Getting Oriented

Let’s begin by looking at the service for Confirmation in the Prayer Book, beginning on page 413.

First, read the instructions on page 412. (The Book of Common Prayer has directions and guidelines for our various types of services, both separately like here and within the liturgy itself in italics. Because the church likes to have a Latin name for everything, we call these instructions “rubrics”.)

The first paragraph tells why we use this service when people join the church. Confirmation is used for those people who were baptized as infants and who have now reached an age where they can commit themselves rather than have others do it for them. We also confirm people who join the Episcopal church after having been baptized in certain other churches. Persons transferring from Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran and some other denominations are received rather than confirmed. Wonder why? It is to maintain the tradition of the Apostolic Succession. We’ll look at that in detail in another unit.

Now look at the Confirmation service itself. Who leads the service? What do you think is the significance of the set of statements that comes after “The Bishop then continues” towards the bottom of 413? On 415, there is a series of questions that the Bishop asks. What do you need to do to prepare yourself to answer those questions? Look at the next question on 416. What should the people of St. Alexis’ do to support you?

The Baptismal Covenant (416) contains the promises that we make in baptism and are now confirming. The first set of things is made up of statements of belief. They are, in question and answer form, the ancient creed of the Church often called the Apostles’ Creed. Mark any parts of the creed that lead you to further reflection or questions.

The second set of questions ask for commitment to a distinctly Christian way of life. Will you be ready to commit yourself to that way? How can you work with God’s help to live out these promises?

Finally, while you have the BCP (Book of Common Prayer) in your hands, explore it a little bit. Just flip around and see what you find. We’ll take a closer look at this book later, but for now make a note of anything that interests you or that raises questions.

The Book of Common Prayer is the unique gift of the Anglican tradition to the Christian church. (We call ourselves Anglican from our origin in the Church of England.) The first BCP was adopted by the Church of England in 1549. It was revolutionary for several reasons. First, it translated many of the rites of the Church for the first time into English “to the end that the congregation may be thereby edified.” Rather than services in Latin liturgy and scripture were all to be read in the language all people could understand. The BCP also gather into one book various liturgies that had been in various books accessible only to the clergy. This meant that lay people had direct access to the services of the church, being able to read and understand them. The BCP also incorporated what are known as “the Daily Offices” (Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, etc.) that were adapted from monastic prayer cycles and are unique to the Anglican tradition.

At St. Alexis’ we use a service booklet prepared each week. This is intended to make the service as user friendly as possible for those new to the Episcopal Church. Our booklet is taken from the BCP.

Whew! You’ve made it through the first unit. I’d love to get feedback from you: questions, comments, complaints, things you like. Call me, e-mail me, or catch me at church.