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I prefer a liturgical service. Praying together, responding with others to certain parts of the service, seems to me to make the people more aware of being part of the congregation rather than just being alone in a crowd.
Even the people that insist on sitting on the back pew, will join in a liturgical service.
I personally don't care for the liturgical services. But I wasn't raised in them. My sister now attends an Episcopalian church and I have gone to a couple of services with her. It is beautiful, and I'm sure God is there. It's just not my cup of tea.
I love liturgical services, and I love the idea that the form of worship is very much like the form of worship from the Second Century. A Christian living in Rome in 250 AD would at least know what was going on and would know that they are in a Christian Church even if they didn't understand the words or the smells and bells. I remember running across a description of a Christian service from that era and was surprised with how closely what they did and said then matches what liturgical churces do today.
I've also found the liturgy to be a great way to mark the turning of the seasons and the passage of time. I also like the idea that every church in the communion is studying the same texts that week, and that the sermons will be lessons about those texts rather than about the text that supports the message the preacher wants to talk about that week. It helps the priests and the congregants to read the texts in context, and often makes them confront the texts that are more difficult for 21st century Christians to hear.
I think it reinforces the idea that we are part of a communion of saints that includes Christians of every generation (which is what we're celebrating this week with Halloween and All Saints Day).
Well, Baptist marries Episcopalian here. I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church, and we attended there for about 5 years after our marriage. I never did epecially like the liturgy. It's kinda a "different strokes for different folks" type deal. I think the doctrine and "life" of a church is what's important. But just me personally... don't like liturgy much. My husband, being raised Episcopalian, doesn't especially like it either, but I know some find it very beautiful and comforting somehow.
Well, Baptist TURNED Episcolpalian here. They say that Baptist make the best Episcopalians. Something about being independent thinkers. LOL
However, some of our churches do go overboard with rituals and fancy-smancy traditions. We don't really need bells and incense. For very special services, they add an extra touch, but not as a regular thing.
One thing good about the liturgical service is that the attention spent on the church year forcuses the attention on the seasons like Advent and Lent. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of the season, we tend to forget the important things.
I also so like the Sundays set aside to remember the special people in the Bible like John the Baptist and the Apostles.
With a liturgical service, you can ignore a terrible preacher. It's a short sermon!! AND the sermon is supposed to be teaching on the scripture for that Sunday, not just whatever his whim-of-the-day may be.
Well, Baptist TURNED Episcolpalian here. They say that Baptist make the best Episcopalians. Something about being independent thinkers. LOL
However, some of our churches do go overboard with rituals and fancy-smancy traditions. We don't really need bells and incense. For very special services, they add an extra touch, but not as a regular thing.
One thing good about the liturgical service is that the attention spent on the church year forcuses the attention on the seasons like Advent and Lent. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of the season, we tend to forget the important things.
I also so like the Sundays set aside to remember the special people in the Bible like John the Baptist and the Apostles.
With a liturgical service, you can ignore a terrible preacher. It's a short sermon!! AND the sermon is supposed to be teaching on the scripture for that Sunday, not just whatever his whim-of-the-day may be.
Ha, ha, ha! You make some good arguments for it Padgett...especiallly the "terrible preacher" part!
Seriously, I think there are some things that are left out in non-liturgical churches about the "church calendar" etc. Some of that--I have to say, I do miss.
And there's nothing like a Christmas Eve midnight service ! Some Christmas Eves I have considered "sneaking over to the Episcopal Church..."
Well, Baptist marries Episcopalian here. I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church, and we attended there for about 5 years after our marriage. I never did epecially like the liturgy. It's kinda a "different strokes for different folks" type deal. I think the doctrine and "life" of a church is what's important. But just me personally... don't like liturgy much. My husband, being raised Episcopalian, doesn't especially like it either, but I know some find it very beautiful and comforting somehow.
My response is a combination of kaykay's responses. On the same page here! I left a liturgical church, but do miss some of the traditions and the celebrating of seasons.
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I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church, and we attended there for about 5 years after our marriage. I never did epecially like the liturgy. It's kinda a "different strokes for different folks" type deal. I think the doctrine and "life" of a church is what's important. But just me personally... don't like liturgy much. My husband, being raised Episcopalian, doesn't especially like it either, but I know some find it very beautiful and comforting somehow.
