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COMMON WORSHIP, the collective name for a range of new services, which includes the Eucharist, Baptism and Confirmation will replace the present Alternative Service Book (ASB) which we have been using since 1980. The new services will become the norm from lst January 200l, with the Book of Common Prayer (l662) remaining as the "official" Prayer Book of the Church of England. I have been looking through the new Eucharistic rite (Order One) and it would seem to retain much of the material of our present service (ASB rite A) with the addition of many new seasonal texts, EIGHT Eucharistic prayers and the use of inclusive language. Order One can also be used in 'traditional' language, i.e. the 'thee' and 'thou' form. Order Two is based upon the Book of Common Prayer (l662) with additional texts and a revised order, within the traditional form of service and a contemporary form of service. There would seem to be plenty of material in the new services to add much confusion to our worship within the church at large; the word being used is 'flexibility'. The Liturgical Committee have said that "Common Worship recognises that, whilst we are one Church, local needs and situations differ". They certainly will if I know anything of the Church of England! The theology of the new services is said to be an emphasis on God's activity in Christ, the Church and worship. For example, it relates the Spirit more clearly to the work of creation and stresses the self-giving, suffering love of God, thereby strengthening the link between the incarnation and the cross. The ASB services used images of the Church as the 'family of God' and the 'body of Christ' whereas Common Worship uses images of the Church as a pilgrim people. This is shown in the new inter-active Eucharistic Prayers of Order One, where the congregation celebrate(?) with the priest in saying certain parts of the prayer together. This is a new idea indeed - or is it? They went on to say, 'complete uniformity is not expected but there will be a 'family likeness' which binds us together with other liturgical churches'. In the other services of Common Worship such as Baptism, Confirmation and Funerals, there is a wide choice, which will certainly be a good thing, as we have experienced with the recent Confirmation by the Bishop of Portsmouth at St George's; but it will certainly need careful planning before use, as there are many alternatives and some services could last much longer than the sacred one hour! Will it make any difference to the mission of the Church of England in the third millennium I wonder? Will the new liturgical services help to fill our churches? Time will tell and we shall see. What will be happening in 2021? Only God knows! With my prayers and blessing, Your priest and friend. Malcolm Ferrier. |
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page last updated 1 JULY 2000 |
