What is Liturgy?

We have included this article for two kinds of people. First, it is for newcomers from other denominations who are interested in worshipping at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew but cannot always understand what we are doing during the service. It is also for long-time church members who have discovered that too often during a worship service they have gone on "automatic pilot."

Every church intends that its liturgical actions will have significance for the worshiper. What does it mean that we read our prayers? What is a "collect?" What do the candles mean, and which comes first, Epiphany or Lent (and why does it matter)? The more you know, the more the activities and actions will enrich your worship experience. You may soon be saying to yourself, "I got so much more out of the service today." Understanding liturgy helps you to see that there are unexplored riches hidden within the framework of the liturgy, treasures which reveal themselves at many levels, deepening your spiritual life in new and vital ways.
 
What Are We Doing in Liturgy? Read More
The word liturgy means the prescribed form for a public religious service, the ritual patterns that a church uses. It comes from a Greek word meaning ...
 
The Prayer Book Read More
The book of Common Prayer is a book of services, prayers and scripture. It is an "anamnesis," that is, a remembering …
 
The Church Year Read More
Church time and the world's time are different, or had you noticed? A book's author might sign the preface with a name and a date …
 
The Lessons Read More
When scripture passages are read in the early part of the worship service, we call them "The Lessons." The first selection will be from the Old Testament …
 
Kneeling, Sitting and Standing Read More
It was the Greeks who taught that people could and should separate the spirit from the body in order to achieve holiness…
 
Signing the Cross Read More
We make the sign of the cross, not as a mark of our church politics, but as a sign of our devotion to the person of Christ …
 
What is the Eucharist? Read More
Eucharist is the nurturing of Christians in the church community as they grow toward God. The word Eucharist means "thanksgiving." …
 
Vestments, Candles and Incense Read More
Why do priests wear special clothing? Why do I feel worshipful when they light the candles, and why use incense? When one worships in a church …
 
Collects and Prayers Read More
Praying can be done in many different ways. Prayer can be made in silence, with actions, or with words. Churches typically choose …
 
The Eucharistic Words and Actions Read More
Sunday after Sunday, we notice that there is a definite pattern to the celebration of the Eucharist. The words may change …
 
What Is Our Worship About? Read More
Understanding the different moments and acts of worship enriches our spiritual experience and deepens our ability to listen to God …
 



Our Patient Merciful God
The Bible and the Gospel speak of God's great mercy for us ...

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