Daily Office 101
Sunday, April 02, 2006
The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) was
actually developed so the common person could have private
devotions to God; quite the radical concept in the 1500s. The BCP
was intended for all people to be able to praise and listen to God
on a regular, daily basis.
The Daily Office, starting on page 934 in the BCP, helps any individual get into the discipline of both devotions and reading the Bible on a daily basis. Through the Daily Office, an individual can cycle through most of the New Testament once a year, and most of the Old Testament every two years. An individual can also cycle through all the Psalms found in the Old Testament several times a year.
Two year cycle: The Daily Office calendar is broken into years One and Two. Follow along the readings for the day of the appropriate year, One or Two. Even numbered years follow year Two (like now, 2006). Odd numbered years follow year One. Now, here’s the trick; the church calendar actually starts in Advent (4 weeks before Christmas), so the Daily Office for 2007 will follow cycle year One and we’ll begin using it 4 weeks before Christmas this year.
Quick history lesson: The first Anglican Book of Common Prayer (a few photographed pages from which are at the back of the church today) was adopted in 1549. It’s interesting to note that much of its tradition and language remains in the prayer books of today.
The Daily Office, starting on page 934 in the BCP, helps any individual get into the discipline of both devotions and reading the Bible on a daily basis. Through the Daily Office, an individual can cycle through most of the New Testament once a year, and most of the Old Testament every two years. An individual can also cycle through all the Psalms found in the Old Testament several times a year.
Two year cycle: The Daily Office calendar is broken into years One and Two. Follow along the readings for the day of the appropriate year, One or Two. Even numbered years follow year Two (like now, 2006). Odd numbered years follow year One. Now, here’s the trick; the church calendar actually starts in Advent (4 weeks before Christmas), so the Daily Office for 2007 will follow cycle year One and we’ll begin using it 4 weeks before Christmas this year.
Quick history lesson: The first Anglican Book of Common Prayer (a few photographed pages from which are at the back of the church today) was adopted in 1549. It’s interesting to note that much of its tradition and language remains in the prayer books of today.