Why We Use the Book of Common Prayer
Croswell Free Methodist Church, our worship is rooted in Scripture, guided by the Holy Spirit, and shaped by the wisdom of the historic Church. We seek to worship in a way that forms us — not just in what we feel, but in who we become. For that reason, we draw deeply from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), a rich resource that helps us pray biblically, worship reverently, and live faithfully.
“The Book of Common Prayer is not about rigid ritual, but about forming hearts that are centered on Christ.”
A Wesleyan Heritage
Our use of the Book of Common Prayer is not a departure from our Free Methodist identity — it is a return to our roots. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was a lifelong Anglican priest. He prayed daily from the Book of Common Prayer and believed that its ordered rhythms of Scripture, confession, and thanksgiving were essential for shaping holy lives.
In fact, when Wesley sent preachers to the American colonies, he gave them a revised version of the Prayer Book titled The Sunday Service of the Methodists in North America (1784). He understood that a shared pattern of prayer unites the people of God in both faith and practice.
The Free Methodist Church stands within this same Wesleyan stream — desiring freedom in the Spirit, holiness of heart and life, and justice rooted in love. Using the Book of Common Prayer helps us stay connected to the same well of grace that nourished Wesley and the early Methodists.
“To pray from the Book of Common Prayer is to join the great cloud of witnesses — past, present, and global — who have sought Christ together.”
The Free Methodist Way and Common Prayer
The Free Methodist Way outlines five core values that guide our life together. Each of these values finds natural expression through the use of the Book of Common Prayer:
1. Life-Giving Holiness
The BCP invites us into rhythms of repentance, renewal, and thanksgiving. Its daily prayers and weekly liturgies guide us to confess our sins, receive God’s forgiveness, and be transformed by grace. This kind of holiness is not about perfectionism, but about a heart continually renewed by the presence of Christ.
2. Love-Driven Justice
The prayers of the Church are never self-focused. The BCP trains us to pray for the whole world — for the poor, the oppressed, the sick, the leaders of nations, and the peace of Christ to reign over all creation. By interceding regularly for others, we learn to love them as God does. Prayer forms compassion that turns into action.
3. Christ-Compelled Multiplication
When we pray from the same texts that have guided Christians for centuries, we are reminded that we belong to a global, growing family. The Book of Common Prayer helps us share a common faith that transcends culture and time. It also gives us language to invite others into that shared story of redemption.
4. Cross-Cultural Collaboration
The beauty of the Prayer Book is that it is both adaptable and unifying. It has been translated and contextualized in countless languages and cultures — yet its heart remains the same: Scripture, prayer, and the grace of Jesus Christ. As a Free Methodist congregation, we stand in that same global communion, praying the same psalms and hearing the same Gospel proclaimed.
5. God-Given Revelation
The BCP is saturated with Scripture. Its prayers quote, echo, and weave together the words of the Bible from beginning to end. Every service — whether morning prayer, baptism, or communion — is built on the story of God revealed in His Word. The Prayer Book doesn’t replace the Bible; it helps us pray the Bible.
“The Book of Common Prayer doesn’t restrict our worship — it roots our freedom in the Gospel.”
Spirit and Structure: Freedom with Form
Some imagine that using a prayer book might limit the work of the Holy Spirit. But in truth, the BCP offers a framework for freedom. Its order — confession, Scripture, prayer, thanksgiving — reflects the rhythm of the Gospel itself. Within that order, the Spirit moves freely to convict, comfort, and renew.
Free Methodists have always understood that freedom in worship is not the absence of structure, but the presence of grace within it. The word Free in our name never meant “unstructured” — it meant “liberated” from barriers that hinder worship and discipleship. The Book of Common Prayer serves that same purpose today, giving us structure that opens space for genuine encounter with God.
“True freedom is not freedom from form — it is freedom for holiness, love, and worship.”
A Common Life of Prayer
When we pray using the Book of Common Prayer, we are not simply reciting words — we are joining a living conversation that spans generations. The same prayers we say on Sunday are being prayed by believers in Africa, Asia, and Europe, by Methodists, Anglicans, and countless others who love Christ.
This unity in prayer reflects what we confess in the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in the communion of saints.” It reminds us that our local church is part of something larger — the Church that has always been and always will be gathered around the throne of the Lamb.
Our hope is that this shared life of prayer will form us into people who live as we pray — humble, grateful, and faithful in love.
In Summary
- At Croswell Free Methodist Church, the Book of Common Prayer helps us:
- Stay grounded in the Scriptures.
- Remain connected to our Wesleyan and Free Methodist heritage.
- Be formed into a people of holiness, justice, and love.
- Worship in unity with the global body of Christ.
We use it not out of obligation, but out of devotion. It reminds us that worship is not something we invent, but something we join — a holy pattern that has carried the Church through every age.
“Come pray with us — and find your place in the ongoing story of God’s people at worship.”
Common Questions About the Book of Common Prayer
What is the Book of Common Prayer?
The Book of Common Prayer (often called the BCP) is a collection of Scripture-based prayers, readings, and services used by Christians around the world. A product of the English Reformation, it combined the historic practices of worship from the earliest times in the Church, with the principles of every believer being able to worship together in one voice. It includes daily prayers, Psalms, and liturgies for Holy Communion, baptism, marriage, and other key moments in the life of faith.
It’s not a “rulebook” but a guide — a way of keeping our worship centered on the Bible and the story of God’s redeeming grace. “The Prayer Book is the Bible arranged for worship.”
Isn’t liturgy too formal for Free Methodists?
Not at all. Free Methodists have always valued both structure and freedom. Our founder, John Wesley, was shaped by the Prayer Book tradition, and he believed that ordered worship helps us stay focused on God rather than on personal performance.
We still allow room for spontaneity, testimony, and the movement of the Spirit — but we also trust that certain rhythms of prayer and Scripture can form us in consistent, Spirit-filled ways.
Freedom in worship isn’t the absence of structure — it’s the presence of grace within it.
Do I need to own or bring a Prayer Book to participate?
No. Our worship services provide everything you need in a printed pew booklet. The goal isn’t to make everyone memorize prayers or learn a new “system,” but to pray together in unity.
Many people eventually enjoy having a copy of the BCP for personal devotion, especially for morning or evening prayer at home, but it’s not required. What matters most is joining in the shared rhythm of prayer and Scripture.
How does this connect with the Bible?
Every part of the Book of Common Prayer is rooted in Scripture. The collects (short prayers) often paraphrase or quote biblical texts; the psalms are prayed regularly; and every service includes multiple readings from the Old and New Testaments.
When we pray from the BCP, we are essentially praying with the Bible — learning to let Scripture shape our hearts and words.
“The Prayer Book doesn’t replace the Bible — it helps us pray the Bible.”
What if I’m new to liturgy or not sure how to follow along?
That’s perfectly okay. Everyone starts somewhere, and our worship leaders will guide you through each part of the service. Think of it like learning a song — after a few weeks, the rhythm becomes familiar, and you begin to enter the flow of worship naturally.
The important thing isn’t getting every word right, but opening your heart to encounter Christ in the prayers, readings, and sacraments.
Liturgy is not a performance — it’s a shared encounter with the living God.
Interested in finding out more?
More about the Book of Common Prayer 2019 can be found HERE