As a family, we've experienced the transformative power of weaving the Daily Office into our daily rhythm. The Daily Office is the ancient Christian practice of stopping at intervals throughout the day for bible reading and prayer.
When we embrace this rule of life, we, too, are joining in this great tradition of prayer going all of the way back to the early church until today. We are modeling for ourselves and our families that we seek God in prayer every day. We are acknowledging that our days are not our own but are the Lord’s and that regularly, throughout the day, we will remind ourselves of His presence, of His greatness, and of His goodness.
I'm thrilled to share with you some of my most cherished resources that have made this journey both accessible and enriching. Whether you're just starting or seeking to deepen your family's prayer practice, these invaluable tools and insights can help you embark on a path that brings yourself and your family closer to the Lord.
A Bible - Some of the resources listed require a bible and some provide the bible readings for you. I had one of these inexpensive Bibles for each of the members of our family. We kept them in a cabinet by the kitchen table to be used when we prayed.
Daily Prayer for Families - I created these simplified Daily Office forms for a family to easily use. They are based on the experience of our family over the years. There are forms for prayer in the morning, noonday, early evening (right before or after dinner), and at the close of the day (right before bed). Choose whichever time works best for you, find the corresponding form, and print one out for each member of your family.
Morning Prayer Pocket Cards - My husband created these prayer cards for our church and I love them! They were created to be a simple, accessible way to connect with God right when you wake up in the morning. From time to time, I will use these cards during our morning prayer just to offer some variety. We read a passage of scripture, then we read the cards in unison. When we get to the prayer part, we each share what we are thankful for and what we want prayer for and then we conclude in unison.
The Daily Office Booklet - I love this resource from Anglican Compass. This is the traditional Daily Office but in an easy-to-use booklet form. I love this booklet because you can print it up and it contains the basics of the Morning and Evening Prayer liturgies, as well as the references for all Scripture readings. It makes it so easy for me to have guided prayer time every day.
The Daily Office App - I have this installed on my phone and it is really awesome! It makes it easy for you to pray daily morning, midday, evening, and bedtime prayer without flipping pages, searching for scripture readings, calendars, or interpreting rubrics.
The Book of Common Prayer - If you would like the comprehensive service book for Anglican churches worldwide, then you might want to invest in The Book of Common Prayer. It contains the written liturgies for almost any service held at an Anglican church. In it, you will not only find daily prayer services (the Daily Office), but you will also find Holy Eucharist services, special services like Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, services held throughout one’s life like baptism and weddings, ordination services, and services to celebrate new ministries or churches
