The Christian use of the word "liturgy" means "the work of the people" or the "common action of the community" in worship, it is the designated term for the prayers, readings, and form of the Christian worship service. In the Greek Orthodox church, the "Divine Liturgy" designates the prayers and service of the Holy Eucharist, in the Catholic Church the term Mass (from Latin Missa) is used of the service of the Holy Eucharist.
From the earliest times, Christian worship was divided into two parts, the synaxis (from synagogue) meaning gathering or assembly, which corresponds to the Latin collecta or collect, consisting of prayers, readings, lessons, psalms, and the sermon, and the liturgical service of the Eucharist. Historically, all Christian worship contains these two parts. In the Reformed tradition, this is at times called the Service of the Word, and the Service of the Eucharist, or liturgy of the Word, and liturgy of the Eucharist. Christian worship was adopted from synagogue worship which corresponds to various scripture and traditions from the Christian Old Testament. There is also a considerable amount of research available that has demonstrated that Christian worship followed the form of Jewish synagogue worship. It is also very clear that part of the essential nucleus in use in every church from the first century was the celebration of the Eucharist (Holy Communion) at the end of every service, followed by a blessing of dismissal. Although at the very beginning, Christian worship seems to be structured but not as developed as it would be in later centuries, the form was there from the start. Besides the New Testament (which contains references to the Eucharist service, liturgies, prayers and hymns), the Didache, Apostolic Constitutions, and the First Apology of Justin are three sources for early Christian worship. (see link on this blog: Justin Marty'r description of Christian Worship 150
Christian worship while retaining a set form has evolved over time. Ceremonies developed over elements that may have been originally necessities such as hand washing before communion, or vestments from the clothing that was typically worn. Liturgies were expanded and doctrine was developed. These forms of worship remain very important in communicating the theological belief of the church, connecting with the ancient church, and in understanding the beliefs that have been handed down as the good news of the Gospel and the understanding of the faith. Worship is rightfully called the service of Christian worship, the liturgy or "work of the people" and the order of worship, the ordering of the central core of Christian belief which includes salvation and all that pertains to spiritual life. As believers we are to live out our worship in the service of worship and after we leave. We listen to and recall the words of life, the words of the church that express the church's beliefs about God, the world, and humanity, and witness to God's covenant and saving acts in history. This forms our beliefs and guides our lives and connects us as a part of a living communion in continuity with the church of the past.
Therefore, all Christian worship is always God-centered worship, in that it offers a glimpse of the divine, we are called by God to worship God. It is Eucharistic and Sacramental in that it flows from the one essential element of worship, our union in Christ with God through the Spirit, the thanksgiving to God for spiritual and human life in God as Trinity, and the union of God's people as a covenant community. It is Confessional in that all worship is done in Spirit and in Truth, (God's Spirit and God's Truth: John 4:23-24), the church's mission is to express the Truth as revealed by Jesus Christ, through the Good News of the Gospel. It is therefore Liturgical in that it express its faith as a community (past and present). This is the form of Christian worship. Only of secondary concerns are issues of music, or style, or cultural expressions. Worship is always God-centered worship that is sacramental, liturgical, and confessional.
These posts are designed to collect Christian liturgy (both modern and ancient) from various sources available on the internet, both as a source of information and education as well as to explore how different liturgies express the theological content of the community. Also included is a sampling of worship bulletins from various churches selected at random, and prayers, collects, liturgies, litanies and various liturgical worship resources.
Liturgies: Ancient Christian
Liturgy of St James the Divine (Scottish)
Liturgy of St. James Orthodox
Liturgy of St. James (trans Ante-Nicean Fathers)
Liturgy of St Mark
Divine Liturgy of John Chyrsostom
Basil the Great Divine Liturgy
Reformation Period
Luther's German Mass 1526
Genevan Psalter Lord's Day Liturgy
John Calvin Liturgy
Strasbourg Liturgy 1545
Hungarian Reformed Liturgy
First Book of Common Prayer 1549
Book of Common Prayer 1928
Orthodox Liturgy
Holy Qurbana Malankara Orthodox Liturgy
Greek Orthodox Liturgical texts
Order of Divine Liturgy (Orthodox) explained
Eastern Orthodox Liturgy Information site
Coptic Orthodox Liturgy St Basil (Australia)
Syrian Orthodox Liturgy
Coptic Liturgy of St Basil
Roman Catholic Order of Mass
Liturgy of the Hour (Roman Catholic)
Melkite Greek Catholic
Greek Orthodox Lectionary Readings (Calendar of Saints)
Roman Catholic and Anglican
Text of Latin Mass
New English Latin Mass
Catholic Liturgical Library
Daily Office Catholic/Anglican
Catholic Order of Divine Liturgy (Anglican use)
New Liturgical Movement Catholic
Liturgy of Church of Nigeria (Anglican) various other nationalities
Book of Common Prayer of Episcopal Church
Scottish Episcopal Church Daily Prayers
Other Worship Liturgies, Prayers, and Music
Greek Orthodox Lectionary
Companion to Book of Common Worship Presbyterian PCUSA
Ecumenical Service of Holy Communion (2014 Presbyterian General Assembly of PCUSA)
Liturgy for All Saints Sunday (Presbyterian) PCUSA
Liturgy for World Communion Sunday (Presbyterian) PCUSA
Eucharistic Liturgy for Presbytery PCUSA
Association for Reformed and Liturgical Worship
Lutheran Service Book (Missouri Synod)
Lutheran Order of Divine Liturgy
Lutheran Order of Divine Liturgy explained
Church of England Common Worship
Taizé community
Funeral Liturgy Catholic
Funeral Liturgy Anglican
Rite for burial of Ashes
In times of death, resources for funerals Calvin Institute of Worship
Book of Prayers in Common (compendium of collects)
ELCA Lutheran Worship resources
Calvin Institute of Worship (Reformed)
Christian Catechisms:
Click to view a collection of Christian Catechisms
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