Book review from the Christian Century-I marvel sometimes as newcomers continue to arrive Sunday after Sunday at my Anglican church. Clueless about the messes in Canterbury and beyond, these visitors are drawn to our liturgy and our Book of Common Prayer.
They ask questions. What are these prayers and collects? What makes them stand the test of time? Newcomers want good guides just as all of us do. Of the numerous books addressing their questions, David deSilva's Sacramental Life: Spiritual Formation Through the Book of Common Prayer is one of the better. DeSilva, a professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary, combines his Episcopal upbringing, his experience as a pastor in the United Methodist Church and his eminent scholarly work to give his readers a thoughtful introduction to the four major rituals of the Book of Common Prayer. He aims to "focus on the spiritual direction these liturgies provide and spiritual direction they seek to form" and "to bring the spiritual formation fostered by the Book of Common Prayer more fully into your daily life."
Spotlighting baptism, the Eucharist, marriage and death, deSilva delves into not only what the Prayer Book teaches but where in scripture these liturgies originate and how they have been shaped over the history of the church. Each of the 45 short chapters is theologically intelligent and easy to understand, and concludes with several practical suggestions. DeSilva's passion is for readers to absorb these liturgies deep into their daily lives and be blessed by them.
more here-
http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=6553
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