Liturgy - spiritual gym
By The Rev. Bosco Peters
Sit. Stand. Kneel. Bow. Turn. Cross yourself. Walk. It's morning gym at your local Episcopal Church (in some places called "Anglican"). Spiritual aerobics. "Liturgy" they call it - a Greek word meaning "work of the people" (shouldn't that be "work-out of the people?")
Jesus didn't leave detailed instructions on worship. He did say "do this in memory of Me." So Episcopalians DO things in their services. And the "do" of Jesus is plural - so we do things TOGETHER, as a community. The community is bigger than this Sunday morning church congregation - in fact it is bigger than the local area. There are Episcopalians and Anglicans (and Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and Lutherans, . . .) essentially doing the same all around the world. And we've been effectively doing this for a hundred thousand Sundays. Imagine it as one big community across space and time - doing worship. Has any other command ever been so obeyed: "do this."
Episcopalians have a book that describes what we do: The Book of Common Prayer (in other places it has a different title: the Book of Alternative Services, Common Worship, A New Zealand Prayer Book, et cetera . . .). The book looks like lots of words to say, and sometimes we cannot see what we do for the words. But at its heart Jesus takes, gives thanks, and shares bread and wine. And that is what we do. And that is what God does with us: take us, give thanks for us, share us. We call it a service. And we Episcopalians, we Christians are called to be a service for others. Taken gratefully by God and shared.
When first encountered, Episcopalian liturgy can appear foreign, counter-cultural. But persevere. We shouldn't be surprised it appears counter-cultural because our culture is individual, "me", instant, "now". Even the spirituality often on offer follows the individual instant approach: what do I get out of it. Liturgy is about transformation: bread, wine, me, our community, our culture and world. In this picture God doesn't change us and then we do liturgy (that too may happen). In this picture I join the community that does liturgy and find, little by little (and sometimes by a surprising leap) God changes me.
The Rev. Bosco Peters serves as an Anglican priest in
New Zealand.
He has a passion for translating solid Christian traditions into our new context.
You may read more of his writing on his
spirituality and liturgy website.
