Anglican Worship: The Center of Parish Life
Worship “Why” & “How” is What Shapes Christians
At the heart of every church tradition is one priority that shapes the community’s identity. This central aspect is the source of its energy and vision and becomes the first of all other priorities. This aspect determines much, if not all, of its distinctive traits and eventually becomes the touchstone for every other facet of church life. For some churches, the primary focus is mission and evangelism. Other churches center on discipleship, including learning, experiential growth, and practical service. Some churches focus primarily on building relationships. For others, it is a work of compassion. It’s not that these churches neglect other activities; it’s simply that they look at other activities through the lens of their primary commitment.
For more information on worship for beginners, see here.
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Anglican Distinctives in Worship
The Anglican tradition is no different; it has a heart that shapes the identity of its life. But the heart of an Anglican parish is not its mission; it is not discipleship. It is not relationship-building, and it is not a work of compassion. These things are vitally important; they should always be present, but they are not the central focus of an Anglican parish. The heart of an Anglican parish is found instead in its worship, most visible in its Sunday worship service. Mission, for the Anglican, discipleship, relationship, and service flow from worship. It begins by acknowledging and praising the God who we worship, receiving from the Christ that we proclaim, and receiving the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10.23-25
Discipleship is founded on the posture of worship in which the forgiven people of God acknowledge our dependence on him and then recite his wonderful saving deeds, being sent forth into the world as worshippers of the One True God. When people come before their God with repentance and faith and are reconciled to God through Christ, relationships may then be formed between people, which mirror this reconciling action of God. Compassionate works result from the transformation that worship affects in us as Christ’s great compassion impacts as well as empowers the Holy Spirit working in us.
Lord’s Day Worship: An Anglican Emblem
In our public Sunday worship, this principle is most obvious. The care that Anglicans take to plan the service, prepare the heart, and revere action grounded in a worship-centered faith. The fact that traditional Anglican worship space is designed specifically (and funded generously) for the worship of God attests to the priority of corporate worship, and the esteem with which Anglican Christians hold the Book of Common Prayer testifies to this identity as a community of worship. There is no other aspect of church life shaping every other area in so profound a way.
Community — the Heart of Worship
And with worship as the heart, Sunday corporate worship is the most visible aspect. As important as individual spiritual life is for all Christians, for Anglicans, it is still secondary to gathering to worship in Word and Sacrament, on the day of the Lord’s resurrection and in the continuing tradition of worship that connects us with those who have gone before.
Enter the Book of Common Prayer
When Archbishop Cranmer designed simplified Morning and Evening Prayer services, he hoped that many people would gather in the parish church for corporate worship, although he knew this would not likely be possible for most families. Corporate worship, however, took the primary place of piety and devotion, and individual and family worship followed that.
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Romans 12.11-13
Our Sunday prayer together as a community is the source of our private and family devotional lives. When “two or three” are gathered, Jesus is present. This experience of his presence gives Anglicans the strength to go off alone and pray through the week; there is no more identity-shaping moment than this.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5.17-19
Worship: A Defining Emblem
One must see to begin to grasp our worship that nothing is more renewing, nothing more humbling, and nothing more inspiring than public Sunday worship. If any moment, any program, or any event is our appointed time, it is Sunday mornings. Worship affects all other areas of parish life.
If any area will draw our time and energy, the first area is worship. If any area defines us, it is worship. Small groups, food banks, Christian education classes, evangelism efforts, and fellowship gatherings all radiate from worship, and reflect worship. In the final analysis, we are a worshipping community.
Photo by Yannick Pulver on Unsplash
A Rookie Anglican Guide to an Anglican Worship Service
Word and Sacrament Our worship service consists of two parts, the Service of the Word and the Service of the Sacrament. These two elements are equally essential, as the Word of God reveals Jesus and prepares us to receive him in the sacrament of Holy Communion. This pattern follows the early Church of the Book…
Anglican Worship: The Focus is Not My Experience
At the heart of every church tradition lies one priority that shapes the community’s identity. This central aspect is the source of its energy and vision, and becomes the first of all other priorities. This aspect determines much, if not all, of its distinctive traits and eventually becomes the touchstone for every other facet of…
