Worship 101
Worship is the core of what we do and the heart of who we are. As the Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer states, “In corporate worship, we unite ourselves with others to acknowledge the holiness of God, to hear God’s Word, to offer prayer, and to celebrate the sacraments” (p. 857). Together, in worship, we situate ourselves in relation to the divine in ways that shape us and our community. We praise and thank God for God’s goodness. We seek God’s blessing and protection. We locate ourselves within a shared history. We encounter and respond to concepts and experiences too wonderful and significant for our understanding. We strive to order our lives in response to and in search of the divine.
As Episcopalians, we have particular ways of doing all of that. We are descendants of Christians in Britain, which means our worship has been shaped by Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, and Roman Catholic influences. We are also a product of the English Reformation, which means that, although we are Protestant, the fervor of continental reform was buffered by our peculiar geography and history. In addition to our English (and Scottish) roots, our distinctly American identity is reflected in the structure of our church, which in turn has shaped our worship.
When it comes to worship in The Episcopal Church, I believe that there are four broad principles that are hallmarks of our liturgies: 1) worship in the vernacular, 2) a commitment to common prayer, 3) participation by everyone according to the four orders of ministry, and 4) a focus on scripture. By vernacular, I mean both the language commonly spoken by the community as well as cultural adaptations appropriate for the congregation. By common prayer, I mean the use of authorized texts, which include but are not limited to the services of the prayer book. By participation, I mean that all our services depend upon the full inclusion of everyone in the assembly. By scripture, I mean the prescribed recitation of and meditation upon passages from the Bible in worship.
Despite our commitment to common prayer, there is much diversity in worship throughout The Episcopal Church. How we worship at St. Paul’s is somewhat different from how our neighbors worship at St. Thomas’ in Springdale. Similarly, worship at Trinity Cathedral in Little Rock is structurally identical to our worship, yet the character and feel of our services range widely. In places like Honduras, Taiwan, Haiti, and Navaholand, all of which are dioceses in The Episcopal Church, the style and language of worship is radically different from what we experience on Sunday morning, even though we use the same prayer book.
Some of that is the product of our distinct congregational and diocesan histories. In other ways, the clergy in charge of every congregation have an impact on their congregation’s worship throughout the years. As your Rector, I have shaped our worship considerably, yet I have also learned to accept central practices that are important to our congregation even though I find them distracting or off-putting. It seems that we are all bearers of a tradition that is greater than ourselves.
What makes us distinct? What do we share with other Episcopalians? Why do we do what we do? What could change, and what must remain the same? This Sunday at the conclusion of the 11:00am service, you are invited to stay in the pews for a question-and-answer session, which we are calling Worship 101. Our goal is to answer any questions you have about our worship so that you can feel more fully a part of this worshipping community.
Whenever I lead the Inquirers Class, I find that most of the questions I am asked focus on worship. Some of those questions are deeply theological, but many of them have to do with the mechanics of worship. Why do some people make the sign of the cross at various points through the service? Why does one priest raise up the bread and wine during the Communion prayer while another chooses not to? Is there a difference in standing or kneeling to pray?
This is an extension of our Let’s Get Acquainted offering. That gathering, which is held in Sara’s office during the 10:00 hour on the last Sunday of the month, is designed to let newcomers ask parishioners and clergy about St. Paul’s in general. How do I join the church? What are programs for children and youth like? Can I get more involved? The Worship 101 gathering is for newcomers and experienced parishioners alike. If you have questions about our worship, I hope you will come and ask them.
I have asked my clergy colleagues to hang around and join me in answering your questions. In part, that is because we likely will have different answers, but it is also because I know that each of us has been shaped by different parts of the Anglican tradition. For example, you may have noticed that I wear cassock and surplice when I preside at the Eucharist, while my colleagues typically wear alb (or cassock-alb) and chasuble. There is a reason for that, which you can ask about on Sunday.
If you have questions about worship but cannot join us this week, look for another opportunity in a few months. Although we do not plan to offer Worship 101 on a monthly basis, we do want to offer it several times each year because we know that lots of people have lots of questions about what we do in church together. In the same way that our worship is central to our identity, I think these questions reflect a commitment to being a full part of our church family. Because we are a community that places great emphasis on worship, people want to know more about how we worship. And, even if you think you already know everything there is to know about worship at St. Paul’s, I hope you will come to the session and share your experience with others.
Yours faithfully,
Evan D. Garner
