To God Alone Be Glory: The Story and Sources of the Book of Common Worship

by Harold M. Daniels

Book Overview

In this highly useful text, the fruit of extensive study and research, Harold Daniels tells the fascinating story of the history of Reformed worship in America, from the 1600s to the present. He describes the development and objectives of the Book of Common Worship and explores how the book itself serves as an agenda for liturgical reform within the church. In a substantive second part of the book, Daniels provides the sources of the prayers and other material used in the Book of Common Worship. Persons involved in planning, presenting, studying, or teaching about Presbyterian worship will benefit greatly from having a copy of this comprehensive resource in their personal library. Book jacket.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0664502350
• ISBN13: 9780664502355
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Geneva Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

How did the BCW take the shape it did?

If you have ever wondered how a prayer book takes the form it does -- why did they change this, keep that, etc. -- this book is terrific. The author was closely involved in the revision of the PCUSA's "Book of Common Worship," and he explains EVERYTHING. Daniels takes you through the history of all the denomination's prayer books, evaluating what worked and what did not, how congregations ended up using the books, etc. From the perspective of American religious history, this was worth the price of the book alone. Daniels also has his own points of view -- there is an extended discussion of the need to put Eucharist back into Reformed liturgy as a weekly event, a view shared by many liturgical scholars...and not very many Reformed congregations. (If you read enough of these books, such arguments start to sound like men's clothing designers lamenting the decline of men's hats. I mean, sure...but that ship has sailed.) But that said, Daniels is extremely fair and presents all sides of the question with great care. Another wonderful component: he footnotes all of the prayers in the BCW. For those who use the book here and there, now and again, as I do, it is frustrating to find a wonderful prayer...and have no idea where it comes from. But Daniels has solved that issue: now you have a place to look it up. A great book. Genuinely fun to read, if a somewhat arcane topic to be reading about.