp, £25.00 pb, ISBN 978-1-85311-840-1 faithful already committed to children fully participating in the Eucharistic community. I his volume is a companion to the songs and organ music that correspond to hope that others will be encouraged to read T RSCM‘s Sunday by Sunday quarterly the specific Bible readings as well as the it, and that more and more churches planner, and has been compiled by liturgical season, for years A, B and C of understand the issues around denying members of the same RSCM team, in the the Common Worship calendar. The children communion after baptism. Stephen instantly recognisable Sunday by Sunday same provision is also made for various Lake writes of the mission opportunities format. Principal Feasts and Holy Days, and opened up for children, families and the Festivals. Anyone who plans services at which the wider church when children are admitted to Second Service Lectionary is used will find It is an excellent book that could not have communion, and the Church of England this to be an invaluable resource, with a appeared too soon. does need to hear this. wide range of suggested hymns, songs, Editor Dana Delap psalm-arrangements, anthems, children‘s Reader and Prison Chaplain in Durham

Page 6 - Praxis News of Worship Issue 18 The Sacramental Life: Gregory Dix and His Writings Look Simon Jones - no paper! Canterbury Press, Norwich, 2007 xxiv/162 pp, £16.99 pb, ISBN 978-1-85311-717-6 A guide to technical things in worship imon Jones, the chaplain of Merton that all histories carry some subjective by Tim Lomax & Tim Stratford S College, Oxford, gave us fair warning stamp upon them (yes, really). three years ago of his live interest in Simon Jones has shaped the material as Number 2: Do it beautifully Gregory Dix, when he edited the 60th itself ‗Shaping the Liturgy‘, ‗Shaping the anniversary edition of ‗my fat green ichard Giles writes, ‗A liturgist is … Spiritual Life‘, ‗Shaping the Religious book‘ (viz, The Shape of the Liturgy) as someone who weaves together … texts, Life‘, and ‗Shaping the Church‘s Ministry‘, R Dix dubbed it. He has now researched and resources, and music, and images and with representative and illustrative Dix‘ own papers – correspondence, symbols to help a community to become itself extracts from large works, and chosen retreat addresses, memoranda, and for the first time and to step out with boldness opuscula entire, to present Dix‘ thought obiter scripta – and compiled a collection and joy into God‘s calling‘ (Creating and theology. I found the material from of such writings, along with editorial Uncommon Worship). His church re-ordering in his last twelve months very moving. continuity. Philadelphia stripped the church first and made I enjoyed some years ago Simon Bailey‘s a blank canvas which was then remodelled. There is a delightful Foreword by one biography of Dix, A Tactful God, and I Rowan Williams, who says of The Shape, New multi-media resources provide the have spent much of my ministerial life ‗Dom Gregory never wrote anything else worshipping community with oodles to enrich engaged about liturgy with Dix‘ ghost, quite like it‘ and of Dix‘ ecclesiastical prayer and praise, learning, meditation and and I have occasionally admitted to a politicking, ‗He was an inveterate and sacramental action. Yet the technology is often kind of nightmare of the might-have-been indiscreet ecclesiastical politician‘ – woven into the architecture far less well than – namely, what would liturgical revision though he is also making the point that the stained glass windows, organs and have been like in the 1960s and 1970s if Dix‘ politicking arose from his having ‗so bookshelves. A modern church might include a Dom Gregory had lived to fasten his little time for church arguments that well integrated sound system and some plain stamp upon it? He was, after all, years showed no theological integrity‘. He was, prominent wall space where colours, images, younger than Ratcliff, an exact as we all know, wonderfully mocking of movies and words can be projected. A gothic contemporary of Arthur Couratin. But inadequate argument – and of church is unlikely to provide this even if here he is, larger than life, as he was in pomposity. Rarely elsewhere in history returned to tabula rasa (blank sheet). his life, and with plenty both to throw light has any such a devotee of episcopacy on his ecclesiastical times, and also still Liturgists wanting to use modern graphical poured such sustained scorn upon the to say to us today. Many thanks, Simon. resources will normally need to resort to actual episcopate of his day. He did, of removable screens and lots of cables. For most course, retouch history to suit his own The Right Reverend Colin Buchanan corporate worship a single display will be purposes, but that is saying no more than preferred to multiple screens because of the loss of focus created by everybody gazing in different directions. Multiple displays and projectors do have the advantage that a Online - In brief number of images and words can be presented at the same time. Worship Changes Lives (www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/ Supporting materials, including questions downloads/pdf/admissionreaders.pdf). The appropriate placement of a single screen for group study, are now available to in a church building is probably the first download from the Transforming Worship Weekday Lectionary decision that must be made well. Screens that website The ‗non-trade‘ (ie in the format of a are so high worshippers have to lie back to look (www.transformingworship.org.uk/ General Synod document rather than a at them, that are so central as to obscure TransformingWorship/?page_id=140). glossy book) definitive version of the traditional symbols and imagery in the church, Weekday Lectionary is now on sale from so small that they cannot be easily followed, or Alternatively, to open the links within the Church House Bookshop. It also usefully so faint that they cannot be read are amongst Transforming Worship website, you contains all the corrections and the most obvious pitfalls. Screen size, should right-click and then select 'open' amendments made since 2000 to the placement and portability along with projector from the drop-down menu. Common Worship Lectionary for mounting, brightness and wiring need to be

