CELEBRATING COMMON PRAYER: A suggested adaptation
The publication of ‘Celebrating Common Prayer’ (CCP) in 1992 provided many people with a fresh approach to daily prayer that embraced the twin-principles of a selective use of psalmody, and a fuller celebration of the liturgical year – in ‘ordinary time’ through every week. More importantly, Morning and Evening Prayer emerged more clearly with their distinctive theologies, which go back to the earliest times. In the morning thanks are offered for the new day in the resurrection hope, and the evening, thanks are offered for the divine protection.
In 1994, the pocket version of CCP appeared, which provided a simpler scheme, while retaining the basic approach of the larger volume. This included an even more selective provision of psalmody, and short ‘chapter’ readings for each occasion, although it could be (and was) used in conjunction with the daily lectionary.
The advent of ‘Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England’ in 2002 moved this process on. A new translation of the psalter appeared, the result of the work of a number of distinguished biblical scholars and literary minds: CCP’s psalter had been taken from ECUSA’s B.C.P 1979, partly because it is more inclusive in its language than ASB 1980. The daily offices reflected much of what CCP was striving for, together with an even greater selection of alternative canticles. For some of us, it is a bulky and complex production, like CCP itself. The need for its own ‘pocket version’ became obvious. This duly appeared in December 2002 as ‘Celebrating Common Prayer: a Version of the Daily Office SSF’. In many ways it corresponds with the 1994 ‘Pocket CCP’, but the psalter and liturgical texts are those of Common Worship, and the psalmody provision, while still selective, is slightly fuller.
What is offered here is a way of using the new pocket version with some adaptation for those whose needs and contexts may require it.
Morning Prayer:
Opening Responses and Blessing
Venite (or Psalm 100, or Easter Anthems): this could be photocopied and pasted on to a card
Proper Psalmody
Laudate Psalm (Ps 146-150) – if desired
Old Testament Reading
Old Testament Canticle
N.T. Reading
Benedictus
Litany / Intercessions
Collect
Lord’s Prayer
Conclusion
Additonal Notes:
- Psalm 95 (Venite) can be replaced on Friday Morning Week 1 / Sundays in Lent by Psalm 38, the only one of the seven pentitential psalms (6, 32, 38, 51,102, 130, 143) missing from the new Pocket CCP; it can be photocopied from Common Worship, and pasted into the inside of the front cover.
- Psalm 85 appears by mistake twice (Tuesday Evening Week 1, Advent Sunday Evening; and Wednesday Morning Week 2 / Christmas Morning Monday). It is more of a Christmas psalm than an Advent psalm (‘mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace ……… each other; verse 10). The Tuesday – Advent provision could be replaced by Psalm 48, a well-known psalm, missing from the existing provision; this can also be photocopied and pasted on the inside of the front cover.
- Two more psalms, both of them well-known, are thus available for use in the provision – 38 and 48.
- The ‘Laudate’ Psalms (traditionally regarded as 148 –150), according to The Rule of St Benedict, are to be sung at Lauds (Morning Prayer) every day at the end of the proper Psalmody. The new Pocket CCP directs these to be used on Saturdays in the following scheme:
Monday/Pentecost Psalm 150
Tuesday/AdventPsalm 146
Wednesday/ChristmasPsalm 147.II
Thursday/EpiphanyPsalm 148
Friday/LentPsalm 147.I (omitting Alleluia and Lent)
Saturday/All Saints - AdventPsalm 149
A ‘Laudate’ psalm could be said each day after the proper psalmody. If so, the following daily /seasonal alternatives could be used:
Sunday wk. 7 / EasterPsalm 150 (page 66)
Monday wk. 7 / Pentecost Psalm 67 (page 145)
Tuesday wk. 7 / AdventPsalm 73 (page 223)
Wednesday wk. 7 / ChristmasPsalm 96 (page 159)
Thursday wk. 7 / EpiphanyPsalm 132 (page 135)
Friday wk. 7 / LentPsalm 91 (page 236)
Saturday wk. 7 / All Saints - Advent Psalm 84 (page 138)
Evening Prayer:
Opening Responses and Blessing
‘Hail, gladdening light’ (John Keble translation, ‘you-version’: different translations each day may confuse those without amazing memories).
