Words for Worship

Prayers from the Heart of the Church of England

The Liturgical Commission of the Church of England

• Publisher: Church House Publishing
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9780715121900
• eBook ISBN: 9780715122730
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christianity

Words for Worship brings together the most cherished prayers in the Church of England's liturgy, that today create a common identity among Anglican worshippers. Each prayer is accompanied by a short commentary on its history and meaning, opening it up for those new to Anglican worship and those seeking a deeper understanding of familiar words.

1

Basics

1.1 The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and for ever.

Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

From Common Worship

This is the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, when they asked him how they should pray. Most Christians know the prayer by heart in their own language, and it is used today by every Christian tradition, though there are sometimes minor variations in the wording. It has a place in every Anglican act of worship, and forms a pattern for prayer for Christians: we bless God and pray for God’s will to prevail on earth; we pray for daily needs to be met, for forgiveness for wrongdoings, strength to resist temptation and protection from danger.

The text is found in two slightly different versions in the New Testament – Matthew 6.9–13 and Luke 11.2–4. The prayer as we use it today is a version that was adapted by the early Christian communities from the two Gospel texts, and it was taught in this form to new converts. The final sentence, giving glory to God, is called the doxology. It is not part of the New Testament text, but was added very early on. The Lord’s Prayer is occasionally said without it.

The Lord’s Prayer is printed in the Book of Common Prayer in a form slightly different from what is often called the ‘traditional’ form printed above. Here the variations are shown in italics:

Our Father, which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

in earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

1.2 The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.

I believe in God the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth:

and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, dead, and buried.

He descended into hell;

the third day he rose again from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;

the holy Catholick Church;

the communion of saints;

the forgiveness of sins;

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.

This statement of what Christians believe was taught to people who were preparing for baptism in the early centuries of the Christian Church. It became known as the Apostles’ Creed, because it was thought to include the essential teaching of the 12 apostles, Jesus’ earliest followers. It was into that faith of the apostles that Christians were, and are, baptized.

The Apostles’ Creed is therefore a summary of what the Church teaches, and of what Christians together believe, rather than a detailed statement of individual and personal belief. Saying the Creed binds Christians together as a believing community, across different traditions and practices. As we say the Creed, we join Christians past and present, and from all over the world, in proclaiming our common faith. The Apostles’ Creed is used especially at services of baptism and confirmation, and also when a creed is used at celebrations of Morning and Evening Prayer.

1.3 The Grace

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,

be with us all evermore.

Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost,

be with us all, evermore.

Amen.

In these words, Christians bless one another and rejoice together in the shared experience of God’s love, grace and communion, which involves all three persons of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. By saying the words together, Christians also affirm their commitment to one another. The words may be used in various settings. They are often a shared conclusion to prayers offered by a worship leader during a service, or as a prayerful conclusion to a meeting or gathering. People sometimes bow the...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• 1 Basics
• 2 Responses
• 3 Holy Communion: some main texts
• 4 Prayers of Preparation, Penitence and Thanksgiving
• 5 The Nicene Creed
• 6 Gospel Canticles
• 7 Prayers from the Book of Common Prayer
• 8 Classic collects
• 9 Modern collects for various seasons
• Where do words for our worship come from?
• Glossary
• To find out more
• Afterword
• Index
• Back