Sundays, Principal Feasts and Holy carefully selected. There are few general rules Admission and Licensing of Readers Days, and Festivals. It is available online, as church buildings vary so widely. But there These resources (see the report in Issue in an interim RTF format (www.cofe/ are two important rules of thumb: try before you 16 of Praxis News of Worship) are now anglican.org/worship/texts/lect). buy and never sit anybody at a distance away available on line from the screen that is more than twelve times the height of the illuminated screen. Then think also about the rest of the building - and do it Scripture and Liturgy Conference 2009 beautifully. Both Tims are parish clergy and members of the dvance notice is being given of an most important themes in Michael Liturgical Commission. A exciting plan for 2009: St John's Vasey‘s work, and will include the 2009 College, Durham, will be hosting an Vasey Memorial Lecture. Speakers Tim Lomax is Assistant Curate in the parish of international conference on scripture and include Geoffrey Wainwright, Steve Croft Penn Fields, Wolverhampton; liturgy as part of the college‘s centenary and John Bell. The dates are Tuesday Tim Stratford is Team Rector of Kirkby on the celebrations. This will pick up one of the 24—Thursday 26 March. edge of Liverpool.

Praxis News of Worship Issue 18 - Page 7

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

ow does one differ in public not from one‘s opponents, but from one‘s friends? (It is the sort of question rebellious backbenchers will have been asking themselves in DLC reps day 2008

