A couple of weeks ago, I led the daily office at noonday while Fr. Roman was on vacation. It can feel as though without the Eucharist worship is less meaningful. But that’s not the case at all. In most Episcopal churches before the 1979 prayer book, morning prayer was more common than Eucharist. Many Episcopal churches had Communion only once a month, not weekly as many of us have grown accustomed to doing. During COVID I felt a strong longing for the Eucharist.
Almost eleven years ago, I was introduced to the daily office by someone who would become one of my closest friends. This particular day I was simply exhausted. I was a resident hospital chaplain and our shifts were precarious. One day, I would work from 7:00am to 3:30pm, the next day from 11:00pm - 7:30am, and then 3:00pm - 10:00pm for a couple of days to land back to the 7:00am shift for a few days. The constantly changing shifts left me sleep deprived.
After a shift, my friend said she wanted to introduce me to the daily office. At the time I was a Baptist, raised a congregationalist. Our devotions came from the Bible. Or Max Lucado, but not from an almost 500 year old book.
At our next meeting, when I saw my colleague, she was coming off a difficult shift, I was headed to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, of what promised to be a trying few hours. She led us in prayer. As we stood on the bridge and exchanged our emergency pager and a few prayers, I felt the calm that comes with the Holy Spirit. I felt the guidance of God who was watching over me while I worked and those who would weep.[1] I felt calm and collected. These moments of prayers sustained me.
The daily office originates from Thomas Cranmer who wrote the first Book of Common Prayer in 1549. He condensed the monastic offices into a more manageable schedule when the monasteries were closed in England. The idea was to make the monastic life more accessible to ordinary people. Now, the idea of being a monastic is not something I am currently called, nor is it something that fits in with most American schedules. Still, the Book of Common Prayer offers various times throughout the day when we can slow down and focus God. When I was doing hospital chaplaincy the structure of the daily office centered me. Today, I still do the daily office and I find it to be a powerful source of strength, especially when life may feel chaotic. For instance, if I am crazy busy driving my kids to their various activities, I will take a moment and do evening prayer.[2] Before Houston traffic hits, I find I am more centered.
The purpose of the daily office is to make us dig deeper into our faith using scripture. My husband re-introduced me to the daily office when we moved to Texas he told me that I would go through almost the entire Bible in just two years! This was a big incentive for me. If the daily office were a workout, it would be a marathon; it provides time for reflection and thought. If you are busy or exhausted, I challenge you to try it out. You can find the services in the Book of Common Prayer or you can access Forward Movement through google, or Download the App.
You may discover, as I have, that these structured prayers help you navigate through the perils of life. Gather some loved ones or take time by yourself to pray. The scriptural reflection might be revolutionary.
[1] Book of Common Prayer p.134
[2] Book of Common Prayer 109-114, and 115-126
