Categories: uncategorized
Date: 12 June 2006 11:52:26
but this is rather strange.
As is normal, my prayer life dragged to a halt some time ago. I pondered what was going on about this, and decided that I like having something written in my hand to follow. I really, really can't do this in my head on my own - especially anything approaching praise, which usually ends up as "Er, hello God, You're great. Er, really great. And quite big."
So, like the dutiful Anglican Reader wot I am, I explored the Common Worship Daily Prayer addition.
And found it terribly annoying.
This is why:
1. The type. That "Gill-a-bit-like-the-Tube-map" might have looked funky in 1999, but I find it quite tiring to read - it's also hard against cream paper when it's that thin, feint setting.
2. TOO MUCH STUFF! I mean, experimenting with it, I spent as much time thinking about choosing a pryaer or a canticle or whatever as I did praying.
3. Refrains. Sweet mother of Vernon, I KNOW these are traditional parts of Christian public worship, but has anybody actually sat down and thought about what's the point of them? Seriously.
4. Responsary - this is the random bit of verses that come after the reading. They're supposed to help you ruminate on a verse or something, but in a very annoying manner and, I might add, if you were using this out loud in a group you'd be cantering through this stuff without it ever having an impact. Again, what's the point?
So I thinked some more about this, about what I like - it's
1. Simplicity
2. Everything in one place
3. Nice type.
And guess what? I found it in the ASB. Yes, the hated ASB. The psalms are obviously there, and because they put every reading for a Sunday or Holy Day in, you've got a fair whack of the bible in there too, plus the Shorter form of MP and EP are so, so simple - opening, psalm, reading, canticle, prayers.
And it's in Palatino, nice, friendly, cozy palatino - hell, I was even nostalgic for Rite B as I was reading through it.
What's going on?