What is in Kelvin's Head?

Eucharistic Prayer

One of the really great things about the Scottish Episcopal Church is our collection of liturgies. There has been some suggestion recently that these should be gathered together in one prayer book and printed up together. People like the idea of a proper book.

I’m not so keen myself. Printing all the wee bookies has enabled a couple of decades of wonderful innovation. The crowning glory of all of this is our set of modern language Eucharistic prayers.

Although there are odd phrases that I would change here and there (some to make the language more inclusive and some for the sake of rhythm), I still think that they are the best set of Eucharistic Prayers in the Anglican world. We got them more or less right in 1982. It is worth noting that the C of E has gone through two iterations of their prayers since then (ASB and Common Worship) and yet I still don’t think they are a patch on what we have.

Anyway, here’s your Gene Clip of the Day. The Rt Rev Gene Robinson celebrating the Eucharist last Sunday using our regular Eucharistic Prayer. If you listen carefully you can hear one of the angels singing along.

BTW – I’m very grateful to those who have contributed already. For those who haven’t done so but who could contribute something towards this web-based side of ministry, see what I said before about needing help.

Now, what do you want next – more of the service or more of the interview?

Comments

7 responses to “Eucharistic Prayer”

  1. Stewart Avatar
    Stewart

    Another great clip Kelvin – The singing is great.

    I found myself singing along with the Santus and Benedictus.

    Please more of the service. The cathedral always sounds great when the a large congregation is being supported by the organ. The snippet of “All people that on earth do dwell” to the tune of Jerusalem on the BBC website leaves me wanting more.

    Reply
  2. ryan Avatar
    ryan

    Yeah, I think ours are the best (although I heard New Zealand’s are lovely too). Who actually writes these things? The then-bishops themselves? Artistic clergy? I can see why they would want them to be written in house but (personally) I think it would be great , in the future, to approach notable writers/poets to do them (Edwin Morgan!) irrespective of belief, and have them checked for theological accuracy by someone appropriate.

    Reply
  3. Caron Avatar
    Caron

    Do you know, I always thought the 1970 Liturgy was best and I couldn’t come to terms with the modern stuff. I might be more open to persuasion than I thought.

    The atmosphere at the service must have been wonderful and it does come across in the video clip.

    As for the angel – thank you so much for having that attitude to a baby. Others are not so tolerant.

    Reply
  4. John Penman Avatar
    John Penman

    Totally agree on the excellence of the modern Scottish Liturgy. Having had to suffer the Roman Rite and the ASB when working in Englandshire and occassional exposure to Common Worship (which is both), it was nice to come back to what was/is “simply the best”. Being picky tho, we took a wee while to get there: 1982 was the 1st Eucharistic Prayer – the other 4 were authorised in 1990! Like Caron I was a 1970 fan, but exposure to the Blue Book has made it much more “home” for me.

    Reply
  5. Eamonn Avatar
    Eamonn

    I agree that the 1982 Liturgy is unbeatable. Every time I visit the C of E or the C of I, the liturgies used seem (with respect) to have yawning gaps in them.

    Caron, the 1970 Liturgy has strengths if you want the underlying theology spelt out in propositional statements. The 1982 service more often expresses the theology through imagery, which to some of us speaks more eloquently. As it happens, a bishop who is a published poet was involved in the drafting.

    Reply
  6. MadPriest Avatar
    MadPriest

    “Now, what do you want next”
    Have you got any Simpsons, or maybe an early Torchwood episode?

    Reply
  7. Thomas L W Graham Avatar
    Thomas L W Graham

    Just visiting these sites for the first time. What a wonderful innovation to include all these video’s and sermons etc on the web. Hope the enclosed donation is of some assistance.

    Reply

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