In the Spring of 2001, the Council of General Synod asked the Faith, Worship and Ministry (FWM) committee to work with the Anglican Council of Indigenous People (ACIP) to develop resources for worship in the vision of healing and right relationships. The request was made in light of increasing requests from non-Indigenous communities and parishes for assistance in praying in a spirit of partnership with Indigenous Anglicans and the Anglican Indigenous Covenant.
A joint working group of FWM and ACIP collected and wrote worship resources and developed a set of principles for worship in the vision of New Agape through a process of story-telling. Members shared their reflections on experiences of cross-cultural worship in which the visions of Covenant and partnership were expressed with an authenticity that reflected a Gospel integrity. The principles extrapolated from these stories were then explored according to the logic of traditional Indigenous medicine wheel teachings. The medicine wheel and the cross together form the foundation, shape and background to the ideas being expressed here.
Below you can download a graphic depiction of the Principles for Worship in the Vision of New Agape. The collection of resources below contains an explanatory essay that develops each of the principles that are expressed in the graphic in point form. You will also find prayers, full orders of service for special occasions, biblical reflections and hymn suggestions.
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