The Offices of Instruction

Our parish has been blessed to receive a number of new members over the past two years. Most come needing to be confirmed. This year we tried something new during Lent for these folk. We took two Sundays in Lent and in lieu of the sermon at Mass went through the "Offices of Instruction" (the 1st Office one Sunday, the 2nd another Sunday) complete with the hymns. The whole parish joined in the responses, and then me and my associate laid hands on each candidate and said the "Prayer for those about to be confirmed" from the Prayer Book for them. (We have them come forward and sit en masse in the front pew of the church.)

I understand other parishes do this sometimes (including our cathedral in Oviedo). This is good in so many ways. Not only does it get people using the whole Prayer Book - which is more than just the Communion service - it teaches the basics of Christian doctrine in areas such as ecclesiology, sacraments, morality, etc. It also helps the confirmands and those being received into the parish/church recognize that this is a serious commitment they are undertaking. The old-timers at the parish love it, as they like to be reminded of what they believe. And for everyone it helps break up the "monotony" of the usual Lenten services (which are usually very Spartan in most continuing Anglican parishes), and gives them a break from hearing a preacher drone on all the time.