The Word Made Fresh and Refreshed

I have been, and continue to be, ambivalent about use of colloquial language in worship.  There is much value in the traditional but there is also much value in speaking the language of the people today.  I dislike it when traditional language is changed to make it more palatable to current sensibilities.  For example, to change the soul-wrenching confessional, “to save a wretch like me” in Amazing Grace to, “save a soul like me” defeats the powerful message in that wonderful hymn of redemption.  We are, after all, sinful people who continue to need God’s forgiveness. 

On the other hand, some people need to be reminded that Jesus did not speak in the language of the King James Version of the bible.  Language has been continually updated and the battle of the bible over the use of the language of the people has been fought many times and many people have lost their lives in those battles.

I love the poetic language of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer compared to the pedestrian prose of the Book of Alternative Services which, if effect, did replace it despite the waffling of the church officials who gave it the title of “Alternative” while intending it as a replacement for the BCP.  There are, of course, theological issues which needed to be addressed with the Book of Common Prayer which was composed by Thomas Cranmer who produced a masterpiece of liturgical prose.  It is unfortunate that those who developed the Book of Alternative Services did not have anything approaching the genius of Cranmer but I am sure they did the best they could.

That being said, it is a spiritually satisfying experience to discover a updating of liturgical prose that does justice to not only the intent of a familiar piece but also is inspirational in making the message come alive in the language of today.  One of the best examples of this is the update of Lord’s Prayer developed by the Anglican Church in New Zealand in its Prayer Book.  One source, https://livinghour.org/lords-prayer/new-zealand-maori/,   described this effort, “This prayer book was celebrated by clergy and lay people alike for the way it combined the traditional Anglican prayers and forms of worship with the rich earth-based spirituality of the Maori and other Pacific Island cultures. It is eloquent in its wonderful simplicity and diversity, and is worthy addition to anyone’s book of prayers.”   Apparently, it is possible to update a prayer book and maintain  language that is moving. 

Here is the Lord’s Prayer from the New Zealand Prayer Book:

  THE LORD’S PRAYER: MAORI & POLYNESIA

Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe;
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world;
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings;
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trial too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and forever. Amen.

I thank God for the person who composed this wonderful addition to the prayer life of the people of God.  Blessings of your journey