The Book of Common Worship is a collection of liturgies, prayers, and services developed and published by the Presbyterian Church (USA) for its use in worship. It provides orders of worship, liturgies for occasions such as baptism, Holy Communion, marriage, funerals, ordination, and more. The book also contains the Daily Prayer service used in the denomination.
The Book of Common Worship originated in 1906 as a book of orders of services and liturgies published by the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. It has gone through several revisions and updates over the years as worship practices have evolved. The current edition was published in 2018.
Some key things to know about the Book of Common Worship:
- It provides liturgical resources that reflect the Reformed tradition for use in worship services and the celebration of sacraments and rites by Presbyterian churches.
- While offering recommended orders of worship, the book allows flexibility for pastors and congregations to adapt the liturgies to their context.
- It contains liturgies for Sunday worship services, including prayers, responsive readings, and creeds/confessions.
- Services for sacraments like baptism and Holy Communion are provided.
- The Daily Prayer service offers a framework for morning, midday, evening, and close of day prayer for individuals, families, or groups.
- Special services are included like ordination, installation of church officers, funerals, weddings, wholeness/healing services, and more.
- Prayers for many occasions and needs are provided that can be used in corporate worship or privately.
- Hymn suggestions are recommended throughout to accompany liturgies.
- Rubrics offer guidance on how to lead and conduct the various liturgies.
The Book of Common Worship is rooted in Reformed theology and tradition but aims to use language and liturgies that connect with contemporary culture and society. It preserves historical liturgical expressions but also incorporates more inclusive language and adds diverse voices to speak to the church today. The book provides Presbyterians with orders of worship and liturgical resources that complement their denominational emphasis on biblical preaching, education, theological depth and diversity within unity.
Here are some examples of the key contents and liturgies found within the Book of Common Worship:
Orders of Worship
Complete orders of worship are provided for the Service for the Lord’s Day (Sunday worship services) including:
- Call to Worship
- Opening Prayer
- Prayer of Confession
- Declaration of Pardon
- Scripture Readings
- Sermon
- Affirmation of Faith
- Prayers of Intercession
- Offering
- Lord’s Supper Liturgy
- Charge and Blessing
Variations are offered such as aSERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY WITH THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM and others to accommodate special Sundays like Advent, Lent, and so forth.
Sacraments and Rites
Liturgies for observing the Protestant sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion are provided:
- Baptism of Infants and Children
- Presentation of Children (without baptism)
- Baptism of Adults
- Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant
- Order for the Lord’s Supper
- Prayers for bread and cup
- Thanksgiving after Communion
Other rites include Marriage, Funerals, Wholeness/Healing services, and more.
Ordination and Installation
Liturgies for setting aside church leaders found here include:
- Ordination of Ministers (Teaching Elders)
- Ordination of Ruling Elders and Deacons
- Installation of Pastors
- Installation of Ruling Elders and Deacons
Daily Prayer
The Daily Prayer service provides a liturgy for individuals and groups to use for morning, midday, evening, and close of day prayers. It includes:
- Opening Sentences
- Psalms
- Scripture Readings
- Prayers (Confession, Intercession, Lord’s Prayer)
- Concluding Prayer
Pastoral Prayers
Examples of pastoral prayers are included for various occasions that can be used as:
- Opening Prayers
- Prayers of Confession
- Prayers of Thanksgiving
- Prayers of Intercession
- Prayers after Communion
- Closing Prayers
Topics cover things like prayers for peace, social justice, the nation, the persecuted, and more.
Additional Resources
Other resources found in the Book of Common Worship include:
- Litanies and responsive readings
- Affirmations of faith like the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds
- Psalter – selection of Psalms for responsive readings
- Hymns and spiritual song suggestions
- Prayers and devotions for personal use
- Household prayers
- Calendar of lectionary readings
The Book of Common Worship provides extensive liturgical resources rooted in Reformed theology and tradition for use in Presbyterian worship services. It aims to help congregations connect historical Reformed liturgy with contemporary contexts. The book offers liturgies, prayers, services, and resources to enhance the worship life of Presbyterian churches in the U.S.A. It serves as an invaluable guide for pastors, worship leaders, sessions, and congregations seeking orders of worship and liturgical content that align with their Reformed heritage.
