Why I Love Liturgical Prayer Books

Yesterday my husband and I bought a copy of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. Last night as we looked through it and skimmed the pages I felt so inspired and excited – it was like a breath of fresh air. I know there are those out there that would probably think that my equating a liturgical style of worship to a breath of fresh air is an oxymoron. But, that’s how it felt to me.

I never went to a liturgical church growing up – my parents were almost always went non-denominational churches. Liturgical worship was never a part of my childhood or young adult years so it never had a chance to get old or dry. There is something about structured liturgical prayer that really speaks to me. Often I want to pray but don’t have the words to pray, so having someone give me the words is helpful. I like the idea of praying what others throughout the world are praying and what others throughout history have prayed. I love that idea of continuity and familiarity and regularity and ritual – especially since sometimes my life feels so filled with discontinuity and change and irregularity and nothing seems familiar or habitual.

Anyway, Bryan and I are going to start doing daily prayers from the book of common prayer on the weekends and start doing the daily readings from the lectionary and I’m excited about it so I just thought I would share my excitement with all of you.

Rejoicing in the season –
Beth Stedman