Michael Spencer has a blog post on why his family chooses to attend the local Episcopal church rather than his home church whenever they visit his home town. Read it, and you'll see that for many of the same reasons, the prayer book of the Episcopal and English churches can be a very useful tool for Assembly survivors. The way the prayers are worded connects you as a simple believer with the whole church of God. No triumphalism.
One of the best features of the Book of Common Prayer is that the scripture readings and prayers cover most of the main bases of the Christian faith, with a focus on Christ. It begins with the four weeks of Advent, leading up to the birth of Christ and looking forward to his second coming. Here are the first, second and fourth Collects for the four Sundays in Advent. (A "collect" is a prayer of the church as a whole, as distinct from individual prayers.)
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.Casting away the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light refers to salvation, not "overcoming." The English church of the 16th century had no notion of two species of believers, the "carnal" and the "spiritual." If you have put your faith in Christ, you will be striving to cast away the works of darkness and you will rise to the life immortal.
The unfamiliar and archaic phrase, "we are sore let and hindered," lends a gentle touch of humor to this prayer, and eases for a moment the intensity of the actual pain and anguish of our situation.
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hole fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, with thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
O lord, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas we, having been deceived*, are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
*"having been deceived" has been substituted for "through our sins and wickedness" in the original, to make this prayer more appropriate for ex-Assembly folks.
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