Proper Psalmody
If desired, additional ‘evening’ psalms from Compline:
Sunday / Easter Psalm 104 (page 73)
Monday / Pentecost Psalm 86 (page 193)
Tuesday / AdventPsalm 143 (page 189)
Wednesday / ChristmasPsalm 31 (page 191)
Thursday / EpiphanyPsalm 16 (page 238)
Friday / LentPsalm 139 (page 32)
Saturday / All Saints – AdventPsalm 91 (page 226)
New Testament Canticle
New Testament Reading
Magnificat
Litany / Intercession
Collect
Lord’s Prayer
Conclusion
Additional Suggestions:
- The Litany (pp. 266 ff) could be used at Evening Prayer through the week as follows:
Invocation- each day
Deprecations (‘from evil and mischief …’) - Monday
Obsecrations (‘by the mystery …’)- Tuesday
Intercessions – Church- Wednesday
Intercessions – Nations- Thursday
Intercessions – Suffering- Friday
Conclusion - each day
- The psalm litanies (Common Worship, pp 346 – 348) could be photocopied and used at Morning Prayer on a daily basis, Monday – Saturday.
- The newly authorised Additional Collects (shorter than those in C.W.) are available on the internet from the Liturgical Commission.
- Many of these additional Psalm references can be pencilled in; as could the antiphons, if desired, for the psalms and canticles, from C.W.
- Some additional intercessions (adapted from Colquhoun's ‘Parish Prayers’; the first three with ‘Lord, near us’ or some other response, if desired, after each section.
God of infinite mercy, you have compassion on all people;
hear the prayers of your servants, who are unworthy to ask
anything for themselves, yet are in duty bound to pray for
others.
Let your mercy descend upon your Church; preserve her in
peace and truth, in unity and service; that her sacrifice of
prayer and thanksgiving may ever ascend to your throne.
In mercy remember the Queen; keep her perpetually in your
fear and favour; and grant that all who bear office under her
may serve with a single eye to your glory.
Remember our friends, all that have done us good; return all
their kindnesses to them in double measure. Forgive our
enemies; and help us to forgive, as we hope to be forgiven.
Comfort the afflicted; speak peace to troubled consciences;
strengthen the weak; confirm the strong; instruct the
ignorant; deliver the oppressed; relieve the needy; and bring
us all by the waters of comfort and in the ways of
righteousness to your eternal kingdom; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. (After Jeremy Taylor)
Remember, Lord, your people present here before you, and
those who are absent through age, sickness, or infirmity.
Care for the infants, guide the young, support the aged,
encourage the faint-hearted. Gather the scattered, and
bring the wandering back to your fold. Travel with the
voyagers, defend the widows, shield the orphans, deliver the
captives, heal the sick. Succour all who are in tribulation,
necessity, or distress. Remember for good all those who
love us, and those who hate us; and those who have asked
us, unworthy as we are, to pray for them. And remember,
too, Lord, those whom we have forgotten. For you are the
Helper of the helpless, the Saviour of the lost, the Refuge of
the wanderer, the Healer of the sick. Father, you know the
needs of everyone, and you have heard their prayers; grant
to each one according to your merciful loving kindness,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. (A Prayer of the Eastern Church)
Almighty God, who has taught us to make prayers and
intercessions for all people:
We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons; for all
who lead us in government and education; for artists,
authors, musicians, and journalists; that our common life
may be crowned with truth, beauty and justice.
For all who heal the body, guard our health, and tend the
sick; that they may follow in the footsteps of Christ,
the great physician;
For all on whose labour we depend for the necessities of life;
for those who carry on the commerce of the world, that they
may seek no private gain that would hinder the good of all.
