Common Prayer
A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals
by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove: Enuma Okoro
Hardback
Price: £16.99
Publisher:Zondervan Publishing House
Published:15 October 2010
ISBN:978-0-310-32619-9
GoodBookStall Review:
Common Prayer – one begins to wonder if there is such a thing! Common Worship is anything but common, with so many seasonal variations and authorised additional material.
So to this book – all 586 pages of it. ‘Liturgy is a workout for the imagination’ [introduction p12]: if the authors see this as a workout, I’d not like to tackle their assault course! This almanac of worship provides us with – in this order:
1.A series of 7 forms of simple evening worship on a weekly pattern
2.366 acts of daily worship with readings on a calendar pattern starting in Advent
3.A mid-day office
4.Occasional prayers
5.A songbook of 52 items drawn from a wide range of sources
The major part of the book – over 500 pages – is morning prayer. On each day there is something about someone whose feast or commemoration day it is, or an event’s anniversary – Hiroshima Day, Kristallnacht for example; a responsory; some psalm verses – usually no more than 4 or 5; 2 Biblical readings; prayer for others and a closing prayer.
To someone who uses the common worship daily office, this office appears thin in contrast: HOWEVER for someone looking for a simple daily pattern of worship it is ideal. The book is unmistakeably American – but it is none the worse for that: its authors being a Baptist, who is Director of the School for Conversion, a writer/artist/editorial consultant and the founder of The Simple Way, a radical faith community based in inner-city Philadelphia.
I found the December-November format both familiar and comforting, though I cannot imagine using the book myself. I particularly liked the 12 full page woodcuts which form the monthly frontispiece. The book is bound with a single ribbon marker – surely for regular use it needs at least 4.
I neither commend nor condemn this book – it is up to each individual to make up their own mind but it is worth repeating words from above: ‘for someone looking for a simple daily pattern of worship it is ideal’.
Reviewer: Nick Horton (17/12/11)
Common Prayer – one begins to wonder if there is such a thing! Common Worship is anything but common, with so many seasonal variations and authorised additional material.
So to this book – all 586 pages of it. ‘Liturgy is a workout for the imagination’ [introduction p12]: if the authors see this as a workout, I’d not like to tackle their assault course! This almanac of worship provides us with – in this order:
1.A series of 7 forms of simple evening worship on a weekly pattern
2.366 acts of daily worship with readings on a calendar pattern starting in Advent
3.A mid-day office
4.Occasional prayers
5.A songbook of 52 items drawn from a wide range of sources
The major part of the book – over 500 pages – is morning prayer. On each day there is something about someone whose feast or commemoration day it is, or an event’s anniversary – Hiroshima Day, Kristallnacht for example; a responsory; some psalm verses – usually no more than 4 or 5; 2 Biblical readings; prayer for others and a closing prayer.
To someone who uses the common worship daily office, this office appears thin in contrast: HOWEVER for someone looking for a simple daily pattern of worship it is ideal. The book is unmistakeably American – but it is none the worse for that: its authors being a Baptist, who is Director of the School for Conversion, a writer/artist/editorial consultant and the founder of The Simple Way, a radical faith community based in inner-city Philadelphia.
I found the December-November format both familiar and comforting, though I cannot imagine using the book myself. I particularly liked the 12 full page woodcuts which form the monthly frontispiece. The book is bound with a single ribbon marker – surely for regular use it needs at least 4.
I neither commend nor condemn this book – it is up to each individual to make up their own mind but it is worth repeating words from above: ‘for someone looking for a simple daily pattern of worship it is ideal’.
Reviewer: Nick Horton (17/12/11)
