Liturgy and Worship

Welcome to the Liturgy and Worship page

You can be certain that whatever church community or worship centre you come from, reflecting any of the traditions in the Church of England, worship is something we all do. We can’t be practising Christians and not worship God! God has made us to love Him and worship is our natural response to His love. Liturgy is a word which describes the way we put our worship into practice, or give it a structure. Even the most informal worship needs some sort of liturgical structure.

The Church of England has moved on a great deal in the last century! At one time the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (still the Church of England’s official worship book) was used for all services, and is still widely used today in many churches and cathedrals. In recent years we have moved through experimental services (Series 1, 2 and 3) to the publication in 1980 of the Alternative Service Book (ASB). In the 1990's a revision of the ASB began, and after many years of work Common Worship was launched in 2000.

Common Worship is a 'family' of resource books rather than just one book and thanks to the wonders of modern technology it is all available to download, making the business of creating liturgy very easy!

In addition to 'official' anglican liturgies there are of course many resources from other traditions that are popular, particularly Taizé and celtic liturgies.

Worship in the Church is always a work in progress. Recently the Liturgical Commission published a report entitled Transforming Worship which seeks to address the ongoing liturgical needs and challenges of a mission-minded Church. Although it is quite a long report it does make some good recommendations and they can provide a good starting point for important conversations and debates in church groups, PCCs and Deaneries.

Worship is often described as the “shop window” onto the Church. Our worship may be the very first point of contact people have with the church and so it is one of our most important and valuable tools for mission. Get it wrong and people might not come back a second time!

The Diocese of Liverpool is very fortunate to have a wide range of churches and communities reflecting the diversity of the Church of England as well as some of the new and fresh expressions that are emerging. The Dream network also plays a really important role in the spiritual life of our Diocese and city.

In time we hope to make available on this website a large selection of liturgical resources and examples of good practice which can be found in the Diocese. Watch this space!

What does the liturgical adviser do then...?

As part of the Church Growth team, my task is to support and enable parishes who are keen to look at their worship and liturgy with a view to developing it.

Some of what I have offered over the past year or so includes training and consultancy for PIME, CPD, Lifelong Learning, PCCs, clergy and readers.

I have also offered workshops and seminars on:
• Refreshment for experienced worship leaders
• All Age Eucharistic Worship
• One-off liturgies
• Music and Movement in worship
• Worship and the Work of God - a day conference for PCCs
• Making the most of music with limited resources
• Creative Confirmations
• Times and Seasons
• Visual Liturgy
• Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart
• Occasional Offices and beyond

Many parishes get in touch if they have special services coming up and would like some help in putting them together.

If I can be any assistance to you and your work, then please do contact me.

Neil Kelley
Diocesan Adviser on Liturgy and Worship
0151 928 3342
07980 872203
neil.kelley@liverpool.anglican.org

Some useful resources:
Archdeacons' Visitation Liturgy 2009 (non-Eucharistic)
Archdeacons' Visitation Liturgy 2009 (with Eucharist)


Some useful websites (these will open in a new window):

⇒ www.cofe.anglican.org/worship
⇒ www.rscm.com/
⇒ www.labyrinth.org.uk
⇒ www.pray-as-you-go.org/
⇒ www.greenbelt.org.uk/
⇒ www.oremus.org/
⇒ www.alternativeworship.org/
⇒ www.cjmmusic.co.uk/
⇒ www.praxisworship.org.uk/
⇒ www.vislit.com/
⇒ www.chpublishing.co.uk/
⇒ www.alcuinclub.org.uk/
⇒ www.churchmusic.org.uk/

Liturgy LibraryDid you know that we have a library of resources available at St. James' House? Click the link above to see the books available and procedures in borrowing.