Whilst its primary target-audience are those recently baptised or confirmed, it's good for pilgrims at every stage of the journey. (Mine has extended to more than 70 years, and it was a good exercise to submit myself to this wise summary of Christian teaching and living).
Although the emphasis is 'soft Anglican' the flavour of this book of quotes, prayers and 'homilies' is 'broad church/inclusive'. The reading list at the back includes both 'small c and capital C' Catholics (Henri Nouwen, Carlo Carretto etc.), Evangelicals (John Stott, Richard Foster, Gordon MacDonald, Gordon Fee etc.), the best of the spiritual masters (Julian of Norwich, Thomas a Kempis etc.) and a few I'd hesitate to put into any theological box (Basil Hume, Michael Ramsey).
The devotional flavour is irenic ('Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit./ Where there is weakness, give us strength,/ where there is disagreement, give us tolerance,/ where there is misunderstanding, give us patience,/ where there is hurt, give us courage to forgive...')
And ecumenical: 'Christ has no body/ now on earth but yours,/ no hands but yours,/ no feet but yours... Yours are the hands with which / He is to bless people now' (St Teresa of Avila). Or this from the Iona Community: 'Of those around in whom I meet my Lord,/ I ask their pardon and I grant them mine,/ That every contradiction to Christ's peace/ Might be laid down.'
The book doesn't simply contain doctrines and morals, but good advice for practical living. Like:
# 'The Christian faith is about change. But the liberating good news is that I am set free from striving to be someone else. I can stop chasing after the empty glamour of that image which seduced me. I can stop denigrating myself, and stop wishing I were different. Instead, I can become myself.'
The good bishops are accepting of diversity. Like this, about charismatic renewal:
# 'Some Christians record dramatic experiences such as speaking in tongues – a kind of heavenly language that gives [them] a new freedom to praise God. Others quite literally fall over with the overwhelming sense of God's love and power. But we should not feel overlooked or alarmed if we have not had these experiences.'
Of course you would expect that the rich resources of the Book of Common Worship would be included. Like:
'Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought,
in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault...'
Or this, the prayer of preparation for receiving the Holy Communion:
'Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen'
While high standards of Christian devotion and practice are encouraged, there is a kind acceptance of our struggles too. Perhaps the best advice on prayer ever offered in this regard is Dom Chapman's 'Pray as you can, not as you can't'.
An example of great devotion is the well-known prayer of Ignatius of Loyola:
'Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
except that of knowing that I do your will.'
What Bible translation should we use? 'Take care when reading the Bible to choose a good, modern English translation'. No specific suggestions are offered. (I wonder about that: and reckon it's quite safe to recommend the NRSV!). Is the Bible inerrant? 'The claim has never been made in the creeds of the Church, or in the foundation articles and documents of the Church of England.'
What is God's mission? Here's a good summary:
# To proclaim the good news of the kingdom
# To teach, baptize and nurture new believers
# To respond to human need by loving service
# To seek to transform the unjust structures of society
# To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.
There's a nice pastoral touch throughout. For example there's a gentle word to adult singles: 'For some it is a conscious decision; for others it is a consequence of what has often been a painful loss...'
Yes, it's a tough world out there, described so poignantly by William Blake:
[We were] made for Joy and Woe;
And when this we rightly know
Thro' the world we safely go.
Joy and Woe are woven fine,
A clothing for the Soul divine;
Under every grief and pine
Runs a joy with silken twine.
These two men - and their assistants - are quite human (and fallible: they reckon there are 26 books in the New Testament! p. 39). And also quite English: 'Sometimes Christians feel as though they must keep a stiff upper lip, or, even worse, a cheesy grin, through all situations of grief, pain and difficulty.'
Rowland Croucher said he spent February and early March reading this helpful little book, thoughtfully and prayerfully. It's been a rich experience.
Rosie Timmins in a journalism graduate from Bond and is based in Melbourne ministering with OAC as an Intern.
Rosie Timmins' previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/rosie-timmins.html