Subject: What has changed since the last version of this FAQ?

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Subject: What is OREMUS?

OREMUS is a form of daily prayer posted to the EPISCOPAL features list (EPISCOPAL@dragon.com) and the OREMUS meeting on ecunet (OREMUS.topic@ecunet.org) by Simon Kershaw and Steve Benner. OREMUS can also be found on the WWW
(see below).

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Subject: What does OREMUS mean?

The word OREMUS is Latin and means "Let us pray".

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Subject: How is OREMUS pronounced?

Always three syllables.

For classical Latin: O as in French "eau"; the R rolled, as in Scots or Italian; E, a bit like the first vowel of "Beethoven"; M as in "man"; U as in "put"; S as in "sing". Note therefore that the MUS is *not* as the start of "must": the vowel is different.

For unreformed English: O as in "bow"; the R scarcely audible; E as in "seen"; MUS as in "must".

(This section contributed by Nicholas Denyer, Lecturer in Classics at Cambridge University.)

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Subject: Why is OREMUS posted?

OREMUS was first devised in November 1993, as a response to a question on the ANGLICAN mailing list about how individuals might keep the forthcoming Advent more effectively.

The intention was and is to make available a form of the "Daily Office", traditional in format, sufficiently brief and relevant to be used by as many readers as possible, and not duplicating any other form likely to be already used by members.

Steve Benner undertook to create the Office and to post it each day, and he did this for nearly two years, from its first appearance on Thursday, 18 November 1993, until 13 September 1995. For the next fifteen months, Simon Kershaw compiled the Office, with assistance from some others. Since December 1996, Steve Benner and Simon Kershaw alternate responsibility for the compilation of the Office.

Even though OREMUS is now posted to EPISCOPAL, its primary audience still remains the Anglican list and it tries to reflect the concerns of that group. An exact duplicate of OREMUS is also sent to the OREMUS meeting on ecunet. It is also available through the WWW.

The OREMUS serves to nourish each of us in our daily prayer and bible reading; to introduce more people to the tradition of the Daily Office; to strengthen the sense of community of the group by the knowledge that our fellow members are using the same form of prayer, and by our prayers for one another; to strengthen our Anglican identity in our prayers for the Anglican Communion; and to greaten our Christian love in our prayers for our fellow Christians and for all people.

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Subject: How can I use OREMUS?

OREMUS is intended as a Daily Office which can be used in various circumstances. Some people will print it out to take home and use in the privacy of their own home, perhaps sharing it with members of their family or friends. Others will be able to set aside a few minutes of privacy at their computer screen to say the Office. Still others will create their own quietness in a busy place for the necessary minutes. If you are able, it is a great help to read it aloud, slowly and thoughtfully.

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Subject: What are the sources of the components of OREMUS?

OREMUS is assembled from an eclectic array of resources and largely reflects the work of Steve Benner.

During Ordinary Time (the "green seasons"), the Psalm is appointed according to an eight-week cycle, based on the cycle found in "The Office--Simple Celebration" in the Society of St Francis' Celebrating Common Prayer: A Version of the Daily Office SSF (1992). The version of the psalms used in OREMUS is also from this book.

The lectionary for OREMUS provides one reading for each day of the year. It is based on the Office lectionary found in Celebrating Common Prayer. This lectionary will cover most of the Scriptures over a course of four years and could provide a good basis for bible study.

On feast days and some other occasions a more appropriate reading is substituted.

Hymns are often selected to reflect on the occasion or the Scripture reading, from a wide range of hymnody, with appropriate hymns being selected for festivals and other occasions. It would certainly be appropriate to sing these parts, but reading them can be just as edifying.

The intercessions in the Prayer section are usually based on forms appearing in the 1993 Book of Common Worship of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and reflect a wide-ranging scope of concerns and help us to broaden the focus of our daily prayer. The compilers of OREMUS will be experimenting with other forms of intercession in the coming months.

On feasts and some other occasions these intercessions are replaced with appropriate material from a variety of sources from Canada, England, New Zealand, the USA and elsewhere.