For parents and children; that purity, love, and honour may
dwell in our homes, and duty and affection may be the bond
of our family life;
For all who draw near to death, that they may know your
presence with them through the valley of the shadow, and
may wake to behold your face; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(John Hunter)
O God, the creator and preserver of all,
we pray for people in every kind of need;
make your ways known on earth,
your saving health among all nations …
We pray for the good estate of the catholic Church;
guide and govern us by your good Spirit,
that all who profess and call themselves Christians
may be led into the way of truth,
and hold the faith in unity of spirit,
in the bond of peace and in righteousness of life …
We commend to your fatherly goodness
all those who are any ways afflicted or distressed,
in mind, body or estate;
comfort and relieve them in their need,
give them patience in their sufferings,
and bring good out of all their afflictions…
We remember those who have gone before us
in the peace of Christ,
and we give you praise for all your faithful ones,
with whom we rejoice in the communion of saints..
All this we ask for Jesus Christ’s sake.
(Bookof Common Prayer 1662, adapted in Common Worship)
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light,
Look favourably on your whole Church,
that wonderful and sacred mystery.
By the effectual working of your providence,
carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation.
Let the whole world see and know
That things which were cast down are being raised up,
And things which had grown old are being made new,
And that all things are being brought to their perfection
By him through whom all things were made,
Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
Who lives and reigns with you,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, forever and ever.
(Gelasian Sacramentary, adapted in Book
of Alternative Services, Canada, 1985)
- Some additional devotional prayers:
Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart,
which no unworthy thought can drag downwards;
an unconquered heart which no tribulation can wear out;
an upright heart which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside;
give me also, O Lord my God, understanding to know you,
diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness
that may finally embrace you through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274)
Generous God, Creator Spirit,
in the making of music,
you have a given us a delight for the mind,
and a solace for the heart.
By the harmonies of your grace,
resolve the discord of our lives,
that we may sound forth your praise
in all that we do and all that we are,
to the glory of your great Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Peter Baelz 1923-2000)
O Lord Jesus Christ, who knowest the Father,
even as thou art known to him;
lead us onward evermore in the knowledge
of thee who art the truth, till at last we see
thy face, and know thee as we are known of thee;
who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest,
one God for ever and ever.
(J.R.IIlingworth, 1876)
(Composed for Brighstone August ‘reading parties’)
O God,
when we are overwhelmed by scenes of death,
keep us believing in life;
when inhumanity baffles and appals us,
give us a sober knowledge of the sins we share;
when our responses are numbed,
give us the grace of true feeling and deepest compassion,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God of our pilgrimage,
you have willed that the gate of mercy
should stand open for those who trust in you;
look upon us with your favour,
that we who follow the path of your will,
may never wander from the way of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Common Worship)
I believe that you created me;
let not the work of your hands be despised:
I believe that I am after your image and likeness;
let not your own likeness be defaced:
I believe that you saved me by your blood;
let not the price of the ransom be squandered:
I believe that you proclaimed me a Christian in your name;
let not your namesake be scorned:
I believe that you hallowed me in rebirth;
Let not that consecration be despoiled:
I believe that you engrafted me into the cultivated olive tree;
Let not the limb of your mystical body be cut out.
(Lancelot Andrewes 1555 – 1626)
Gracious God, help us to love you above all others;
when we are weak, make us strong;
when we are weary, renew us;
when we are discouraged, inspire us;
when we are faithless, bring us back to you;
for you are the source of our hope,
and the well of our deepest joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Michael Townsend, adapted)
Lord, God,
you have called your servants
to ventures of which we cannot see the ending,
by paths yet untrodden,
through perils unknown.
give us faith to go out with good courage,
not knowing where to go,
but only that your hand is leading us,
and your love supporting us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978)
Gracious and holy Father, give us wisdom to perceive you,
diligence to seek you, patience to wait for you,
eyes to hold you, a heart to meditate on you,
and a life to proclaim you;
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus
Christ our Lord.
(Benedict c.480-c550)
Eternal Light, shine into our hearts;
Eternal Goodness, deliver us from all evil;
Eternal Power, be our support;
Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance;
Eternal Pity, have mercy on us;
that with all our heart and mind and strength
we may seek your face, and be brought by your infinite mercy
to your holy presence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Alcuin of York c740 – 804)
May the Lord grant that you (we)
may observe all these things with love,
as lovers of spiritual beauty,
radiating by your (our) good life
the sweet odour of Christ,
not like slaves under the law,
but as free persons, established in grace.
(Rule of Augustine 8.1)
+ Kenneth Portsmouth
2004