The Book of Common Prayer and COVID-19
Great stories of increased corporate and individual prayer have been told during this time of pandemic (See here). The church in the West can be tempted to depend on many things and forget prayer. Now, with the newfound gift of time, we can make the best use of the time (Eph. 5:15) by praying. Prayer, however, is easily one of the hardest spiritual disciplines to practice. It is easy to talk about but hard to do. There has been much help offered in other articles and books, but I want to offer just one help. Written prayer.
Written prayers can be easily ignored. I have found written prayers like The Valley of Vision and the Book of Common Prayer extremely helpful to my prayer life, but a question might arise: “Shouldn’t prayer come spontaneously from the heart?” Two thoughts come to mind:
“Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2 ESV). As frail and lowly humans, we are to approach God with reverence. Sure, talk to him like a Father, but we are also warned to not be “hasty” in talking to the Lord. Reading written prayers can be helpful in avoiding this.
Second, praying is not natural. Just ask the twelve disciples! “Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples’” (Luke 11:1 ESV, emphasis mine). You may be frustrated at the fact that you don’t really know where to start when it comes to praying. Neither did the disciples. Jesus said:
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:9–13 ESV).
Jesus showed his disciples to pray by praying. Thankfully, this prayer, said by the perfect pray-er — who prays for us at the right hand of the Father right now (Rom. 8:34) — has been written down for us. Written prayer isn’t a bad idea after all, is it? So, what’s my point?
Read written prayers. They can enhance your prayer life just like they have mine and many saints through history. These prayers can be found both in our Bibles and plenty of other works written by Christians through the centuries. Start by praying the Lord’s Prayer quoted above. You can find extended meditations on the Lord’s prayer like this one.
Outside of the Bible, I want to highlight the Book of Common Prayer (ACNA 2019). It has helped me pray very intentionally during this pandemic.
What is a good ole’ Baptist like me doing with an Anglican BCP? Well, I believe in Baptist Catholicity. Don’t let that word scare you. This means “universality and wholeness. It is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.” Baptist Catholicity encourages all Christians to “pray for and seek Christian unity across ecclesial and denominational lines and that Baptists should not reflexively reject principled, ecumenical dialogue with other Christian traditions.” (Check out the Center for Baptist Renewal.) In short, it aims to seek unity within sound doctrinal boundaries.
It is possible to hold Baptist distinctives and gain insight from other rich traditions within orthodoxy. This includes the rich tradition Anglicans bring to Christianity, along with their crown jewel of reformation literature, the Book of Common Prayer.
Below are some prayers that can help you pray for needs you might have never considered during this time of global pandemic. I have also attached a pdf of the entire Book of Common Prayer (ACNA 2019) for your use. Order a hardback while you’re at it.
Take time and pray through some of these.
5. FOR THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER
O Almighty God, you pour out on all who desire it the spirit
of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
97. PREPARATION FOR PERSONAL PRAYER
Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.
17. FOR THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that
we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
28. FOR THE PEACE OF THE WORLD
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: Kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all people the true love of peace, and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
37. FOR THE PRESIDENT AND ALL IN CIVIL AUTHORITY
O Lord our Governor, whose glory fills all the world: We commend this Nation to your merciful care, that we may be guided by your providence, and dwell secure in your peace. Grant to the President of this Nation, the Governor of this State [or Commonwealth], and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do your will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them continually mindful of their calling to serve this people in reverent obedience to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
39. FOR OUR NATION
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure conduct. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom, in thy Name, we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
44. IN TIMES OF SOCIAL CONFLICT OR DISTRESS
Increase, O God, the spirit of neighborliness among us, that
in peril we may uphold one another, in suffering tend to one another, and in homelessness, loneliness, or exile befriend one another. Grant us brave and enduring hearts that we may strengthen one another, until the disciplines and testing of these days are ended, and you again give peace in our time; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
47. FOR THE UNEMPLOYED
Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive a just reward for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
48. FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMING
Almighty God, we thank you for making the earth fruitful, so that it may produce what is needed to sustain our life: Bless those who work in the fields; give us seasonable weather; and grant that we may all share the fruits of the earth, rejoicing in your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
50. FOR THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONS
Almighty God, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ went about doing good, and healing all manner of sickness and disease among the people: Continue in our hospitals his gracious work among us [especially in __________]; console and heal the sick; grant to the physicians, nurses, and assisting staff wisdom and skill, diligence and patience; prosper their work, O Lord, and send down your blessing upon all who serve the suffering; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
55. FOR THOSE WHO LIVE ALONE
Almighty God, whose Son had nowhere to lay his head: Grant that all those who live alone [especially ______] may not be lonely in their solitude, but that, following in his steps, they may find fulfillment in loving you and their neighbors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
56. FOR THE ELDERLY
Look with mercy, O God our Father, on all whose increasing years bring them weakness, distress, or isolation [especially ______]. Provide for them homes of dignity and peace; give them understanding helpers, and the willingness to accept help; and as their strength diminishes, increase their faith and their assurance of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
59. FOR THE DISCOURAGED AND DOWNCAST
O God, almighty and merciful, you heal the broken-hearted, and turn the sadness of the sorrowful to joy, Let your fatherly goodness be upon all whom you have made. Remember in pity all those who are this day destitute, homeless, elderly, infirm, or forgotten. Bless the multitude of your poor. Lift up those who are cast down. Mightily befriend innocent sufferers, and sanctify to them the endurance of their wrongs. Cheer with hope all who are discouraged and downcast, and by your heavenly grace preserve from falling those whose poverty tempts them to sin. Though they be troubled on every side, suffer them not to be distressed; though they are perplexed, save them from despair. Grant this, O Lord, for the love of him who for our sakes became poor, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
65. FOR FAMILIES
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you set the solitary in families: We commend to your continual care the homes in which your people dwell. Put far from them every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, and true godliness. Knit together in constant affection those who, in holy matrimony, have been made one flesh; turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the hearts of children to their parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we may evermore be joined to one another with bonds of loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
