Published during the tenth anniversary of the Book of Common Worship (1993), The Companion to the Book of Common Worship is a practical guide, answering questions such as how do I use the Book of Common Worship to its fullest advantage? and how can the Book of Common Worship form a congregation into a community that glorifies and enjoys God?
| Preface | ||
| Abbreviations | ||
| Preparation for Worship | 1 | |
| The Service for the Lord's Day | 2 | |
| Convictions about Worship | 2 | |
| Convictions about the Service for the Lord's Day | 5 | |
| Origin and Development of the Fourfold Ordo of the Service for the Lord's Day | 14 | |
| Purposes of the Ordo of the Service for the Lord's Day | 19 | |
| Commentary on the Service for the Lord's Day | 44 | |
| Preparing and Leading the Service for the Lord's Day | 72 | |
| Resources for the Liturgical Year | 82 | |
| Liturgical Time | 82 | |
| The Shape of the Liturgical Calendar | 84 | |
| Texts Included in "Resources for the Liturgical Year" | 88 | |
| The Christmas Cycle: From the Darkness of the World to the Light of Christ | 91 | |
| Christmas: The Advent of the Messianic Savior | 91 | |
| The Day of Epiphany: Light to All People | 93 | |
| Advent: Come, Lord Jesus! Our Lord Has Come! | 95 | |
| Commentary on the Christmas Cycle (Advent - Christmas - Epiphany, January 6) Services | 98 | |
| Advent | 98 | |
| Christmas and Epiphany | 103 | |
| The Easter Cycle: From the Ashes of Death to the Fire of the Spirit | 105 | |
| Easter (Pascha): Celebrating the New Order | 106 | |
| Lent: The Way of the Cross to Easter (Pascha) | 109 | |
| Pentecost: Set on Fire as Witnesses to the Crucified and Risen Christ | 117 | |
| Commentary on the Easter Cycle (Lent - Easter - Day of Pentecost) Services | 119 | |
| Ash Wednesday | 119 | |
| Passion/Palm Sunday | 121 | |
| Maundy Thursday | 127 | |
| Good Friday | 132 | |
| The Great Vigil of Easter: First Service of Easter | 135 | |
| Easter Sunday through Seventh Sunday of Easter | 143 | |
| Ascension of the Lord | 144 | |
| Day of Pentecost | 145 | |
| Ordinary Time | 146 | |
| Time between Epiphany and Lent, and Time between Pentecost and Advent | 146 | |
| Festivals in Ordinary Time | 148 | |
| The Baptism of the Lord | 148 | |
| The Transfiguration of the Lord | 148 | |
| Trinity Sunday | 149 | |
| All Saints' Day (November 1) | 150 | |
| Christ the King (or Reign of Christ) | 151 | |
| Liturgical Color | 152 | |
| Baptism and Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant | 155 | |
| Recovering the Meaning of Baptism | 155 | |
| Obstacles to Recovery | 155 | |
| Reformed Emphasis | 156 | |
| Preparation for Baptism | 156 | |
| Commentary on the Baptism Rites | 157 | |
| The Sacrament of Baptism: The Elements of the Rite | 158 | |
| An Alternative Service for the Sacrament of Baptism | 168 | |
| Baptism and Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant: A Combined Order | 170 | |
| Daily Prayer | 173 | |
| The Nature of Daily Prayer | 173 | |
| Hours of Prayer and the Meaning of Time | 176 | |
| History of Daily Prayer | 177 | |
| Components of Daily Prayer | 179 | |
| The Services of Daily Prayer Service | 188 | |
| Morning Prayer | 189 | |
| Evening Prayer (and Service of Light) | 190 | |
| Prayer at the Close of Day | 191 | |
| Other Services: Midday Prayer: Vigil of the Resurrection; Prayers at Mealtime | 191 | |
| Preparing and Leading Daily Prayer | 192 | |
| The Psalms | 202 | |
| Singing the Psalms | 202 | |
| Prayers for Various Occasions | 208 | |
| The Great Litany | 208 | |
| Other Litanies | 209 | |
| Prayers for Various Occasions | 209 | |
| Prayers for the World | 209 | |
| Prayers for the Natural Order | 209 | |
| Prayers for the Church and Other People of Faith | 210 | |
| Prayers for the National Life | 210 | |
| Prayers for the Social Order | 210 | |
| Prayers for the Family and Personal Life | 210 | |
| Prayers for the Human Condition | 210 | |
| A Variety of Uses | 210 | |
| Christian Marriage | 212 | |
| Pastoral Challenge and Evangelical Opportunity | 212 | |
| Commentary on the Marriage Rites | 221 | |
| Rite I: A Service for General Use | 221 | |
| Rite II: A Service Based on the Service for the Lord's Day | 229 | |
| Rite III: A Service Recognizing a Civil Marriage | 230 | |
| Some Questions to Address in a Session Marriage Policy | 230 | |
| Suggestions for Conducting a Wedding Rehearsal | 231 | |
| The Funeral: A Service of Witness to the Resurrection | 234 | |
| Bearing Witness to the Resurrection | 234 | |
| Comforting the Bereaved | 235 | |
| Arrangements | 236 | |
| The Funeral: A Service of Witness to the Resurrection | 237 | |
| The Committal Service | 242 | |
| Suggestions for a Service of Witness to the Resurrection | 244 | |
| Pastoral Liturgies | 246 | |
| Convictions about Pastoral Liturgies | 246 | |
| Pastoral Visits | 249 | |
| Commentary on Pastoral Liturgies | 253 | |
| Ministry with the Sick | 253 | |
| Holy Communion with Those Unable to Attend Public Worship | 255 | |
| A Service for Wholeness for Use with a Congregation | 260 | |
| A Service for Wholeness for Use with an Individual | 264 | |
| A Service of Repentance and Forgiveness for Use with a Penitent Individual | 264 | |
| Prayer at the Time of Death | 265 | |
| Book of Occasional Services | 266 | |
| Ordination and Installation | 267 | |
| Commissioning | 270 | |
| Dedication | 272 | |
| Marking Transitions in a Congregation | 276 | |
| Marking Transitions in a Governing Body | 277 | |
| Interfaith Resources | 277 | |
| Additional Prayers for Various Occasions | 278 | |
| App. A: Glossary of Terms | 279 | |
| App. B: For Further Reading | 287 | |
| App. C | Study Guide for the Book of Common Worship | 295 |
| Notes | 328 | |
| Acknowledgments | 333 | |
| Index | 335 |
Overview
Published during the tenth anniversary of the Book of Common Worship (1993), The Companion to the Book of Common Worship is a practical guide, answering questions such as how do I use the Book of Common Worship to its fullest advantage? and how can the Book of Common Worship form a congregation into a community that glorifies and enjoys God?