Well, I guess we're going to find out tonight!
It seems like a funny idea: we'll do a prayer over something that contains prayer. And yet, we know how important ritual is in our lives, especially in transitions. Tonight CBE is going to mark the formal transition from the Gates of Prayer series to Mishkan T'fillah. Of course, we've been using the new books in one form or another for over six months, and will continue to use the "Gates" books for a little while longer (perhaps we'll do a 'decommission' service in the spring), but this gives us a chance to acknowledge the direction we're going.
It'll be a brief dedication service, only a few lines. We were lucky to have a donor gift us with the books (in memory of his in-laws), and I'll be inviting him to come up to speak as well. Not sure I would do this for any gift, even a large one, but for something like a prayerbook, it seems appropriate.
I hope it'll be a meaningful experience for folks. I know change can be really hard for people, and it's important to acknowledge that; but change can also be invigorating, and hope we'll speak to that feeling as well. The new book won't answer any prayers, but hopefully people will find it prayer-full.
No comments:
Post a Comment