The Collects come from a variety of sources, often depending on the current compiler. Simon Kershaw uses as his primary source The Christian Year: Calendar, Lectionary and Collects, proposals published by the Liturgical Commission of the Church of England in 1997 as part of the major revision process of the English Alternative Service Book. Steve Benner uses recent liturgical provisions from the Presbyterian Church, USA, the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Australia, the Church of the Province of New Zealand and the Anglican Church of Canada.

The invitation to the Lord's Prayer and the closing sentences most often come from Midday Prayer in Celebrating Common Prayer, although other sources may be used..

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Subject: What Calendar is followed?

The
Calendar is an eclectic one, but from October 1995 it broadly follows that in Report on the Calendar, Lectionary and Collects, 2000, supplemented by feasts from other national churches of the Anglican Communion, and elsewhere. You can see a copy of the Calendar in the revised Report on the World-Wide Web at:
http://www.kershaw.demon.co.uk/lit2000/ cal/
which also contains the Collects and other propers corresponding to this Calendar, together with other resource material.

Suggestions for additions or other alterations to the OREMUS Calendar should be sent to us.

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Subject: What is the Anglican Cycle of Prayer?

[prayer booklet] Each year, the Anglican Consultative Council publishes a prayer cycle. In general, each Sunday, one Province or Church of the Anglican Communion is prayed for. On weekdays, the list cycles through the dioceses of the Communion, usually covering two dioceses each day. Archbishops and bishops are mentioned by name, but the cycle is not just a cycle of prayer for our bishops (important though that is). The cycle enables us to pray for all our fellow Anglicans throughout the world. We also share the same prayer subjects each day.

The cycle is available as a small book each year published by:

Forward Movement Publications
412 Sycamore Street
Cincinatti,
Ohio 45202
U.S.A.
and: Church House Publishing
Church House
Great Smith Street
London SW1P 3NZ
England
The book form contains maps of all the dioceses, information about each province, and prayer requests from many dioceses.

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Subject: What is the List Cycle of Prayer?

Each day in the OREMUS we pray for others on the lists served by OREMUS. As we pray for one another, we are reminded that all of us are real human beings and real Christians behind our e-mail addresses; perhaps by praying for one another we can build a stronger sense of fellowship in this e-community of believers.

This cycle includes the names of all members of the list at the time it was compiled. The grouping of members is broadly geographical, so at the same time we are also praying for those areas of our various churches.

The prayer cycle now extends over a two-month period and is usually updated in monthly increments. The present version of the List Cycle is compiled by Patti Scollay.

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Subject: Can I add specific prayer requests?

Yes! If you would like a prayer request added to the OREMUS just write to
the compilers and ask.

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Subject: How do I receive OREMUS? How do I stop?

OREMUS is posted each day to the list EPISCOPAL@dragon.com
To subscribe send the message
   subscribe episcopal your name
to the address
   listserv@dragon.com
To unsubscribe send the message
   unsubscribe episcopal
to the same address.

Note that this is NOT the reply address of OREMUS posts.

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Subject: When is OREMUS posted?

OREMUS is generally posted at 12 noon (Eastern Time Zone in the US) (1700 GMT) the day before it is to be used. This should ensure that it reaches all parts of the world at a reasonable time. In addition, OREMUS can be found on the internet at
www.ely.anglican.org/oremus/.

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Subject: Can I distribute the OREMUS to other people?

The OREMUS posting is protected by copyright. This is because the texts of which it is composed are, in the main, protected by copyright and the compilers have ensured that they has permission to reproduce such texts. If you wish to reproduce the texts you should ensure that you too have that permission. The particular compilation of texts in each OREMUS is also copyright: in this case the copyright holders are Stephen Benner and Simon Kershaw

We are not trying to be obstructive by pointing this out: it is simply the law and we work within the law. Actually, many of the texts do have liberal reproduction rights associated with them for use by Christian groups for worship. For example, see the copyright notice at the front of a copy of the New Revised Standard Version of the bible. Some other copyright holders are happy to give reproduction rights if you write and ask them, and we have done this for some of the texts. The texts of the American Book of Common Prayer are specifically placed in the public domain and may be used by anyone for any purpose.

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Subject: Where do I get more information?

You may contact the compilers via e-mail at:
Simon.Kershaw@Smallworld.co.uk
or benner.7@osu.edu.

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