Daily Gleaning - Anglican Altar Call

In most churches, the kind of "Altar Call" one typically hears is this: "Come if you hear Jesus calling." It is typically made at the end of a worship service, after the preaching, prayers and music; when the hearers are most likely to be emotionally receptive.

In the Book of Common Prayer, there is also a form of Altar Call but it is significantly different, reflective of Reformed doctrine and practice. The main difference is that it comes not at the end of the service but at the beginning, immediately following the Confession of Sin. It is not an emotional appeal to unregenerate "goats". Rather it expects that those to whom the gift of repentance is given are also given the gift of faith; to hear God's Word, to pray and to respond.

"Minister. O Lord, open thou our lips.
Answer. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.
Minister. O God, make speed to save us.
Answer. O Lord, make haste to help us."

Then it quotes from Hebrews 3:

"... To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts : as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness; When your fathers tempted me : proved me, and saw my works. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said : It is a people that do err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways. Unto whom I sware in my wrath : that they should not enter into my rest."