Perceiving and cooperating with the good things God "is getting up to" in and around our parish.
Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you see it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19
Dear Ones,
This morning, we will be using a new worship booklet to guide us through the "Late Summer Season."
Why the change? First, this change is a direct response to the feedback and advice of many in the parish who have expressed a desire for us to be more mindful of our resources. But in addition to reducing the material and time required to produce a booklet for each Sunday's Liturgy, this new format reflects a very intentional move to encourage a more active role for the laity in our worship and to introduce new members and reintroduce life-long Episcopalians to the rich Anglican traditions of our faith as found in the Book of Common Prayer and the 1982 Hymnal. Lastly, it offers helpful insights into the history and meaning behind many of our worship practices.
Things Changed and Left Unchanged: Nothing has been added to or subtracted from the traditional liturgy. If you heard a recording of today's service, you would be unable to distinguish it from any other typical Sunday's Liturgy.
Here's what has changed:
Listening to Scripture: The lessons from Holy Scripture will be printed this Sunday as an insert. After this week, instead of reading along, we'll hear the scripture readings aloud. This ancient practice fosters a deeper connection to the Word of God within our community. Printed copies will be available for those with hearing difficulties or children learning to read. Bibles are also in the pews for reference.
Reciting the Psalms: We'll recite the Psalms together from the Book of Common Prayer, enriching our worship with the familiar and comforting language of our tradition. And for people newer to Anglicanism, this serves as a practical introduction to the Prayer Book.
Regular use of the 1982 Hymnal: In addition to their beauty and our personal history with them, the hymns contained in the 1982 Hymnal trace the church's historical journey, theological understanding, and liturgical practices. Singing these hymns connects Episcopalians to our spiritual heritage and the broader Anglican Communion. Much of what is found in the '82 Hymnal was written for particular seasons of the church year or specific occasions like baptisms, weddings, and funerals, thereby deepening our experience and understanding of the sacred events. Last but not least, these hymns are powerful tools to teach and give expression to complex theological concepts in accessible and memorable ways. We will also introduce music and hymnody of more recently published Episcopal hymnals.
Prayers of the People: We'll use one of the standard forms from the Prayer Book. The names of those requesting prayer will be listed on the back of the insert. During the Prayers of the People, the Intercessor will pause, inviting you to say aloud the name(s) on the prayer card you received with your booklet. The back of the card includes a corresponding prayer from the Book of Common Prayer. In addition to praying aloud for these folks during worship, I encourage you to incorporate them into your daily prayers. This shared practice of carrying one another in prayer will, over time, become a more natural and intentional part of our lives as members of St. John's.
Prayer for our Country: Before the prelude, we'll join in a prayer for our country found in the Book of Common Prayer. This prayer, written nearly a century ago, speaks to timeless Christian and American values. I will offer the prayer today, but in the future, I would like members of the Vestry and parishioners who wish, to sign up to lead us in this prayer.
I invite you to embrace these changes with curiosity and openness. Some things we try may not work as expected, while others may prove transformative to our common prayer and shared life. We can only discern this by doing. As Christians, our task is not be successful, but to be faithful, trusting the Holy Spirit to continue Jesus' teaching and life within us.
Finally, I want to express my gratitude for all of your suggestions. If you don't see all the changes you hoped for, rest assured that there will be additional changes that reflect many of your ideas in the upcoming seasonal booklet. I am especially grateful for the considerable thought, patience, and intentional work of Michael Monnikendam and Trish Tiura on this project.
Blessings and peace always,
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