Envelopes and Offices

1. So last year, the pledge envelopes were being distributed. But apparently, my pledge envelopes vanished down a rabbit hole. Oh well. But I was promised that new ones would be printed and sent to me. Last week, I received notice that I had a new envelope number to write on my checks and thanked me for "Going Green." Well, fine. I love doing things for the environment, even if involuntarily, but couldn't I have kept my beloved envelope number?

2. Derek and Christopher and Chris Tessone and Father John-Julian are discussing Office Reform. Let me add my two cents. I officiate publicly at three liturgies per year:

1. Morning Prayer at the Young Adult Retreat
2. Compline on Good Friday Night
3. Morning Prayer on Holy Saturday

I just received the Young Adult Retreat, informing me that Morning Prayer will be Rite One. Given consultation, I probably would have gone with Rite II, since I do like to use these occasions to popularize the Office. My standard routine is daily Morning Prayer at dear Josh Thomas's place with the General Thanksgiving and the Prayer of St. John Chrysostom added (sometimes with the original closing). This is the kind of Office I would promote to people my age. Sure, Josh's Canticle choices are informed by the 1979 BCP but he almost always keeps the NT Canticle steady as Magna et Mirabilia , which I think is wonderful and he keeps the OT Canticle in a rota (Saturdays are Benedicite Omnia Opera . The key is that Josh recognizes that the parochial office has a limited impact and tries to make prayer as accessible as possible, retaining almost all of the necessary and salutary elements. Look at his traffic feed sometimes. He's reaching the world with the way he presents the 1979 Office.

But if you want Rite One, I'll do it with the Confession, Benedicite Omnia Opera and Te Deum Laudamus , because that's how I roll.