About the Book of Occasional Services

The Book of Occasional Services is mentioned but not defined in the Canons of the Episcopal Church. (Canon II.3.5)  It was authorized "for optional use throughout this Church". (Resolution 1979-A055).  It has been updated several times.  

The Book of Occasional Services 2022 was approved by Resolution 2022-A066. 

From the Preface of the Book of Occasional Services 2022:

From the Preface of the Book of Occasional Services 2022: 

The Book of Occasional Services is a collection of liturgical resources related to occasions which do not occur with sufficient frequency  to warrant their inclusion in The Book of Common Prayer. These materials are authorized by the General Convention. 

The Book of Occasional Services is a companion volume to The Book of Common Prayer. The rites and ceremonies contained in this book are to be understood, interpreted, and used in light of the theology, structure, and directions of The Book of Common Prayer. 

As provided for in the copyright statement, it is expected that the materials to be used for a specific occasion will be reproduced locally for that use. All of the material in this book is optional. None of it is required, and no congregation is likely to make use of all of it. 

The materials included in this collection come from a variety of sources. Generally, they arise out of the specific use of worshiping communities engaged in the process of creating liturgical responses to particular occasions in the life of the church. 
 
Some of the rites contained in this book come from specific cultural contexts and should be treated sensitively when they are used. It is particularly recommended that congregations consult closely with people from the cultural context in which the rites were developed, so as to avoid cultural appropriation. 

​This book is intended for public worship, but the materials offered may be used for private devotion as appropriate. It is noted, however, that this is not intended to be an exhaustive collection of seasonal devotional material. Throughout this volume, the term “presider” has been used to identify the person, ordained or lay, leading the liturgy. This reflects contemporary usage and allows adaptation to those various liturgical contexts (eucharistic or non-eucharistic) in which The Book of Common Prayer uses the terms “celebrant” and “officiant.”