Licensed Lay Ministry

The following is a list of documents and resources for Licensed Lay Ministers serving in the Diocese of San Joaquin.  The links will open PDF files that can be read, printed or downloaded.

TRAINING GUIDES

Eucharistic Ministers Study Guide: This is the first study guide in the series and is to be studied by all candidates for licensed lay ministry (PDF)

PLEM Study Guide: This is the second study guide in the series, and is to be studied by all candidates for Pastoral Lay Eucharisitic Ministry (PDF)

Lay Reader Study Guide: This is the third study guide in the series, and is to be studied by all candidates for Licensed Lay Reader (PDF)

RESOURCES

Glossary List: A list of terms commonly used in the Anglican Tradition (PDF)

BCP Text List: List of Books related to the Books of Common Prayer (PDF)

Burial Office for Lay Readers:  This provides a step by step outline for preparing a Burial and Graveside service, without Holy Communion (PDF)

Canon 23: Diocese of San Joaquin canon law, which outlines Licensed Lay Ministry (PDF)

Collect Guide: Brief outline of the history and structure of collects (PDF)

Online Resources: List of links for Anglican resources.  This includes Anglican classic texts as well as BCP resources (PDF)

Morning Prayer Outline with notes for Lay Officiants (PDF)

PLEM Liturgy: Liturgy for Licensed Pastoral Lay Eucharistic Ministry visitations from Book of Occasional Services (PDF)

Psalter Notes: Description and outline of the Psalter with descriptions about leading and using the psalms in public worship (PDF).

 

Daily Office

The Daily Office is an online resource for those who wish to do their devotion online

http://www.missionstclare.com/english/

Meditation on God as He Reveals Himself

Too often prayer degenerates into a preoccupation with self concerns and our immediate problems. The wonder of prayer is that it provides us with an avenue that can lead us into the very presence of God Himself.

Ancient Hebrews understood this transporting power of prayer. The Psalmist wrote: “Enter His gates with THANKSGIVING; go into His courts with PRAISE. Give thanks to Him and call upon His NAME” (Psalm 100:3).

Thanksgiving concentrates on His acts, on what He has done. Praise, however, concentrates on His attributes or on who God is. Time spent in meditating directly on who He is brings us into a place of intimacy with Him.

The question is: once we are in this place, what do we do? Using Anglican beads with directed meditation is one answer. Meditation focuses the mind; prayer attunes the spirit; and contact with the beads enlists the body. All come together in this devotional practice by integrating us as a whole: body, soul, and spirit, the way God created us. By lingering and pondering on God, we will find rest and refreshment as He reveals Himself to us.

This combination of prayer, beads, and meditating on the Names of God from Scripture is a simple yet profound way to abide in the presence of the Creator Himself.

+John-David Schofield

God the Father

God the Son

God the Holy Spirit

MEDITATION

Names of God List

Reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation reveals myriad names for God, each one sparkling with a new facet of His attributes.

Presented here is a meditation on 99 names of God.

Why meditate on the names of God?

In Biblical times a name was thought to reveal an individual’s identity, nature or character. Untold numbers of God’s people have meditated on His names as found in the Bible and have deepened their awareness of His infinite qualities.

Why use prayer beads?

For centuries prayer beads have been used by people of faith to focus their minds (in meditation), their spirits (through prayer), and their bodies (by touching the beads) on the Lord Himself. This method of worship can help attune one’s whole being to His presence in the midst of the distractions of day to day living.

What are Anglican Prayer Beads?

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Anglican Prayer Beads are made of a cross and 33 beads.
Meditation begins at the cross (1).
The first large bead (2) invites the worshiper into prayer.
Each of the other four large beads (3) precedes a grouping of seven smaller beads (4).

How does one use Anglican Prayer Beads to meditate on God?

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Completion of the whole meditation requires three circlings of the beads. The first circling focuses on God the Father; the second on God the Son; and the third on God the Holy Spirit.
Each group of 33 names follows a general pattern. See diagram. Understanding this layout helps memorization come naturally.

To begin meditation with Prayer Beads begin on God the Father, continue with God the Son, then finish with God the Holy Spirit.

God the Father Names (Hebrew & Greek)

God the Son Names (Hebrew & Greek)

God the Holy Spirit Names (Hebrew & Greek)