Domestic Church: Family Prayer
The Rev. Michael K. Templin / Advent 2022, Issue 4
One of the expectations of the Prayer Book life is the discipleship of the family at home (BCP, 587). In many circles, this practice of religion in the home is referred to as the “domestic Church” of the “domestic nunnery” as the domestic Church is an extension of the Church Catholic. Jesus says that we are to “take up our crosses daily and follow him,” which requires a personal commitment (Mark 8:34), and the Book of Acts gives us an early example of daily set prayers and fellowship for the church, which provides a communal commitment, but has ramifications for the private devotional life as the Church is dispersed (Acts 2:42).
Many families are busy, this I know quite well, but if we truly want to see our children and families become lifelong disciples of Christ, we must find time daily to spend with the Lord. This is a basic regula or rule of life - for something to be a rule - it has to be a regular part of your day and schedule. I must also note that if you’re an “empty nester,” unmarried, widowed, etc., these same principles of becoming a daily disciple of Jesus Christ are something you should take on for the nourishment of your own soul and for intercession on behalf of the whole Church.
As we come to the holy season of Advent, this would be a perfect time to begin something consistent. There are the daily Family Prayers (BCP, 587) which are shorter forms of prayer that are especially suited for smaller children. If your family is older, or perhaps you live alone or with your spouse, the Daily Offices are a treasure (BCP, 3). If you’re doing the Offices, you could take on the practice of praying the Litany on Wednesdays and Fridays (BCP, 54). Another great practice of Advent is the lighting of the Advent Wreath - it's a wonderful visual and devotional practice of counting down the weeks until Christmas to do during your times of prayer. Likewise, our hymnal is full of wonderful hymns for the Advent season, and it would be a great exercise of devotion to sing Advent hymns during your daily devotions.
My wife and I have found that singing makes the family worship time much more engaging for our children. Finally, remember that Advent is often called a “little Lent”—are you keeping the fasting day of Friday (BCP, LI)? If not, it is a wonderful practice, and it will make the Feast of Christmas so much sweeter when the Holy Spirit finally comes!
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. (Collect for the First Sunday in Advent)
The Rev. Michael K. Templin is an assisting priest at St. Benedict’s Anglican Church and the Reformed Episcopal Cathedral Church of the Holy Communion in Dallas, Texas.
