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Milestones on the Christian journey

24 January 2006

The latest publication in the Church of England’s Common Worship series, launched this week, represents a pioneering resource for marking important occasions in the life of the Church - and the lives of individual Christian worshippers. The publication means that, for the first time outside the Book of Common Prayer, the entire journey leading to and beyond baptism is reflected in one volume.

Founded on the principle that baptism lies at the very heart of the Church’s life and mission, Christian Initiation places the services to celebrate Baptism and Confirmation at its core, incorporating all the minor changes made to these liturgies since their interim publication in 1998.

In addition to these popular services, the volume also presents brand new Rites on the Way, a menu of resources which - reflecting the mission-shaped agenda of the Church of England today - can be used creatively alongside evangelism and nurture courses such as Emmaus and Alpha. These short texts are intended to enable local churches to support and encourage those exploring the Christian faith, and actively affirm them on their journey towards baptism and confirmation.

Christian Initiation also includes another set of fresh services, Reconciliation and Restoration, which include rites for the reconciliation of a penitent (commonly known as ‘confession’), and a corporate service of penitence. The latter offers the opportunity for a congregation or other church community to conduct a collective act of individual penitence, primarily designed for use during Advent and Lent, or in preparation for significant church events such as a parish mission or pilgrimage. The rites – the first official services for general use with a primary focus on confession to be issued since the Reformation - fulfill a pastoral need that has been expressed within the Church, and provide an emphasis on penitence that is commended to parishes to help create a rich, balanced diet of worship reflecting the breadth and depth of Anglican identity.

Peter Moger, National Worship Development Officer for the Church of England, describes the publication as “a resource for the Christian journey: a collection that not only includes the key public ceremonies we associate with growth in faith but also elements that acknowledge the confession of sin as part of that journey”.

“Our ‘road testing’ of the new material has been extensive and overwhelmingly positive – perhaps because we’ve consciously grouped together a range of services that meet the diverse needs of a growing Church,” Moger adds.

In addition to the award-winning Common Worship design and layout, solid hardback covers and special binding enable the book to lie flat, whilst four coloured ribbons enable easy navigation. As well as a detailed introduction, the volume also includes a comprehensive commentary by the Church’s Liturgical Commission that provides background information to the initiation services.

Common Worship: Christian Initiation is published by Church House Publishing, priced £25.00, and is available from all Christian bookshops and Church House Bookshop, 31 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BN, tel. 020-7898 1300, e mail bookshop@c-of-e.org.uk, or on the web at: www.chbookshop.co.uk (mail order available).