Worship

The Liturgy of the Word

The liturgy of the Word is the longest part of a typical Sunday Eucharist. It also demands very careful preparation. We expect the preacher to give thought and time to the sermon, and we hope the person leading the intercessions does a bit more than just look up the relevant Sunday in their favourite resource book! But the sermon and the prayers are not the be-all and end-all of coming to church, and creativity and thought should not be limited to these.

The Scripture readings offer us an opportunity to encounter the living God, and might sometimes be read by two or more voices, or in a story-telling style, or dramatically, depending on the passage.

Scripture – God’s life-giving word

After the collect, the congregation sit down to hear holy scripture read to them. Do they expect a life-changing encounter as they hear the story of God’s work and grace in the midst of his people? Or are they more likely to sigh, settle down, unwrap a boiled sweet, and let their minds wander?

Before the invention of the printed word, most people only encountered scripture when it was read aloud in church. It had to be read clearly, or they would miss it.

Nowadays we have largely forgotten the importance of the actual reading of scripture, or, to put it another way, how to celebrate the word of God.

Which passages do we read?

Our church follows a Lectionary, that is, a structured pattern of Bible readings which ensures that we read a very substantial part of the Bible over three years. It also gives us readings appropriate to the Christian seasons.

In the weeks preceding and following Christmas and Easter, the lectionary is always followed, but there is freedom outside those times to adapt the reading for local needs – for example for a sermon series.

Even when the lectionary is being followed carefully it can be used quite flexibly. Some churches have as many as three readings and a psalm, others may have only two readings. Whatever choices are made, the last reading is always from the Gospels.

In the Seasons, the readings are strongly themed, usually to particular events in the life of Jesus. However, in Ordinary Time, when the liturgical colour is green, there is no common theme.

  • The Gospels are read more or less continuously, week-by-week, on a three-year cycle: Matthew one year, Mark the next [with parts of John], and Luke in the third year.
  • Meanwhile, the New Testament reading is following its own independent journey, unrelated to the Gospel.
  • With the Old Testament reading, churches have a choice – either a ‘continuous’ reading like the New Testament, or a ‘related’ reading, linked to the Gospel. Each has its own psalm.

This way of reading the Bible allows scripture to speak for itself as much as possible, rather than pressing certain passages into service as ‘proof texts’ to support this or that doctrine.

Creeds and Affirmations of Faith

We say the Creed for several reasons:

  • It is a response to the word of God.
  • It summarises the whole scope of salvation, whereas the ministry of the word may have focused on one part of the Christian story.
  • It unites the congregation with each other and with Christians all round the world declaring their common faith.
  • Normally the Nicaea Creed (agreed at the Council of Nicaea in 481) is said – a fourth-century and universal statement of Christian faith. However, other forms of creed and scriptural Affirmations of Faith can be used instead, which can help us declare our faith from different angles and in fresh ways.
  • The eighth century Apostles creed was developed and is still in use for baptism today.

Music and Silence

Music can support both proclamation and response in the Liturgy of the Word. For example, a sung psalm may declare the majesty of God or be a more reflective response to a passage just read. A Gospel Alleluia might reinforce our proclamation of the truth about Jesus Christ, as well as building up a sense of excitement. A sung refrain during the intercessions allows extra space for engaging with prayer and can articulate a truly heartfelt response. Different musical moods, along with a greater or lesser use of silence, help to get the tone of different seasons.

A Psalm setting in which a cantor choral leader sings the verses while all join in the refrain can be useful. If singing a different psalm each week presents too great a challenge, we can adopt one particular psalm for a season to allow it to become well-known.

Short songs from the world church and the Taize Community, by composers like John Bell [Wild Goose Resource Group] and from Roman Catholic publishers [such as Decani Music] can be imaginatively integrated into the Liturgy of the Word and are generally simple to learn.

Authorized Common Worship affirmations of faith include a metrical paraphrase of the Apostles’ Creed which fits several well-known hymn tunes. Singing this can be a joyful alternative to saying the Creed at certain celebrations.