Psalm 119:73–80 1 Kings 8:54–62 Romans 11:13–24 Luke 2:25–35
Thomas Cranmer was our first archbishop of Canterbury and developed the first Book of Common Prayer for the Anglican Church in 1549. Naturally, this guidebook to what was then a new faith has been revised more than once to reflect changes in language and mindset.
Even with those changes, however, the original purpose of this beautifully crafted book remains the same: to help us as members of the Anglican Communion more easily bring prayer, reflection, and the Bible into our lives.
As a people of faith, our Lenten disciplines often center on denying ourselves, on proving our devotion through sacrifice and swearing off habits. Sacrifice is important, but we forget that a discipline can also include positive actions— and the opportunity for growth that comes with those actions.
Like most of us, I enter into Lent each year hoping to learn more about myself and our shared God. Like many of us, each year I have chosen to follow a path of sacrifice. This year is different.
This year, for my Lenten discipline I am choosing not to give something up but to bring something in: to bring the Book of Common Prayer into my daily life by praying its morning office.
I’m hoping that doing so will give me a chance to look into my new faith through the eyes of one of our Anglican founders—and with any luck, see something in myself, too.

–Collin Klamper