H Parliament.) So here am I, delighted that people I trust – in this case Paul Bradshaw The Liturgical Commission‘s day for and Peter Moger - have edited Worship Changes Lives, and yet really finding the Liturgical Diocesan Liturgical Committees will Commission‘s booklet, brilliant though it is, with serious shortcomings. It is no part of partisan take place on Monday 20 October at St journalism to be even-handed – I have a case to make (the angelic advocate?), and I make it Peter‘s, Eaton Square, London: one-sidedly as I think it ought to be on record somewhere. 11.00 am—4.30 pm. At a fairly surface level, my problem is simply that, among all their colourful two-page spreads showcasing various features of public worship, preaching or ministering the word has been completely omitted. It is actually quite a remarkable feat – the two pages on ‗Scripture‘ (18-19) Joint Liturgical Studies never mention any ministering of the word, beyond its being read aloud; the pages on holy Alcuin/GROW Joint Liturgical Study communion (22-23 and 30-31 and 42-43) never mention any ministering of the word (beyond no.65 was published (as part of the two the faintest hint on page 30 in ‗we reflect together on the Scriptures‘, but that looks as though it -per-annum cycle of the Studies) by means we hear them read aloud, and then meditate); baptisms (20-21), marriages (24-25) and SCM-Canterbury in June for £5.95. It is funerals (26-27) are all conducted without a hint of anyone ministering the word at them; and A edited by Chris Irvine from Canterbury Service of the Word (a major feature of the Common Worship provision) does not figure as Cathedral, and it brings together two such at all. In this last case some components like confession and forgiveness (32-33) or papers delivered to the International praise and thanksgiving (40-41) do get space – but preaching, teaching or otherwise Anglican Liturgical Consultation in ministering God‘s word do not. (There is a spread not for a congregation‘s non-sacramental Prague in 2005 (IALC-7) and an edited service, but for ‗Daily Offices‘ (44-45), and these are to give us patterns of prayer – but not a version of one of the preparatory hint of scripture). In Common Worship, there is encouragement to vary the communication – papers circulated in advance, under the Note 7 to A Service of the Word on page 27 of the Common Worship main book tells us ‗The overall title, Anglican Liturgical Identity. term ‗sermon‘ includes less formal exposition, the use of drama, interviews, discussion, audio- visuals, and the insertion of hymns or other sections of the service between parts of the These three papers, the first two by sermon‘. Wonderful – but not a hint of it reaches our booklet. Louis Weil from California and Trevor Lloyd from England, and the third by Just beneath the surface, you can hear my muttering and complaining, ‗Does teaching, Cynthia Botha from South Africa, open preaching and ministering the word not change lives?‘ Is not communicating God‘s word to up both the commonalities and the people‘s needs the most fundamental spiritual dynamic – a life-changing one? divergences in Anglican worship across Getting just beneath the surface then takes me down deeper still. I submit that this booklet the world. The editor stitches it together treats our worship patterns and forms as somehow autonomous features of church life. They deftly in his editorial. It would be do happen to include reading the Bible aloud (no hint of a lectionary, or sustained reading, by comforting to think the bishops at the way), but the worship forms are theologically prior to any inclusion of the Bible within them. Lambeth this Summer would all have The possibility that God‘s truth is ‗uniquely revealed‘ in the Holy Scriptures (as the preamble to been buying it – one suspects they may our Declaration of Assent states - see Common Worship main volume p.xi), and that all our have had other matters, rather than ways of expressing ourselves in worship stem from that is completely lacking. Even the creed worship, on their minds... (38-39) comes independently of scripture – and our hymns and songs are there because the sound of music (36-37) will inspire us, but not a hint that they are to carry scriptural truth into our lives. Scripture occasionally illustrates some point being made (as, eg, that worship is a The most recent booklets in foretaste of heaven), but the notion that it underlies and shapes all that we are to do when we the Grove Worship Series meet, that ‗the word of Christ should dwell in us richly‘ when we meet – no, there is hardly a are... No. 194 How to Plan hint at all. Quite the reverse – words are at a discount (10-11). and Lead All-Age Worship by As Spring turned to Summer this year Gordon Brown got beyond stonewalling about his John and Chris Leach and abolition of the 10% tax-rate, and started to say ‗we missed things out‘. Thus far I have found No. 195 Mapping Common Commission members still at the defensive stage. But I think a more compelling – and more Worship by Phillip Tovey. life-changing – booklet would run from that ‗uniquely revealed‘ point of origin to the ‗bringing the grace and truth of Christ to this generation‘ point of impact. Surely somebody somewhere Both are available from Grove in liturgies of some sort is going to present, teach, preach and proclaim the word of God, and it needs vast affirmation? Books at www.grovebooks.co.uk or The Rt Revd Colin Buchanan is the former Bishop of Woolwich, telephone 01223 464748. and former editor of News of Liturgy.

Praxis News of Worship is edited by Gilly Myers and is copyright © Praxis 2008. 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.

Getting in touch with Praxis... For general enquiries, affiliation and programme information, contact Praxis 19 The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2EB Tel: 01722 424 858 Email: [email protected]

Page 8 - Praxis News of Worship Issue 18