http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/life/culture/why_bad_liturgy_can_make_you_a_murderer1/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8626410/Church-of-England-faces-being-wiped-out-report-warns.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8628918/Church-of-England-bishops-meet-ministers-over-chilling-effect-of-equality-laws.html

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=318981

http://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2011/06/modern-language-version-of-reformed_23.html

Part 2

http://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2011/07/modern-language-version-of-reformed.html

Part 3

http://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2011/07/modern-language-version-of-reformed_04.html

http://news.yahoo.com/anglican-church-allow-gay-bishops-012911589.html

This is a fine example of the church following the lead of the state. This is national apostasy. This is an example of the church conforming to the world. The light is being extinguished in the UK.

http://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2011/06/modern-language-version-of-reformed_23.html

from 1662 BCP

The Absolution, or Remission of sins, to be pronounced by the Priest alone, standing; the people still kneeling.

ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness, and live; and hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins : He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him, which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure, and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The people shall answer here, and at the end of all other prayers, Amen.

If no priest be present the person saying the service shall read the Collect for the Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity, that person and the people still kneeling.

The Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

———————————————————————————

            The Absolution, also called Remission of sin follows the General Confession. To absolve is to loosen or set one free of the consequence of one’s sin. It is pronounced by the priest alone who is directed to be standing and the people kneeling. In the 1552 version it says minister rather than priest. It begins with a declaration that God does not desire that the sinner die (this is spiritual death) but that he should repent (turn around and go a different way, the path of righteousness) and live. Sin is the transgression of God’s righteousness of which the Law is our teacher. It must be understood that the Law does not save because it is an inviolable path which all are required to follow strictly. It is that “strait and narrow way” spoken of by Jesus Christ. Any deviation from, any breaking of the Law is lawlessness, it is rebellion against God. There is no undoing of the transgression. All transgressions separate us from God, and some merit death. Sin is serious and should never be taken as trivial. The sacrifice that God provided is in itself proof of the seriousness of sin. Justice requires that the transgressor be justly punished, but God is also merciful to us because of our weakness. Being merciful is not being unjust, and it is not unjust to be merciful to one and not to another. Mercy like grace is not a right nor is it earned; it is given freely by the grantor.

            The priest does not absolve anyone in this declaration. He just pronounces that if the conditions required by God are met then God pardons and absolves the sinner. Two conditions must be met. The sinner must be penitent, truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. He is truly penitent when he is truly sorry for what he has done or not done, in thought, word, and deed. He unfeignedly believes when that belief is not false or hypocritical; it is a truly genuine belief in what God has done for us in the atoning sacrifice of his Son for our redemption. Going through the motions is not enough.

            The source of our repentance and belief is stated in that we should implore God for true repentance and his Holy Spirit, two requirements to be pleasing to God. They are granted by God and not something that we may do on our own. This petition reminds us of the origin of our salvation. It is of and from God and is not our own doing. It is a truly humbling petition. The end of this faith and reliance on Christ for our salvation is eternal joy.

            The rubric tells the people to answer with AMEN here and at the end of all prayers. In this way the people participate in the declaration affirming that it should be so, so be it.

            A rubric has been added at some point that does not appear in the 1552, 1559, or early versions of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. This rubric allows that in the event there is no priest is present that the person (deacon or layman) to use the collect for the twenty-first Sunday after Trinity. This is a prayer for forgiveness. But it should be noted that the prayer is for “thy faithful people.”  The addition of this is particularly needed for those situations in which there are no ministers to serve a people. It is good for family services, home churches, and for any congregation without the benefit of clergy.