Book of Offices, The

A collection of offices for specific purposes and occasions “which occur in the work of Bishops and other Clergy.” It was first published in 1940. It includes forms for the dedication of various buildings and forms for the blessing of articles of church furniture. It was contrasted with The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory (1933) which was a collection of services and prayers for devotional occasions. The Book of Offices was compiled by the Liturgical Commission in accordance with a resolution of the 1937 General Convention. Much of the material in The Book of Offices was taken from Offices for Special Occasions (1916), which also included a variety of occasional offices, devotions, and forms for dedication. Both books may be understood as precursors of the Book of Occasional Services.