The Holy Spirit in The Book of Common Prayer
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“Over the years of my ordained ministry as an Episcopal Priest, I have come to believe that we (the Church) must develop a useable knowledge of the Holy Spirit, for after all, the Spirit is the dynamic spiritual power that the Book of Common Prayer, in total agreement with the New Testament, identifies as “God at work in the world and in the Church even now” (BCP, p. 852).
My hope is that everyone who reads this book and, either individually or in small group discussion, uses the questions at the end of each chapter, will see in a renewed way the dramatic role the Holy Spirit plays in all the Rites and Prayers in the American Book of Common Prayer. By looking again at the Holy Spirit as named, acknowledged, invoked and applied in our Book of Common Prayer, I believe we can also find all that is necessary for drawing upon the power of the Holy Spirit for personal, congregational, denominational and societal benefit.
As we observe and hear about the alarming things happening across the globe, the belief that the flame of the Holy Spirit can be reignited offers both hope and comfort. And, I believe The Holy Spirit in the Book of Common Prayer can be a helpful tool to be used in reigniting that flame.”
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About the Book
Did you know that the Holy Spirit is a significant figure in the The Book of Common Prayer? The Holy Spirit in The Book Of Common Prayer explains every occurrence of the Holy Spirit in this important Episcopal book of worship. The Holy Spirit is found in:
• Most of the liturgical service liturgies
• Every liturgy for Holy Communion
• More than half the collects and other prayers
• More than 30 specific actions
Aren’t you curious about why the Holy Spirit is given such a prominent place in The Book of Common Prayer?
Don’t you wonder why you haven’t heard more about the Holy Spirit before now? If that sounds like something that could be a benefit to you and your parish, valuable information starts on page one.
About the Author
Father Wesley has been an ordained Episcopal priest since 1970, and his lengthy experience has convinced him that the current decline in congregants and finances in many Episcopal congregations can be tied to the lack of sound teaching linking the Holy Spirit with our worship, sacraments, and sacramental rites. Through a brief exposure to the Episcopal Charismatic Movement in its early years, Father Wesley learned to live and minister in the power of the Holy Spirit and has experienced openness from the congregations he has served to his sermons and teachings linking the Spirit with The Book of Common Prayer. Although “officially retired,” Father Wesley serves as part-time rector of a parish in Montevallo, Alabama, and feels privileged to be an adjunct instructor of religion at the University of Montevallo. His wife, Sandie, and he have four grown daughters and nine grandchildren ranging in age from seven to nineteen years old.