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New Zealand Prayer Book

NZ Prayer Book 25 Years On

New Zealand Prayer BookThe Preface of A New Zealand Prayer Book He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa (ANZPBHKMA), by Archbishop Brian Davis, is dated Feast of St Barnabas 11 June 1989; twenty-five years ago today. This might be an invitation to write some posts reflecting on the Prayer Book.

In this post it is worth noting positive changes that this Prayer Book has given us.

It is not surprising that the Table for Movable Feasts (pages 942-943) ended last year. At the time of binding at-that-time-constantly-changing revised services together into a book, the thought of twenty-five years would have been difficult to foresee. Australia and the Church of England, as just two examples, are onto their next generation of Prayer Books.

A New Zealand Prayer Book He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa

  • with some exceptions took gender-inclusive language seriously not just for humans but towards God
  • began to give formal voice to many of the languages used in our province (English, Maori, Fijian, Tongan, as well, of course, as including the usual Greek and Hebrew…)
  • included contemporary New Zealand artwork produced specifically for this publication
  • clearly placed the Eucharist at the centre and highlighted that
  • included a lot of insights from Tikanga Maori to produce a strong collection of resources for around death
  • provided a reasonably easy-to-use Daily Office
  • Clearly placed the Reconciliation of a Penitent, Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child, Ministry of Healing, and Blessing of a Home into the formal mainstream of church life

What are some of the things that you appreciate in ANZPBHKMA? Or in the Prayer Book of your province?

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11 thoughts on “NZ Prayer Book 25 Years On”

  1. It demoted God to something below the Treaty of Waitangi and is rubbish compared to the rich, God focused resource that proceeded it. A friend eventually resigned his position as a very long serving minister because of it. That process was very painful and expensive.

    1. Can you please point to where the Treaty is mentioned in the Prayer Book, Brown, to demonstrate your point?
      And your sentence about it being rubbish has several grammar errors which might make readers question the basis of your conclusion.
      Who resigned because of the Prayer Book? I have never heard this story.

      Blessings.

  2. My favourite sentence is in Night Prayer:

    What has been done has been done
    what has not been done has not been done
    let it be.

    As a school headmaster in Hoboken, New Jersey (USA), we closed many board meetings and other evening meetings with Night Prayer from a New Zealand Prayer Book.

  3. Hi Bosco,
    When I arrived from England eight years ago to take up the post of Chaplain in an Anglican boarding school, there was much that surprised me pleasantly about New Zealand. I need hardly delineate here the differences that an urban Brit would find when coming to this very beautiful and spacious country. What is worthy of note, however, is that no surprise was more pleasant than discovering the Prayer Book. It is wonderful in the true sense.
    Of course there are areas worthy of debate but the essential content and style serves to bind us together not only as worshipping communities, Parish, school, prayer group, etc. but also as Church in N.Z. and as Communion throughout the world. All involved in the Prayer Book’s construction should be justifiably proud of their endeavor.
    Whenever Christian friends visit from England I give them a copy to take home.
    If you think that this comment is altogether too positive I would sound one sad note. It is a great pity that some of my fellow Anglican clergy do not know how to use it and/or do not recognize the marvelous resource they have.
    Anyway, off to Morning Prayer now, then Eucharist at 10.00am (Feast of St Barnabus)both of which will be reliant on the Prayer Book.
    Today also marks the 60th Anniversary of Ordination of a Priest in the Parish… he loves the Prayer Book!

  4. The NZ PB was very influential on me from the first time I came across it on our first kiwi visit in 1991. (The Anglican Church in Te Anau, South Island if I remember correctly.)
    Maori & English side-by-side, and used interchangeably in many congregations. Many other exciting theological concepts.

    It, along with the etched glass window of Jesus walking on the water wearing a kahu kiwi in Ohinemutu Rotorua, pointed me in time to doing an MA in Christian Spirituality.

    Got a copy on my shelf in the UK still.
    Love it.
    Still.

    (via the FB post originally)

  5. First picked the NZAPB up in 1992 in my first year away from home at Uni. I was at the Bishop Julius Hall of Residence here in Christchurch
    Copies were available in the common room for students to use. I discovered the Daily Devotions for private prayer that follow the Lord’s Prayer through the week. I now have my own copy, and we use the Family Devotions regularly with the children.

  6. Stephen Jacobi

    It always amazes me how the NZ Prayer Book is more loved overseas than here at home! What was that about prophets in their own countries? The great thing about our Prayer Book is that it’s ours – although we are very happy to share! It speaks for us as a people of faith in this place in a way which other prayer books don’t and that was an extraordinary accomplishment. It’s a wonderful resource but one which needs to be used – and it would be a very good thing if we learned how to use it properly!

  7. Lucy Nanson [ NZ anchorite]

    I have kept A NZ Prayer Book beside my bed for many years now.

    In my own private prayer for the past twenty years have used the reinterpreted portions of Psalm 119 from Midday Prayer. And I have yet to plumb the depths of the prayer of confession by the Rev. Jim Cotter at the beginning of Night Prayer. This prayer by him is an absolute gem!

    My favorite Eucharist is in the wording used for Thanksgiving and Praise. Also the Affirmation of Faith in that Eucharist is the only [creed] I can say without having to leave bits out!

    The range of Marriage Liturgies certainly offer well thought through choices, with their ability to now be well adapted for a same-sex Blessing or a same-sex Marriage in the future.

    When I dip into our NZ Prayer Book I always find a prayer worthy of most occasions.

  8. I love the ANZ Prayer Book. (Yes, also the sentence from Night Prayer mentioned above) I use it for personal prayer and sometimes translate some prayers into German and use them for our worship over here.

  9. Our new vicar is from Hawaii he has asked if there is any reason we cannot use the New Zealand prayer book.Supposedly it was verboden on the big island,over there…I’m in the academy to hopefully be ordained Deacon…the congregation thinks I’m somewhere short of becoming pope!Episcopals don’t have a Pope,so hopefully that joke isn’t a sin!-Robert

    1. I’m sorry, Robert, I’m not familiar enough with your rules there – much of TEC’s BCP is allowed to be used here in NZ – including its Eucharistic rites. Blessings.

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