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Make Preparation: Liturgy Planning Notes

Make Preparation is a comprehensive guide to planning Anglican liturgies, from the Gathering to the Dismissal. It draws on the decades of experience of the late Rev. Dr. Paul Gibson, a respected liturgical scholar and former liturgical officer for the Office of the General Synod. The resource provides practical guidance on worship planning while exploring the historical, theological and spiritual significance of each element of a service. While some examples reflect earlier practices, the principles remain relevant for contemporary parish and community worship.

The resource is organized into twelve chapters, covering every stage of a service:

  1. Some Principles of Planning
  2. Planning the Gathering
  3. Planning the Word
  4. Planning the Word: The Sermon
  5. Planning the Prayers of the People
  6. Penitence and Reconciliation
  7. Planning the Peace
  8. Planning the Offertory
  9. Planning the Eucharistic Prayer
  10. Planning the Lord’s Prayer
  11. Planning the Communion
  12. Planning the Dismissal

Suggested uses

  • Reference for parish liturgy committees and worship planning teams
  • Resource for theological college courses, clergy formation or continuing education
  • Guide for collaborative planning exercises or small-group reflection
  • Tool for exploring theological, historical and spiritual dimensions of Anglican worship

Key themes

  • Thoughtful liturgical planning and preparation
  • Collaboration among clergy, musicians and lay leaders
  • Understanding the structure and flow of Anglican worship
  • Reflection on the meaning of rites, prayer, music and seasonal observances
  • Connecting tradition with present-day worship experiences

Best suited for: Parish clergy, lay worship leaders, liturgy committees, theological educators, students of Anglican worship and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of planning worship within the Anglican tradition.

Title page of Make Preparation: Liturgy Planning Notes

Acknowledging the land and God’s creation

This acknowledgement is crafted in light of the Principles of Reconciliation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as we seek to live faithfully in Christ and in right relationship with all. 

We give thanks to the Creator for this land, its waters, forests and all living beings, and for the abiding presence of Christ among us. From coast to coast to coast, these have been cared for and nurtured by First Nations, Inuit and Métis through countless generations. 

We honour the enduring relationship Indigenous Peoples have cultivated with these lands and waters, and the treaties and agreements that reflect these sacred bonds. We acknowledge the harms caused by colonial expansion, through frameworks like the Doctrine of Discovery and structures like the residential school system. We recognize our past failures as a Church, including disruption of connections to the land and suppression of Indigenous spiritualities. 

Guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we confess our need for healing. We commit ourselves to seeking truth, pursuing reconciliation and nurturing harmony with all creation. We place our trust in Christ, through whom all things are reconciled to God. 

May God strengthen us to live faithfully as stewards of the Earth. Let us walk in love, justice and reconciliation, joining in God’s work to restore all creation.