The official Anglican Cycle of Prayer has designated Sunday 26 January 2003 as a day of prayer for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Coming just one month before the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury will be seated in the historic Chair of St Augustine in the Cathedral Church of Christ, Canterbury, the intention of the prayer is one of thanksgiving for the ministry of Archbishop Rowan Williams and for the office and unique role of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the worldwide Communion. Other organisations have also observed special days of prayer, with Affirming Catholicism being first on 6 December.
The Secretary General, Canon John L. Peterson, said, "Anglicans and Episcopalians around the world are steeped in the tradition of 'Common Prayer', they remember the Provinces of the Anglican Communion, now 38 in number, each on a given Sunday of the year in our Anglican Cycle of Prayer." He added, "Many congregations pray daily for the Archbishop, as well as their own Primate and Bishops, by name, in their public services of worship."
The ancient enthronement service will be held in Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday 27 February 2003, the day the church commemorates George Herbert, priest and poet. Requests for seats by people from around the Church of England and the Communion have, of course, far out-numbered the seating capacity of the Cathedral which is circa 2500. The service will be broadcast on BBC TV and heard on BBC Radio 4. ACNS will link to the BBC webcast and the availability of a commercial video for purchase will be announced in due course. A special edition of Anglican World magazine will also be published in early March.
On Sunday 2 March 2003, Archbishop Rowan will preach at the Cathedral Eucharist at 11am and at a Diocesan Eucharist at 3pm, also in the Cathedral. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The following prayer may be used on 26 January and at any other appropriate time:
Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people
is governed and sanctified,
receive our supplications and prayers,
which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church,
and especially at this time for your servant Rowan,
the Archbishop of Canterbury,
that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Also note that ANGLICAN COMMUNION SUNDAY is now set for 25 May 2003. The 12th Meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council passed a resolution last September on observing such a day, and asking in the future that a special offering be taken for the work of the ACC. The resolution states:
Anglican Communion Sunday
This Anglican Consultative Council:
- urges each province of the Anglican Communion to identify a day which will be Anglican Communion Sunday, the purpose of which will be to raise awareness of and celebrate the Anglican Communion
- invites churches to take a second offering on that day to be made available to the Anglican Communion Office for additional funding for, or special purposes within, the Inter-Anglican Budget