Opinions on Liturgy

[Caleb]

Do you think it's better to have liturgy in church services or not? My brother & sister-in-law attend a very liturgical Presbyterian church out in Pittsburgh, PA. To be honest, my concern about liturgy is that if you keep reciting it, it may for some, become meaningless. It just becomes something you do because you feel awkward not doing. In no way am I anti-patriotic, I'm very proud to be an American, but it's kind of like doing the Pledge of Allegiance every day, in that, if you do it too often, you begin to just do it without reflecting on the meaning. Does any body agree with me, or do they think differently?

[Michele93]

I attend a liturgical church and do not find the liturgy boring at all. It offers some consistancy by its form while at the same time offering diversity through the hymns, Scripture readings, and sermon. In this way the service is the same in form each week while not being completely the same. In a way, even non-liturgical churches have a liturgy...I attended an Assemblies of God church for a number of years and the service typically had the same form each week. There was music, prayer, more music, announcements, offering, sermon, prayer/altar call. In a way, that is liturgy, though they may not call it such.

Michele

[UNeverEverNo]

Main Entry: lit·ur·gy
Pronunciation: 'li-t&r-jE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -gies
Etymology: Late Latin liturgia, from Greek leitourgia public service, from Greek (Attic) leïton public building (from Greek laos -- Attic leOs -- people) + -ourgia -urgy
1 often capitalized : a eucharistic rite
2 : a rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship
3 : a customary repertoire of ideas, phrases, or observances

www.webster.com
I think the term has different meanings in different churches?

[70thWeek]

Every church has a liturgy of some sorts. As long as the liturgy isn't meaningless and isn't done to just "go through the motions" I see nothing wrong with it. Frankly, at times I am enriched by very liturgical services: I love repeating the Apostle's Creed and going through the liturgy for Communion.

[Knight of Chris]

I prefer a liturgical service becasue I know what to expect and can concentrate on the teaching rather than fumbling with the bulletin to figure out what we are supposed to be doing next, or wondering if anyone knows, including the Pastor. At least you can be guarnted that no one in a clown costume will come out to serve communion.....

Men in particular like to have the service consistent, rather than changing every week to match some new fad. It's comforting in a way, that some things are as unchanging and "eternal" as Heaven.

[4everHis]

Some like vanilla, some like chocolate.

It's a matter of personal choice what you enjoy in a church service.

[Jennie in TO]

I miss a meaningful liturgy. The Apostles' and Nicene creeds were lovely when recited together. The thing that got me, was that I knew that many of the people in the church hadn't a clue as to the true meaning of those creeds. :sigh

[BarbT]

*sigh*

What I would give for a glimpse of the early church when they gathered together around campfires or in believers' homes.

I have a feeling these people wouldn't understand this discussion at all.