Liturgy?

Thanks to Paul Fromont for the link to this ongoing research project into "worship with young people in an Anglican setting" being undertaken by John Hebenton (Colourful Dreamer - New Zealand).  As an accidental liturgist, I like the way he (John) has defined the purpose of liturgy...

1. To provide a framework to gather people, tell the biblical story, and send people out to join with God in mission.

2. To provide a way to form the character of the whole community and the individuals involved to have an incarnational approach to God and mission.

The heart of Anglican liturgical tradition is to meet a missional God and to be shaped and changed by that God so that we might become a people of mission. I would welcome comment and critique

I wait with interest for further observations!

Technorati Tags: Anglican Church: Blogging: Church: Mission: Missional: Worship

Comments

[Bishop Alan Wilson]

Thanks so much for this link, Mark. It cuts through so many of the anorak assumptions the word "liurgy" carries all to often...

[peter gunstone]

I echo Alan's comment about cutting throught the perceived 'anorak' assumptions that this word can carry.

Dictionary definitions say that word comes from the classical Greek word λειτουργία (leitourgia) meaning either "public work" or "work of the people". So what does this mean?

Paul's description gives the key pointer. I commend it because it highlights the true missional function of liturgy. This often either missed or misunderstood, largely due to the fact that we have lost touch with the nature of the monastic roots out which was a crucial part of the formation of liturgy as we inherited it.

Perhaps we could unpack the word 'gather' a little. I've been reading some of Bruggemann's work on the Psalms. He basically underlines the importance of expression (often by speech) to God of one's situation - whatever that may be. The modern tendancy to use a more selective canon of scripture and song has eliminated the possibility of regularly encountering and giving voice to some of life's darker moments, especially as seen in the Psalms and the bible at large. Bruggeman points out that we miss opportunities to bring God's presence into these situations, and the renewed vision of God that such journeys can bring. [See 'Praying the Psalms'(Csacade, 2007),'Spirituality of the Psalms' (Augsburg, 2002), 'The Message of the Psalms' (Augsburg, 1984), 'The Psalms and the life of faith' (Augsburg, 1995)]

So I would like to observe that expression of oneself and one's community is an essential component of the process of gathering within Paul's above definition.

[Paul Fromont]

Thanks guys. The 'defintion' was actually John Hebenton's. Sorry if that wasn't clear... Any suggestions as to books you'd recommend that John reads...?