Last week's column began to explore A New Zealand Prayer Book, the official book of the Church of the Province of New Zealand which is being highly acclaimed in this country. Some of the most helpful parts of the book are its prefaces and introductions.

The introduction to the book, titled "A Multitude of Voices," does a good job of explaining the need for prayer book revision. "We live in a different, and to many, a strange world," it states, and goes on to trace experimental liturgies used in New Zealand in 1966, 1970 and 1984. The liturgy of 1966, the book claims, was "one of the first Anglican eucharistic liturgies to address God as 'You'." The introduction also points out that the venerable 1662 Book of Common Prayer remains authorized for use in those congregations which choose to use it.

It is always interesting to note in other Anglican prayer books, the national or regional commemorations in the calendar. This one is no exception. The calendar includes such regional commemorations as "The Saints and Martyrs of the Americas" on April 8, and "The Saints and Martyrs of the Anglican Communion" on Nov. 8.

The book's treatment of psalms can be annoying. "Some verses of the psalms are not suitable for use in the corporate worship of the church," states the introduction to the psalms. The book omits such verses. For example, Psalm 54, vs. 5: "Render evil to those who spy on me;* in your faithfulness, destroy them." In Psalm 21, verses 8-12 are gone, and in Psalm 141, 7 and 8 are omitted. There are many other instances, including the omission of all of Psalm 83.

Episcopalians may have some difficulty getting through the daily offices. They are incorporated into one service, "Morning and Evening Worship," with morning and evening canticles and collects labeled as such, and including Maori translations.

Some other observations:

"The Song of the Women" from T.S. Eliot's "Murder in the Cathedral" is included as a canticle.

The old Sundays of Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima still appear in the calendar.

The words to hymns are printed in some spots and lists of appropriate hymns appear elsewhere.

The introduction to "Family Prayer" alerts persons to be "prepared to accept the disturbances that sometimes arise."

The services of baptism, confirmation and renewal are printed together.

The filioque clause still appears in the Nicene Creed.

The opening for one of the two marriage liturgies: "Welcome to you all."

The New Zealand book is appearing everywhere. Its liturgies are being used at various gatherings around the Episcopal Church, and its contents are under study by theologians. My guess is that this church's next revision will look very much like what Anglicans in New Zealand have produced.

David Kalvelage, editor