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Liturgical renewal has had some remarkable achievements. It has provided focus, simplicity, and clarity for many of our services. It has emphasized the community gathered, attempted to reduce embellishments, and given Anglican worship fresh expression.
One of the advantages of liturgical renewal is that we look critically and theologically at what we are doing. That is ongoing work. Some of the practices I question are as follows:
1. Lining up and standing to receive communion. Lining up in banks and grocery stores often engenders negative feelings. Could we not find ways to gather in an arch around the altar even at camps and conferences where there is no altar rail? Admittedly, in crowded conditions lining up may be the only option.
2. Direction to, "take whatever posture you want." Clergy today often give very ambiguous signals for posture. Maybe they are trying to appear democratic and non-directive. Is common worship not about doing things together? Is such indecision not distracting to worship and embarrassing to our visitors? We should make it clear that the disabled and elderly are always free to choose but give clearer directions so that we can participate in the action together.
3. Viewing kneeling posture as always penitential. Some people have difficulty with kneeling because they feel it is a posture of penitence. It can be penitential but Scripture also sees it as a posture of awe and adoration. Perhaps Anglicans have over used it and some balance and variety is warranted.
4. Insistence on leavened bread. Large loaves of leavened bread were introduced to give the look and feel of real bread. It is impossible and distasteful to use leavened bread wherever some are in the practice of intinction. (Intinction is to be discouraged for hygienic reasons.) Leavened bread cannot be reserved for extended communion. It can be very messy to use. As well, it is possible to mount a theological case for unleavened bread as pilgrim food.
5. Shuffling paper. Worshippers can often find themselves shuffling through several pieces of paper just to participate in a four line collect. Paper shuffling can be very distracting. Good worship needs continuity, flow, and tranquility.
6. Presidential seating. Presidential seating seems unnecessarily pretentious and no real improvement over past practices.
7. Embellishments. Liturgical changes were intended to make worship sharp, clear, and Christ focused. Each congregation needs to make their worship unique; therefore flexibility and modifications are in order. We do need to ensure that embellishments do not choke out true worship. We need to be willing to put away or reduce those things that do not really fit: extra music, announcements, awards, dedications, thank yous, happy birthdays, and lengthy "children’s moments." Some things might be done before the service begins so as not to interrupt the flow of worship.
Item LIII
©2003 Ronald C. Ferris
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