I think that many of the suggestions made here, especially about the office, will be helpful to me in my own ministry. I would like to add one suggestion of my own. That is to read and study the Exhortation (BCP, 316-317). Not only do most laity not know about the Exhortation but I get the impression from casual conversations that most clergy are unaware of it as well. Yet it contains probably the most cogent statement of Anglican Eucharistic doctrine anywhere outside of the Eucharistic prayers themselves.

I think that the Exhortation should be read in parishes at least quarterly. And I think that it should be used as a catechetical tool in adult ed classes, confirmation classes, inquirer’s classes, etc. It’s not the only thing that we can do to strengthen our understanding of the gift of the Eucharist, but it seems to me to be a good place to start.

You wrote “I think there’s a sense that a lot of spirituality is personal spirituality; it’s something that *I* do for *my* spiritual growth. That’s not been the classical Christian understanding of either solitary or public prayer. Prayer is done in connection with and on behalf of the entire community even if we’re doing it alone. It’s not just something for our own personal edification.”

Can you hear my “HURRAH” from there?

Joe Smith has to go to work at 5:30 a.m., so he can’t be there for the Office at 7. But Annie Jones is a 68-year-old widow who CAN be there at 7. And she can be there FOR Joe, and Jim and Jane and Sally and Fred and all the rest of the parish community! And that is a true ministry.

Rahner’s wonderful definition of priesthood is
appropriate for just this kind of ministry:

“Für die Menchen, bei Gott zu sein.”
“For the people, be with God.”
(my translation)

Fr. John-Julian, These are great suggestions. I just want to unpack something inherent in number 4: I think there’s a sense that a lot of spirituality is personal spirituality; it’s something that *I* do for *my* spiritual growth. That’s not been the classical Christian understanding of either solitary or public prayer. Prayer is done in connection with and on behalf of the entire community even if we’re doing it alone. It’s not just something for our own personal edification.

Derek B., If you’re going to start chant in the parish, then you need to start with a strong core who have plenty of experience doing it. There’s nothing worse than when you hit a rough patch and everyone stares at everyone else wondering what to do. Like Fr. Chris says, keep it simple–but I’d agree with Fr. John-Julian–keep it seasonal. That is, if you do chant it publicly, before the start of each season have an informal dinner/cocktail hour (and invite the whole parish) where you sing through the new chants for the next season.

That is, don’t try and learn/teach chants *during* a time of prayer. That never works…

The chants needed for this are dead easy — the Phos hilaron, the Magnificat, the Benedictus, and the Venite. Maybe the Te Deum for red letter days. From there, you can add the little in between chants — “Lord, open my lips…” and “Let us bless the Lord…” and all that. We haven’t found that the music is off-putting to anyone. It’s easy to pick up, and for those who don’t sing, the Psalms and readings are the meat of the service anyhow.

Any thoughts or advice?

First,
DO IT — in every parish, every day, publicly, in the church, at announced times. (And train lay officiants for when the rector - rarely - cannot be there.) And use Derek’s propaganda….

Second,
Make the monastic connection — both for a model and for spiritual support when one is alone in the parish church. Have monks and nuns visit; encourage monastic oblateship or associate status in the parish; start a contemplative prayer group; etc.

Third,
Don’t make it fussy — minimize page flipping — don’t “embellish” or “embroider” it. (Print out the Office — in seasonal versions, if you wish — so folk can follow it straight through and only need the BCP for the Psalms)

Fourth,
Suggest the public Daily Office as a ministry available to all, of course, but especially as one that can be done by seniors, the retired, the alone — who often cannot do much else.

OCICBW, but it has worked very well in every parish I have ever served.