The Bible in Worship
Author Victoria Raymer
Publisher SCM £35.00
Format pbk
ISBN 9780334056478
How is the Bible presented, handled and introduced during public worship? Which passages are read and how are they chosen? Do people listen? If so, what are they hearing? Raymer’s book deals with these important questions in considerable depth, usually by studying the perspectives of three distinct church traditions in turn: Catholic, Reformed and Anglican. Early chapters focus on the role of the Bible in the performed liturgical life of church communities whilst later ones describe and analyse the concept and rationale of a prescribed lectionary, as well as the challenges it presents. There are short sections about ‘enhanced’ and ‘interactive’ uses of scripture (drama and art); and scripture in daily prayer. This mine of well-referenced material relating to the Bible in liturgical life is a ‘one stop shop’ for ministers and students who will have wondered about these vital issues but probably lacked access to the materials needed to explore them in an organised way. The author’s anecdotes and analyses are at their best when she is discussing the Anglican tradition, and – having identified the shortcomings of current practices – she ends the book with some compelling challenges for our churches.
STEPHEN LAIRD
Biblical Analysis