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Growing up in the Evangelical Covenant Church in a small rural community, the word “liturgy” was virtual unused. While I attended Mass with my Catholic grandmother on occasion, I lacked the understanding to appreciate what was happening around me (beautiful and moving though it often was). It was only later in life that I begin to exploring the liturgical tradition in more meaningful ways. I only wish I had been able to do so much earlier.
In truth, the word liturgy simple refers to the customs and practices of public worship. In that sense, all churches have a liturgy of sorts. We may call it something different, such as an “order of service”, but ultimately it amounts to the same thing. Acknowledging this is important, as it helps us be more intentional. That being said, when you hear people talk about liturgy, they are generally referring to the high church traditions, with the more formal rituals, practices and prayers, such as those found in Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism and others.
In fact, the interest it these traditions are on a rise among Christians of many traditions. Drawn by the history, tapestry and unity of the liturgies, churches of all stripes are incorporating practices that have other wise been foreign (even openly rejected) by their own traditions. While this is an exciting shift, as much of the rejection of and “freedom” from these liturgies were the result of over-compensation, there are risks to this. Without deeper understanding, we risk treating these deep, historic traditions casually, misappropriating them without consideration of their wider context.
That is why I was excited to discover IVPress’s new resource, The Pocket Dictionary of Liturgy & Worship. This small volume has over 600 entries explaining the meaning behind a wide range of liturgical practices, prayers, vestments, etc. As we seek to understand these tradition, this book is a helpful resource that easy to use. Since receiving it I have used it extensively. If you are new to traditional liturgy and worship, this is a must have resource.
It covers such topics as:
- Liturgical practices, such as altar calls & benediction
- Rites, such as baptism & Eucharist
- Symbols, such as incense & dove
- Texts, such as the Book of Common Prayer & Apostolic Constitutions
- Gestures, such as genuflection & kneeling
- Vestments, such as robes & alb
- Observances, such as All Saints Day & Easter
- Architectural features, such as the aspe & sacristy
Of course, this book is what is says it is: a pocket dictionary. Therefore, it does not offer in depth studies of the traditions which practice them nor the history of their development. This resource will be helpful along side more detailed studies. However, in that role, it is a great tool. Check it out.
Tags: book review, Books, liturgy, Missional, worship
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