Simon KershawReviews

This shortish book gives a brief background to the service of Eucharist or Holy Communion in "Common Worship" (CW), plus comments on where most of the individual prayers, responses and acclamations have come from. This shows well how much is biblical, and how much of the rest comes from ancient roots.

The book itself says its also designed to be used as a service book in churches, and so has most of the detailed commentary in a follow-on second part. It also gives additional prayers and meditations for preparation before Communion, but given the greater expense than buying the official CW Eucharist service booklet, or printing your own, I think few churches will have bought lots of copies for this purpose.

The liturgy is printed in the same font and size as the CW originals, which is helpful, and having a different font for the commentary helps make that clear, but unfortunately it's on the small side.

I bought this lectionary for weekday Communion services and immediately saw the problem: it will not lie open on the lectern. This is an appalling oversight, as lectern Bibles and lectionaries are expected to lie open. This book will be closed when one comes to the lectern, has then to be opened, and requires being pinned down by one hand or held while reading. It is thus awkward to use for its intended purpose. The contents is fine, reproducing NRSV and Common Worship Psalter texts. I first relegated my copy to the study, and then realised that it is no good there if it will not stay open. I have replaced it with the Weekday Missal. It, unfortunately, uses the Jerusalem Bible text, but has one great advantage: it can be used for its stated purpose. It also has Alleluia/Tract texts selected for each day in-line.

Given rebinding so that will lie open, this might be worth using.

This may be a valuable book. I see that no one else owns it.