The Book of Common Worship has evolved over the years to incorporate fresh language, diverse voices, and new liturgies that resonate with our changing cultures while remaining grounded in Scripture and Reformed theology. For over 100 years, it has served as a foundational resource to nurture robust Reformed worship in Presbyterian churches across America.
The book aims to follow biblical principles of worship revealed in Scripture. Some key biblical foundations reflected in the Book of Common Worship include:
The Regulative Principle of Worship
This Reformed principle holds that worship should reflect the biblical warrant for the practices included. The Directory for Worship in the Book of Order affirms:
Scripture teaches the whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for God’s own glory, human salvation, faith and life. It neither overtly nor by implication proposes anything concerning these matters that is contrary to sound reason; rather, it commends and elaborates truths that comport with the creation as God made it. For this reason Reformed worship keeps the Word at its center, comporting with the biblical teaching that preaching is central in public worship. (W-1.1004)
So the liturgies aim to reflect elements like preaching, prayer, confession, Scripture, sacraments, and other acts of worship prescribed in the Bible.
The Dialogue Principle
This principle emphasizes worship as a dialogue between God and His people. So liturgies incorporate responsive elements like:
- Call and response
- Congregational responses
- Responsive readings
- Shared litanies
The liturgies aim to provide opportunities for the congregation to actively respond to God in worship.
The Cultic Principle
This principle focuses on worship as the New Testament fulfillment of Old Testament forms and rituals. Liturgies reflect elements like:
- Priesthood of all believers fulfilling priestly service
- Thank offerings through tithes
- Congregational celebration of the Lord’s Supper
- Baptism as a sign of God’s covenant
The Book of Common Worship incorporates ritually symbolic elements of worship instituted by God.
The Christological Principle
This principle makes Christ central in worship as Savior and Lord. The liturgies reflect this by:
- Making the preaching of the Word about Jesus central
- Christ-centered prayers and creeds
- Regular celebration of sacraments instituted by Jesus
- Singing hymns and songs exalting Christ
- Focusing prayers, litanies, responsive readings on Jesus
The Book of Common Worship aims to lead God’s people to encounter Jesus Christ through biblical worship.
The Ecclesiastical Principle
This principle highlights worship as an act of the covenant community. Liturgies emphasize the corporate body of Christ at worship through:
- Liturgies addressed to the entire congregation
- Reciting creeds and prayers together
- Corporate song and hymns
- Responsive readings
- Unison prayers
The liturgies aim to worship God as a covenant community in Christ.
By incorporating these biblical principles, the Book of Common Worship seeks to provide Reformed liturgies grounded in the theology of Scripture. The goal is to craft orders of worship and resources that help Presbyterian churches worship biblically for the glory of God.
The Book of Common Worship plays an important role in shaping and unifying worship in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Here are some key ways it impacts Presbyterian worship practices:
Provides Standardized Liturgies
The book offers consistent liturgical resources for use across PCUSA churches including orders of worship, sacraments, services, prayers, and more. This promotes unity in worship structure.
Reflects Presbyterian Identity
The liturgies reflect Presbyterian theology and worship history grounded in Reformed tradition. This strengthens Presbyterian identity in worship.
Reinforces Connections to Tradition
By preserving historic elements of Reformed liturgy, the book fosters connection to the rich Presbyterian worship tradition.
Allows Flexibility in Worship
While standardizing some aspects, the book provides adaptable resources for contextualizing liturgy to specific congregations.
Promotes Biblical Worship
The liturgies aim to craft worship experiences grounded in biblical warrant to facilitate biblical worship.
Equips Worship Leaders
Pastors and worship leaders are resourced with content and guidance to lead biblical Reformed worship.
Nurtures Spiritual Growth
Liturgies shape experiences to help worshipers encounter God’s Word and Sacraments to grow spiritually.
For over a century, the Book of Common Worship has served as an invaluable guide and resource for worship leaders and participants in PCUSA congregations. It helps unify Presbyterian churches in common elements of Reformed worship while allowing flexibility for local contexts. Through honoring Scripture and tradition in its liturgies, the Book of Common Worship equips Presbyterian churches for transformative biblical worship that glorifies God.