I'm really frustrated. I'm new to studying the Episcopal/Anglican church, and this morning I tried to read the introduction to the 1663 Book of Common Prayer and go through the daily office for the morning. The book I have lists the readings as Jeremiah 24 and Romans 14 & 15 up to verse 8. However, when I check different BCP apps, they show readings like 2 Samuel 5 and Ephesians 1:1-14; another app lists 2 Samuel 9 and Acts 8:4-25; and other online sources mention different readings altogether. What’s going on? So, my question is: what are the morning readings for August 17th, 2024? Is there a lack of consistency in the Book of Common Prayer across different sects, or am I just misunderstanding the calendar?
Hi - and welcome to Anglican Forums Luis. 1663 was a long time ago. Since that time the lectionary, (the readings for a three year cycle of daily prayer and Sunday service scripture readings, Yr A, B and C - we are currently in year B), has been revised, altered and updated. It has also been agreed between major denominations, so the old 1662 version is considerably outdated. Most major denominations use the modern inter-denominationally agreed one that you found on line. The Church of England now uses the Common Worship Lectionary. The BCP is still used as a service book though in many Anglican communion churches, and some still use the old lectionary or various versions of it, too. .
I get that, but why do I see different readings in modern resources? What are the current readings, or can you suggest a reliable source for them? Was there not a 3 year cycle before? All I see in my book is a calendar that lists every day and the readings. I'm not seeing a calendar for A, B, and C years. If I buy a 1979 Book of Common Prayer, does it have a calendar for all three years of the cycle?
I don't know what the situation is in the Americas, I am writing this from the UK. My BCP contains a table of PROPER LESSONS for Sundays, LESSONS PROPER for HOLY-DAYS, PROPER PSALMS on CERTAIN DAYS and THE CALENDAR with table of lessons for January to December. The book I have also lists the readings for 17th Aug. as Jeremiah 24 and Romans 14 & 15 up to verse 8, though I doubt if we could rely on many other Anglicans using those readings at Morning or Evening prayer any longer. Most would be using a Common Lectionary Yr A,B,C version. The BCP only has scripture readings for a single yearly cycle. The Three year cycle was started by the RC church and has been adopted as an agreed sensible cycle by various other denominations since the 1980's. .
For today's daily office morning prayer, what does it say the morning lessons are in your book? I'm surprised by how confusing this is! In my 1663 book, it seems straightforward—there's a calendar that clearly shows the morning and evening readings. However, it appears that's not accurate? I can't find two online resources that agree on the morning lessons for August 17. Why is that?
Because things have moved on considerably since 1662? The was only ONE yearly cycle: One Church of England: No Anglican Communions other than that: No Episcopal Church, and not even any United States of America, back then.
Yes, but that still doesn’t clarify the confusion! The title "Book of Common Prayer" suggests that the prayers should be shared among different groups. I still don’t know what today’s actual lessons are, or if there’s even a lesson that’s commonly prescribed!
The 'COMMON' in Common prayer, refers to all and any of the subjects of King James the First of England AND sixth of Scotland, and his heirs. - Not you! You are a 'foreign' American. Only joking! Common prayer meant that the prayer book was intended for the whole population of the realm of England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. In fact there were heavy fines imposed upon anyone NOT using it back then.
Okay...So what are the morning and evening lessons for today? I still have no idea what they are and why they would be different from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer - its the same Bible and same God!
Same Bible and same God, but different Lectionary. God doesn't, Jesus Christ doesn't, but all things change, times change, we change, Lectionaries change - some for the better, some not, but you'd better get used to it, it's inevitable and inexorable. .
Hit this link. Then hit the link 'Common Worship Lectionary' when you are taken to my original post. THEY are the readings for today that MOST people will be COMMONLY using.
What lessons can we draw from today's circumstances? I can find no definitive answer to what should be a simple question. It appears that, in the absence of clear guidance, what we are experiencing is not a transformation of our world and its modern rhythms but rather a profound confusion.
THIS is what you are looking for, which MOST people are commonly using over on this side of the pond. But try Googling the same thing over there in the USA and you might admittedly find 'confusion'. That though might simply be a characteristic of simply BEING in the USA. .
Indeed, I have seen that. Thank you! However, the challenge lies in the fact that this is not the only perspective available when seeking today’s lessons. It is troubling to witness such a fundamental matter lacking consensus. Such divergence on what should be so clear makes me wonder how we got to this situation.
A COMMON Lectionary has only been arrived at through consensus and agreement among the RC church and other denominations. There are still many denominations and sects who like sheep go astray and prefer to go their own way, because perhaps they consider themselves to be uniquely THE whole real CHURCH, rather than just part of it, worldwide. .