You can’t be curious about Anglicanism for long without running into the Book of Common Prayer, commonly called the Prayer Book or simply the BCP, which forms the liturgical heart of the Anglican tradition. Of course, based on the title, you might reasonably assume that there’s just one Book of Common Prayer out there. However,…
The ACNA’s New Daily Office Lectionary: A Summary & Review
After a series of revisions, the ACNA has released the “final” version of the Daily Office Lectionary that will be included in the ACNA Prayer Book (due to be published in 2019). (To learn more about what the Daily Office Lectionary is, click here.) Because I’ve been using the ACNA lectionary in the Daily Office…
How the Daily Office is Different from a “Quiet Time”
Prayer is paramount to our lives as Christians. As the 19th-century philosopher Soren Kierkegaard wrote, “Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.” Saint John of Damascus defines prayer as “The raising of one’s heart and mind to God.” Raising our hearts and minds to God, however, is no easy task. We’re…
3 Prayers to Pray During the Election
Because it’s election season here in the United States, I thought I’d share the following prayer I composed for the election: Lord God, Almighty Father: Watch over our nation in these times. Casting a ballot is a privilege given to us by our Constitution and secured for us by citizens and patriots, past and present….
Aids to Anglican Worship: How Christian Imagery and Icons Can Help You Worship God
Christian Imagery Our Creator gave us physical senses to experience the world around us. In His mercy and wisdom, He inspired His people to create various aids to worship that engage those senses. One category of such an aid is that of Christian imagery – images and artwork specifically intended to help in the act…
Guest Post: Kentucky Teacher Protests and an Anglican Church
This guest post was provided by Kentucky teacher Heather M. Morgan, who is a member of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Frankfort, Kentucky. Many Kentucky teachers have been protesting low wages and inadequate funding. St. Peter’s sits adjacent to the Kentucky state Capitol. St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Frankfort, KY has always been keenly aware of…
The Daily Office Lectionary: A Rookie Anglican Guide
A lectionary is, in simple terms, a Bible reading plan. It tells you which scripture passages to read on specific days, and the Daily Office Lectionary guides you through the scriptures each morning and evening of the year.
How to Chant the Venite
The Venite is a canticle used in Morning Prayer, based largely upon the text of Psalm 95. It is featured in certain editions of the Rookie Anglican Daily Office Booklet. Below is an audio file of the easiest way, in my opinion, to chant the canticle. As you can see in the pagescan from the 1940…
Donald Trump is Distracting Me From Myself
For some, it is so easy to get angry at President Donald Trump. He gives them reasons every day via the convenience of Twitter to see him as the problem. For others, the “fake news” mainstream media is a daily focus. For still others, it is the democrats or Hillary or “progressives” or activists. I’m…
How to Chant the Magnificat (The Song of Mary; Luke 1:46-55)
The Magnificat – also known as the Song of Mary (Luke 1:46-55) – is a canticle used in Evening Prayer. It is featured in certain editions of the Rookie Anglican Daily Office Booklet. Below is an audio file of the easiest way, in my opinion, to chant the canticle. As you can see in the…
How to Chant the Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah; Luke 1:68-79)
The Benedictus – also known as the Song of Zechariah, Luke 1:68-79 – is a canticle used in Morning Prayer. It is featured in certain editions of the Rookie Anglican Daily Office Booklet. Below is an audio file of the easiest way, in my opinion, to chant the canticle. As you can see in the…
An Anglican Spider Bite: My Journey into the Anglican Way
My Anglican journey began in a class about the theology of the early Church—specifically, with a particular article. Before we read J.N.D. Kelly’s Early Christian Doctrines, our professor wanted us to read a short biographical essay on him by H.E.J. Cowdrey. Now, Kelly himself entered Oxford as a Presbyterian. However, according to Cowdrey, “he was…
