Enriching Our Worship

Enriching Our Worship (EOW) is a series of supplemental liturgical texts authorized by the Episcopal Church to expand and deepen the Church’s worship life. It was first published in 1997 by the Standing Liturgical Commission and continues to be used alongside the Book of Common Prayer.

📘 What It Includes

• Alternative forms for:
  • Morning and Evening Prayer
  • The Great Litany
  • Holy Eucharist
  • Burial rites and ministry with the sick
  • Renewal of ministry and welcoming new clergy
  • Prayers related to childbirth and loss
• Inclusive and expansive language for God and humanity
• Canticles and prayers drawn from Scripture, Church Fathers, and mystics like Julian of Norwich and Anselm of Canterbury

🕊️ Why It Was Created

• To honor the prayer experience of women and others whose voices were underrepresented in traditional liturgy
• To recover ancient biblical and patristic imagery, such as identifying Christ with Wisdom
• To remain faithful to Episcopal liturgical norms while offering fresh expressions of reverence and praise

🌟 How It’s Used

• Many parishes use EOW for evening services, seasonal liturgies, or alternative Eucharistic prayers
• It’s especially valued for its poetic tone, inclusive theology, and flexibility in pastoral settings