When you begin to think of everything that has been affected by the pandemic, it’s mind boggling. Could anyone at The Church of St. Michael & St. George ever have imagined a scenario in which you ask yourself, “Should I go worship on a playground this Sunday, or should I stay in my pajamas and watch Morning Prayer on a screen?” Yet, here we are.
With so many things that have changed in our lives, we’re learning to appreciate even more those things that remain constant. In my own life, one of those constants is The Book of Common Prayer. Apart from the Bible, no other book has been as formative for me than the BCP. One thing I’ve always loved about saying Morning and Evening Prayer from this book is the knowledge that I’m praying the same prayers and reading the same passages of Scripture along with other Christians all over the world. Another aspect I’ve grown to appreciate more and more is the repetitiveness of BCP worship. The phrases get stuck in your mind and sink into your bones, which is why, in addition to its spiritual value, the BCP is a great linguistic tool.
The pandemic has only increased my love for the prayer book, and that’s in large part due to its familiarity. In a time when so little feels familiar, it’s refreshing to join a worship service and pray with my brothers and sisters, “Our Father, who art in heaven…” and “We do not presume to come to this thy table, O Lord…” Even when I’m not able to join an in-person service or watch online, I know that my prayers are being joined with those of our CSMSG family and other Christians across the globe.
If you’re new to the Book of Common Prayer or if you haven’t used it much outside of church, now is a great time to become acquainted with it. Inexpensive copies are widely available for purchase on the internet, and the entire text is available free online. There are numerous sites (like this one) that can walk you through Morning and Evening Prayer each day. There is even a great iPhone/Android app, sponsored by The Episcopal Church, that has a very user-friendly format (it’s also a great option for traveling or saying Morning Prayer on the go). You can also follow along for Morning Prayer with one of our own priests by going to the CSMSG page on Facebook.
The Church of St. Michael & St. George is a family, and one of our family traits is that our worship and prayer life has been shaped by The Book of Common Prayer. It is a truly a gift, and we can give God thanks for this gift (“it is meet and right so to do”), especially in this time of unfamiliarity and uncertainty.
Blessings,
Fr. Stewart
