2007-10-22 The only new authorised version for the major services

If you're ordained in the C of E, you already own this book. If you're about to get ordained into the C of E, you're about to own this book.
What's in it?
Well, the bits you will use the most are the Marriage service and the Funeral service.
The versions are given in full here including the alternatives: traditional language vs modern language (e.g. key difference in preface to marriage: "sexual union" vs "bodily union" in traditional language, and all that kind of thing)

They also print out likely scripture passages for funerals and weddings, which is useful.

As for the rest of the book, well, what you might not expect are quite a lot on healing services. This is useful, and practical and there's an interesting little theological introduction.
Other oddments; an order for prayer and dedication after a civil marriage and also "thanksgiving for the gift of a child" (whilst baptism is in the "Christian Initiation" book).
I wonder how many people use "order of prayer at the home for before the funeral". But it's good that it's there, I suppose.

One little bugbear from the marriage service: it seems to me that the natural flow of the latter part of the wedding service should be: giving of rings, prayer, "those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder", finishing up with the proclamation: "I now declare they are husband and wife". (and then the congregation goes barmy with applause etc.)
Yet here (p124ff), it's giving of rings, proclamation, "those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder", prayer of blessing. (And there's no trigger of release, allowing the congregation to applaud)

I swear this ruins the momentum of the service. But what do I know?

Finally, one slightly unfortunate quirk: because of the size of the book, (just taller than A5), it would be quite easy, when opening the book up at a crematorium lectern, for the corner of the book to connect with the button which you press to lower the coffin. This hasn't happened to me yet, but I fear for the possibilities...