In today’s Gospel lesson Jesus predicts the end of the world. He will gather His elect from the ends of the earth. No one knows the day or hour, so keep alert. Stay awake. Advent is a time of preparation, 4 weeks to get ready for the advent of the Christ Child. Obviously, Jesus doesn't return and get incarnated over and over again every year, but we discover His unexpected presence over and over again, as He penetrates deeper and deeper into our hearts, and in that way He makes His advent to us. For that reason the Church has always linked the first advent with the second. Christ's return at the end of time will be as judge and King, not as prophet and sacrifice. Discovering His unexpected presence is part of the process by which we prepare for His second advent, and we use the yearly celebration of the first Advent focus on it.

But there is always a balance to be struck between the old and the new. The old is comforting and familiar. It evokes wonderful and cherished memories. It is reassuring that the glory of the past was not in vain. During this time of year it becomes especially important to us. But the old can become a rut and a liability. When the vision of the glory fades, and we continue to do what we've always done merely because we've always done it, then we fall into empty ritualism that shortchanges our worship and negates the compelling nature of our message. After all, all memories were once new. This year we are going to do something that balances the old and the new. We are launching a series of sermons on the Prayer Book. Last year I preached on the theology of the Prayer Book. This year I want us to look at it as a tool to prepare for Christmas, an way to stay awake.

The tool in the book is the Daily Offices. These services were developed over the centuries as a way to keep alert. They originated with the monastic movement as a way of praying without ceasing. Prayer services were devised for all hours of the day and night. These services coalesced into seven, two major ones and five minor ones, they spread prayer throughout the day so as to "redeem the time," making time itself a vehicle of grace. In our current book it has been extricated from its monastic roots to make it appropriate for lay use as well as clergy.

The two major offices are Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer (Matins and Vespers.) Rite I and Rite II forms are given. The structure follows the ebb and flow of the first part of our Sunday Eucharist. They begin with an opening sentence, that brings us into the presence of God. They follow with the confession and absolution, that prepares us to be in His presence. (It is traditional to do the confession, the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer only once in the day. They are omitted during one office if both Morning and Evening Prayer are read.) Invitatory sentences and Psalm invite us into the dialog of Scripture, and get us in the proper mindset to hear the readings. Scripture lessons are read followed by canticles. These readings are not intended to be academic study, but opportunities to meditate on the Word of God. The canticles give the lessons opportunity to reach beyond the intellect and touch the emotions and the will.

Scripture lessons are taken from the Daily Office Lectionary beginning on p. 936. It gives three lessons and two psalms for every day. Psalms for Morning and Evening Prayer are listed on the first line, separated by four dots in a diamond shape. The three lessons below are split between Morning and Evening Prayer. Instructions on the "proper" way of doing this are listed on p. 934, but ultimately these references are there for your use—use them as they best fit your needs. If you follow it diligently you will read through 95% of the Bible in two years, and the Psalms every six weeks. Readings are divided up into Years 1 and 2, on facing pages of the lectionary. Year 1 are years in which the majority of the liturgical year ends in an odd number. Year 2 are years in which the majority of the liturgical year ends in an even number. We just finished Year 2, today we begin Year 1. A listing of suggested canticles to say between readings can be found on p. 144 and 145.

Our response to the Word is our faith. Apostles' Creed confesses our apostolic faith. The Lord's Prayer sets the pattern for our praying with Jesus' model prayer. The Suffrages are antiphonal prayers for a set series of themes. They reflect our Celtic roots. Other prayers follow in the form of collects that address our concerns. There is always a collect for Mission, and space to put in your own concerns and petitions is given. For the final prayer of thanksgiving—choose either The General Thanksgiving, a great summary, or the Prayer of St. Chrysostom that sets our prayer in the context of eternity. The Dismissal sends us off with a reminder of the context in which we live.

We have three minor offices in our book. An Order of Service for Noonday begins on p. 103. It draws its meaning from the hour of noon, when Jesus was nailed to the Cross. It is a short office that can be copied and kept on a few sheets of paper in your desk or pocket. Read it over your lunch hour--it does not use the lectionary. An Order of Worship for the Evening begins on p. 109. It is a little longer than Noonday Prayers, it focuses on Christ being our light in the darkness as evening gathers. Alternate "short Lessons" are listed in the rubrics on p. 108. An Order for Compline begins on p. 127. It is meant to be read just before going to bed. Selections for the Psalms are given in the rite. Selections for different prayers are given--mix and match according to your need.

We have four other rites beginning on p. 137. They are morning, noon, evening and night prayers on one page, each patterned after the major offices. They are intended, as their title suggests, to be used by individuals and families. Space is made for your own petitions, Though a scripture passage is given, selections from the Lectionary or some other programmed form of Scripture reading and study can be substituted. These make it hard for anyone to come up with an excuse not to pray at least four times a day!

Advent, like Lent, is a time of preparation. I challenge you during Advent. Read the daily offices, in whatever form you choose. Do it reverently in this secular time of commercialization and materialism. Do it diligently in this hectic time of parties and travel and social events. See if it doesn't anchor your heart in the real meaning of Christmas!

Fr. Paul Moore+