Posted on 05/12/2006 5:45:49 PM PDT by sionnsar
For those of you who hate PDF files as much as I do, ECUSA's General Convention Blue Book(which is actually green; nice of them to let Frank Griswold's dog design the cover) is now online. Like its secular doppelganger, the United Nations, ECUSA has a commission or committee for just about everything; wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if ECUSA had a Standing Commission on Identifying Problems That Don't Have Standing Commissions Yet.
Anyway, I got to poking around the section for the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music which was probably not a good idea. SCLM proposes that these Anglican martyrs be remembered.
Almighty God, you called your servant Oscar Romero to be a voice for the voiceless poor, and to give his life as a seed of freedom and a sign of hope: Grant that, inspired by his sacrifice and the example of the martyrs of El Salvador, we may without fear or favor witness to your Word who abides, your Word who is Life, even Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be praise and glory now and for ever. Amen.
Except that they were Roman Catholics but to-may-to, to-mah-to. SCLM is big on rites of passage. There are a lot of them so I'll only hit a few. For example, if you're a big boy or girl and don't have to sleep in a baby bed anymore, SCLM suggests this:
The new bed may be made up with the child’s help. Members of the household, including the child, may move in procession from the crib to the bed with pillows, blankets, stuffed animals or other objects regularly part of the nighttime ritual.
Good and loving God, your watchful care never slumbers, and you give gifts to your children even as they sleep. Thank you for bringing us all to this day into which N. has grown in your protection. Give her blessed rest wherever she lays her head. Keep her well and fill her dreams with hope. Awaken her every morning to the sureness of your love with joy and courage for the day at hand; through Jesus, our Savior and Friend. Amen.
As long as I've got my bankie, the big people can say anything they want. I won't understand it anyway. If Mom and Dad keep doing that weird thing that they do in their bedroom where they get all mad and stuff if you open the door...
You call us your children, O God, and through grace and adoption you make us your own. Through the birth of a baby to his mother and father, N. has become a big brother. Help him to be patient and gentle with himself and the baby as he learns to share his home, his parent(s), and his toys. Keep this new relationship in your watchful care, so that these children may become lifelong companions in friendship and faith; through Jesus, our Brother and Lord, we pray. Amen.
As soon as Dad takes off the training wheels...
You move through our lives, O God, like the wind, pushing and pulling us into the adventures of growing up. Our young sister, N., has learned to ride a bicycle, conquering fear, enlarging her world, and tasting new freedom and speed. May the learning of this skill teach her to risk and to trust, to hold on and to let go, as life demands from day to day, and may she be kept safe always. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Mom? Dad? Why is my...thing...like that?
O God, you have made us in your image and called us to the joys of human love. That love, the sign and seal of your own love for each of us, is shown through companionship and caring, and, powerfully and mysteriously, through the mystery of godly sexual expression shared with each other. This young person, N., is opening his heart to learn the wideness of love. As he strives to discover who he is, whose he is, and the person he is given to love, may he be guided, protected, and encouraged by you, O Love Incarnate. Give him wisdom in choosing, courage in loving, and patience in waiting for the marvelous truth of his life to unfold in your grace, most holy and undivided Trinity, alive through all the ages. Amen.
And as soon as the folks tremblingly hand over the keys...
Gracious God, our brother, N., has come to an occasion of great privilege and responsibility. In the new freedoms which driving affords him, help N. to remember all of us who love him and are trusting him to drive safely, wisely, and kindly. In all the journeys of his life, go with him and bear him up with your sheltering love. And may this adventure be only one of thousands in which your gifts of freedom and care go hand-in-hand to bless him; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Personally, I wonder how I ever made it to fitty without all these prayers. Anyway, here's a little bit of what SCLM suggests for when you turn 13.
In the opening procession, each young person is joined by family. They are seated together at the front of the assembly.
Suggestions for hymns and spiritual songs are listed below.
Opening Acclamation
Presider Blessed be God who has brought us to this day.
People Blessed be the God of all our days.
Presider Thanks be to Jesus who restores us to wholeness.
People Thanks be to Jesus in whose death is our life.
Presider Praise to the Spirit who calls us to service.
People Praise to the Spirit who matures us in love.
Collect
Presider The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Presider Let us pray.
Holy God, in you we live and move and have our being: Grant to all your people the courage to live gracefully through the changes and chances of life, giving thanks for your guiding Spirit and your never-failing love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
The Ministry of the Word
Suggested readings are listed below.
A homily may follow.
