Daily Prayer: The Offices

Pray Online
The Book of Common Prayer includes short versions of the daily prayers for use with individuals or families. There are also several online versions of the daily offices that lay everything out for you. Check out:
  • Mission St. Clare (the best place to begin. Contains Morning and Evening Prayer from our prayer book, customized to the day)
  • Forward Movement's Daily Prayer page (allows a little customization to fit your pattern)
  • The St. Bede's Breviary (a much more detailed and customizable version)
  • Daily Prayer from the Church of England. 
Get the Forward Movement Daily Office/Forward Day by Day iPhone App
About Daily Prayer (The Daily Offices)
1 Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us that the goal of every Christian is to pray without ceasing. While Sunday is the chief day for the worship, we are encouraged to pray daily, or even several times each day. 

The Episcopal Church follows the example of the early church, and especially of early monastic communities, in providing for prayer throughout the day. This sort of prayer is called "The Daily Office". Other Christian communities call it the Liturgy of the Hours. Our prayer book contains four prayer services for use throughout the day:
  • Matins Morning Prayer (also sometimes spelled Mattins)
  • Noonday Prayer (a short service that you can pray in 5 minutes)
  • Vespers Evening Prayer (when it is sung, this is called Evensong)
  • Compline bedtime prayers

Each of the services has the same basic structure. The structure is a bit fuller and more complex at Matins and Vespers, but what you will find is:
  • An opening "call to prayer"
  • One to three psalms
  • One or two readings from scripture
  • Canticles (which are songs from the Bible that aren't psalms)
  • The Apostles' Creed
  • Lord's Prayer
  • Some prayers for our needs and the needs of the world

Each service contains selections from the Psalms, some passages from Scripture, and prayers, including the Lord's Prayer. The Daily Office can be prayed as a group in church, with your family at home, or just by yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions

How many people come to the weekday offices?
From one to three at this point. It's a small group, but you're always welcome to join us.

Is it difficult to pick up?
It can be a little confusing at first, but we have an easy to follow booklet for matins and vespers that makes it all as simple as possible.

How long do the offices take?
Morning and Evening prayer each take about 20 minutes. 

I came, but the church doors were locked.
Because of recent thefts, we aren't unlocking the main church doors (the red doors) on weekdays. Come through the office doors, which are near the mailbox, and make your way down the hall.

There are time when nobody is available to lead the prayers, but we try to be there when we can.