Ancient Christian prayer and liturgy provided unexpected comfort for musician Andrew Osenga during a devastating family crisis. About 15 years ago, a burst pipe flooded his home, forcing his family to relocate for six months. Overwhelmed by financial pressures, home repairs and caring for three young children, Osenga began attending an Anglican church.
He discovered that structured worship offered spiritual support even when he lacked energy for personal prayer. The familiar rhythms of liturgy allowed him to participate without creating his own devotional practice.
New Prayer Books Make Historic Worship Accessible
Osenga’s experience inspired The Quiet Hours, a three-volume prayer collection scheduled for publication in November. Drawing heavily from the Book of Common Prayer, the collection includes morning and evening prayers alongside Old and New Testament readings. It also incorporates historic writings from Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran traditions.
Despite attending an Anglican church for 15 years, Osenga still struggles with navigating the church calendar and older devotional language. He hopes to make ancient Christian prayer and liturgy more approachable for Christians who find traditional prayer books confusing.
Evangelicals Rediscover Historic Christian Practices
Osenga’s project joins growing interest in liturgical resources among evangelicals.
Douglas McKelvey’s Every Moment Holy series has sold more than 300,000 copies, according to its publisher. The books provide prayers for ordinary activities, emotional struggles and unexpected hardships. Other authors, including Claude Atcho and Tish Harrison Warren, introduce historic Christian seasons and spiritual practices to contemporary readers, connecting daily routines with centuries of Christian tradition.
Historic Liturgy Reaches Nonliturgical Churches
Anglican author Ashley Tumlin Wallace says approximately half her readers come from nonliturgical backgrounds. Many seek deeper meaning through traditional prayers, feast days and the Christian calendar. She discovered the Book of Common Prayer while raising young children and found its structure helpful for family devotions and recalls a Baptist pastor adopting a congregational confession after visiting her Anglican church.
These experiences suggest that ancient prayer traditions appeal across denominational boundaries.
For Christians unfamiliar with formal liturgy, its structure can initially seem complicated. Yet Osenga and Wallace describe its predictability as a source of spiritual stability, particularly during demanding seasons of life.
Source: The Book of Common Prayer Is Having a Moment
Photo by Grant Whitty on Unsplash
About Post Author
