Day by Day: The Rhythm of the Bible in the Book of Common Prayer by Benjamin Sargent

I  read this booklet because I knew Ben back in student days at King’s College London, however its focus of the BCP was also of interest.

Much of what is written about the BCP these days is highly partisan, often written by zealous members of the Prayer Book Society.  For all the passion that such writings might contain, in general such is the blinkered view of reality that few actual have much capacity to persuade the reader of the Prayer Book’s merits. 

One of the great strengths therefore of this booklet is the way in which it does not deny the limitations of the Prayer Book in certain aspects – it is also not afraid to give Common Worship credit in those (very small) regards where it does provide a more pastorally flexible approach.  Within the context of this honesty and realism you are moved to take the arguments for the Prayer Book much more seriously. 

One of the buzz word phrases of the age is “Bible Believing Christian” (it crops up all over the place, including the occasionally advert in the Church Times, as a touch stone for Evangelical ministry).  Many of those who would assert to be “Bible Believing” would have little time for formal liturgy, preferring some form of spontaneous encounter with Scripture.  I think this group will be the primary audience for this booklet because its fundamental argument is; if you want your worship to be filled with, and shaped by, Scripture you really need look no further that the BCP.  Very few liturgical expressions, formal or “spontaneous”, can claim to provide a greater depth but also breadth of Scriptural material.