The Presentation and Examination
Dear People of God: Throughout life’s journey we encounter moments of change that call us to grow. In the relationship between parent and child there are many such moments of challenge and grace. Though each of these has unique burdens and joys, adolescence especially requires greater patience, forgiveness, courage, and hope. Parent and child must learn to risk and to let go. These children and their parents come to this faithful community to offer thanks for all that has been, and to seek God’s blessing for all their futures. We join them in acknowledging and celebrating the transition as they stand on the threshold.
Who is ready to begin this new phase of life?
Parents and children present each other, one family group at a time. Godparents and other significant adults may also stand with the parents and children.
Young Person These are my parents N. and N., who have raised me and love me.
or
This is my mother/father N., who has raised me and loves me.
Parents This is our son/daughter N., whom we love with all our heart.
or
Parent This is my son/daughter N., whom I love with all my heart.
Young person and parent(s) together
We stand before God and before our faithful community to acknowledge that we are in the midst of a change that calls us to fresh ways of understanding one another. Help us be thankful for all that has been and for all that is to come. We trust God’s constant love and pray a blessing for this time of transition.
The Presider addresses the young people and adults, saying
N., N., [and N.], you are made in the image of God who has held you in love every day of your life, and always will. Remember your divine Maker who formed you in joy and remolds you for the changes that lie before you. The Creator who knows you delights in the work that prepares you for your roles in Christ’s healing of the world.
The Presider addresses the young people, saying
N., [N., and N.], will you continue to honor your parents, respecting their life experience, and remembering their love for you?
Young People I will, with God’s help
Presider Will you strive to make decisions that honor your body, your spirit, and your relationships?
Young People I will, with God’s help
I feel fairly certain that if my mother(my father was indifferent) had ever forced me to undergo something like that, I would have become a Southern Baptist the following Sunday. Back to the prayers. Did you find that great job you wanted?
Holy God, you call us to do the works of Christ who came to live among us in love as a servant. Our true call is to be transformed into his likeness. As N. begins this new job, grant him wisdom and skill, so that the work of his hands may bring him satisfaction. Help him to be faithful, honest, and fair with those who labor beside him, and let them be so with him. May he glorify you in all he does, through Christ whose saving work on the cross brings us to rest in your love. Amen.
Or did you just get canned?
Author of Life, you ordered the seasons and watch over the times between sowing and reaping, fallow and planting. We pray with N., whose work in this place has now ended. During her years at this job, she faithfully accomplished her tasks, befriending those who worked beside her. Bless her as she leaves [and enters a period of waiting]. Bring relief if she is anxious. Strengthen her trust in you, [and guide her search for new work]. By the power of the Holy Spirit, assure her of your continuing love and care, and of her usefulness in the work of your kingdom; through Christ the Worker, our ever present help and companion. Amen.
You can always go back to school.
Gracious God, you are always calling us to stretch our hearts in love and stretch our minds in learning. Through patience and perseverance, our brother, N. has earned his GED. We thank you for your gifts of courage, determination, and the discipline which have kept him committed to his goal, and brought him to this proud day. As he faces life’s next challenge, renew him in your love, and strengthen him to do your will; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Did the wife catch you doing your hot secretary?
God of Love, you ask us in your name to be faithful to the covenants we create with one another. Yet the relationship between N. and N. seems damaged beyond repair. We grieve with them as they say farewell to set off on separate paths, sorrowing for a love broken beyond our power to make it whole again. But you in your mercy rise in every death and your love is new every morning. Help us to uphold N. and N. as they discern the future you hold in store for them: abundance of life in the love of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Oh well. These things happen.
Holy One: in the bond of marriage you provide a sign of your eternal love for us. When our love is strong and true, we feel cradled in your embrace; when love breaks, we feel lost to you. Yet you are the God who holds your people in a sacred covenant, loving each of us as though there were but one of us. The marriage of N. and N. has ended, and so we seek your healing for their hearts and lives. Help them forgive whatever wounds they inflicted on each other. Let them surrender their past, looking with hope toward the future you bring them. Guard and heal their children and those who grieve their parting from one another. And bring us all to that day when our love will be made perfect and our joy complete in you, through Jesus Christ in whom all things find perfection. Amen.
You get the idea.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. It's just the whole idea of this - since ECUSA is so anti-family and anti-child - is really pathetic.
Have you noticed how few children are in an average ECUSA parish? It's all "gay 'n gray" these days.
In contrast my Orthodox parish is overrun with rug rats (Thanks be to God) and we have eight pregnancies.
Has anyone figured out yet what's causing this?
I heard our parish priest state that he is somewhat puzzled. In most Orthodox parishes the rash of pregnancies occurs immediately after Great Lent (some married couples choose to fast from conjugal relations during Lent).
Update: first successful birth in this wave. Young Mary Ann (born on the 13th) is now doing OK after a difficult birth. God grant her many years!
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